Sony’s New Patent Set to Move Us

All gamers know who the best is when it comes to the application of motion control technology. Starts with “N” and ends with “O.” Most Sony games lack support for the motion control embedded in the DualShock 3, and with this new patent application it is possible Sony has created another disposable feature.

Sony’s patent includes a couple new things: a multi-use controller and PlayStation Eye support through the camera and microphone for detection. These simple details could boost the dead motion technology barely used in PS3 games. Browsing the patent images and the prototype controller, I’ve found some interesting possibilities; but only through proper application—and actually releasing games that support this new control scheme—will success be found.

As the images are merely illustrations of possible applications, we can’t take them for fact—yet. The new controller may not look like a dowel with a tennis ball on the end in its final iteration, but it allows engineers to see the possible construction mechanics. The big news visible here is that the controller can be separated into different parts, the illustration above showing a removable D-pad and face button plates.

With the PlayStation Eye, the camera and microphone will track the movement of the controller and relay that to the screen, much like the Wii Remote. The use of the camera is an obvious choice, for depth perception and visual tracking. Through the use of sonar, the microphone will assist in computing the position of the controllers in relation to the television.

Even with the patent submitted, it’s still possible that nothing will be released with this technology. Sony may have learned their lessons with the rumble tech infringement case and this patent infringement case, and are just planting seeds for the future. Either way, if Sony wants this new controller to succeed, there need to be games that will use it. Otherwise, it will follow in the steps of these unfortunate creations.