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[DoctorZ]

I actually really like the light bar, little touches like in Super Motherload it matches the character's color. If the screen goes dark I can sometimes see the lightbar if I aim directly at the screen, but otherwise I've yet to be able to find it while playing a game.

The only issue I can see with allowing it to be turned off completely is that the lightbar is basically the indicator that the DS4 is on and what player it is assigned too. Unless I am missing an indicator somewhere on it. I wonder if Sony would want to allow it to be turned off by the user. At the least they should let the user adjust the intensity, even a 5 point scale would help people who dislike it.

 

[mugoldeneagle03]

This is still an issue for people?

I have a plasma as well & the only time I'm effected is if I'm holding the controller on more of a top angle, which almost never happens. Other than that I can't even really see it during fast paced games.

 

[Amneisac]

Doesn't bother me one bit... Just focus on playing your games lol.

Comments like this are annoying. That's great, it doesn't bother you. Do you have a glossy TV? It doesn't bother me either, but I can see how it should be something you can turn off if it does bother you and you don't have a camera, or need a red light to let you know when you're about to die in Killzone.

 

[Foxix Von]

Matte TV here. Don't notice it in the slightest unless it's on a completely black screen. I can see it a bit in the bezel but it's not in the least bit distracting. Honestly I really like how it floods the floor with light. Makes for a cool effect when my health gets low in Killzone.

Options are always good, but I'd definitely keep mine on 8D

 

[Crisco]

Stop playing games in pitch black dark people, it's not good for your eyes.

 

[Van Owen]

I play in the dark a lot, and it is kind of bothersome.

 

[KillerDark]

I don't see the light bar being useful as far as gameplay (like in Killzone), I rarely even notice the thing haha

 

[BigDug13]

Its there so the camera can see it..

Then why does it change colors when you get hurt? What purpose does that serve on the camera?

If it's just for camera tracking, then it shouldn't even be on if it doesn't detect a camera plugged in. And it shouldn't change colors in some attempt to be cool in a non-camera game.

 

[Cow Goes Moo]

It will be my new flashlight at night

 

[shandy706]

Electrical tape leaves some nasty fucking residue.

Devs, turn it off. You can do this in code.

Anybody who can't see this reflecting in a glass plasma screen (like my Pioneer Kuro) is fucking blind.

All 4 of my HDTV's are wall mounted higher than I sit. I'd have to hang from the ceiling for a light in my hands to be noticeable.

 

[Violater]

It reflects on the screen and surely it must be an unnecessary drain on the battery.

 

[Weenerz]

I don't mind the light, I just wish I could get a bit more battery out of it and I assume the light takes a decent amount.

 

[sangreal]

Really is a silly gimmick. Even sillier when the main justification is that the Playstation Camera uses it to figure out who is who, when Kinect doesn't need anything of the sort and you still need to confirm the face as well using your controller. Two, redundant identifiers.

xb1 controllers have lights for the camera too, they're just infrared

It's the idea of changing colors as part of gameplay that is really gimmicky to me becaus you can't even see the light bar (reflection aside). Maybe it's just the way I hold it though

 

[owlbeak]

I love the light! :-D But I would like the option to turn it off to save battery life.

 

[GuitarAtomik]

I'm sure they will add an option in a future patch. From what I understand, there's already a "device options" menu that lets you do stuff like adjust the controller's speaker so it will probably be in that menu eventually.

The fact that it's not there already makes it even more obvious the camera was supposed to be included though lol.

 

[sqwarlock]

The light itself doesn't bother me at all, but I would like an option to turn it off--or dim it a bit--just to save the battery life.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

I had assumed it would be more problematic with reflections that it actually ended up being for my setup, but I still see the light on various surfaces of my entertainment center during play. The main problem with it being on is that it contributes to power drain of batteries that just don't last very long compared to the Dual Shock 3 or any wireless stock controller from last or current (next) gen. Given how bright the lightbar is, there is no reason for its operation to not be user-selectable, especially in the case that no camera is connected.

 

[Saint Gregory]

My LG is like a giant ass mirror which was already an annoyance even before I picked up a PS4. I usually game with the lights off so I don't see the reflection of my ceiling lights on the TV but now with the DS4 light I have a new nemesis

 

[(mat)]

Interesting. I don't have a PS4 yet, but I hadn't considered this being an issue.

 

[Dysun]

I sit really close to my TV and have only noticed it one time when the screen went completely black. Other than that I think it's neat when I'm dying in Killzone and look down and it's red

 

[BigDug13]

It reflects on the screen and surely it must be an unnecessary drain on the battery.

LED lights don't draw much. I've had a flashlight that ran on a single AAA battery and would last for many hours of continuous use. During a 6 month deployment, using the flashlight on my job as an electronics tech, I used 2 batteries.

 

[Oppo]

Trust me guys - the LED uses a tiny tiny fraction of power. Almost negligible.

 

[SpecX]

Hasn't bothered me, I've actually used it to figure out my health in Killzone, so it's a pretty good gimmick to me.

 

[Nealand Liquor]

I hate how often I have to charge the fn thing and anything that will decrease this neverending cycle of charging is welcome by me.

 

[Auto-Reply]

There will be 2 ways for me to deal with this once i've bought a PS4, the first includes a screwdriver and a youtube video on how to take apart your DS4 to take out the led. If i fail at that, i guess i will have to tape it... if i fail at that too, lightbar meet tablecorner.

 

[LiK]

Forget whether you like the light or not. I think the light is a major battery drain and I want it off.

 

[Jonboy]

I was firmly in the camp of "doesn't really bother me" but I have to say, it's much brighter than I anticipated (especially in a dark room). I don't have a problem with it reflecting off the tv, but it kind of illuminates the room.

If anything, we should have the option to turn it off just to conserve battery life, which for me has been pretty disappointing on DS4.

 

[Tsundere]

I liked how the lightbar smoothly changed colors in flower to suit the atmosphere of the level. Was a really nice touch.

 

[KINGofCRA5H]

I'm not really bothered by it, that is until I play at night in a dark room. Then it is pretty annoying, having to change the angle at which I am facing the TV

 

[Briarios]

I have a glossy screen on my Samsung, and I've never noticed a reflection issue. I like the light, personally. I expect the battery drain is minimal - both my Vita & 3DS have LEDs that are one perpetually in standby, and they don't seem to have an issue. So, if I had the option, I highly doubt I'd even turn the color bar off.

That being said, I don't see why the option to turn it off couldn't be added - games that require it could just override the setting.

 

[stuminus3]

Stupid next gen.

* PS4 needs an option to turn off the light bar on the controller.
* Wii U needs an option to turn off the gamepad screen but still let you use the controller inputs when it's just cloning what's on the main screen.
* Xbone needs an option to stop invading your privacy to prevent Kinect from sending nude pictures of your family to the NSA.

 

[enzo_gt]

xb1 controllers have lights for the camera too, they're just infrared

It's the idea of changing colors as part of gameplay that is really gimmicky to me becaus you can't even see the light bar (reflection aside). Maybe it's just the way I hold it though

Interesting, but yeah they don't use light in the traditional sense.

And yeah the changing colours bit doesn't make sense. It's a weird middleway between some of the peripheral cues stuff illumiroom proposed and the straight up segmented experiences that the Wii U made it's own gimmick, without excelling at either.

 

[TheKastorian]

Am I the only one that thinks the light bar is so effin' cool? Especially when the controller is charging in stand-by mode. Looks so damn futuristic!

 

[jaypah]

You're not playing right, apparently, as most seem to have their arms fully outstretched and as close to the TV as possible.

Or people hold their controllers differently? Damn. No matter what I do I'll always see it every now and then because my screen is 73 inches, no real way around it. That said it doesn't bother me as much as it does some people but if it did I'd probably be annoyed too.

edit: People shouldn't have to justify why a bright glowing controller should be optional.

 

[140.85]

I haven't noticed it yet.

 

[giancarlo123x]

I forget its there, even at night. I don't mind it.

 

[zulfate]

Meh' it's my bong finder now.

 

[Space Runaway]

While I don't mind it, I would like an option to turn it off to extend the pad's battery life, even if only by a bit.

 

[Das Mookid]

Definitely see the reflection in my plasma.

A simple toggle at the OS level would make everybody happy. I'm sure it'll come.

 

[coldfoot]

It was useful to see my health in KZ, but I had to keep turning the controller around.
A mirror attachment to reflect the light up would be a good accessory.

 

[Azull]

I just need DC universe to fix it's light show that it creates on my controller. It drains the battery in like 3 hours flat. There's no rhyme or reason behind the colour changes either. They just change a lot and randomly.

 

[Tsundere]

And also, if you had the option of turning it completely off, and you had multiple controllers... How would you know which one is on and which one isn't? Let alone knowing which player is which.

 

[BRocknRolla]

I've barely noticed the light exists at all. But if they want to offer a toggle-off option, that's totally fine with me.

 

[Violater]

LED lights don't draw much. I've had a flashlight that ran on a single AAA battery and would last for many hours of continuous use. During a 6 month deployment, using the flashlight on my job as an electronics tech, I used 2 batteries.

Well great if that's the case on the battery, but I think giving us the option to turn it off would be good.

 

[Cday]

It really is dumb. Anything that distracts from what's happening on the screen is inherently bad. You shouldn't have to think about your controller, ever when you're playing. I noticed that Killzone uses the light to indicate your health. Yeah because I'm going to look down at my controller to see what color it is while playing. The thing has bad enough battery life as it is. What is it? 6 hours of gameplay? Maybe I'm being generous at that. Seems like the DS3 would last for days.

 

[gioGAF]

Don't even notice it.

This

 

[Neuromancer]

Doesn't bother me. I find it to be a pretty harmless gimmick. Also I doubt it really affects battery life, LEDs don't use much energy.

I liked how the lightbar smoothly changed colors in flower to suit the atmosphere of the level. Was a really nice touch.

Which game?

 

[Tsundere]

It really is dumb. Anything that distracts from what's happening on the screen is inherently bad. You shouldn't have to think about your controller, ever when you're playing. I noticed that Killzone uses the light to indicate your health. Yeah because I'm going to look down at my controller to see what color it is while playing. The thing has bad enough battery life as it is. What is it? 6 hours of gameplay? Maybe I'm being generous at that.

Peripheral vision... how does it work?!

Which game?

I said flower. lol

 

[IAmRandom31]

My TV is up a little and I have not noticed the light bar at all.

Minor issue really.

I love the light bar, but an option to turn it off would be ideal for those who are bothered by it.

 

[jaypah]

It really is dumb. Anything that distracts from what's happening on the screen is inherently bad. You shouldn't have to think about your controller, ever when you're playing. I noticed that Killzone uses the light to indicate your health. Yeah because I'm going to look down at my controller to see what color it is while playing. The thing has bad enough battery life as it is. What is it? 6 hours of gameplay? Maybe I'm being generous at that.

Closer to 8 or 9, no?