Sony Patent Reveals The Ultimate PlayStation Move Controller That Never Was
The PlayStation Move managed to do what the Wiimote never could – provide 1:1 motion tracking in a 3D space, but many still see the controller as a simple copy of Nintendo’s popular motion device. Now, according to a Sony patent, it has been revealed that the company once had bigger plans for the Move, and were open to adding far more features to the device.
The current Move controller consists of a lit sphere and the standard PlayStation buttons, as well as a Move button and a trigger that can be used to interact with the PlayStation 3. While this setup can work with most gameplay types, the interface does limit what gamers can do. In a Sony Patent filed in May of last year, and published only days ago, it looks like the company were researching a far more powerful and sensor rich controller.
To play certain games like Killzone 3 and Socom 4 with the Move controller, gamers must use a Dualshock 3 or a Navigation control to operate the left joystick. Not only does this mean that you will need to purchase another controller, it means that only one hand will be tracked by the PS Eye. In one patented concept, Sony planned to integrate the analog stick into the main Move controller:
The patent clarifies:
The front of the controller 100 further includes a joystick 114. In some embodiments, the joystick 114 is used to control aspects of a game console such as manipulating an onscreen cursor. In other embodiments, the joystick is used to control movement or actions of onscreen avatars.
Also shown in the picture is a trackball on the base of the controller, which could possibly work as a mouse. Interesting the patent also notes:
In still other embodiments, trackball 110 is a modular element than can be swapped with other input devices such as a button cluster similar to input cluster 115.
Thus, the base of the controller could have been “swapped” around to allow countless different inputs.
Another control scheme shown is “joystick mode”, where the entire controller imitates a flight control joystick:
Showing how just how precise the controller was meant to be, the patent explains:
Applying downward pressure on the handle 102 toward the input feature 104 creates compression. Sensors between the input feature 104 and the handle 102 enable detection of changes in the applied pressure that can be mapped to control of a computer program.
The pressure sensor on the Move Sphere would allow further gametypes for developers to exploit, with the sphere able to move up and down, as shown below:
In fact, the sphere could even detect movement in any direction, allowing for two handed control of the device, with the sphere possibly also acting as another joystick.
The patent explains how the controller could work in games:
Using a human avatar analogy, movement of the input feature 104 in direction 302-1 and 302-2 is detected and mapped to correspond with nodding of the head. Thus, movement in direction 302-1 would pitch the head forward as if bringing the chin closer to the ne[ck]. Conversely, movement in direction 302-2 would pitch the head backwards, moving the chin away from the neck. Likewise, applying torque 300 to the input feature about the length axis 120 can be mapped to correlate to swiveling the head left or right.
There are many reasons why these features didn’t make the final cut, from the usability of the interface, to the drain on battery, and – most importantly – the cost of the device. While a feature-packed controller may seem ideal, an expensive Move could have easily crippled its launch.
Would you have preferred this version of the controller? Let us know in the comments below.
16 Responses to “Sony Patent Reveals The Ultimate PlayStation Move Controller That Never Was”
It would have been nice to have an analog stick on the move controller. I remember when I thinking it would be cool to see Demon’s Souls with move controls after seeing the demo of Gladiator Duels.
What I would like to see for FPS/Shooter based games is a controller more like an actual weapon. You can use the Flash-suppressor at the end of the barrel the same as the current ball end. It would glow like the ball does now but you would not need to seat the current controller and navigation controller in a plastic housing.
Somebody get this done it is time…
I’m still wondering what the hell the expansion port on the bottom of the Move controller is going to be used for. Not the Mini USB slot, but the other slot next to it on the bottom of the Move controller. Any ideas???
Some attachments can use it (like the PS gun) and it allows the attachment’s buttons to be mapped to the controller’s buttons, and not have to actually USE the buttons on the controller.
Like the trigger – or having X and O where your thumb would lay when holding the gun.
the biggest drawback of all the gun attachments out right now is that the face buttons are on the top of the controller…if they came out with a gun that moved the buttons to some place more convenient it would make playing shooters a lot easier/fun
Might be a PS Move Plus Adapter lol naa but what tazinlwfl says…
One could assume that they’re working on an analog control similar to the nunchuck on the Wii. Could use it for any number of extra controllers peripherals.
Be nice to have something similar to it imo. They could possibly apply some sort of patent manipulation and create their ow using Nintendo’s copied idea (confusing ehh?).
Yeah…..Or one could also assume that the navi controller that came out with the move does that, because thats exactly what it is. And confusing? What part of stealing an idea is confusing? Whats more confusing is how you haven’t heard about the navi or that you can just use a dualshock3.
PS Move with analog nub could have been the best design!
Personally, I think this proposed design was too complex. More stuff that could break, more difficult for developers to implement functionality in their games, and most importantly, all the extra bells & whistles woulda sent the price per unit through the roof. One of Move’s main selling points is that the entry price is less than that obsolete piece of junk Microsquash calls Kinect. Like the article said, if the combined cost for a Move controller plus Playstation Eye was more than the cost of a Kinect camera, it could well have killed the Move’s launch
Bingo. Plus, based on the positioning, I could see you accidentally hitting the analog stick when all your trying to do is swing the controller around… it might have been more annoying than useful.
No analog stick isn’t a big deal. In the fight you hold down the move button and the move works as a virtual analog stick, and it works well, so could easily see a Demon Souls or Oblivion type game with move controls.
Did you forget that you can use a dualshock3 or navi? Why would they need to make a virtiual analog stick when you can just use an actual analog stick?
@JohnnyTruant5
If I was playing a game like demon souls with the move, I would like to use 2 move controllers, one for a sword and one for a shield. Like @Exovedate said, using one move as a virtual analog stick would work well. And I don’t know about most people, but I don’t have 3 hands to use 2 moves and the nav controller.
Sorry I probably should of explained a little better. In my fantasy awesome hypothetical game you’d use 2 controllers (one for sword, one for shield) than hold move button for walking.
Why would anyone want an analog stick on a Move controller? I mean… imagine any game that you play regularly which uses analog, and imagine moving the sixaxis up down and all around while you manuever your character, avatar, etcetera. You need one hand steady for hardcore games for movement. The other hand can be used as needed. You’re not going to get precision moving the hand holding the analog stick.