Ahead of the E3 conference in May, rumors have spread across the blogosphere that Sony's new PlayStation 4 controllers are in for the biggest upgrade since the Dual-shock controller was made available for the original PlayStation fifteen years ago.
Well, the time tested and well-loved Dual shock design may be on its way out. According to a report by CVG, a "senior games studio source" working with Sony is talking big changes, including an LCD screen and a biometric sensor pad on the grips of the new controller.
A second source told CVG that PlayStation, with its new controller design, is trying to emulate the same sort of user experience as the PS Vita, further hinting that the LCD may be a touchscreen as well.
The LCD touch screen makes sense, especially if you are going to make the new PlayStation controllers capable of continuing play away from the television, as is one possibility. Another, suggested by Tech2, is browsing for, and downloading, DLC from the PlayStation Store while in the middle of playing a game without interrupting gameplay.
But why have biometric sensors in the grips? CVG suggested that game studios such as Valve may be interested in incorporating it as part of future games. Biometrics could measure the amount of stress you're experiencing, through heartbeat, temperature, sweat, and movement monitoring.
Just imagine playing the newest Half-Life or Resident Evil game and having your aim penalized if a zombie surprises you and gets the best of your nerves. Or maybe it can make sniping in games like Call of Duty more difficult, by measuring your actual focus and translating that into reticule bounce. It could add another dimension to gameplay. If it works.
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