Immersion wants Sony to upgrade rumble technology

[BrewCityUpstart]

While the announcement that Sony would finally bring the DualShock 3 to the PS3 excited us all, we couldn't help but feel a little underwhelmed when we realized the controller would utilize the same rumble technology found in the DualShock 2.

However, if Immersion CEO Vic Viegas has his way, the DualShock 3 will be just the first-generation rumble controller for the PS3. "Immersion is very motivated and very interested in working with [Sony] to bring the next generation of gaming technology because the gamers deserve a full, immersive environment where you can match high-fidelity graphics and sound with high-quality haptics," he said. "We're hoping [the DualShock 3] will be just the first step towards integrating the next-generation technology."

What makes this prospective upgrade even more plausible is the fact that Viegas says the upgrade will actually be cheaper since the old technology uses two motors, while Immersion's TouchSense technology only needs one to achieve better results. "Immersion is already committed that we won't charge anything extra for the next technology. We have a standard royalty rate ... we don't want to make this more expensive and give anyone a reason not to implement it," Viegas said.
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[Peench]

WTH? How long do I have to wait to buy another damn controller?!? This makes it sound like we might have multiple controllers for the PS3 if we want to "take full advantage of the games." That's lame. It was bad enough when Xbox did it (though I never bought a Type S), but at least the functionality was the same. While I really want another controller, I simply can't buy another one now knowing that the next, next rendition will be out there at some point in the future. Not a good idea IMO.

[Joe Sacto]

Personally I could care less about all that "future talk" because I want rumble and I want it now. If they make another new and improved controller next year at a even cheaper price, that's fine. But I will most definitely be buying a dualshock 3 upon release.

[JParker0105]

hmm. all this jazz makes me kind of glad i bought a 360

[BrewCityUpstart]

Originally Posted by JParker0105

hmm. all this jazz makes me kind of glad i bought a 360

Jazz or not, I didn't have to wait for my PS3 to come back from the dead to play videogames.

[Joe Sacto]

Originally Posted by BrewCityUpstart

Jazz or not, I didn't have to wait for my PS3 to come back from the dead to play videogames.

Ditto, after having a Premium box die and then 2 so-called "Elites" die on me I've washed my hands of constant failure from MS.

I'm still on the fence on trying out this new Falcon xbox.

[MadBryan]

Originally Posted by BrewCityUpstart

Jazz or not, I didn't have to wait for my PS3 to come back from the dead to play videogames.

Dude, I hooked you up!! Seriously though, Immersion is the company that sued for like 90 million and won against $ony.

[Gordon]

Hmm... With one motor instead of two... I wonder how the balance of the controller will be changed.

[GoatMother]

Originally Posted by MadBryan

Dude, I hooked you up!! Seriously though, Immersion is the company that sued for like 90 million and won against $ony.

And Immersion sued MS and MS sued Immersion as well from what I recall. Got to give MS props for buying a piece, they are great at paying off company's. Amazing what monopoly money can do

[Peench]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Hmm... With one motor instead of two... I wonder how the balance of the controller will be changed.

Good question Gordon. That might be odd.

[MadBryan]

Originally Posted by GoatMother

And Immersion sued MS and MS sued Immersion as well from what I recall. Got to give MS props for buying a piece, they are great at paying off company's. Amazing what monopoly money can do

Settlements are not "buying a piece". This stuff is a chess game that MS is better at.
Microsoft sues Immersion

Author: Brett Thomas
Published: 20th Jun 2007 "I lost, so pay me some of what they lost!" - Microsoft wants to collect $15m from the Sony suit.

Sometimes, something is so strange that you just have to think for a minute to wrap your head around it. First, Immersion develops force-feedback controllers. Sony and Microsoft use the technology in their systems. Immersion sues both. Microsoft settles for $26m, but Sony fights and loses for $90m. With me so far? Seems easy, right? So why is Microsoft now suing Immersion?

Because Immersion won against Sony.

In a soap-opera like twist, apparently Microsoft made an interesting deal with Immersion when it settled. When MS forked over the $26m, it entered into a contract - if Immersion then won its suit against Sony, MS would recoup $15m of that $26m. Apparently, Immersion isn't thinking it's such a great deal now, but it was quite eager at the time.

And it doesn't even stop there - Microsoft is now accusing Immersion of lying about the amount of the settlement with Sony (which was done behind closed doors), choosing a ticket price below $100m. Why, one might ask? Because apparently Microsoft was due an extra "kicker" if the victory over Sony crossed the $100m threshold.

Nobody is really sure exactly why a deal like this would take place, but there are certainly some ideas that I've come up with. You'll see them soon enough - but for now, why don't you tell us some of your own theories

[Peench]

WTH? That's the craziest thing I've ever seen agreed to. Crazy! Perhaps the early settlement allowed immersion to cover some of the costs of the legal battle against Sony. They needed the money to continue their legal battle and agreed to pay it back if they won? Whatever the reason it is a little strange.

Should be interesting to see how this one plays out.