I think the PS4's question is whether or not it can result in an innovative gaming experience. I am impressed by the tech specs, but....I really don't know beyond that...

At this point, I think innovation is with whatever new peripheral Sony and 3rd parties decide to support. IMO, Wii U missed the boat on that one. But we'll see if Sony incorporates the Move with the neuro-headsets I've been reading about. Or even the VR helmets now being made.

I'm just hoping that this doesn't turn out to be some gimmick that has no real value to it. The touchpad thing in particular makes me skeptical....that being said, I'm impressed with the social features, but am not sure how they will figure into games.

I think the touchpad thing is just to make the Vita relevant since it also has a touchpad as well.

Every time I see something gain a touch pad, I think about the iPhone 1... This happens to me like every single time a new version of a product that didn't have a touchpad magically gains one. Then I think, is it "to make all those 19 and 20 year olds who have never owned a console feel more at home on a big-boy device"?

That's loosely quoted off of some article some EA PR guy said to justify why they put in-app purchases (not exactly DLC cuz you're not downloading anything really) to buy more materials in Dead Space 3 so you can maybe beat hardcore code, or die trying and have to start over completely from scratch. Mobile gaming is definitely "the future" since everyone has a mobile device of some sort, but how relevant can developers make these features on a console?

How ethical will this be? Big console manufacturers are cracking down on used games while at the same time, developers are adding tons of "day 1" DLC. You'd think you're buying a $60 starter kit instead of a full game experience for some of these things... I mean, Dead Space 3 was really awesome and the in-app purchases could be ignored since skill-alone should get you through the game, but EA's big enough to set trends. What if they, or other developers start making games, with actual game involved like Dead Space, that are so difficult or inconvenient that we have to keep paying money to progress like a Freemium game?

By freemium, I mean those simple games that are "free", but all you do are click buttons to build up your village/park/house/etc over time, but there are insane recharge times before you can do anything again unless you spending real money for in-game currency to spend that on "moves".