Let's play the patent game: more Wii controllers?
by Adams Briscoe 
{ Jul 20th 2006 at 1:25PM }
We thought we were past this whole "Sony copied Nintendo copied blah" stuff, but CVG via Tech-On points out that the new patent we blogged about earlier could possibly be perceived as another pass at Nintendo's Wii controller. You know, besides the other one.If you take a close look at the odd picture that comes along with the patent, you will notice a pen-like apparatus used in conjunction with the camera. This is for image-mapping and converting movements into the 3D environment. But what exactly are we seeing here anyway? I don't think Super Scribbler 3D is in the cards, so could it be a controller not unlike the Nintendo Wii's?
Even more motion-sensing from the Sony camp could backfire. But not if they decide to bring us back our old controller in favor of this new motion-sensing one. Of course, Nintendo fans would have something to say about it if this pen-like device stepped up to replace the DualShake as we currently know it. And then again, maybe we're shooting in the dark here and it's nothing to give any attention to at all. Your thoughts?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Night Elve @ Jul 20th 2006 2:14PM
The actual legal system to registrate patents is very evil not to mention plain stupid.
jkdoug @ Jul 20th 2006 2:43PM
If you're going to say that Sony's patent infringes on the Wii controller because both are cylindrical, you're going to have to also say that Nintendo just copied the design of every remote control in every household. Do you guys even listen to yourselves any more? (Tech-On guys, not PS3 guys.)
Furthermore, this Eye Toy algorithm is an entirely different thing from the motion sensors in the PS3 and Wii controllers. It's object recognition with a fair amount of intelligence to determine orientation. If the Wii has done this already, I've yet to hear of it.
bub @ Jul 20th 2006 3:40PM
First of all, references to Sony's motion control copying Nintendo are moot, because they've been working on that for years. Obviously, companies even working apart will develop similar tools. This happens all over the world, throughout history.
This device is different than the Wii, because the Wii sends out signals as to it's orientation. In the case of Sony's 'penlike' device, it's orientation is read not from signals it gives, but from it's orientation in 3 dimensional space. It is potentially more advanced than Wii, though it's usage may, at least at first, be similar.
What's interesting about this device is that it may represent almost anything that can be scanned and put in-game. So it's conceivable that the player could wear gloves that have a coating recognizable to the device, and a player's hands could be mapped to those of an in-game player. Other things could be mapped: bats, steering wheels, perhaps even human bodies.
jc @ Jul 20th 2006 4:39PM
Cool, finally a 3-D turkey baster game. This must be to compete with the Nintendo Wii and their 'chopping broccoli' game.
uchiha5 @ Jul 20th 2006 6:58PM
Sony would'nt take a big risk and make this pen standard. First of all it has no buttons. And I don't see this as copying at all. One of them is a pen and the other is a remote. Plus one of them can attach to different things (nunchuck, zapper etc..). I think this could be pretty cool but will most likely be as useful as the eyetoy.
SKI @ Jul 21st 2006 5:22PM
"First of all, references to Sony's motion control copying Nintendo are moot, because they've been working on that for years. Obviously, companies even working apart will develop similar tools. This happens all over the world, throughout history."
It's not moot, there is a big difference in developing something, and putting it in every controller as a response to Nintendo. Anyone who thinks that Sony would EVER have put it in the controller if Nintendo hadn't done it is really dumb.
Logan @ Jul 26th 2006 2:29PM
It's funny to listen to playstation fanboys talk about sonys inability to think of their own idea's.... stop copying Nintendo... think of something other than the sucky Itoy...