Immersion introduces next-gen rumble tech

Haptic house reveals new rumble possibilities for next-gen systems; new TouchSense can be used with motion-sensitive controllers.

Immersion Corporation may be best known to gamers for being involved in a long, bitter court case with Sony over copyright infringement (a case that Immersion won), but almost any gamer who has played a current-gen system has felt its product in their hands. TouchSense vibration technology is the engine behind rumble features in controllers, allowing controllers to vibrate in conjunction with actions on the screen.

Just as Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft are making the transition to next-gen technology, so is Immersion. The company, which happens to be partially owned by Microsoft, today announced the latest version of TouchSense, which has been engineered for next-generation gaming.

The new technology uses one motor instead of the dual-motor system used in previous versions--with one motor, power consumption, physical space, and weight have all been reduced. The new TouchSense also provides a wider range of vibration effects, synching up with onscreen events more accurately to simulate different terrain when driving, the "springy sensation of hitting a tennis ball," and more-realistic gunfire.

Motion-sensing controllers may also be able to benefit from the new TouchSense. Sony dropped vibration from its PlayStation 3 controller, instead moving in favor of a motion-sensitive controller. Sony said the decision was made because the two technologies could not coexist in the same controller. Immersion puts this idea to rest with the new TouchSense, which uses "filtering and other techniques" to differentiate between the motions of the player moving the controller and the motion caused by rumbling.

Developers are also being targeted by Immersion through the ability to program specific effects directly into games, to which TouchSense will react to.

"Immersion Studio allows developers to deal in objects and inter-relationships like any modern programming language, freeing them from tedious low-level mechanics and letting them concentrate on integrating the vibration effects with graphics and sound," says Immersion VP Christophe Ramstein. "They can finally focus on the art of creating even more compelling vibrations."

177 Comments

  • Unassigned

    Posted Jan 25, 2007 6:44 am PT

    Great! Put the vibration back in the "sixaxis" controller and allow us to really be in game. Lack of vibration sucks and the motion controls are too sensitive for any games.

  • Cloud737

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 8:06 am PT

    Actually, coonana, Immersion actually said that they ARE willing to work with Sony to bring rumble to the PS3, but only after the lawsuit is settled.
    But Sony as usual is to arrogant and considers it can win the appeal, and successfully infringe the patent without paying.

  • coonana

    Posted Jun 22, 2006 10:04 am PT

    Immersion obviously was not going to do business with Sony after those lawsuits. Thats why Sony said that the two technologies would not work together lol.

  • Kwiksilva

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    maybe the wii controller can use that

  • gitaruman

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 12:35 pm PT

    Vibration is so old. It's pretty lame. Unless they can find some really innovative ways to use it, I think it's time is over. Even if they can, I don't think it will really add that much to the gaming experience.

  • AllanSFX

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 3:51 am PT

    My two cents on rumbling technology is that its ok if its there and its used creatively in a game but It would not detract from the whole gaming experience if its not available either. There are so many more aspects of a game that makes us play it to its conclusion and then play it again other than just rumbling.

    That's why there are third party add-on hardware vendors for consoles, if a company has some restrictions toward having a technology in their product, and demand is high sooner or later someone will make a device to fill this demand for that technology.

  • sinceps1

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 2:24 am PT

    How many lawsuits more Sony? Do you have the "capability" to learn you technically awesome bas!ar9s.

  • sinceps1

    Posted Jun 21, 2006 2:21 am PT

    "homiebo
    Sony still has their mind boggled on what to put in there system. will they ever decid on to do."

    Lols, Watch as SONY - steals
    Immersions tech
    Once again.

    Rofl. Tards.

  • Skelitor

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:30 pm PT

    I hope the ps3 controller will get this seeing how they figure a way out to have both Vibration and Motion sensitivity in the controller. PICK IT UP SONY!!!

  • SnowFarmer

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:14 pm PT

    Oh well, I hated rumble, I always turned it off when I could. I never could understand why people liked it, but to each his own I guess.

    I do wonder where this technology is going to end up? Maybe in the Wii? I doubt it will be in the 360, unless the new coding still works with the old controllers and the new controllers will work with the old coding. I wonder if many 360 owners will buy new pads just to get this newer rumble tech. I think it would tend to piss people off that have already bought extra pads.

    Guess it will in up in PC pads for now and the 720 or whatever...

  • cannibal127-9

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:05 pm PT

    Is there ANY subject that people will not WAR over?

  • kails

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:44 pm PT

    Sounds awesome to me

  • rbarahona

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:03 pm PT

    Definitely they are moving next-gen with the rumble technology; it would be nice to have that kind of feedback when you are enjoying your games. I also hope that the Wii controller could get some of these nice stuff.

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 4:21 pm PT

    I want my Wii to rumble...(lol)

  • ko-b

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:54 pm PT

    you know all you people trip me out...... if the have rumble in the controller, than it's waaaaaaaa! I WANT MOTION SENSING. If it has motion sensing, it's WAAAAAAAA! I WANT RUMBLE..............who cares! And for all of you crying about the price of the PS3........... GET OVER IT! IF it's too steep for your little pockets, go buy a Junk 360....... my brother in-law has one and it locks up at least once an hour! Buy what you want and stop complaining!

  • mareaper

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 2:23 pm PT

    I hope to see this in show up in PC controllers. This way PC gamers can have a gamepad with motion sensing technology and force feedback functionality.
    I really do not care about it's effect on consoles anymore since the PS2 will most likely be my last console.

  • meimnobody

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    You do know Bill Gates started the company and was the CEO? Do you know what a CEO does? They run a company.

  • thebill1979

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:43 pm PT

    So does this mean my Wii will vibrate?

    If so, that's awesome. Then I can finally convice my girlfriend to throw that thing she has in her drawer away.

    [/joke]

  • Mystikef

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    I see so many people claiming rumble is a "gimmick." It is far from being a gimmick, as it adds an additional sensory input to games - touch. This means that an one more part of your brain is responding to, reacting to, and feeling the onscreen action.

    In FPS - you can feel the gunfire, or feel a sniper bullet hit you, when it is too far away to hear the gunfire.

    In RPG - You feel the clanking of the sword, of the strike of an arrow.

    In driving games - you feel the car slide around corners and the crumbling against the guardrail, or the slamming of a car.

    In Horror - you feel your pulsing heartbeat as you near death.

    The list goes on... there are gamers that don't like rumble. That is why you should have the CHOICE to use it or not use. PS3 gamers have lost that choice. As for it draining controller battery life... I always have rumble on and I can get a good twenty to thirty hours of gameplay before recharging my wireless controllers. And that's easy... plug it in while I use another controller for the next few days.

    Sight, Sound, and Touch can all add to the deepness of a game. I, for one, am happy to see them take it to even a higher level.

  • daqua_99 Site moderator

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:19 pm PT

    "But teh rumble is all last gen"

  • Anti-HeRo88

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:05 pm PT

    I'm glad the PS3 controler won't ahve shock because it one more thing that will make it different than X360s controler. I mean they already moved the analogs around and turned the right and left bumpers to triggers and put a middle button on it just like the X360s. So i think it is time Sony coppied of nintendo for once instead. Watch, PS4 controler will have a speaker in it too, just like the Wii.

  • ubj007

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 1:04 pm PT

    Great News

  • Bloodoflamb

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:47 pm PT

    "Stock owners have limited ability to influence a company. They do not have access to corporate meetings etc. "

    Um... Do you know how a publically traded company works? Bill Gates "owns" Microsoft because he owns greater than 50% of the shares of Microsoft stock that exist.

  • cesarotromundo

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:41 pm PT

    this sounds quite hot

  • runstalker

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:28 pm PT

    QUOTE: "Sony said the decision was made because the two technologies could not coexist in the same controller. Immersion puts this idea to rest with the new TouchSense, which uses "filtering and other techniques" to differentiate between the motions of the player moving the controller and the motion caused by rumbling."

    Unconvincing proof that full rumble and motion sensing can co-exist in a controller without some degree of rumble response transference. I'll wait until someone holds the proof. One can only imagine first-person shooters, let's say, where the controller causes a minor shake of the viewpoint each time gunfire or explosions activate the rumble. No thanks. Of course playing a FPS with a controller is criminal to begin with...

  • homiebo

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:19 pm PT

    Sony still has their mind boggled on what to put in there system. will they ever decid on to do.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 12:00 pm PT

    i'll miss the vibration and so will mah bits an' pieces

  • jazzkid212

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:39 am PT

    truthfully i dont think sony and microsoft could use it but nintendo could use it to really simulate realism for its inovative controler however i can predict microsoft will intergrate it into thier controlers and sooner or later sony will have to bite thier tongue and put in vibration of some kind but since nintendo has no set hardware yet its perfect for them

  • bloodsong18

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:37 am PT

    M$ VP said that he thought motion sensing controllers were stupid so no Xbox 360 controller V 2.0

  • Hybridos

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:30 am PT

    I will buy my PS3 like 2 or 3 years after it came out, when all the good games will be greatest hits, be half the price and the console has it price lowered a bit.
    Why you american runs to have the lastest and paid the doble when you can wait and have the same product for less money?
    That very same consumism is the fact that games are so expensive.
    And 2 or 3 years after realease, the ps3 console will be improved, games will have both motion and rumble compactibility and maybe even the default ps3 will come with motion and rumble controlers on it.
    Just wait.

  • zhuojloh

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:21 am PT

    if you guys dont realize is Immersion need Sony more than Sony need Immersion.

  • XtremePhsyco

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 11:09 am PT

    so will this be on an uprgrade of the 360 controller if there is one or go into the microphone port?

  • Dzjaansis

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:31 am PT

    Well this is good news, I hope that Sony reconsiders their decision, and put it back in again

  • foxhound_fox

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:20 am PT

    I would say the true next step in rumble technology would be a suit [or vest] that reacts to what the player does in game. I would rather feel the shock of getting shot in my chest [where it is actually happening] then in my hands. Plus with the combination of the Wiimote and a 3D helmet [like the one Apache helicopter pilots use, where you look is where the gun points, but for this is where you look in real life is where you look in game, like VR] would make the best combination for most games. For FPS games you can move you weapon in 3D, and you can move your view separately from you weapon, and get shot and feel it on your body [there may be a problem with that, like getting shot in the heart causing heart attack by giving the heart an arimthmia].

  • metroidprimer

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 10:01 am PT

    looks like immersions gonna make jillions of dollars!

  • TonyAndonnis

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:36 am PT

    well when your VP's last name is Ramstein u really can't lose!

  • lord-azrael

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:20 am PT

    Funky with capital F

  • ghsacidman

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:17 am PT

    No vibration is a main reason why I'm not going to pick up PS3. Vibration has become a huge part of my gaming experiences over the years, I just can't do with out it. It would be cool if a new 360 controller design included this tech.

  • Issachar

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:17 am PT

    A recoilling wii controller would be unstoppable

  • humptygrumpty

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 9:08 am PT

    all sounds pretty good but no specific mention of products/releases..............shame

  • monsteronthego

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:56 am PT

    intresting it looks like a'lot of you all are bashing on SONY for their decesision, all that you are doing is destracting me so please stop let me know when you have a multi-billion dollar company then i might give a damn. as for immersion this sounds pretty cool to bad it wont be on the ps3 nor the xbox for that matter but you never know this could wind up on both or just the 360.

  • assasin1080

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 8:49 am PT

    come to the 360 baby we need ya

  • 1vgfan

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:57 am PT

    i seriously doubt that a company partially owned by ms, and won a court battle over sony would even think about letting them use this technology

  • Merl57

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:48 am PT

    Is this in pre existing controlers or what?

  • meimnobody

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:44 am PT

    Oh so if you own a share in a stock you get access to all their plans and tech free of charge? Nope. Nintendo actually has access to Immersion tech and Gyration tech because they own part of the company. Microsoft bought stock in Immersion because it was part of the settlement. That stock made Immersion a lot more money. As far as I am aware Microsoft sold the Immersion stock a year later. Buying the stock was to publicly avoid the fallout from losing a lawsuit if Microsoft decided to go to court like Sony did.

    Stock owners have limited ability to influence a company. They do not have access to corporate meetings etc.

    The immersion touch sense tech according to what Immersion has in their press release works with the Nintendo gamecube.

  • makemeweak

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:39 am PT

    Looks like Sony lied through their teeth about their new controller. It wasn't about technology - it was about saving money by not paying for license to use patented technology. They should have been up front about it - lies about technology are too easily uncovered.

  • 00Rambol00

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:39 am PT

    In my opinion i think that missing the rumble feature doesn't matter really and when i play games sometimes, i prefare to loose the vibration feature.

    I think Sony ave dug themselves a bigger hole by lieing.... *tut*tut*

  • skemaal

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:36 am PT

    Don`t really care about that technology, I always turn it off.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:12 am PT

    LOLzzzzzzzzz
    $ONY got 0wn3d again!?!?
    But but but teh Rumble and Motion Sensing can't work togather!
    Teh Rumble is Last Gen!

  • playwrite

    Posted Jun 20, 2006 7:11 am PT

    of course, sony will never use it.

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