That's no moon
|
|
|
Sony’s universal controller
JAPAN'S CONSUMER ELECTRONICS HEAVYWEIGHT Sony has filed patents for a universal game controller that can be used on Nintendo and Microsoft consoles, according to Go Rumours.
The patent filed at the US Patent and Trademark office describes a touch sensitive universal controller:
"A game console controller includes a hand-holdable housing and a touch sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD) on the housing. The LCD is caused to present, depending on what type of game console a user has selected, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console. A key layout includes plural keys selectable by a user to input commands to a game console."
Will it be the controller to end all controllers or one controller to rule them all? Of that we can't be certain. Sony has been working on its motion controller while Microsoft is still tinkering away on Project Natal. Nintendo hasn't made any announcements yet for next generation controllers technology it's supposed to launch for the rumoured Wii 2.0 2011. What we do know that the registered patent background of invention implies that it will be a complementary controller:
"Just like remote controls, game consoles, and thus game controllers, are becoming widespread. It is not surprising to find more than one game consoles in a household, especially when competing game console manufacturers attempt to attract unconventional consumer groups in the gaming industry. As understood herein, it would be useful to have a universal controller that would be able to work with a variety of game consoles."
With consoles now capable of media hub and home network functionality, we wouldn't be surprised that the universal controller was envisioned as a media controller. One that can also be used to work on any console you happen to be hooked up to. The patent hints at this in footnote 21:
"The game console(s) 20, 22 communicate with an audio-video appliance 40 such as a television that may include a video monitor 42 and one or more audio speakers 44. The appliance 40 may also include its own appliance processor 46 and computer readable medium 48. The appliance 40 can present images and sounds of computer games as the games are embodied in signals received from a game console."
What is most surprising about the patent is that, in the competitive world of console manufacturing, Sony looks like it's offering an olive branch. Traditionally Sony's mentality has always been that if you buy Sony then everything you buy has to be Sony. While this means the company is very good at technological innovation, it also means punters get caught in Sony's monopolistic proprietary clutches world with no hope of escape. Its Memory Stick format locked-in users to Sony gadgets while its attempt to enforce new formats like Mini Disc and UMD on the PSP have been abandoned. If Sony is looking for open standard support with rival manufacturers to make the world a slightly less confusing, contentious and difficult place then I, for one, am up for that. µ
Share this:
Share
therefor, it's trying to screw me in some way, somehow, at one point or another.
I don't trust SONY any more than I can throw my mother-in-law, and believe me, I'd like to !
It's a game controller plus you can use it as a universal remote for your TV/stereo/surround/cable/etc. etc. And the buttons for all the other devices will be part of a touch screen LCD that can change depending on the device you are operating, and need not have anything to do with game play.
Look at how complicated a universal remote that comes with a cable/dish DVR, and you understand why they didn't want to complicate a game controller with that.
Surely if Nintendo's console number 1 was called Wii, number 2 should be called Poo?
I wonder if Nintendo will name the next console Wii Too.
The English play on word seems to make sense to me.
While touch controls work for a wandheld system, or even a home theater remote. They will not work for a home game console. Anything that requires you to look at the tv rather than the touchscreen makes the touchscreen useless. You'll never be able to figure out you've been hitting triangle instead of square until you're dead. Purely a speculative crap patent.
The quotes in the article don't say anything that indictes the controller is compatible with other brands.
The controller could just be compatible with sony's consoles (PS2, PS3, PS4?) and other appliances (TVs, stereos etc)
this way no one else can bring out a universal controller, as Sony has now patented the idea. They aren't looking to provide or participate in a open industry standard, but are trying to prevent one from ever happening.
Because can't imagine a touch screen to actually be used for the purpose: no sensing for location, no tactile feedback that a key was pressed. Even with real keys in addition, little use and so obvious that not actually patentable.