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Sony’s gone ahead and patented a lunatic amount of add-ons for its upcoming motion controller. Kotaku’s got a decent précis.
Basically, if you can imagine something that you can stick on the end of a stick, Sony’s probably just patented it. The patent itself is for an “Expandable Control Device Via Hardware Attachment”.
It’s all bollocks, obviously. The motion controller itself is planned for a spring release.
Viewing 13 responses
DrDamn said:
Swappable control faceplates look like a cunning idea.
DrDamn said:
Actually looking at the scans it looks interesting. When Nintendo did a similar patent the picks were of a vast array of plastic add ons to make the wiimote look like something else but not add functionality. These designs – whilst they may never get used – look to be about functionality and not frippery.
JonFE said:
There’s something wrong with Fig. 6B, but I just can’t put my finger on it. Anyone care to enlighten me?
http://cache-foo-01.gawkerassets.com/gawker/assets/images/9/2009/12/500x_wand_patent_6.jpg
Robo_1 said:
How about an analogue stick attachment????
Gekidami said:
Rumour is a ‘nunchuck’ is being worked on.
Blerk said:
Oh Gods, make it stop!
Quiiick said:
@ Robo_1
Figure 2D on sheet 2 of the patent may be some kind of analogue controller.
http://cache-foo-09.gawkerassets.com/gawker/assets/images/9/2009/12/500x_wand_patent_8.jpg
theevilaires said:
this is getting stupid. Its due out spring eh?… I feel sorry for the poor bastards. Its gonna sell well around Gow3,FFXIII,GT5,and all the other 3rd party games….stupid,stupid,stupid.
JonFE said:
What? tea questioning Sony’s tactics?? Is it 2012 already???
The Hindle said:
Can you imagine say Uncharted 3 with motion controls or Killzone 3, it will be like what the Wii should be hi def graphics with the Wii remote
McLovin85 said:
‘Can you imagine say Uncharted 3 with motion controls or Killzone 3′
Yes…yes i can and it would be shit. I’d take sitting down on my sofa with a controller any day of the week. Motion controllers r just useless.
Mauller said:
Thing is going to end up looking more like a dildo than the Wiimote with it’s vibration.
Quiiick said:
I agree with those who are skeptical about control schemes other than the standard “12 buttons + 2 analogue sticks” gamepad for consoles. On the other hand I strongly believe that game input methods need to evolve over time.
I just wish Sony or MS could somehow upgrade the analogue sticks of a regular controller in such a way that precision would be much better. Ideally even more accurate than mouse input for pc-games. I guess no one would refuse such a device even if these controllers would be double in price.
My advice: don’t reinvent the input schemes, just try to make standard controllers even more precise to aim and move around within a game.