Sony Patents Universal Controller

[Necromancer]

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

I like the idea of a universal controller but not as a touch screen lcd in lieu of real buttons (lack of tactile response makes it a non-starter for me).  Still, I could see 'em selling to people with multiple consoles, especially the more casual gamers.

In any case, I found it pretty cool that they specifically mention the Turbo. 

[Joe Redifer]

I agree that the lack of tactile response is a no-go.  What if you are really into a game and your thumb/finger slips just off the button?  You'd never know until your actions were no longer represented onscreen.  You would have to take your eyes off of the screen to reposition your thumb.  It would also be very hard to keep it in place.  This might work well for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective Volume 1 and 2, but it would work poorly for Street Fighter.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I was thinking, it might be possible that our brains will, with time, remember where the buttons are located, without having to look down.  Sort of like how as we grow when we're babies, we kind of learn where are limbs are, & when people lose a limb, they still feel like it's there.  It's called proprioception(I only know cuz I was just reading about something relating to it).  I could be wrong, but, it's just something I thought about.

[Necromancer]

I'm more worried about the feel than I am about remembering where the buttons are.

[Turbo D]

hehehe, the idea of a universal gaming controller is intriguing. I enjoyed Sony's psx controller, but I'm not sure about a touchscreen controller. What comes to mind first is the onscreen controls on iphone games (no, I don't own an iphone .)

[SignOfZeta]

Oh bloody. That's too funny. They patent a universal controller. Amazing.

f*ck you, Sony.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Personally, the only reason I'd want some kind of touch screen controller, is to have the ability to play DS games on tv, other then that, I really can't think of anything that I'd care about.

[Duo_R]

I don't think the touch screen is for the controller, but more the controller interface (ie menus). So you would actually use the D-pad and buttons. Cool idea but waste of money in my opinion. How will the interface work for Turbografx???

[Joe Redifer]

I imagine the button layout will be a typical diamond configuration.  God I hate that for trying to play Genesis games. 

[TheClash603]

Duo_R I was thinking the same thing.  Will there be a multiple ended male connection?  Will you need to buy different heads to hook to each system? Something weird going on here...

[Arkhan]

Duo_R I was thinking the same thing.  Will there be a multiple ended male connection?  Will you need to buy different heads to hook to each system? Something weird going on here...

maybe it will come with a pack of connectors like those crapass saturn/ps1 controllers from BITD.

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah, all of the unused connectors just hanging down, rubbin' against your console or the table.

[esteban]

Yeah, all of the unused connectors just hanging down, rubbin' against your console or the table.

Hahahaha. Yup.


FIND THE SAD TRUTH...

This document describes an adaptable or universal game controller which can be used to emulate the controllers of popular game consoles, such as, without limitation, the PlayStation.TM. made by Sony, a controller made by Nintendo, X-box.TM. game controllers made by Microsoft, Amiga CD-32.TM. controllers, Atari Jaguar.TM. controllers, Gravis Gamepad.TM. controllers, Sega controllers, and Turbographics controllers, one or more of which terms may be subject to trademark protection.

TIP: If our beloved console were a comedian, it would be Rodney Dangerfield.

TRUTH.


Refer to the image below to see where the mechanical buttons might be situated. The most interesting, to me, is "Navigation Control" (52).

If desired, L1 and L2 keys and R1 and R2 keys may be provided as shown on the top left and right edges, respectively, of the housing 12, implemented either by mechanical keys or by touch sensitive display keys.

The navigation symbol 52 includes an tip key 54, a down key 56, a left key 58, and a right key 60, that may be respectively touched to cause a cursor on the appliance display 42 to move up, down, left, and right. While the navigation symbol 52 may be implemented as shown on the touch sensitive display 18, certain controls, potentially the navigation control keys, that are ubiquitous to most if not all game consoles may be implemented separately apart from the controller display 18 by, e.g., mechanical buttons.

As others have said, give me mechanical buttons, or give me death.