Sony force feedback lawsuit

30-03-2005, 11:46 PM

Has anyone heard about the Sony lawsuit, dealing with PlayStation2 game consoles widely infringing on patents owned by a small Silicon Valley company, Immersion? The dispute is over so-called haptics technology -- software and hardware that makes a game controller shiver and shake when you slam a car into a wall or get shot by a bad guy, or makes a steering wheel veer out of control when you bump into an object.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, in upholding a jury's findings, ordered Sony (SNE ) to stop selling its already hard-to-get PlayStations, as well as nearly four dozen games it has made or allowed others to sell on its systems, including the popular Gran Turismo racing games and Take-Two Interactive's blockbuster Grand Theft Auto series. Wilken granted a stay on her order, pending Sony's appeal."

???? Will this have any effect on TOCA 2006 coming out for the playstation 2, or any effect with TOCA 2006 having force feedback incorperated into the game????

LuckieStryke · 31-03-2005, 01:11 AM

It's probably the best reason for the Xbox never having FFB. My guess is that Sony will manage to iron things out, one way or another, and developers will carry on as usual. BTW ... it's a great time to by shares in Immersion. They were up $10 per after the judge's decision was handed down ;-)

Howard · 31-03-2005, 03:31 AM

Okay, couple of things: Immersion are not some "small silicon valley company", trust me....

Also the infringement wasn't against FF in general, but specifically the Dual-Shock controller which SCEA/E blatantly nicked from Immersion.

Sony will simply make their own verion of this controller and ship that one instead. The FF functionality of the console will remain unchanged.

LuckieStryke · 31-03-2005, 12:09 PM

"there would be a dramatic impact for anybody who currently is using a PlayStation product." ... Immersion Corp. Pres and CEO Vic Viegas.

Here's the link to the whole interview: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03...s_6121323.html

Scipio · 31-03-2005, 05:08 PM

I heard about this lawsuit about 2 or 3 years ago. Immersion also threatened to sue Microsoft. MS and Immersion came to an agreement which included MS buying some shares in Immersion. I think MS owns 25% of Immersion now.

And yes, the lawsuit is over the hand-held dual shock controllers. Logitech has rights (exclusive?) to force feedback.

Sony just has to settle. By the time the appeal is done with, the PS3 will be out so having to stop producing/selling PS2s/controllers (in the USA only) won't be a big deal.

30-03-2005, 11:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	Sony force feedback lawsuit Has anyone heard about the Sony lawsuit, dealing with PlayStation2 game consoles widely infringing on patents owned by a small Silicon Valley company, Immersion? The dispute is over so-called haptics technology -- software and hardware that makes a game controller shiver and shake when you slam a car into a wall or get shot by a bad guy, or makes a steering wheel veer out of control when you bump into an object. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, in upholding a jury's findings, ordered Sony (SNE ) to stop selling its already hard-to-get PlayStations, as well as nearly four dozen games it has made or allowed others to sell on its systems, including the popular Gran Turismo racing games and Take-Two Interactive's blockbuster Grand Theft Auto series. Wilken granted a stay on her order, pending Sony's appeal." ???? Will this have any effect on TOCA 2006 coming out for the playstation 2, or any effect with TOCA 2006 having force feedback incorperated into the game????

31-03-2005, 03:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Howard Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,126	Okay, couple of things: Immersion are not some "small silicon valley company", trust me.... Also the infringement wasn't against FF in general, but specifically the Dual-Shock controller which SCEA/E blatantly nicked from Immersion. Sony will simply make their own verion of this controller and ship that one instead. The FF functionality of the console will remain unchanged. __________________ Some stuff In a PC case...

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31-03-2005, 01:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
LuckieStryke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 257	It's probably the best reason for the Xbox never having FFB. My guess is that Sony will manage to iron things out, one way or another, and developers will carry on as usual. BTW ... it's a great time to by shares in Immersion. They were up $10 per after the judge's decision was handed down ;-)

31-03-2005, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
LuckieStryke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 257	"there would be a dramatic impact for anybody who currently is using a PlayStation product." ... Immersion Corp. Pres and CEO Vic Viegas. Here's the link to the whole interview: http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03...s_6121323.html

31-03-2005, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scipio Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 86	I heard about this lawsuit about 2 or 3 years ago. Immersion also threatened to sue Microsoft. MS and Immersion came to an agreement which included MS buying some shares in Immersion. I think MS owns 25% of Immersion now. And yes, the lawsuit is over the hand-held dual shock controllers. Logitech has rights (exclusive?) to force feedback. Sony just has to settle. By the time the appeal is done with, the PS3 will be out so having to stop producing/selling PS2s/controllers (in the USA only) won't be a big deal.