E3 06: PS3's new controller a surprise to developers, as well?

Expo blog of New York Times writer says Warhawk team didn't get their hands on Sony's tilt-sensing surprise until two weeks ago.

LOS ANGELES--It seems Sony might have surprised its developers with the announcement of a tilt-sensitive PlayStation 3 controller almost as much as it surprised gamers.

In the latest installment of his Electronic Entertainment Expo blog, Seth Schiesel of The New York Times talks about the changing face of the event and his impressions of the lineups on display from Nintendo and Sony. Though it's buried near the bottom of the entry, the following excerpt from the article is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows:

Set in a science-fiction war zone, Warhawk is the first game to make public use of Sony's own kinetic controller, which mimics the Wii device. Unfortunately for Sony, the admission by one of the Warhawk developers that his team got its hands on the new controller less than two weeks ago reinforced the impression that Sony only added motion-sensitive technology at the last minute in a hasty attempt to match Nintendo.

Representatives from Sony didn't return requests for comment on the report.

358 Comments

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Aug 25, 2006 6:56 pm PT

    interesting

  • toxicmog

    Posted Aug 8, 2006 7:26 am PT

    Sony fan boys sod off. Of course Sony will deny this tilt sensitve controll.
    If they had it in the works they would of said it in some place.

  • Tda503

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 4:25 pm PT

    to all the idiots who are saying playstation is copying nintento....they did NOT copy nintendo, if you would actually read there magazine, it says that this controller has been in development for quite some time, and hardly anyone knew about it, so you're wrong when you say playstaion is copying nintendo, plus, wtf kind of name is wii?, think about that

  • alleus

    Posted Jul 3, 2006 7:41 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Jun 16, 2006 6:22 pm PT

    Sony's being smart, there workin on many things, so the delay after spring was a good thing, now we can have more.

  • nev70

    Posted Jun 16, 2006 3:51 pm PT

    wheres the rumble ? oh i forgot Sony lost the lawsuit, it cant be that you dont want to pay royalities can it surely not ? What BS

  • stevendabouncer

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 12:29 pm PT

    i am happy that you kept the old controller and the old color too

  • Skelitor

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:57 am PT

    This isn't looking good for Sony at all

  • Kbs64

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 8:29 am PT

    OK, its quite obvious isn't it. After all, Sony Copied the Rumble Feature on the Nintendo 64 so... go Figure.

  • passentry

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:48 pm PT

    They had to bow down to Nintendo at last... pathetic... and predictable.

  • NintendoDS1

    Posted May 31, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    At $600, I don't blame Sony for trying to make the most out of their system. Copying Nintendo was their desperate attempt to get customers.

  • CoolSkAGuy

    Posted May 29, 2006 9:45 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Yannick_18

    Posted May 22, 2006 1:02 pm PT

    You can say that but actually , something that did Sony ... Was the Eyetoy !!!! So stop insulting Sony because Microsoft has started to put a camera on his xbox .... it's like MAN !! Everything is getting copied now ... so what the hell ??? Who give a damn about it ? Let's just see which console will be the winner this time ... for me , I have been with Sony for years , I don't own a Xbox , Nintendo and I'm well with my playstation 2 because I love RPG and action game , I dont' say that Xbox and Nintendo don't have great games ... but I don't like Xbox controllers , and Gamecube ... :s PS3 is what I want , and maybe a Wii !

  • feschka

    Posted May 18, 2006 1:08 pm PT

    I want rumble back!

  • gsquad2002

    Posted May 17, 2006 8:17 am PT

    Its not a copy Sony had this controller idea since 1999!!!!!!

    PS3 controller patented in 1999

    Patent number: JP11099284
    Publication date: 1999-04-13
    Inventor: KOBAYASHI HIROAKI; YORIZUMI MINEO
    Applicant: SONY CORP
    Classification:
    - international: G06F3/033; G06F3/033; (IPC1-7): A63F9/22; G06F3/033
    - european:
    Application number: JP19970265541 19970930
    Priority number(s): JP19970265541 19970930

    View INPADOC patent family

    Abstract of JP11099284
    PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To instruct an operation by the movement of a small controller that is close to the movement of a character by making the controller movable, detecting its movement and outputting a signal, and switch-recognizing the direction of the movement on the basis of the outputted signal. SOLUTION: The controller detects an angular speed by a detection section provided in a connecting section that connects the right and left operating sections of a controller unit 82. For example, rotation in the direction of rolling in relation to the right and left operating buttons 55, 56 of the left operating section is detected as an angular speed in the direction of rotation in the XY plane by the detection section 70 with the Z axis as the central axis. The detection section 70 is comprised of a movement detection section 71 made up of an angular speed sensor 72 and an amplifier 73, and a direction detection section 74 made up of movement direction recognition switches 79, 80. Therefore, movement can be instructed by the movement of the controller without operating the operating buttons 55, 56, etc.

  • DevJin

    Posted May 15, 2006 10:03 pm PT

    PS3's controller are GREAT, kill both Wii and 360 at the same time.

  • Mega-Link0

    Posted May 15, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    actually sony said they can't put a rumble feature in since it would cause the motion sensor to mal-function.

  • Mega-Link0

    Posted May 15, 2006 5:53 pm PT

    To qwikqik, learn to read. SONY HAD NO COMMENT. Also playstation technology is vastely superior to nintendo. Plus the wi controller sucks. Sony used the technology to please their customers. And neither ms, sony, or nintendo care about anything but $$$, since they are buisnesses, and there first priority is to please their stock holders.

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted May 15, 2006 12:02 pm PT

    I imagine announcing this at the last second and not telling any developers about it earlier is bound to get a lot of people confused. Bet Sony's hard at work trying to implement a rumble feature. Who knows, maybe at next year's E3 they will have the controller with full motion sensing capabilities like the Wiimote, and added rumble feature and a speaker. They'd call it an "innovation" again, I'd bet that.

  • qwikqik

    Posted May 15, 2006 10:08 am PT

    This is no surprise. Pathetic. The arrogance!! What really completely disgusts me is how Sony claims that this was their idea all along! PUH-LEASE! I am so disappointed in them. Just goes to show that if they were as loyal to their fanboys, as the fanboys are to them, they would have at least been honest with everyone. FYI to ALL fanboys: THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU, ONLY YOUR $$$!! Think about that the next time you get into a MEANINGLESS debate about whose hardware is better and who's gonna win the "war".

  • voyager007

    Posted May 15, 2006 6:54 am PT

    I agree with Peter Moore just buy a 360 and a Wii and forget the ps3.
    Posers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • battle_it_out

    Posted May 15, 2006 6:48 am PT

    Good move sony

  • Britesparc

    Posted May 15, 2006 4:24 am PT

    According to gamesradar, some PS3 developers weren't aware that the controller wouldn't have rumble function, either.

  • KAIRYU-SHIN

    Posted May 14, 2006 11:47 pm PT

    How people can be proud of this kind of sh@t, you all sony-fan boys, you all sux, sony sux anyway, the history is that sony is in that position only cuz they stole the idea from other companies, this a very huge sh@t, nintendo sux as well cuz they didn't like better graphics but almost they have their own ideas.

    Again, all the fan boys, specially sony-fan boys sux, go and look for some life.

  • orionamra

    Posted May 14, 2006 9:49 pm PT

    Best controller design
    Best graphics

    and now motion sensing tech

    woww

    This is crazy

  • gimlifn

    Posted May 14, 2006 9:20 pm PT

    Sony took the best of both worlds with their appraoch. They put a little bit of motion sensing tech in their controller but not to much like the stupid wii controller. They also have next gen graphics like Xbox but they even took it to 1080p. Nintendo needs to copy PS3 and Xbox 360 and get some good graphics, their graphics look like last gen graphics and the only change is online and the new wii controller which I think is lame.

  • kriptonzz

    Posted May 14, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    I agree with every previous wtf here.

  • pookumbaby

    Posted May 14, 2006 7:08 pm PT

    The idea of motion sensitive controllers is quite frankly a dumb idea if you ask me.WTF!

  • Brokendemise

    Posted May 14, 2006 5:49 pm PT

    Yawwnnn...wake me up when Sony comes up with something really innovative.

  • dekomania

    Posted May 14, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    I hate sony for cuttin off the rumble function. now I'll never experience metal gear solid 4 on it's best. that is with the rumble function.

  • bubalight

    Posted May 14, 2006 3:05 pm PT

    I allways new ps3 was going to be the best system then I saw a couple trailers for the WII and it looked really good and now ps3 is doing the tilt thing well I wanna see what the ps3 can do now

  • bubalight

    Posted May 14, 2006 3:04 pm PT

    I allways new ps3 was going to be the best system then I saw a couple trailers for the WII and it looked really good and now ps3 is doing the tilt thing well I wanna see what the ps3 can do now

  • supine

    Posted May 14, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    After watching the real gameplay footage of Motor Storm - I now understand that the PS 3 will not superior graphics! I know this will be the case with killzone as well.

    One thing is true - Sony know how to Hype theyr systems...

    * NO HDMI on the $499 PS3?!
    * Boring gyro controller with no feedback (this isn't a rip-off, it is flat out stupid)
    * Very few cool exclusive games
    * $499 PS3 no WIFI --- no, I welcome the new king - Xbox 360!

  • Dan777UK

    Posted May 14, 2006 11:52 am PT

    "It was most likely in the works for years In general its hard to create new technology in two weeks. Besides what other launch games would use this feature and also they still have 6 months to impliment it. Dev's leak info too sometimes... Finally, I would have rather had the old controller, the wirelss and the triggers are nice but i would like more stylistic innovation from Sony."

    This was not in teh works very long because even top designers like kojima said that they only heard a few weeks before E3, and he explicitly says that he was upset because MGS4 already incorporated rumble features to a large extent.

    Oh, and the motion sensing technology in the PS3 controller was invented by microsoft ten years ago... now that makes me roflcopter, I want next gen not 10-y-old PC peripheral tech.

  • Leandro29

    Posted May 14, 2006 11:48 am PT

    mmmmmmm very good
    It is a classic controller I like it.

  • agmsd

    Posted May 14, 2006 8:26 am PT

    Guys just wait and see who's gonna win the gaming war... I'm planing on a a PS3... and a new 42" LCD TV with HDMI input to go with it...

  • winnazdaluza

    Posted May 14, 2006 7:06 am PT

    why can't gamespot just start a thread where all nintendo fanboys can have fun complain about the new controller for as long as they want instaead of an article such as this where obviously 90percent will be comment bashing sony for a descision already made!!!

  • wwf20112

    Posted May 14, 2006 1:31 am PT

    i like the ps2 design alot im glad they pretty much kept it.

  • oppositehand

    Posted May 13, 2006 8:21 pm PT

    sony is trying to cover too many bases. can we hear the sounds of a dead console in the future?

  • LordGamer0001

    Posted May 13, 2006 4:32 pm PT

    yeah i wouldnt be able to handle the new styled controller.

  • Chilled_Ice

    Posted May 13, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    Well, i guess if you're going to have a $600 console, you should just throw in an impending lawsuit.....err....tilt control just for good measures. Sorry.....tongue slipped.

  • Naruto-freak

    Posted May 13, 2006 11:36 am PT

    sony needs some originality.

  • sizzlingdviper

    Posted May 13, 2006 10:09 am PT

    Sony should've kept the style of dual shock and just made it wireless,after all it's already tried and well tested and liked by many Sony PS2 owners.You only gotta look at sales figures to prove this.

  • MrDude171

    Posted May 13, 2006 9:13 am PT

    Does anyone realize that the pathetically copied attributes of the ps3 controller are only about 1/10th of the motion sensing attributes of the Wii controller? The we controller has accelerometers to sense acceleration, and the reason the external sensing strip in the Nintendo controller is necessary is so that lateral motion as well as horizontal motion can be sensed and not just "tilting". How about the fact that the Wii controller can be tilted forward/backwards and left/right (like the PS3) in addition to rotating parallel to the ground. Only someone who doesn't understand physics would be dooped into buying Sony's SPIN that it doesn't need the external device. Ya, of course you don't need the external device, your crapping tilting ability doesn't need it, all it needs is gravity to sense tilting. Sony = pathetic attempt to spin its lack of innovation into a deliberate business plan. SAD.

  • jakule2000

    Posted May 13, 2006 8:39 am PT

    Hahahaha!! its funny how sony copies stuff so fast...its like Kakashi's Sharingan >_

  • zrmotoracer

    Posted May 13, 2006 7:06 am PT

    See if its not anywhere near the Wii controler than why do you care about it people. Its not like tilting the controler will have a point in ever game. Look at racing/driving games that would just not make sence but the controler, I think isnt anything like the Wii.

  • i_like_evil

    Posted May 13, 2006 4:40 am PT

    Well it's nowhere near as good as the Wii controller anyway so I'm not too bothered.

  • jasonstewart40

    Posted May 13, 2006 4:26 am PT

    ok, i know how much these nintendo fans feel ripped off with sony and eveything and believe me, i do to. but, we have to come to a conclusion, these things do happen. its the gaming industry and someone is bound to copy someone if they come up with a really good idea. so nintendo fanboys out there, just think, who cares? its not like sonys controller is going to be better than nintendo's, is there? no i didnt think so. so lets just leave it as you know you want to buy a wii and not a ps3, so do that when they come out.

  • jasonstewart40

    Posted May 13, 2006 4:09 am PT

    I HATE SONY JUST CUZ THEY CANT THINK OF THEIR OWN REVOLUTIONARY CONTROL THEY STEAL ANOTHER!!!! respect to nintendo, sony, that is just pathetic

  • jasonstewart40

    Posted May 13, 2006 4:06 am PT

    i cant believe sony. its an absolute scam. nintendo come up with an revolutionary controller that sony thought would be able 2 beat them, so they copy nintendo's idea. that is sinking low sony, real low. but the wii remote will have a much more better motion sensor that will work better than sony's tilting one. so it really doesnt matter. but i still dont know why nintendo cant sue sony 4 this. i never would of thought sony would sink as low as this...

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