SensorFX
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SplitFish details PS3 force feedback tech
See, whatcha do is, take a big ole' fish, split that sucka, stuff a buncha SixAxis parts in his belly, sew 'im back up, smash a couple buttons thru his eyes, then glue the rest of 'dem necessities on -- and BAM! You should get 'bout two minutes of force feedback...As it turns out, SplitFish's SensorFX technology isn't quite as sophisticated as we imagine above. The Edmonton tinkerer explains that its version of force feedback uses no moving parts, but is capable of delivering a range of sensations throughout different locations of the controller -- okay, but can you also eat it once the "battery" is dead? SensorFX apparently features two distinct modes, one for games that already support force feedback, and one for games that don't; yes folks, it just takes a guess, and rumbles away.SplitFish also confirms that it has not yet previewed its latest technology for Sony, as Sony spokesman Dave Karakker indicated earlier this week. SplitFish made no further assumption about the possibility of SensorFX being incorporated into a future version of Sony's SixAxis, but did reveal plans to work with both game publishers and hardware manufactures (maybe Nintendo and Microsoft want in too, maybe) in an effort to gain multi-platform support for its patent-pending force feedback invention.[Via press release]
Splitfish announces SensorFX force-feedback system for PS3
Not content with simply bringing some motion-sensing action to the PS2 controller, Canadian peripheral-maker Splitfish now looks set to try to make up for one of the PlayStation 3's more noticeable shortcomings, promising a force-feedback add-on for the PS3's decidedly rumble-less SIXAXIS controller. The device, dubbed the SensorFX, simply plugs into the USB port on the SIXAXIS controller, providing "meaningful sensory feedback" while supposedly not interfering with the controller's motion-sensing mojo. That's apparently accomplished by not using any moving parts in the device, although exactly what Splitfish is using to give the SensorFX the shakes seems to to be a closely held secret for the time being, with the company only saying that it's a "low power" device. In addition to the add-on, Splitfish says the SensorFX technology could eventually be directly incorporated into a controller, adding that it's hoping to work with video game publishers and hardware manufacturers to establish standards for force feedback technology. That would seem to still be a little ways off, however, as there's still no word yet on how much the add-on itself will cost or when it'll actually be available.
