The 2004 case between Sony Computer Entertainment and force-feedback/Rumble-pak creators Immersion Corp that centred on the rumble technology within PS2 controllers has finally been settled, again.
On a happier note, both companies have also entered into an agreement to use Immersion’s ‘vibro-tactile’ technology – and, although neither side has yet confirmed it, it must mean rumble for the PS3 without recourse to mooted third-party technology.
The nearest we have come to a full confirmation is a statement made by Kazuo Hirai, SCE’s President and Group Chief Operating Officer, who said, "We look forward to exploring with Immersion exciting new ways to bring the largest and best range of gameplay experiences to our customers.
“We are very excited about our new partnership with Immersion and the potential for new and innovative products incorporating their technologies."
Let's hope Kaz can convince head of Sony's Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison - who recently pointed out that rumble was 'last-gen' technology, to reconsider his position.
This was supported by Immersion CEO, Victor Viegas, who comments "Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community. We are happy to provide our technology in this regard and hope to make technical proposals very soon with respect to use of our technology in the PlayStation products."
According to a joint press release, “Immersion will receive the amount of the judgment entered by the District Court, which includes damages, pre-judgment interest, costs, and interest, in addition to retaining compulsory license fees ordered by the District Court which were already paid. Terms of the business agreement between the parties provide SCE with certain new rights with respect to Immersion's patent portfolio."
“Additional financial terms are not being disclosed. The conclusion of this litigation and the agreement will have no material impact on Sony's consolidated earnings forecast announced on January 30, 2007.”
On a happier note, both companies have also entered into an agreement to use Immersion’s ‘vibro-tactile’ technology – and, although neither side has yet confirmed it, it must mean rumble for the PS3 without recourse to mooted third-party technology.
The nearest we have come to a full confirmation is a statement made by Kazuo Hirai, SCE’s President and Group Chief Operating Officer, who said, "We look forward to exploring with Immersion exciting new ways to bring the largest and best range of gameplay experiences to our customers.
“We are very excited about our new partnership with Immersion and the potential for new and innovative products incorporating their technologies."
Let's hope Kaz can convince head of Sony's Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison - who recently pointed out that rumble was 'last-gen' technology, to reconsider his position.
This was supported by Immersion CEO, Victor Viegas, who comments "Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community. We are happy to provide our technology in this regard and hope to make technical proposals very soon with respect to use of our technology in the PlayStation products."
According to a joint press release, “Immersion will receive the amount of the judgment entered by the District Court, which includes damages, pre-judgment interest, costs, and interest, in addition to retaining compulsory license fees ordered by the District Court which were already paid. Terms of the business agreement between the parties provide SCE with certain new rights with respect to Immersion's patent portfolio."
“Additional financial terms are not being disclosed. The conclusion of this litigation and the agreement will have no material impact on Sony's consolidated earnings forecast announced on January 30, 2007.”
Companies:
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Comments
schnide 2 Mar 2007 11:31
1/10
ATTENTION SONY.
If you have any sense, just come out and say "Okay, we know we were just talking corporate speak for the sake of PR and we did want rumble all along. We'll bring it back, and offer to replace any non-rumble SixAxis controllers with rumble-enabled ones. Now let's win this thing! Yeeehah!"
(Last part not necessary)
If you have any sense, just come out and say "Okay, we know we were just talking corporate speak for the sake of PR and we did want rumble all along. We'll bring it back, and offer to replace any non-rumble SixAxis controllers with rumble-enabled ones. Now let's win this thing! Yeeehah!"
(Last part not necessary)
sneakyduck 2 Mar 2007 12:30
2/10
No I think the part about replacing your old non-vibrating Six-whatever controllers is totally necessary. Sony has been talking so much s**t over the past couple of months about how rumble is so passe and now it's hot news again. I guarantee you'll see a "premium" controller package in the next few months. They should come down from their soap box, stop talking so much b******s and give everybody the product they wanted from the start rather than constantly giving out misleading and contradictory quotes to the press about how it's not possible or even "that good".
This is just one more example of how Sony continue to piss off their fanbase and push them onto their competitors if you ask me.
This is just one more example of how Sony continue to piss off their fanbase and push them onto their competitors if you ask me.
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Joji 2 Mar 2007 13:32
3/10
Jeez, another Sony u-turn. I applaud the burying the hatchet with Immersion though, but what about MS and Nintendo (didn't Immersion have a beef with them too on this same subject?)?
Now you are learning Sony, keep it simple and don't charge a freaking fortune for your pads either. I too wish they'd just say 'we were wrong and underestimated how much gamers like the rumble pad.'
Now you are learning Sony, keep it simple and don't charge a freaking fortune for your pads either. I too wish they'd just say 'we were wrong and underestimated how much gamers like the rumble pad.'
schnide 2 Mar 2007 14:30
4/10
sneakyduck wrote:
No I think the part about replacing your old non-vibrating Six-whatever controllers is totally necessary. Sony has been talking so much s**t over the past couple of months about how rumble is so passe and now it's hot news again. I guarantee you'll see a "premium" controller package in the next few months. They should come down from their soap box, stop talking so much b******s and give everybody the product they wanted from the start rather than constantly giving out misleading and contradictory quotes to the press about how it's not possible or even "that good".
Um, so.. you mean like I said?
hollywooda 5 Mar 2007 16:11
5/10
problem is none of the games have been programmed with Rumble in them, but going 4ward this is a good thing, but still way too little too late for me...
RiseFromYourGrave 5 Mar 2007 22:09
6/10
none of the current flock are must have titles anyway, by the time it gets some killer apps the rumble feature will be back in full force im sure
does anyone think that sony changed their minds on this to keep the developers making their future blockbusters like MGS4 (kojima loves that rumble) happy? without their mgs's etc theyre up s**t creek and will probably do everything to keep them sweet right now
does anyone think that sony changed their minds on this to keep the developers making their future blockbusters like MGS4 (kojima loves that rumble) happy? without their mgs's etc theyre up s**t creek and will probably do everything to keep them sweet right now
tyrion 6 Mar 2007 09:12
7/10
RiseFromYourGrave wrote:
none of the current flock are must have titles anyway, by the time it gets some killer apps the rumble feature will be back in full force im sure
I'm really looking forward to Motorstorm, but I think that would be one of the launch titles that would make best use of rumble if it were present.
RiseFromYourGrave wrote:
does anyone think that sony changed their minds on this to keep the developers making their future blockbusters like MGS4 (kojima loves that rumble) happy?
If Sony wanted to settle due to those conditions, they could have just paid up and settled it before the PS3 went into production. On the other hand if they thought that motion sensing would sell more PS3s than rumble they may have held off on the suit to see what happened. Now that the PS3 isn't selling in as large numbers as they would like, Sony settle to get rumble back in.
Of course, if Immersion wanted to drag the case out for as long as possible they could easily just reject Sony's offers until they got to a point where they had the upper hand.
I bet you could retro-fit rumble into the sixaxis quite simply. Certainly Immersion seem sure that they can overcome the "rumble affects motion sensing" issue that Sony once claimed was the reason they dropped force feedback.
In fact, I'd be willing to bet that there is a set of APIs already in the PS3's software that will send rumble signals to the sixaxis once the rumble feature has been restored. It's quite possible that the first-party games already make use of these function calls and will support rumble as soon as it is available again.
RiseFromYourGrave wrote:
without their mgs's etc theyre up s**t creek and will probably do everything to keep them sweet right now
Well that's partly true, but Sony has quite a few high-profile properties of their own that they can keep developing. Remember, they have the third largest development staff in the world.
PreciousRoi 6 Mar 2007 10:21
8/10
MS settled with Immersion (bought them?), and Nintendo claims, and this claim has some obvious merits, that the rumble technology they've employed doesn't fall under Immersion's patent. Immersion's (and Sony's and MS') uses twinned motors and different asymetrical weights, apparently Nintendo's doesn't (didn't?)
So Sony was really the only one left that hadn't either ponyed up, or had a good excuse.
So Sony was really the only one left that hadn't either ponyed up, or had a good excuse.
OptimusP 6 Mar 2007 16:18
9/10
MS bought around 20 % of Immersion as part of the settlement (i think), gave Immersion the extra cash flow to sue Sony afterwards.
Nintendo, i think, also uses twinmotor rumble but with symmetrical and equal weights.
let's browse trough patents to know for sure...if only the english they used was actually...well...readable without getting a huge headache.
Nintendo, i think, also uses twinmotor rumble but with symmetrical and equal weights.
let's browse trough patents to know for sure...if only the english they used was actually...well...readable without getting a huge headache.
RiseFromYourGrave 6 Mar 2007 21:37
10/10
well there could be a million reasons why sony couldnt settle at the time, or thought it good sense not to.
and whereas sony does have a few great franchises, id say it will never retain market leader status on its own steam.
monetarily, it would seem bigger means better number-of-employees-wise. as for quality.. well if EA top the list..