The touchpad in the center of the DualShock 4 presents a completely new way for PlayStation gamers to interact with their games. How will developers use this new input? It’s definitely not a new concept, but here are some of the ways we think devs might use it for PlayStation 4.
Yes, the DualShock 4 is not a complete overhaul of a PlayStation controller, but should bring just enough “new” to get control freaks excited. The touchpad quite literally comes right from the back of the PlayStation Vita and opens up more possibilities than many can fathom so early in PS4′s existence.
Let’s investigate which new control methods are good and which ones we wish to do without.
Waggle stick to break free will now become swipe left-and-right frantically to break free. This is a completely viable way to remap this classic grapple move. Think WWE or any zombie game where the enemy has your character and is just about to bite when that unassuming image of the left analog stick jostling left to right violently suddenly overlaps your view of the carnage. Now your game can give you the finger instead.
Rubbing
If you’ve ever played Uncharted: Golden Abyss on Vita, then you’d know this is one of the coolest ways to rub that touchpad. Drake finds something he wants to make a carbon rubbing of and on screen pops the paper. Using your finger, just rub across the entire touchpad to reveal an image. If Ludia ever makes a Lottery game, this could be used with scratcher tickets.
Tap
As in rhythm, not to be confused with simply tapping any button on the controller. Tapping on the touchpad can lead right to a swipe pattern or long press. We can’t imagine forcing players to tap the touchpad for basic input when there are four face buttons at least an inch closer to the right thumb. Although, if any one developer was to prove us wrong it would be Quantic Dreams.
Pinch-to-zoom
Camera controls are simplest to manage with the right stick, but will eventually be made cumbersome with the touchpad and some backward-thinking developer. This goes to show that not all new ways to do things are the best ways.
Circle swipesLots of games have used the circular input to turn gears or wheels. This motion on the analog is the main reason that there is a gnarly ring carved into the shaft of your DualShock 3′s analog sticks. Go ahead, check. Some games used this to turn gears, or allow Kratos and Ratchet to push or pull levers. If your favorite character is Zangief, maybe you favored the left stick for performing the famous 360 pile driver. The touchpad will ideally be far less prone to wear and tear.
Slash
Any sword fighting game would not pass up the call of the DualShock 4′s touchpad when thinking about creative ways to hack up enemies. This sort of frantic input is ideal for any touch device. The best example of this is Halfbrick’s Fruit Ninja.
Have you thought up any creative ways that developers could utilize the touchpad on the DualShock 4? Put it in the comments as a sort of time capsule and when PS4 games begin taking off we can look back and see who came up with the idea first.
