Guardian posted new [and old] features of Sony OS and services revealed at Develop 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2013/jul/15/ps4-develop-2013-playstation-sony
1. Sony included developer input right from the start of R&D
So the basic structure of the machine's processor was built on third-party developer suggestions – which very much aligns with what Sony has been saying about listening to game makers.
2. PS4 was designed like an Atari coin-op game: easy to play…
Cerny reckons the time it'll take studios to start chucking polygons around the screen in a PS4 project will be one to two months – the same as PSone, and a big improvement on the six to 12 months it took on PS3.
3. … but difficult to master
In other words, the GPU can handle lots of other tasks apart from graphics rendering, including physics simulation, collision detection, ray-casting for audio and decompression – all allegedly with little impact on those polygon and effects calculations.
4. Making things simple for children
As Cerny explained, "As part of our design process we ended up making a giant controller, 50% larger than usual so that we could directly experience what it felt like being a child trying to play a game.
5. Making things simple for indies
Part of this is also supporting self-publishing and allowing business models such as free-to-play, episodic release and micro-transactions.
6. Designed to be a balanced system
More importantly, he says, it's a modern general purpose CPU, which means unlike the in-order processors of current consoles it uses out-of-order execution, executing instructions depending on when they are ready rather than in the order governed by the original programming.
7. This is the age of 'asynchronous compute'
Effectively then, within a single frame of the game's runtime, each of the GPU's 18 compute units can seamlessly switch between general computing and graphics tasks depending on what is most pressing.
8. DualShock has been redesigned for feel and responsiveness
There's reduced latency so the controls are more responsive and improved rumble with one small and one large motor ("both are 8bit controllable," says Brown).
9. PS4 features a new 'connected UX'
The live tiles can also immediately send the player to a specific mode, game save or challenge, without them having to go through the in-game menu options first.
10. Moving toward a real social network
Players can also immediately join a friend's multiplayer session from the PS4 main menu.
11. The Share button and how it works
Brown also says that developers will be able to add a selection of spectator commands that the game can dynamically respond to. For example, if the onscreen player is fighting an end-of-level boss, but is low on health, a spectator could click a Heal option to help them out.
12. Seamless Remote Play
PS4 remote play also supports a local multi-user lobby, so up to four players can connect to the same PS4 at once – and all saved games are bound to the user not the device.
13. Seamless companion apps
Meanwhile, the PlayStation App for iOS and Android devices allows you to browse friends lists, PSN options and the PlayStation Store as well as controlling your PS4; so you can tell it to start downloading a new game while you're on the bus home.
14. Instant access to downloads
Brown also claimed that you'll be able to log on to your digital games library from a friend's house and start playing immediately.
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As for #12 and Seamless Remote Play.... Is this done so that local couch coop games can be easily played by up to 4 players [every player receives same video stream with all of the players rendered on the screen]? Nice idea, hopefully it will work fine.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2013/jul/15/ps4-develop-2013-playstation-sony
1. Sony included developer input right from the start of R&D
So the basic structure of the machine's processor was built on third-party developer suggestions – which very much aligns with what Sony has been saying about listening to game makers.
2. PS4 was designed like an Atari coin-op game: easy to play…
Cerny reckons the time it'll take studios to start chucking polygons around the screen in a PS4 project will be one to two months – the same as PSone, and a big improvement on the six to 12 months it took on PS3.
3. … but difficult to master
In other words, the GPU can handle lots of other tasks apart from graphics rendering, including physics simulation, collision detection, ray-casting for audio and decompression – all allegedly with little impact on those polygon and effects calculations.
4. Making things simple for children
As Cerny explained, "As part of our design process we ended up making a giant controller, 50% larger than usual so that we could directly experience what it felt like being a child trying to play a game.
5. Making things simple for indies
Part of this is also supporting self-publishing and allowing business models such as free-to-play, episodic release and micro-transactions.
6. Designed to be a balanced system
More importantly, he says, it's a modern general purpose CPU, which means unlike the in-order processors of current consoles it uses out-of-order execution, executing instructions depending on when they are ready rather than in the order governed by the original programming.
7. This is the age of 'asynchronous compute'
Effectively then, within a single frame of the game's runtime, each of the GPU's 18 compute units can seamlessly switch between general computing and graphics tasks depending on what is most pressing.
8. DualShock has been redesigned for feel and responsiveness
There's reduced latency so the controls are more responsive and improved rumble with one small and one large motor ("both are 8bit controllable," says Brown).
9. PS4 features a new 'connected UX'
The live tiles can also immediately send the player to a specific mode, game save or challenge, without them having to go through the in-game menu options first.
10. Moving toward a real social network
Players can also immediately join a friend's multiplayer session from the PS4 main menu.
11. The Share button and how it works
Brown also says that developers will be able to add a selection of spectator commands that the game can dynamically respond to. For example, if the onscreen player is fighting an end-of-level boss, but is low on health, a spectator could click a Heal option to help them out.
12. Seamless Remote Play
PS4 remote play also supports a local multi-user lobby, so up to four players can connect to the same PS4 at once – and all saved games are bound to the user not the device.
13. Seamless companion apps
Meanwhile, the PlayStation App for iOS and Android devices allows you to browse friends lists, PSN options and the PlayStation Store as well as controlling your PS4; so you can tell it to start downloading a new game while you're on the bus home.
14. Instant access to downloads
Brown also claimed that you'll be able to log on to your digital games library from a friend's house and start playing immediately.
-------------------------------------------
As for #12 and Seamless Remote Play.... Is this done so that local couch coop games can be easily played by up to 4 players [every player receives same video stream with all of the players rendered on the screen]? Nice idea, hopefully it will work fine.
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