Sony Ericsson files patent on haptic gaming device, doesn't call it PSPhone

It's nice to know that Sony Ericsson is plugging away on making our crazy, dare-to-dream fantasies a reality. The latest proof that someone up there (and by up there, we mean Japan) likes us comes in the form of a new patent for a touchscreen handheld that forgoes physical buttons for a haptic-feedback scheme. The design mandates that the phone / game device would be free of the pesky clutter of regular buttons, and would instead by configurable to any number of forms (PSP, phone, MP3 player, digital camera) by arrangement of on-screen controls. The device would vibrate in accordance with button-presses, though it's unclear whether this will just be a standard vibration, or a more advanced, location-specific feedback system. Even with a little buzz, we're not quite sure you can replicate the feeling real gaming controls provide -- and that could seriously interfere with our typical success in games.

[Via Unwired View]

[Kalen @ Mar 7th 2008 10:31AM]

It still only has one analog stick = fail

[rumblerjon @ Mar 7th 2008 10:47AM]

i don't think it even has one, looks like a large touchscreen all over, i wouldn't want an anologue stick poking out the side of my phone anyway...

[maveric101 @ Mar 7th 2008 11:19AM]

look below the d-pad. it doesn't have to be physical, as i describe below.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 7th 2008 4:02PM]

I think the lack of the second analog stick is because to provide compatibility between the PSP and the phone without making two versions of the same game.

Lack of the second analog does not kill my interest. Though playing games such as Spyro will be a little different... Hm... Maybe the touchscreen to move the camera around?

[maveric101 @ Mar 7th 2008 11:18AM]

having touch buttons would force you to hold your thumb over the screen when you weren't pressing anything, whereas with normal game buttons you can rest your thumb on them and add force when you want to press.

"analog" sticks could actually work ok w/ a capacitive touch screen though. you could just have a circle, and depending on how far away your thumb is from the center, you could intensify feedback in that direction (like for aiming in an fps).

[ssuk @ Mar 7th 2008 12:20PM]

Yes, but they wont include a analogue stick, they'd include that thumb pad thing the PSP had. Which you have to keep your thumb on anyway. With touch controls, you'd be getting the same, only the thumb pad doesn't catch on your pocket every time you take out your phone...

[maveric101 @ Mar 7th 2008 1:01PM]

the thumb thing on a psp IS an analog stick. and about holding your thumb off i was talking about buttons not the stick.

[(01) @ Mar 7th 2008 11:23AM]

Sure vibrating games will be fun....until they kill your battery in an hour.

[DonatoM3 @ Mar 7th 2008 11:56AM]

[Sarcasm] Yeah but who needs to save their battery life to actually make phone calls. [Sarcasm]

[(01) @ Mar 7th 2008 2:09PM]

which is why I can't wait for Flash to come to my iPhone....

[dj-kenpo @ Mar 7th 2008 12:05PM]

am I the only one that prefers physical buttons? playing NES on my ipod touch just feels frustrating.
versus playing NES on my psp, well, that's just dandy. cuz I can feel WHERE the buttons are...

let apple do design before function, the rest of the world lest not go that way. there's room for everyone and we don't need all devices to look and feel the same.

[ssuk @ Mar 7th 2008 12:22PM]

Yes, because you're playing a homebrew application which was done without proper development tools behind it, for the iPhone side of it anyway. Here, Sony knows their technology and would make a more acute, sensitive control behaviour.

[dj-kenpo @ Mar 7th 2008 12:28PM]

I don't think 'homebrew' is the problem.
the problem is fast button mashing when there's NO buttons. it doesn't translate well.

[jaymay @ Mar 7th 2008 12:29PM]

Is that comic sans? :p

[silverblackvoid @ Mar 7th 2008 12:32PM]

aah... a vibrating gaming phone. chicks would totally digg it!

[Stasguy @ Mar 7th 2008 12:36PM]

they will need to add multi touch in order to have multiple buttons pressed down at the same time... (native psp app for iphone?)

[archie4oz @ Mar 7th 2008 1:11PM]

"It's nice to know that Sony Ericsson is plugging away on making our crazy, dare-to-dream fantasies a reality. The latest proof that someone up there (and by up there, we mean Japan)"

Ummm don't you mean London? After all that's where Sony Ericsson is headquartered...

[thedesolate1 @ Mar 7th 2008 1:39PM]

Actually I think a touchscreen analog stick would work pretty well. Sort of like the mouse pad on a computer.

[El Gallo @ Mar 7th 2008 2:27PM]

Sony please also consider adding 3G & Android (as a secondary OS) on the first version. Who says I can't dream?

[rodney @ Mar 7th 2008 2:21PM]

I want a PSP phone but I am not liking this patent

[wootman @ Mar 7th 2008 2:45PM]

im hoping its just going to add a touch analog stick to compliment the normal buttons.

[Dude67 @ Mar 7th 2008 4:02PM]

You guys know what would be really cool? If Sony placed the joystick or joytouchpad or whatever this is right below the D-pad, i.e. in a secondary position.

Get with the 21st century, analogue control should be the standard, not the awkwardly placed red headed step-sibbling to the d-pad