Sony went through various prototypes when designing DualShock 4 for PS4, according to the firm’s product planning manager Toshimasa Aoki. One prototype didn’t have any buttons on it either, just track pads which Aoki said the developer votes tallied 100 to 0 on it.
Speaking in an interview with VentureBeat, Aoki said there were over 20 prototypes created for DualShock 4.
“At the very start, we were thinking of drastically changing the controller,” he said. “We tried out new devices, changing the form factor. So we made, I don’t know, more than 20 prototypes. Some had no buttons, just touch panels. Some tried out [all-touchscreen controls]. They felt that it would be a good new input which the buttons or the sticks can’t do.
“The vote on that was probably 100-0.”
Rear touchpads were also prototyped, and it would have worked much like the one on Vita does at present, and one prototype even included a touchpad would could be moved into different positions.
A touchscreen was also discussed, but the team didn’t want to have to look down at the controller when playing a game. “They want to have the consumers concentrated on the big picture that they show,” he said.
