Sony Accessorise “The Wand”
Thought Sony were going to keep it simple? Think again.Published 08/12/2009 at 8:19 by nofi
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The US Government patent office has it down as an “Expandable Control Device Via Hardware Attachment” but basically this Sony realising that developers can’t make games with just a pointer and a trigger and are thus sticking all kinds of other bits of plastic to next year’s motion-controller Wand.
Included in the patent are various ways to fix other more traditional controls to the Wand, including in a H-shape or the Nintendo-like Dualshock in one hand and the Wand in the other. Also featured is a “thumb reader used to validate the identity of the person holding the controller by analyzing the biometric data.”
There’s more at Kotaku.
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Jumping Monks | 08/12/2009 08:23
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Thumb scanner things… are you joking mate? 0.o
Jumping Monks | 08/12/2009 08:24
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ultimatepunchrod | 08/12/2009 17:54
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i imagine its to combat natal’s face recognition software but thats just my guess
sesameseed | 08/12/2009 08:25
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Thumb reader? That’s just scary. Can’t even begin to imagine how that would be incorporated into a game.
bajere | 08/12/2009 08:59
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if it can read pulse rates, then lots of uses…
fitness games are the no brainier, but other things are more interesting. like;
Horror games – pulse rises, game can read and act on it, giving users more/less fright.
FPS – higher pulse usually means more adrenaline, so that can lead to more accurate targeting.
Heavy Rain – More pulse, more drama in the controls. and it can make the charter look more/less panicked.
I can think of lots of things if it uses heart rate, bit like the cardio machines down the gym…if it doesn’t, then a thumb print reader is not really much use.lol
Raen | 08/12/2009 12:29
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Exactly like the Wii vitality sensor then?
And I doubt it can. Assuming it’s just a biometric reader they usually only read the thumb print. There are vein scanners (although I’m not sure if there are any small enough) but as the pulse is in arteries (right?) I don’t think they’d be of any use.
3shirts | 08/12/2009 08:59
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I am hoping it would just save time by perhaps auto selecting profiles and things
djdustb | 08/12/2009 08:27
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Good to see that they don’t intend to stick with the daft idea of trying to hold a DS3 in one hand to get the eatra functions. I think the Wii has it spot on with the nunchuk, a wireless version of that would work a treat.
BadBoyBoogie | 08/12/2009 20:05
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Yeah, holding the wand in one hand and a DS3 in the other is just not going to work. Glad to see Sony are looking into ways of incorporating the wand ‘properly’.
cc_star | 08/12/2009 08:29
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I want an exclusive week 1 T-shirt for mine
Bankzy108 | 08/12/2009 08:34
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Me too! I wonder how much it would cost…
[/sarcasm]
Aitrus | 08/12/2009 08:46
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But can it scan Hodgi’s?
nofi | 08/12/2009 08:50
Wants a custom tag.
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BIGAL-1992 | 08/12/2009 18:13
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Ryosuke | 08/12/2009 08:53
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It looks to me like something that should be bought in Ann Summers :/
Tuffcub | 08/12/2009 08:59
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It’s a stick not a wand.
cc_star | 08/12/2009 11:08
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We’ll see about that.
Wingardium Leviosa…. sod it – Avada Kadavra
djhsecondnature | 10/12/2009 02:10
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It’s amazing the world Rowling has created.
cam the man | 08/12/2009 13:42
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The middle two pics look more like a lolliepop than a stick.
bunimomike | 08/12/2009 09:51
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This article has to be bogus – just look at the drawings. Nofi’s swiped some early USS Enterprise schematics and palmed them off as Sony’s next hardware release.
seedaripper1973 | 08/12/2009 10:56
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i cant make head nor tail of those pics????
scavenga | 08/12/2009 11:20
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Oh, this finally paves the way for my “Airport Ground Personnel Adventures: Edward Shows the 747 Where To Park” games pitch!
Aitrus | 08/12/2009 11:45
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LOL!
Any plans for DLC including the Airbus 380?
scavenga | 08/12/2009 12:45
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Well, yes and no – Thought I’d go about it Little Big Planet style, where gamers can accessorize and customize via stickers and downloadable packs of seperate propellers, engines and… uh, hats.
TSBonyman | 08/12/2009 12:07
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It would not be unlike Sony to register these just to cover all bases but hopefully the end result will utilise one final design of the wand used with or without a 2nd controller, be that the sixaxis, a second wand or some nunchuk-like device . That’s quite enough accessories for me.
I’m sure there will be a rash of HD copies of wii games and if the wand can at least mimic the accessibility of the Wii then of course that can’t be a bad thing. I was impressed by the tech demos but i’m hoping that the game developers will tap into the features of the wand to bring us something new.
RedStarGlow | 08/12/2009 12:13
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It is exactly like the wireless Singstar mics only different (sphere on the end and all the buttons)! That means it will but promised for the US but never delivered and I will have to buy it with my weak dollar!
RedStarGlow | 08/12/2009 12:14
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US….. USA (United States of America) not the capitalized version of us (like you and mean)
Apnomis | 08/12/2009 12:14
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I’ve no idea what the heck most of those images are trying to do, but I hope Sony don’t turn their idea into some kind of peripheral hell where you have more attachments than a professional photographer!!! Will they sell one of those compartmentalised jackets to hold all the bits as well?!!!
Why can’t they just do what everyone wants them to do – add a PSP style thumb nub to the standard design and sell them as a pair in a starter pack. That way for simple family games you can have one controller each (so instant 2 player support) with one nub and a trigger and buttons, and for complex two handed games you have dual nubs, 2 triggers, and several buttons – more than enough control combinations without the need for a 101 peripherials for the peripheral! Why complicate what should be a simple idea?
What’s interesting about these images though is that the handle on the left appears to have some kind of movement device or thumb nub instead of buttons but the same overall design, which could imply they are going to be sold as a Left Stick and a Right Stick, one having buttons and a ‘light bulb’ and the other having movement controls and a ‘light bulb’, this removes the option to have simple 2 player games using 1 controller set, but is an acceptable solution and much better than 1 wand and 1 DS3. The other interesting point is that the design now appears to be modular and the ‘light bulb’ can be unscrewed (there’s irony for you) and replaced with other things.
I still can’t believe that for a controller that is coming out in 3 months we still have no idea what it will be called or what it will end up looking like! Since when have Sony been this good at keeping secrets?!
Apnomis | 08/12/2009 13:28
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I’ve just read through that patent, and I think it just about covers everything that could ever possibly be done with a motion controller! It looks like they’re applying the ‘It Only Does Everything” slogan to the controller too. Here are a few words/phrases that jumped out at me:
It has an attachment that contains beads for rattling (Fig 7B above) that allows it to be used as Maracas!
There is an attachment with 3 spheres that are able to light up in different colours
There is a version of the controller that communicates with the gameing system using ultrasonic communication
There is a version of the controller that communicates with the gaming system using infrared communication
There is an attachment that includes a speaker
There is an attachment that includes a micphone (SingStar mics being phased out perhaps?)
The handle includes a processor and the attachment interrupts the processor when the attachment is coupled to the handle
There is an attachment that includes a biometric input that is defined to enable or disable the handle or resources in the gaming system (that would be the ultimate in parental control)
Inertial information based on movement of the attachment is transmitted to the handle which transmits it gaming system
There are various attachments that include a second controller to form a two-handed controller
It appears there is an attachment with and extra rechargeable battery that gives the controller additional electrical power when connected to the controller
There is an attachment with a crosshair shape for aiming the controller towards a target
There is an attachment that can connect to the controller in different positions with the position of the attachment beign used an an input for the system
There is a version where a second connector can be used to connect the controllers together (presumably like the staff-weapon seen in the very early patent)
There is an auxiliary module that connects to the controller in a different location than the location where the attachment connects, this module apparently provides utlrasonic communications with the console and the second controller.
I could go on (that was only from the first section!) but I think you get the idea! Seems like this controller is going to be more than ‘just a Wiimote clone’ afterall, it gives the Swiss Army Knife a run for it’s money in terms of attachments and functions!!!
Bladesteel | 08/12/2009 18:42
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Sounds like defensive patents to me. They patent every conceivable attachment and way of using the control. Then if they decide to use it they don’t have to deal with (as many) patent trolls. Also they could be used for cross lisencing if one of the competitors does anything similar to the ideas in the patent.
Short story: Just because they patent is doesn’t mean we’ll ever see it.
skibadee | 08/12/2009 13:43
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wow they look crazy roll on the wand.