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PS4 filled with promise, and questions

Brett Molina, USA TODAY
Video game designer Mark Cerny talks about the DualShock 4 controller as Sony introduces the PlayStation 4 at a news conference in New York.

The possibilities appear exciting. A player sees a video game on the PlayStation Store, and they immediately try out a demo without waiting. They can then start playing the game, sharing clips with friends through a single button press. Other players might watch a live broadcast of your game, and even add tips to help you conquer a difficult challenge.

This is a world Sony describes after revealing the PlayStation 4 at an event in New York on Wednesday. There's one huge question: What exactly will the hardware hosting this gaming utopia look like?

First, let's recap what Sony did share. The PS4 is clearly focused on a more social atmosphere, giving players a chance to easily share content with friends. Gaikai appears to be a central part of this, with demos players can quickly explore and live game broadcasts.

The PlayStation 4's new controller features a touchpad, motion controls, built-in speaker and stereo headset jack. A PlayStation app will introduce the second screen experience, letting players buy games, watch live broadcasts and view supplemental content on an iOS and Android smartphone or tablet, as well as the PlayStation Vita.

Perhaps the best feature is the ability to download or update games in the background. Most video game players know the pain of waiting for a long update or download before hopping into the action. The PS4 would eliminate that.

The early game lineup is strong, highlighted by a new Killzone title, the captivating action title Watch Dogs from Ubisoft and Bungie's arrival on the PlayStation with online shooter Destiny.

The key element missing from Sony's event was the hardware itself. Remember how massive the PlayStation 3 was when it first launched in 2006? Will video game players be greeted by another behemoth device they must cram into an entertainment center or similar setup? Viewers also didn't get a sense of PS4's user interface, so it's tough to know if the console will deliver a more elegant way to navigate.

And what about that collection of PS3 titles in players' homes, not to mention the digital titles saved on their current consoles? Sony hints at a future where cloud technology will provide access to the full PlayStation library of games. Will that incorporate a player's collection or require them to repurchase older games?

The question that will matter most to consumers is the price. One of Sony's critical mistakes was making the PS3 too expensive with $499 and $599 prices at launch. A reasonable cost for their console could help determine whether Sony recaptures the video game hardware throne.

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