When Sony unveiled the next generation PlayStation 4 at their February 21st event, they also showcased the new DualShock 4 controller. It was a significant step up from the original DualShock, particularly in the new Share button taking the place of the Select button.
This new button allows gamers to Share updates via social media and the PlayStation Network on their in-game activities. Of course, for all the possibilities this opens up, there will be limitations according to SCE Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida.
For instance, players won’t be able to upload whatever they feel like.
“There will be parts of a game that the maker does not want people to be able to see. For example, on Vita, developers can in certain scenes disable the feature that lets users take a screenshot, and (the Share function) will have a similar mechanism. The creator may not want to make video of the final boss sharable, for instance,” Yoshida stated to 4Gamer.net (via Edge).
This is all very interesting but would gamers appreciate some aspects being controlled from sharing? As such, the Vita is a completely different beast – but what if someone wants to create a video or walkthrough for their friends, whom this feature would be best for, is it wise to really limit when and where they can do it?
We’ll flip this in another direction: When you introduce a new feature to players, one that they will be sceptical about using – and if the console is indeed for hardcore gamers, you can be damn sure they’ll be sceptical – then doesn’t it make sense to give them free reign in the beginning and sort of work your way back from there?
That free reign is what made platforms like Facebook and YouTube so popular in sharing. The restrictions may have been raining down since, but hopefully Sony reaches an agreeable stance without limiting whatever nifty innovations players may have for the function.
What are your thoughts on this? Sound off in the comments section below.