Oh no they just didn't!

Sony just announced that the standard PS3 controller will include a 3 axis tilt sensor capable of detecting motion with "6 degrees of freedom". The announcement was followed by a quick video, which, to the trained eye, demonstrated the limitations of their thinly veiled attempt to copy Nintendo's innovative Wii controller. They proudly asserted that the device was innovative (yes, but who's innovation?) and blithely pointed out that it requires no external sensors to function.

At what cost does the loss of external sensors come though? In short, the PS3 controller will only detect the tilt of the controller as it is moved. The demonstration showed a guy attempting to fly a plane from the game Warhawk with it. He made exaggerated motions, which turned the plane, but the plane returned to level before he moved the controller back. This is a far cry from the sensitivity of the Wii controller. The sensor bar allows the Wii to detect the precise location and orientation of the Wii controller, including distance from the screen and very subtle movements. This will enable a much larger range of applications (such as first person shooting to name just one). Of course, the Wii controller also has an accelerometer in the analog attachment as well.

Apparently no other PS3 launch games (assuming Warhawk makes the launch) are currently designed to use the device, which was likely a last minute add on in response to the increasing popularity of Nintendo's new controller design.

LAME!

No external sensor but it still needs one inside the PS3.

I knew the controller was innovative, but I didn't think Sony would blatantly go out and quickly make a similar one to blunt Nintendo's momentum. I thought Nintendo wasn't competing with Sony and that it was a battle between XBox360 and the PS3. Looks like the developers love the controller and are willing to choose it over graphics. Can't wait for E3 and PGC's hands on impression!

Caliban, no it doesn't. It's just some gyros in the controller, that's why it only detects motion.

I have a funny feeling this is an attempt at destroying nintendos steam. If sony has a crappy tilt sensor, people who have played ps3 will be like wtf this sucks, then if they see the wii will think its just as bad. So if they ever wanted to buy a wii they will look at it and think well my ps3 has that and it sucks so I dont want it all the time.

consumers aren't that stupid. and the PS3 costs 500 bucks anyway (with a 20 gig HDD or 600 with a 60; that was also just anounced at the conference)

I'd say, "I told you so." but when I said that the revmote would be ripped off, no one argued.

We were ALL right.

I wonder if its the same technology that the nunchuck uses?
I hope not cuz i noticed some lag from controller to plane.

At first I was pretty angry, but now, looking back at it, it's kind of funny. Sony really shot themselves in the foot with this thing. I mean, the whole gaming community is looking at this as a rip-off. Bad for public image, I'd say. But hey, guess we'll find out for sure soon.

Oh, and I can't wait for the interviews.

Industry Press: So... you're a douchebag, right?

Kaz Hirai: Huh? What?

IP: I'm not trying to insult you. It's a legitimate question. I'm wondering... well... are you, physically, a bag filled to the brim with hygenic products?

Kaz Hirai: Fourth Dimension?

IP: I have to go now...

Someone give me a shirt that says..."Sony rips off Nintendo's Ideas"...and I'll be at their booth talking sh*t....

Fanboy alert...hehehe...j/k

I'll be at their booth...but I'll be interested in how their controller feels vs. Nintendo's controller...

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Originally posted by: MaryJane
I wonder if its the same technology that the nunchuck uses?
I hope not cuz i noticed some lag from controller to plane.

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Here's to hoping for a lawsuit. C'mon Nintendo, find some patent infringement and delay the PS3 launch by a couple of years while it sits in court. I'm not normally a huge fan of lawsuits, but come on, Sony deserves this. Such blatant disrespect and theft of innovation.

-Blueflame

I can hear Reggie laughing from here

like, NO ONE was expecting this

To me that's the most embarrassing piece of news I have ever heard. Boy Sony is dumb, and I'm sure most reaction to this will be "How desperate are they?", not "look how cool that is!"

Sony stole my bike.

Wow, I just have to say... that is completely pathetic. I'd officially rather buy an Xbox 360 than a PS3. GG, Sony!

For the record, I emailed this to a bunch of guys I work with... they all laughed.

Stop with the lawsuit idea, nintendo cant sue. The reason they cant sue is that this has been in previous controllers. The only lawsuit that could come from this would be from someone holding an accelerometer petent, and to my knowlege there arnt any or they arnt valid in this scenario.

This is just sad.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

But, seriously who didn't see this coming eventually? I know I did.

Wow, that's embarassing. I almost started to get angry when I realized how unbelievably embarassing that is. For some reason I think Sony may be taking a backseat to Nintendo this generation.

Get pumped people because tomorrow Nintendo is going to show Sony how motion sensing is really done.

The guy demonstrating the controller looked like he was trying to dance like Napoleon Dynamite. Ridiculous movements.

It's like they stuck Wario Ware inside the controller. It's just tilt sensitive. It has nothing on the Wiimote.

Sorry about the old talkback thread, DB error.

Ahaha. This had me scared for a second. I mean, normally it's bad to dismiss a competitor's efforts out of hand, but tilt only? No launch games using it? No rumble? This poor attempt to copy Nintendo will only legitimize what Nintendo is trying to do in gamer's eyes, without persuading anyone to get a ps3 instead of a Wii.

yeah, I was I agree, if Sony didn't want to give any more attention to Nintendo they shouldn't of did this. I mean this just opens up direct comparision to Nintendo's Wii and that just means that it will be infered.

Ugh I really hated seeing Sony's press conference. They said the lamest stuff like "Isn't this exciting?" I didn't like that girl from G4 or whatever it's called who demoed Nintendogs a year ago either. But at least she SOUNDED excited, although she was trying a little bit too hard. But Sony's guys said stuff so listlessly. And the blatant copy of Nintendo... and they called it their own innovation. They even called their own original playstation controller really unique and innovative when it was a SNES with hinges. But I think this will work out. Nintendo's controller is on a whole other level. But games that use tilt functionality can be ported. Whether that's a good or a bad thing remains to be seen.

EDIT: Also, the way they "unveiled" the PS3 controller was the lamest thing ever. Not only did they copy the way Reggie unveiled the DS, but they had their PS3 controllers in plain view from the beginning of the press conference! And that guy had the dumbest look on his face as he pulled it out.

Sleazy. I fear that Joe Schmoe might hear about this and assume the controller is as versatile as the Wii's, kind of like when Joe Schmoe assumed that since the PSP can play movies, it can play DVDs. Really, isn't this just Kirby's Tilt n' Tumble technology rehashed as innovation?

As I said before, only one word can describe Sony's entire E3 Presentation, Embarassing. They managed to rip off Nintendo and then drop the price bomb about the PS3.

Did anybody else see the pricing, $499.99 for the base system and it has only a 20 GB HDD. Not to mention it lacks support for Memory Sticks, SD and Compact Flash cards, no built-in Wi-Fi and the HDMI output is also removed. I guess that means the only PS3 package worth buying is the fully functional system at a whopping $599.99. OUCH! That is a full $200 more than the Xbox 360. How does Sony intend on being a) profitable and b) competitive?

I think this may be it my friends, Nintendo's golden opportunity to grab hold of the market they once reigned. I'll keep my fingers crossed for an amazing presentation tomorrow.

As I said before, this is just sad.

To "persuade" people to buy the PS3, Sony will offer much better hardware and 3rd party support. I'm still very bitter on Nintendo's reluctance to offer hardware technology and it has tempered my enthusiasm for the system a great deal

For whatever it's worth, both ign and Gamespot think Warhawk controls really well with the motion control....

to be honest - who didnt see this coming as soon as nintendo unveiled their controller? it caused such as buzz... sony would be foolish not to jump on the bandwagon. but i dont like the way they did it....

Here is Sony's sells pitch, "It's six hundred dollars (plus tax), our pad rips off Nintendo and doesn't get the job done, and you will need to buy a 1080p Sony tv to be able to see the difference between our graphics and everyone elses. If your tv is SD, you will be missing out on half the Powerz. Ignore the fact gas is three dollars a gallon, we want you to make microtransactions, now give us your money mother******."

yep, decision made, buying a Wii

Call it Sony's "Wee" Wii.

I've rarely experienced the feeling I felt while watching Sony's conference- I just slowly sunk in my chair in shame for them. It was like watching a Todd Solondz movie, even with the gut-wrenching "punchline," in Sony's case being to the tune of a half a grand.

MINIMUM.

I thought Microsoft really knew how to blow it, geez. I have a whole new respect for them. I mean, their theft of ideas is more sly and.. corperate. Sony just dropped trou in front of the world and we all got to see their shrivled and pathetic absence of any dignity and integrity. Ken Katagari even specifically introduced it as being born of their own innovation... and I'll bet he can fit two of those controllers in his mouth.

I just hope they have people ready for the phonecalls they'll get from Nintendo's lawyers. Whom are QUITE the lively bunch, from what I hear.

Oh, and I'll save you the suspense on one of their "secret" titles - Eight Days sucked. A few of us already played it a few years ago when it was called The Bouncer.

this announcement would've effectively pitched microsoft out of this race, unfortunately their price tag axed that idea out. also, as bad as PS3 is looking so far to us it'll sell out everywhere on name recognition. The only thing that could inhibit ps3 is it's reliance on HD. who is going to watch blu-ray movies at 480p? no one with a brain that's who. the long term succes of the console has less to do with the controller and more to do with the new dvd format war.

wow. just wow nobody has any shame anymore. I thought they would at least wait a generation.

"WHY IS NINTENDO SO SECRETIVE, BLAH BLAH BLAH"

This is a new level of pathetic attempts to rip off Nintendo. Seriously Sony, that is just sad.

$600=sony/ps death
Copying the wiimote=everyone at sony burning in hell
nintendo going to wii-n!

I knew that was gonna happen! Hahahahaha! apparrently they couldn't "quite" copy nintendo entirely, so they went with an even crappier route, using an half assed attempt, considering Kirby on GBC used a similair tech years ago :p shame on sony, they fail the internet.

I thought it was funny that they ripped everyone and then dared to tell me that the PS3 is NOT an incremental update.

"Clear Black"? What...

What is Sony trying to pull?

The card stuff does look cool though.

So I can see it know.

"We need to make the PS3 better."
"I know sir why don't we incorporate all the best ideas of the other companies only mediocre?"
"Thats great Scott"
"Plus we can use the same dual shock controller get rid of the rumble and make it wireless with rechargeable batteries and leverage the USB"
"That's great sir, and We could put the tilt technology that Nintendo uses in its Gameboy line and call it a Great Innovation"
"Brilliant. This is better then the PSP"

It's hilairous because it's basically Microsoft/Logitech's Sidewinder. Or Kirby Tilt N Tumble.

"Sony: We Try to Do What Ninten-do (and Fail Miserably)"

The worst part of all this, though, is that besides removing rumble there is not a SINGLE change. People call Nintendo arrogant, but good lord! This is a digusting insult if there ever was one. The DualShock is, and has been for eleven years now, a mediocre controller. It needed an update in 2000, and it needs one now. But no, Sony is too chicken to innovate anything.

After last night I want Sony to lose this race more than ever. I want Nintendo to win, but I'd gladly take 2nd with MS in first if it means Sony dies. Urgh what an a-hole company.

Ken Kutaragi made a statement about shipment numbers. One thing caught my eye:

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Kutaragi also took the time to comment on Sony's shipping targets for the system. SCE plans to have two million units available at launch (the Japanese press reports this as the initial shipment figure for the system, and not a number that will be gradually released over a launch window), with another two million by the end of the year and two million more before the end of March 2007. Regarding this, Kutaragi said, "Of course, this is a number that we announced having made sure we can definitely prepare it. There is the possibility of unexpected problems like earthquake or theft, so I won't say it's absolute, but if this type of trouble does not occur, there's no problem with this number."

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I remember Wii remote haters in the beginning, saying things like "Who would possibly even think of copying that? Sony? YEAH RIGHT".

Yeah. Nintendo was right all along. I SAID WOW