Microsoft patent points to pressure-sensitive controller

Pressure sensative controller sounded quite interesting before I read it was to be used to identify who's using it. Having a game where the characters actions and movements are limited by how tightly you're holding the controller could be used nicely in a survival horror game or something, asuming people hold it tighter when they're angry or scared and whatnot... But just to identify seems like a waste of money especially since I don't always hold the controller in the same way, probably end up logging out every time you put the controller down to grab a drink, lol.

Imagine this with a Wii controller. I'd get a laugh out of people squeezing it hard and moving it up and down.

Awesome.  Could I have one in the shape of a breast?

Because there are no better ways for me to identify myself.

Can they fix the Dpad first?

I don't want to have to squeeze a controller to perform actions. So no, I wouldn't like this very much.

before they make this, can they first make a durable one that doesn't break when you strangle it to death in rage?

1) Companies submit patents all the time and

2) They almost never get used

Sony was notorious for filing crazy patents during the PS2 era.  There was always some rumour about some ridiculous new peripheral, but the only one that ever turned into anything was the eyetoy.

Also people saying "oh why can't I just have a standard controller" are dumb.  If companies just sat on their laurels we'd be doing the same thing over and over again until the industry went stagnant.  It's like if the entire industry was CoD or Assassin's Creed.

Until it's actually something bad, don't complain about it.

Sound's pretty cool. 

Great. More overpriced gimmicks masquerading as controllers. Why can't we just have a simple, standard controller that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

How bout instead of looking into pressure-sensitive controllers, MS looks into how to make a controller not cost $50.

Pressure-sensitive i think is like digital signature.. more like of a stroke'.. just like dolphins technology they call it gesture..

"....that could be used in devices such as smartphones, PCs, and video game controllers."

GS, you missed the most important device and most likely the main focus for the pressure-sensitive patent.

Tablets!  

Windows 8 is designed with simply interfaced targeted towards Tablet devices (well known fact).  Having a pressure sensitive patent is most likely related to the tablet.  

At the moment, the 2 main types of touch-devices are resistive (pressure sensing) and capacitive (electrically charged).  Cell Phones like the Cingular (AT&T) 8525 had resistive screens (allowing you to use the dreaded stylus), where phones like the iPhone use capacitive (uses the charge from your finger to react with the screen).

There is room for newer technology when it comes to touch-screen devices.  Perhaps Microsoft has found something that works better than the current favorites. 

The last thing we need is another device on the market. Don't the developers already have enough on their plate with multiple consoles, multiple handhelds, and the PC market to deal with as it is?

You may say one more won't hurt.....but you would be wrong. If anything, i'd love to see one of the biggies knocked out of the console race or them coming together to create a universal console that would cut down on development costs across multiple systems.

For portable tech this could be great to prevent devices from being unlocked by the wrong people aka no reason to steal it if it can't be used. On a controller, it seems more of a gimmick than anything else.

As if controllers aren't already expensive enough....

has no viable application in gaming..

I dont think controllers should have it

Okay so i can't read it i'm a little busy but when we play a fighting game we have to smash the button in order to make a combo ?

Sounds legit and a good way to crush products.