Immersion CEO: Begging Sony To Add Rumble

[aldo]

This is ALL rediculously STUPID. Immersion filed the patent before the Dual Shock. Immersion works in MANY fields other than video games (give up this stupid crack-pot thinking). Immersion actually has a WORKING product unlike patent squaters. Immersion offered the oportunity long ago for Sony to solve this before it ever went to court. After this went to court Sony lost. Sony lost again. In fact, one of the judges was so UPSET with Sony he scolded their tactics and wrote a scathing judgment. Finally, Sony lost ONE MORE TIME!

SOOOOOO......you may not like the patent system, you may not agree with the system, it may need to be fixed, but this is NOT the case of Immersion being the bad guy.

I for one was not attempting to make a statement about the patent system by any means. Immersion won their PS2 Dualshock suit with an award of 90 million or so. Good for them and not necessarily ridiculous.

But now they act like they're confused as to why Sony has chosen not to include rumble in their new PS3 SIXAXIS; rumble technology that will enable them to squeeze more money out of Sony for another 10+ years.

So they sponsor a study that says gamers prefer rumble and release it to the press to convince Sony that they need to include their technology. Then we're about a month out from the PS3 launch and the CEO contacts the press again to state without any basis whatsoever that tilt technology will not enhance game play and that Sony is doing a disservice to gamers by not including rumble, when in actuality he means Sony is doing a disservice to Immersion and his future profits.

To me this seems a bit ridiculous and desperate, but perhaps I am wrong and Sony will respond favorably to Immersion's pleas...er...timely press releases. IMO if they truly want to collect from the fortunes of the PS3 then they should be more aggressive in reaching a compromise on the Dualshock suit. Otherwise they should collect their $90M from Sony and be content to collect from the X360's inclusion of their technology.

-aldo

 

[thatdude90210]

But now they act like they're confused as to why Sony has chosen not to include rumble in their new PS3 SIXAXIS; rumble technology that will enable them to squeeze more money out of Sony for another 10+ years.

They are not confused... they are using PR to push Sony towards using rumble tech in the PS3 so that they can collect some more. That's why this is played out in public statements rather than corporate letters and meetings. They are hoping Sony will feel the public heat and change their plans.

 

[aldo]

They are not confused... they are using PR to push Sony towards using rumble tech in the PS3 so that they can collect some more. That's why this is played out in public statements rather than corporate letters and meetings. They are hoping Sony will feel the public heat and change their plans.

Pretty much what I was trying to say. They "act like they're confused" or naïve about Sony's move in not giving the gamers their rumble.

-aldo

 

[crosseye]

They act no different than any other company would. They attempt to show that there is a demand for the product. Also, Immersion has yet to recieve a dime of the 90 Million they are owed. Sony has never had any intention to pay when they knew they were violating a patent. They have shown the courts they would do all they could to avoid paying. I really wish more people would read up on what has actually happened in court.

Further, this "Immersion is desperate" talk just shows how little most people know about this company. It's not like mad catz just got told they could no longer make video game products. That would destroy them. Immersion is MUCH more diverse and produces products in many fields.

 

[crosseye]

Sorry, can't edit my posts........


They get $000000 from MS. In fact, they owe MS money from that $90 million. Once again though, they are only doing what any business would under the circumstances. Obviously people need to read more on the court proceedings. There is NO compromise with Sony. They've done all they can to show they refuse to pay and will continue to do all they can to avoid paying.

 

[Sis]

This is ALL rediculously STUPID. Immersion filed the patent before the Dual Shock. Immersion works in MANY fields other than video games (give up this stupid crack-pot thinking). Immersion actually has a WORKING product unlike patent squaters. Immersion offered the oportunity long ago for Sony to solve this before it ever went to court. After this went to court Sony lost. Sony lost again. In fact, one of the judges was so UPSET with Sony he scolded their tactics and wrote a scathing judgment. Finally, Sony lost ONE MORE TIME!

SOOOOOO......you may not like the patent system, you may not agree with the system, it may need to be fixed, but this is NOT the case of Immersion being the bad guy.

Agreed; the Immersion patents feel different and the system should allow for a company that is more of a think tank than a producer (Immersion in a previous incarnation did produce products, but any more their business plan is around licensing).

The problem stems from the number of well known cases where it appeared the patent system is completely broken (Demo's mentioned the RIM case, which to me is a perfect example--and I pretty much lump all software patents under the category of broken).

 

[aldo]

They act no different than any other company would. They attempt to show that there is a demand for the product. Also, Immersion has yet to recieve a dime of the 90 Million they are owed. Sony has never had any intention to pay when they knew they were violating a patent. They have shown the courts they would do all they could to avoid paying. I really wish more people would read up on what has actually happened in court.

Further, this "Immersion is desperate" talk just shows how little most people know about this company. It's not like mad catz just got told they could no longer make video game products. That would destroy them. Immersion is MUCH more diverse and produces products in many fields.

Speaking from experience, if you've ever been on the verge of losing out on a major account regardless of your diversity, I can guarantee that desperation is a natural reaction whether you wish to believe it or not. The key here is to what extreme you are driven by it. All I'm saying is if you've already kicked Sony in the teeth with a lawsuit, perhaps you would be compelled to take Immersion's tack, but you'd most likely kiss some Sony ass first—which I'm sure they did—but trying to sway them through the use of the international media by pronouncing them inept with their decision to replace rumble with tilt would truly be the last desperate action—which it is.

-aldo

 

[archie4oz]

This is ALL rediculously STUPID. Immersion filed the patent before the Dual Shock. Immersion works in MANY fields other than video games (give up this stupid crack-pot thinking). Immersion actually has a WORKING product unlike patent squaters. Immersion offered the oportunity long ago for Sony to solve this before it ever went to court. After this went to court Sony lost. Sony lost again. In fact, one of the judges was so UPSET with Sony he scolded their tactics and wrote a scathing judgment. Finally, Sony lost ONE MORE TIME!

SOOOOOO......you may not like the patent system, you may not agree with the system, it may need to be fixed, but this is NOT the case of Immersion being the bad guy.

Actually just to make a few corrections. Immersion did *not* file the patent before the advent of the Dual Shock. Immersion didn't even own the intellectual property in question until several years after the advent of the Dual Shock. Virtual Technologies made the initial filings. Immersion acquired Virtual Technologies at the end of 2000 and first approached Sony in 2001 and filed patent infringement lawsuit the day after the patent was granted (2002).

 

[crosseye]

Right, when I'm saying Immersion it's because it's hard enough to get some people here to see the bigger picture as is. However you want to put it, the patent was filed before the Dual Shock, Immersion acquired the company that created the patent (which if you know anything about Immersion was a natural choice as they were involved with stuff like that in other fields. It's kinda like AMD buying ATI) making them the owners.

 

[crosseye]

Speaking from experience, if you've ever been on the verge of losing out on a major account regardless of your diversity, I can guarantee that desperation is a natural reaction whether you wish to believe it or not. The key here is to what extreme you are driven by it. All I'm saying is if you've already kicked Sony in the teeth with a lawsuit, perhaps you would be compelled to take Immersion's tack, but you'd most likely kiss some Sony ass first—which I'm sure they did—but trying to sway them through the use of the international media by pronouncing them inept with their decision to replace rumble with tilt would truly be the last desperate action—which it is.

-aldo

What is so hard to see about this? You can't lose a major account that currently, and never, had ANY intention of paying you? Seriously, Sony has made it beyond clear that this is the case. Not speaking specifically to you, but I REALLY wish people would learn more about the court proceedings before speaking about this.

 

[bRoNx]

@ crosseye: Seeing as you appear to be some expert on the matter (or at least that's the impression I'm getting...), can you point me to where I can aquire some healthy reading material on this case, so I may be up with the play, so to speak.

That'll be much appreciated!

edited by moderator

 

[crosseye]

Well, you could read the legal documents that go with the case. If you understand that type of stuff, but it's about 40 pages long. Also, what you won't find in the documents is the verbal scolding Sony recieved from a judge. Basically Sony was using techniques the court found rediculous to say the least.

 

[aldo]

@ crosseye: Seeing as you appear to be some expert on the matter (or at least that's the impression I'm getting...), can you point me to where I can aquire some healthy reading material on this case, so I may be up with the play, so to speak.

That'll be much appreciated!

edited by moderator

You can go here for the story and a link to a partial transcript and online recording from a recent October 3rd hearing.

-aldo

 

[bRoNx]

Links galore!

My hero!

Also, what you won't find in the documents is the verbal scolding Sony recieved from a judge. Basically Sony was using techniques the court found rediculous to say the least.

Damn! They always leave out the juicy bits!

 

[LunchBox]

I wonder if Immersion has tried investigating possible use of their technology in the Adult Industry... or If they could sue for use of vibration...

 

[crosseye]

I know you're probably being cynical, but many people actually believe this. Immersion's patent is not just a squatting patent. It actually describes in a pretty good detail how their product works and what is unique about it.