Advertisement
Sony denies copying Nintendo News
PlayStation 2
PSP
PlayStation 3
News
by
Ellie Gibson
Following reports that Sony only decided to implement motion-sensing technology into its PS3 controller after Nintendo unveiled the Wii remote, Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison has declared that the company first began discussing the idea more than a decade ago.
In an exclusive interview with our sister site, GamesIndustry.biz, Harrison said Sony had been thinking about a developing motion sensitive controller "since 1994," adding: "But in reality you can't make some of the ideas that we have because the technology is not available in sufficient quantity or at a low enough price, and you kind of have to wait for certain things to converge."
"The controller is obviously a surprise to the industry," Harrison continued.
"We've been thinking about it for a while, but it's a relatively recent addition to the format. We didn't show it last year, because we weren't ready to."
When asked if Sony had been influenced by the positive response Nintendo received after unveiling the Wii remote, Harrison replied: "I think that some of the research that we've done, clearly other companies have been doing as well - so there's nothing completely surprising about that.
"But I know that the strategy was to take what was already a winning formula - to have a controller as well regarded as it, and kind of the de facto industry standard that this PlayStation shape controller has become. We kind of took an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' strategy."
However, Harrison went on to concede, "We didn't start the wave, but we've kind of jumped onto that wave.
"I'm quite happy to admit that, but that will be one of the defining characteristics of next-generation gaming, the complexity and sophistication of input that you can get from a very simple device."
To find out why the boomerang prototype never made it, what Harrison thinks of the PS3 software line-up and why he's not bothered if you didn't think much of Sony's E3 press conference, read the full interview.
Advertisement
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
Poster
|
Triggerhappytel
12/05/06 @ 09:26
0
"We didn't show it last year, because we weren't ready to."
Translation: "We didn't show it last year, because the idea didn't exist." |
|
0
Well I think all this 'stealing' talk is ridiculous - after all Ninty's isn't the FIRST EVER controller to have motion sensing capabilities, despite what most of you may believe.
However, sacrificing rumble (something that set the current consoles above PCs) in your joypad is plain stupid. So Sony too are not doing themselves any favours. |
|
BillGaitas
12/05/06 @ 09:36
0
what ever happened to last year controller??
Boomerang FTW edit: never mind
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 12/05/06 @ 10:37
|
|
Pac-man ate my wife
12/05/06 @ 09:37
0
I have no problems with Sony using motion sensing technology, and even MS beat Nintendo to that one. My issue is that it appears to be totally last minute and tacked on - even many developers didn't know this function existed or was planned.
It all just seems a bit half-baked. One demo of a game that 3 weeks before didn't use the technology? Doesn't seem like a well thought out intergrated strategy to me and consequently I question a) whether any developers will seriously use it and b) is it worth losing the rumble function over? |
|
gamingdave
12/05/06 @ 09:41
0
If they really thought of it 12 years ago, then why is there implementation of it now so slapdash. It really doesnt look like its anywhere near as sophisticated as Nintendos implementation.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 12/05/06 @ 10:41
|
|
0
Ugh.
So now it's not a gimmick anymore, huh? We kind of took an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' strategy. Except that the Dual Shock has been broke since its birth by shoehorning two analogue sticks into a controller they didn't belong in after seeing the competition do it. It sucks, you do need to fix it. |
|
Derblington
12/05/06 @ 09:43
0
Rumble is totally overrated. Howmany games can you remember that have used it memorably? I can pick... one. Can you point out the exact places the rumble comes into effect in the last 10 games you've played? It's just something that was cool initially but now is just there. No loss.
|
|
Pac-man ate my wife
12/05/06 @ 09:44
0
@ IAmBatman
I read that it was, but if that's not the case I don't mind being corrected. So why did they lose the rumble then? |
|
Pac-man ate my wife
12/05/06 @ 09:45
0
@ Derbs
Driving games have always been improved with intelligent use of rumble, for me at least. |
|
MightyPenguin
12/05/06 @ 09:45
0
"You guys've got it all wrong. Ninty stole the idea from us. Yeah. They used, like, psychic ninjas to see into our designers minds. And, uh, their version sucks. So yeah."
It really wouldn't be so much of a problem if they just had the decency to admit that they took inspiration from Ninty. |
|
0
@dk_rare : What in HELL does it matter if a motion sensing controller has been mainstream or not? The idea has been out there, and people knew about it - period. Obviously Ninty have been pioneers in bringing it to the masses (hopefully).
Just looking for excuses to troll here, aren't you? @Derblington : Yeah I admit it doesn't work for everyone. For me it has been downright thrilling in racing and tennis games.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 12/05/06 @ 10:47
|
|
0
Motion sensing in the Wii controller was not copied by Sony. It is far more advanced. Sony's tilt technology is more likely to be along the line of what we have seen before in tilty controllers.
However, I have to agree that it all looks very last minute for Sony and something that may not be used by many developers, especially in launch games and due to this I think a lot of initial buyers will be wondering what has happened their rumble. If they can't do rumble and tilt together at least let the develop select which they want to use. Rumble adds more than the odd niche game with tilt. |
|
SeesThroughAll
12/05/06 @ 09:49
0
If they can't do rumble and tilt together at least let the develop select which they want to use. Rumble adds more than the odd niche game with tilt.
They just can't do rumble at all. Period. Legal reasons. |
|
0
If Sony really did borrow the idea from Nintendo following the Wii remote's unveiling at TGS last year, then the central concern is promoting the use of the tilt functionality. Nintendo's single purpose from TGS to this year's E3 has been asking people to try the games that have been built from the ground-up to use the remote. On the other hand, Dylan Jobe freely admits tilt functionality was added to WarHawk several days before the start of E3. Whether you interpret that to mean Sony's tilt functionality software is easy to incorporate is up to you, but personally, it smacks of the tilt function being an after-thought for Sony.
WarHawk is also the only game being shown that uses the tilt function, and yet, it seems from the Dylan Jobe interview it won't be a launch title. What will be showcasing the innovative new form of gesturing at Sony's PS3 launch in November then? |
|
0
@smelly : Sorry to spoil your party - the Wii controller is exciting I agree. But can its upcoming games appeal to anyone other than Ninty's core audience? Because most gamers want, you know, 'prettier pixels'.
Ninty's approach is different and I applaud them for it (although you can also see lower investment= lower risk, after the self-admitted debacle of the GC), but it is not necessarily better or worse than that of MS or Sony. They are following a totally different path and I think there is no point in comparisons anymore. EDIT: Oops I completely misinterpreted your post. Nevertheless I am not deleting my reply - that will completely ruin me around here.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 12/05/06 @ 11:12
|
|
tentonipete
12/05/06 @ 10:15
0
hey ellie, i saw you on bbc news 24 the other night being interviewed and would just like to say...
YOU WOULD GET IT! i know how hard it is to talk to dumkopfs about video games especially when they ask brainless questions and you came across well. props for staying up that late too... |
|
0
I was quite looking forward to the PS3 but it seems that everything that sounded so good was just hype to draw attention away from the 360 launch last year.
Would have to say that I am now much more interested in getting a Wii and 360 for the same money that I would have to pay just for the PS3. EDIT: Also lets face it waving the PS3 controller around like a light saber would look a bit crazy.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 12/05/06 @ 11:21
|
|
0
@Hansi 320 - People aren't Sony-bashing for the hell of it, there was/is real disappointment about the lack of innovative features they are building into their products. I own a Xbox, PS2 and a 360 and was possibly looking to get a PS3 somewhere down the line but what Xbox do Live better, Wii is bound to be more fun on the Wii-mote than with a tilt-sensitive device on the PS3. Now, when I look to have two consoles I am thinking 360 + Wii = PS3. Are you gonna choose the two originals or the one copy-cat. I can't think of anything revealed by Sony this E3 that is original and exciting.
|
|
0
Talha: But can its upcoming games appeal to anyone other than Ninty's core audience? Because most gamers want, you know, 'prettier pixels'.
Well... Don't know about the "most gamers", but at least I want good games, no matter how it looks like. Seeing that Shadow of the Colossus is probably the most impressive looking game released during the past half year and looking at the current flow of next-gen titles I don't see any big leap anywhere... Games will look better in time on the new consoles, for sure. Just been looking at a big bunch of E3 trailers and I can't help noticing how nothing is even surpassing what was shown last year. :) Only recent console (since Dreamcast) I have at home is X360 - which doesn't stop me from being very excited on the Wii controller and the whole package Nintendo is delivering. Sony copying the idea? Perhaps... I don't care really, PS3 is like a cold shower at the moment - don't have to think twice what to get for xmas if the alternatives cost 250 euros and 600 euros - especially when X360 is already there to deliver most of the things PS3 does. |
|
0
hahaha - more Sony bullshit!
Quick! Someone add it to UK:R's Sony Lies Wiki! |
|
0
What bullshit. It's such a blatant lift from the Wii, just as the original PS controller lifted its principle elements from the SNES controller, and just as the Analogue PS controller stole the analogue stick idea from the N64, and the Dual Shock pinched the rumble from the 64's Rumble Pak.
They could at least be honest about their manifest unoriginality. |
|
0
Hansi320
Fair play. I actually really want all consoles to do well and push the boundaries of gaming, increase competition and make sure none of the companies slack off and think gamers will buy anything, play anything. I think the main reason that people are pissed off at Sony is the way that last E3 everthing was really overhyped to basically diss the 360 as a piece of out-of-date tat. Then all those promises fell by the wayside when the dual HDMI outputs were dropped and the trailers for their amazing looking games turned out to be all pre-rendered etc. Sony will still sell millions of consoles because of their huge fan base. I just hope this E3 has made them realise they can't take their customers for granted. |
|
0
@Hansi320
I agree with your point about games being the most important but to a degree the cost of the machine plays a part as well. You said yourself that there is little to choose between the 360 and the ps3 so why pay so much more for the machine, especially as the 360 is bound to drop in price before the ps3 launch and have a years worth of releases? The worst news from Sony's point of view this E3 must be that GTA4 will be coming out on 360 and PS3 at the same time, that has always been a great exclusive for them which i'm sure helped shift many ps2's. |
|
DaveTheHutt
12/05/06 @ 10:43
0
I love that comment Phil made to some journo after the Sony pre-show conf, asking about why motion sensors but no rumble, and he spouted some bullshit about rumble was last gen, motion sensing is next gen... what a smug, pompous cock.
Why not just admit the truth... they bodged in some cheap tilt sensors so they could be seen to be innovating like Nintendo, and had to make room by chopping out the rumble. This whole joystick business seems symbolic to me of Sony's whole approach with the PS3 - it's a Frankenstein's monster of elements that have been bolted together to guarantee one-upmanship in the spec sheet comparisons, but there's been little actual thought about *why* those elements are in there, i.e. does the consumer really need them to have a top gaming experience. Hutt out |
|
0
"Why not just admit the truth... they bodged in some cheap tilt sensors so they could be seen to be innovating like Nintendo, and had to make room by chopping out the rumble"
I think what actually happened is that Nintendo developed rumble technology, Sony copied it (I believe there was a lawsuit) and didn't want to have to pay Ninty to put the technology in the PS3 pads. I guess instead of lawfully paying Ninty for the rights (like MS with the 360), they decided to underhandedly copy their next innovative idea, having tilt/motion sensor in the pad (and yes - I know MS had this in their freestyle controller a while back!). |
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
