Rumble back on PS3 controllers?

Sony settles differences with tech company Immersion

Friday 2 March 2007
PlayStation 3's Sixaxis controller could soon be reissued, complete with rumble capability, following Sony's settlement with Immersion, the technology company who hold the patent on the equipment that creates the rumble feature in controllers.

"Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community," Immersion announced today in a press release published on its official website: Immersion and Sony Computer Entertainment Conclude Litigation and Enter into Business Agreement. Sounds promising, no?

Immersion had been involved in a legal battle with Sony over the Dual Shock's use of rumble technology - and it's been widely suggested that the disagreement (and the money involved) was the reason Sixaxis was created without rumble features.

However, with the case settled, Sony is looking forward to working with Immersion in future: "We look forward to exploring with Immersion exciting new ways to bring the largest and best range of gameplay experiences to our customers," says Kaz Hirai, Sony president.

While this doesn't guarantee rumble will reach Sixaxis, we'll certainly be betting the house on Immersion's rumble technology making its way into Sony's own peripherals in the near future.


ALSO on a side note, looks like the PS3 is getting its own type of achievments(*rumours alert*)

Friday 2 March 2007
Sony could be revealing a trophy room-style feature for PlayStation 3 called Home next week, which would bridge the gap between Wii's user-created Mii characters and Xbox 360's game-linked Achievement points system.

The Home feature will see you create a Mii-esque avatar, who lives in a room saved on your PS3 - and which will begin to fill up with items, or trophies, specific to your achievements in each PS3 game you play, according to an anonymous source quoted by webblog Kotaku.

This would seem to sit well with the rumoured Entitlements service from last year, with your success entitling you to place a model of a car, or a guitar, or whatever in your room. And also with comments made recently by Phil Harrison, head of Sony's worldwide studios, to website NG-Gamer, when asked about fun plans for the future: "It has something to do with the Home button on the Sixaxis controller, and with the community," Harrison hinted.

[Don_Rico]

Yay! Now I'll buy a PS3 controller! Screw the console!

[FlyACL]

I read both of them yesterday. I hope they do get the rumble back. Kind of strange without it. And the GDC announcement from Phil should be good!

[Blank]

The other day, Sony said rumble was 'last-gen' and not important. Now they've gone back on their word.

This is exactly why I hate Sony.

[Blasterpez]

Heard originally that sony didn't want to pay royalties for the rumble feature. But they said the tilt function wouldn't work with a rumble feature, though it will. I don't recall the tilt feature was a feature when they started hyping the ps3, i think it came along after nintendo started talking about the wii, and sony wanted to jump on the bandwagon. either way, the new ps3 controllers do feel really cheap because there is no weight to them.

[Hexaug31]

... is it just me or does sony's achvment program sound better to you then xbox 360's

[FlyACL]

I think the reason they were saying they didn't care or want rumble was because they were still involved in the legal proceedings over it. It would not make much sense for them to be out talking about how bad they wanted rumble back, but then go to Immersion and act like they don't care and are not going to pay...

They wanted it, gamers wanted it, and Immersion wanted to get paid for it. The sad part is they didn't get this worked out a long time ago. Now it will take a while for developers to begin putting it back into the games and current owners (me) are going to have to go buy two more controllers...

FYI, IMO the SIXAXIS (tilt stuff) suck.. or is it sux...

Take care~

[FlyACL]

Originally Posted by Hexaug31

... is it just me or does sony's achvment program sound better to you then xbox 360's

I think it is a bit early to even begin to think about. Considering all we have so far is a rumor with very little detail.

Sony also said they will have online game play. So far that is only half true IMO.

This is not to say that I don't want something similar. I do. But I have gotten my hopes up before and been disappointed. So until I have more to go on then half a quote here and an anonymous source there, I will not be trying to decide what is better....

[Thechampishere]

Now Im getting the ps3 in december. Im sure by that time they would have fixed all the issues plus all the hyped games should be out as well. Thats the same reason I waited this long before i got the 360.
Way to go Sony!!!

[ohheysean]

When i see it i will believe it.

The only issue i have with this is that a lot of original buyers are going to be demanding a replacement for the controllers that they already purchased. It would have to be a special version of the controller like Sixaxis 2.0 and price tag at 100 US dollars to pay the immersion royalties.

[ReaperMojo]

Originally Posted by Hexaug31

... is it just me or does sony's achvment program sound better to you then xbox 360's

NO, i still like xbox's way better.