By Max Brenn
10:47, June 15th 2008
According to several news reports, Sony is working to create a new controller for its next-gen gaming platform, PlayStation 3. The big surprise (or maybe not so big) is that the new controller seems inspired by the already famous Wiimote.
The gaming site Gamesindustry.biz reported that the new controller will have the ability to “break apart” in two units, which with its own accelerometer.
Commenting about this rumor, another gaming site, Kotaku, said that is not about a “break apart” controller, but in fact Sony will created a device that can be attached to the gamers’ body.
Kotaku has quoted an unnamed source, who said that the controller will include two or four units, which can be attached to the hands and feet in order to move a character’s body. As you can imagine Sony denied commenting on the rumors.
In April this year, Sony launched in the United State its PlayStation 3's DualShock 3 controller with rumble capabilities. Kazuo Hirai announced the DualShock 3 controller last year at Tokyo Game Show. The controller is compatible with over 100 titles for PlayStation3, but many games will require a patch in order to enact the rumble feature.
Initially, Sony claimed that rumble capabilities are not “next-gen” features, but one of the main reasons for which Sony did not include rumble features into the current SIXAXIS controllers for PlayStation 3 was the patent lawsuit filed by Immersion, which owns the intellectual property over some key aspects of the technology integrated in PS2’s DualShock controllers.
After settling the lawsuit with Immersion in March 2007, Sony was quick to announce DualShock 3 that went on sale in Japan in November last year as a separately sold accessory. The non-rumbling motion-sensing SIXAXIS controller has been discontinued.
Two months ago there were some rumors that Microsoft is also working to develop a Wii-like controller for its Xbox 360.
According to the rumors, the new controller, code-named Newton, will have a design similar to the Wii remote, it will include a four face buttons, an analog stick, a microphone and even a gyroscope sensor that can detect tilt and motion. However, Microsoft also declined to comment about this issue.
A new controller could mean for both gaming consoles, Xbox 360 and PS3, a new method to fight against Nintendo Wii, which is dominating the hardware gaming sales.
For example, according to the latest figures released by the NPD Group, Nintendo Wii has sold 675,100 units compared to 186,600Xbox 360s and 208,700 PlayStation 3s.
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