Immersion Speaks Out on the PS3 Controller

[Black Dragon37]

By now you've all heard that there's no rumble in the PS3 controller. But why did Sony remove this standard feature? Was it a technical hurdle as they claim, or did the Immersion lawsuit come into play? Immersion CEO Vic Viegas speaks out on the matter in this exclusive interview.

 

[rusty]

bit of a biased opinion though isn't it


i personally am not that fussed about the lack of rumble - i have infact turned it off on my 360 anyway...


i did however find the last minute "me too" motion sensing effort somewhat off-putting, and am having difficulty in comprehending just how it's really going to improve my gameplay experience - with the Wii it's a much more concerted effort and consequently allows games to be played completely differently, here's it's just something of a half arsed attempt to tick off a box on the spec sheet (all imo of course).


with that in mind (and the number of people that seem bothered by the lack of rumble) i do think sony made an error in going with motion over rumble (not that i believe both couldn't work together, as stated in the article, but rather that from a cost perspective it was one or the other).

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't think this is anything new, but I will quote a part that is essential reading for those who believe companies 'have enemies' and 'bare grudges' in the business world...

For example, we have what we believe to be a much better next-generation gaming technology that is more crisp and precise, would be less expensive to implement and we'd be happy to share that with them. In fact, we demonstrated the capability to them and they were quite impressed, but the lawsuit seems to be in the way.

Even with a potentially devastating injunction looming, and lots of fines already, Sony and Immersion were in talks about new ideas.

 

[Black Dragon37]

At least Immersion have learnt a bit about forgiveness...

 

[Acert93]

Even with a potentially devastating injunction looming, and lots of fines already, Sony and Immersion were in talks about new ideas.

Yeah, they showed it to them, so if Sony ever uses the technology Immersion can say, "They stole from us again! We showed it under good faith for possible licensing and they up and went adding it without a license!"

No, seriously. I would not put people in the industry beyond this sort of behavior. It is kind of like the patent squating being akin to fishing, and this would be akin to snaring.

 

[Rolf N]

I say good riddance to the rumble and meh to the motion sensors, but there's really something else I just don't get: basic ergonomics. They had so much time to work on the controller. And after the press dismisses the "Boomerang", they go back to the same shape and layout they always had.

I just can't understand how the Dual Shock physical design can be considered acceptable. The analog sticks are simply in the wrong place, because the d-pad, which is total shite I might add, is in the way. Fwiw I played 80+ hours of Final Fantasy X last summer and while I very much liked the game, my left thumb hurt all the time. Playing games on the PS2 has been a physically painful experience for me, and the only way I'll do it is if the game really makes up for it in some way.

I may be an extreme case, but someone somewhere must have had the same problems. Someone must have noticed that the pad layout is wrong, ergonomically. I fully expected Sony to realize this and do something about it for PS3. I thought this was the reason for the "Boomerang". I was puzzled as everyone else but at the same time I was glad that someone inside Sony noticed that they just can't keep their old controller design. And now that the Boomerang is gone, we're back to that torturing device.

This just doesn't fly with me. I sincerely hope there'll be a significantly different controller design when the machine ships, and the "DS3" was shown at E3 only because they weren't ready with the proper controller.

 

[drpepper]

I just can't understand how the Dual Shock physical design can be considered acceptable. The analog sticks are simply in the wrong place, because the d-pad, which is total shite I might add, is in the way. Fwiw I played 80+ hours of Final Fantasy X last summer and while I very much liked the game, my left thumb hurt all the time. Playing games on the PS2 has been a physically painful experience for me, and the only way I'll do it is if the game really makes up for it in some way.

I may be an extreme case, but someone somewhere must have had the same problems. Someone must have noticed that the pad layout is wrong, ergonomically. I fully expected Sony to realize this and do something about it for PS3. I thought this was the reason for the "Boomerang". I was puzzled as everyone else but at the same time I was glad that someone inside Sony noticed that they just can't keep their old controller design. And now that the Boomerang is gone, we're back to that torturing device.

How can the d-pad be in the way of the analogue stick? How the heck are you holding the controller? I find it very comfortable and easy to handle.

Since I rarely use the d-pad (except when playing old PS1 games) I rarely ever get to use it.

 

[pegisys]

How can the d-pad be in the way of the analogue stick? How the heck are you holding the controller? I find it very comfortable and easy to handle.

Since I rarely use the d-pad (except when playing old PS1 games) I rarely ever get to use it.

I think he means they should switch places, and if so I agree. the thumb stick the way they are on the 360, xbox, and gamecube are more comfortable

 

[Rolf N]

I think he means they should switch places, and if so I agree. the thumb stick the way they are on the 360, xbox, and gamecube are more comfortable

Yep, that's what I meant.

I wrote the d-pad is "in the way" because the d-pad is in the spot where I'd like the analog stick. Only one of them can be in that signle spot obviously

 

[Sis]

Yeah, they showed it to them, so if Sony ever uses the technology Immersion can say, "They stole from us again! We showed it under good faith for possible licensing and they up and went adding it without a license!"

No, seriously. I would not put people in the industry beyond this sort of behavior. It is kind of like the patent squating being akin to fishing, and this would be akin to snaring.

Well, if it infringes, it infringes. Prior knowledge only means that the damages awarded could be tripled, in the US at least.

EDIT: And this is why--if you work for a large company--it's really bad to read up on patents. Ignarance, in this case, is preferable to knowledge.

 

[Sis]

I say good riddance to the rumble

I like rumble, though.

 

[ANova]

Wow, Immersion wants to help Sony incorporate force feedback. Maybe that has something to do with them making money off of the license. Maybe Sony removed it because they didn't want to deal with Immersion after being sued?

 

[mckmas8808]

Sony just make the change with Immersion god.

 

[darkblu]

my favourite quote from that interview

"Vibration adds that third dimension—sight, sound and touch. Without touch... it's like playing in the closet with the lights off; there's no feedback, takes completely away from the gameplay," he concluded.

replace 'vibration' with 'vibration patents' and all occurences of 'touch' with 'licensing fees'.. replace 'feedback' with 'revenue' and all of a sudden it becomes much more meaningful ; )

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Wow, Immersion wants to help Sony incorporate force feedback.

Because then Sony pay them money. It's called business

 

[aldo]

I just couldn't help myself. Check out Viegas comments and The Inquirer's interpretation:

Gamedaily - Viegas added, "It's interesting that the PS3 controller, if you felt it, it feels extremely light, flimsy almost. There's a lack of substance to what is an expensive product and there's a cavity in the handles that would actually accommodate two rotating mass motors. So it's possible that at the last minute they were taken out; it's possible that they could easily be added back in."

The Inquirer - Sony said that the reason that its new controller can't vibrate is because it interferes with the technology which allows you to interact by waving it about. However, according to Immersion boss Victor Viegas, the problem is because the controller is too light and flimsy.

Pure jounalistic genius.

-aldo

 

[slider]

Hilarious @aldo, absolutely hilarious.

 

[-NakedZ-]

I'm still hoping 3rd party devs would supports feedback for 3rd party [peripheral] company. But I doubt it though. One thing though, how about force feedback wheel for racing games? I wish Sony have just swallowed their pride.

.Z

 

[NANOTEC]

I think he means they should switch places, and if so I agree. the thumb stick the way they are on the 360, xbox, and gamecube are more comfortable

Agreed. Anyway I find the injuction will be very damaging if SONY's appeal fails.

 

[mckmas8808]

I'm still hoping 3rd party devs would supports feedback for 3rd party [peripheral] company. But I doubt it though. One thing though, how about force feedback wheel for racing games? I wish Sony have just swallowed their pride.

.Z

Yes please Sony let me feel my Warhawk sway left and right as I move it controller side to side.