Sony seeks 'universal console controller' patent
Emulates PS3, Xbox 360, Wii controllers and more
It's perhaps a step too far to say that just because Sony has applied for a US patent that covers a "universal game console controller" that it's actually developing one with a view to bringing such a product to market.
But applied for such a patent it has.
The patent application - number 2010041480, and spotted by website GoRumors - was filed in August 2008, but this month received a provisional thumbs-up from the US Patent Office.
The application details "a universal game console controller that has an LCD presenting, depending on what type of game console a user has input, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console".
If you're in doubt that the word 'universal' applies to any games console, later in the application Sony adds:
"This document describes an adaptable or universal game controller which can be used to emulate the controllers of popular game consoles, such as, without limitation, the PlayStation made by Sony, a controller made by Nintendo, X-box game controllers made by Microsoft, Amiga CD-32 controllers, Atari Jaguar controllers, Gravis Gamepad controllers, Sega controllers, and Turbographics controllers, one or more of which terms may be subject to trademark protection. For ease of exposition trademark symbols will not be further used herein."
No, we didn't think there was a market for Amiga, Sega and Jaguar controllers, either, but that's just Sony being comprehensive.
Will Sony ever bring such a gadget to market? Tell us what you think. ®
COMMENTS
Patent.... what exactly?
It's a good idea, but there had better be something seriously novel in there to warrant a patent. Ooops, I forgot, that doesn't matter anymore if you're a big company.
Maybe
This is less about them producing this kind of controller and more about stopping someone else from doing so.
I doubt it
More than likely it means that anyone providing such items for Sony's console will have to go through Sony.
Will sony ever sell them?
Course not - they just want to make sure nobody else does without paying them large sums of money!
The problem
With universal controllers (as a user of many Philips Pronto remote controls over the years) is that touch screens require you to look at them when you use them. So unless you have a superset of physical buttons the controller won't be usable for games where you need to watch the screen, not the controller. I suppose getting the patent ready for when someone does try and release one makes sense in the perverse world of patents.
