SixAxis gets ready to rumble on PS3

[Pebb]

Source: CVG

Third-party develops technology that brings force feedback to the console's controller

A videogame hardware/tech developer has created technology that introduces rumble to PS3's SixAxis controller.

SplitFish GameWare Inc. describes its tech - which is called SensorFX - as "a new dynamic force feedback system" and explains it was designed "to insure compliant operation with the new tilt, motion and directional sensor technologies currently found in the next generation game consoles."

It continues: "The potential interference on the Sony PS3 SIXAXIS Controller caused by rotating mass force feedback systems such as Immersion's Rotating Mass Patent, required us to approach the solution from a completely new direction".

The company says that SensorFX, which "uses no moving parts to produce meaningful sensory feedback", can either be sold as an add-on for existing controllers or be built-in. The add-on version of SensorFX is plugged into the PS3 controller via USB, it explains.

And SplitFish has give an example of how SensorFX 'feels' in games: "...a gamer playing a race game can feel variations in pulse, strength and collision location and to feel intensity differences between a smooth guardrail swipe and a full frontal slam into a wall."

"The patent pending SensorFX has two modes, one for games that have force feedback support already built in and the other mode that relies on motion tilt sensing and button use and other actions to trigger the SensorFX tactile feedback. SplitFish will work with video game publishers and next-generation hardware manufacturers in an effort to establish standards for this directional force feedback technology", the company's announcement on SensorFX concludes.

 

[Robin]

Yeah, I heard about this reciently, and I think its great news....... the SIXAXIS would finally be complete with rumble, Im intrigued as to how this new rumble works without moving parts... maybe it uses electromagnetic energy or something... as long as its works it will be great.

The only bit I dont like its the fact it will have to plug into exsisting controllers out there already..... horrible chunky n64 type rumble packs come to mind... I dont want all the lightness and beauty of my sixasis being ruined by it... sure its ok if all this becomes built in but its abit late!

oh and cant wait for the euro launch! Im counting the days!

 

[DuckRacer]

the SIXAXIS would finally be complete with rumble,

Not really. Games still need to have rumble encoded into it.

 

[Robin]

Not really. Games still need to have rumble encoded into it.

It doesnt, this product learns and makes its own calculated rumble if it isnt programmed into the game.

SensorFX has two modes, one for games that have force feedback support already built in and the other mode that relies on motion tilt sensing and button use and other actions to trigger the SensorFX tactile feedback

 

[Tornado]

I'm surprised it took as long as it did.

 

[Minnesota01R6]

It doesnt, this product learns and makes its own calculated rumble if it isnt programmed into the game.

SensorFX has two modes, one for games that have force feedback support already built in and the other mode that relies on motion tilt sensing and button use and other actions to trigger the SensorFX tactile feedback

I don't see how it's going to know to rumble when I'm getting shot at in Resistance or going off the road in GT:HD.

 

[Tornado]

Actually, since GT:HD will probably have FF support for the DFP, it would be pretty easy to implement it into a controller.

 

[DuckRacer]

It doesnt, this product learns and makes its own calculated rumble if it isnt programmed into the game.

SensorFX has two modes, one for games that have force feedback support already built in and the other mode that relies on motion tilt sensing and button use and other actions to trigger the SensorFX tactile feedback

Oookay...

Like Minnesota said, I doubt it'll make the controller rumble when you're hit in Resistance...

 

[Tornado]

I believe the point is being missed though:
If Sony picks up on this and licenses the technology (which they would be fools not to), the main knock against the SA would be gone.

 

[isamu]

less hope it werx

 

[DuckRacer]

I believe the point is being missed though:
If Sony picks up on this and licenses the technology (which they would be fools not to), the main knock against the SA would be gone.

Hmm. Point taken.

less hope it werx

how abowt u reed teh aup tat u agreed too wen u sined up ur accownt on gtp

No slang words that promote laziness, ie; "r", "u", "plz", etc. will be tolerated. Decent grammar is expected, including proper usage of capital letters. Repeated violations will be grounds for suspension and/or permanent removal from the forums.

https://www.gtplanet.net/aup

 

[Minnesota01R6]

I hate to pee in everyone's Koolaid, but:


Sony Doesn't Take the Bait for SplitFish PS3 Rumble

Still hopeful that Sony might one day bring rumble back to the PlayStation 3? It doesn't look like it's going to happen. A company called SplitFish has announced new rumble tech that works with motion sensing and sidesteps Immersion's patents, but Sony told GameDaily BIZ that it's not interested.

 

[McLaren]

I think Sony just shot the other foot now with that.

 

[Tornado]

To me, that article said that Sony doesn't want it because the exclusion of rumble had nothing to do with the court case, and that they don't care because motion sensing is far more important to them.
So, to try to save face in light of this new technology, Sony is again pointing out that rumble wouldn't work with the SixAxis technology; despite everyone and their mother knowing full well that it was a lie far before Immersion called Sony on it.
What exactly are they trying to prove?

 

[DuckRacer]

I think Sony just shot the other foot now with that.

Since they've been shot in the foot so many times now I think it's safe to say that they have no more feet.

 

[land sea air]

So they're not even going to try to please the consumer? All because they want us to believe rumble "won't" work with the sixaxis. Sounds to me like they don't want to have to swallow their own shoes again

 

[samdu]

I'm still stuck on how you get rumble with no moving parts. O.o

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

I'm almost positive that Sony declined because they're investing money in their own technology so they don't have to pay any royalties to anyone, period. It wouldn't benefit them to go out and license a technology from another company, only to have to pay them for every unit sold, and ultimately take away from their overall profitability.

They're probably working up a system where they can create rumble without the use of rotating mass, and avoid infringing on multiple patents.

 

[Tornado]

They're probably working up a system where they can create rumble without the use of rotating mass, and avoid infringing on multiple patents.

That is an angle I didn't think of, but I'm not so Sony would so quickly admit to having egg on their face about the whole rumble fiasco in the first place.

 

[Robin]

Sony dont want to loose more face by then adopting any rumble technology..... they are still trying to play the card that its last gen to justify the motion sensing..... if they took rumble now..... everyone especially MS would say you lied that to purposefully left out rumble.

 

[land sea air]

So if the worst happens to sony whats going to happen with DS2 production for all the ps2s still being sold???

 

[Minnesota01R6]

nothing - sony is being forced to pay a judicially-imposed license for the current patent-infring products.

The speculated reason that sony didn't include rumble in the sixaxis is because they didn't want to have to pay MORE than they already do.