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The trouble with videogame tech copycats |
Listed in: PS3, Wii Tags: Immersion Corporation, Sony, Wiimote
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Over at the C3 website, one of their writers is lamenting the nature of companies who are copying the in-thing to make money. This happens often enough in the world of tech (else we wouldn't really have different kinds of mp3 players), but in the gaming scene, there's a lot less room for this sort of thing.H.C. Hound's example in his article is the development of technologies that want to cash in on the Nintendo's attempt to be unique. Of the three gaming consoles, Nintendo was the first to announce the use of motion sensing technology through the Wiimote, something which they were touting as one of the distinguishing features of the Wii. Sony followed suit, which happened to anger a lot of folks, but seemed somewhat forced by the legal battle between Immersion and Sony.
The thing that really got the author's ire, however, was the announcement of the Fusion series of cross-platform motion sensing products. On its press release, it says, "The technology opens up all kinds of exciting game design possibilities, and offers games players far greater freedom than they are currently able to enjoy on both current and next-generation formats." Perhaps, but does it excuse the company's presentation of their technology?
According to our earlier article on it, some of you guys weren't too pleased with that development either. Hound puts it into perspective however, mentioning that copycats were bound to happen, but the way the Fusion series is marketed to the public was inexcusable. Of the announcement of the Fusion, he writes, "The whole press release just about ignores the whole idea of Nintendo or the Wii being important or an inspiration and just goes on about how innovative and wonderful this new technology is. From where IÂ’m standing, that is bull of the smelliest variety."
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Comments
2.) Pelican made a tilt senging ps1 controller. If you want to say sony coppied anyone, say they coppied the company pelican.
3.) Every company coppies every other company. Nintendo did not invent motion sensing. They were just the first main stream console to use it.
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Now this doesnt mean its going to happen a hell of a lot. Nintendos functionality is part of the console, not an add-on. PS3 and 360 would need an additional item to be purchased to do the same so many developers would not want to develop a game for which most of their audiance wont play as they may be a. reluctant to buy a new item to play it or b. cant afford to.
So stop complaining.
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Who was first? You'd have to go allllllll the way back to 1983 for a controller called 'Le Stick'. It worked on the Atari 2600 and as you moved the controller in the air - just like the Wii controller - it moved you on-screen. Here's a link to a picture of it:
http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/remote-control/datasoft-le-stick.html
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I don't think that's the point. While Nintendo didn't invent the first motion-sensing controller, they are driving it into the main market with a simple interface and developer-friendly SDK, and I do think that companies are trying to jump on the bandwagon. Just look at that image, the light-grey shading in the whole image looks very Wii-esque. Besides that, as it's a third-party peripheral, it could very well be regarded as just a series of gimmicks that a few games will take advantage of.
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