Wishful Thinking: Predicting the PlayStation 4
GameSpot staff from around the globe sound off on their hopes and dreams for Sony's new console.
Jess McDonell, Video Journalist, GameSpot AU Follow
The PlayStation 4 needs to be innovative without alienating its audience.
Handhelds and the Wii U have brought out the desire for tactile interaction, like swiping the screen to launch a grenade.
With the start of the new console generation, it could be argued that the new PlayStation--and the next Xbox, for that matter--has something to prove. Unless you're a console fanatic who wouldn't be caught dead on a PC, chances are you've been holding out for the new generation to cover some of the technical and graphical leaps that PCs have been making on consoles over the past few years. The PS4 isn't just going to have to pull out the impressive figures in the specs department, though, as more and more gamers seem as if they are not satisfied with their platform just being functional; they also need it to be innovative.
Handheld consoles and the Wii U have brought out the desire for tactile interaction--you know, the bit where you swipe the screen to launch a grenade and what have you. I think it's likely that we'll see this integrated for the PS4, particularly given the leaked controller images that have recently surfaced.
What I'd like to see is backwards compatibility, though this could well be serviced by the ability to stream PS3 games, coupled with a strong software library at launch. On the same note, keeping up the system's history of great exclusive content would be a plus, though at this stage it's something that is to be expected. On top of that, I'd like to see the PS4 extend the options for digital purchases and play, though the double-edged sword here is the inevitable inclusion of requiring constant online connectivity. What I think we're likely to end up seeing is a console that adds enough innovation to be worthy of the "4" in its name, but not so much that it alienates gamers who are fans of the current console.
Follow Jess on Twitter: @JessMcDonell



