Sony Patents Kinect-Like Device For PlayStation

[SelectivelyEvil13]

No! No GD it! The Kinect NEVER sold well for Microsoft! Why the hell would Sony possibly do something like this? Where's the logic?

The logic is that in the future, we'll control all of our media - including video games - in the most groan-inducing, frustrating, and inefficient manners of flailing possible. Because that is the future as foretold by Minority Report!

I'd much rather these companies spend the R&D money on creating new IPs or making games that are fun instead of trying to reinvent the wheel for an alternate universe... and then throw a touch screen[footnote]I have a massive, high definition television set. If I'm looking at that, then what the hell do I need a controller with a screen on it for?[/footnote] on the rims for good (expensive) measure. Get a grip Sony; you're releasing so many PS2 nostalgia grabs that they're going to outnumber the new PS3 IPs, if they haven't already.

 

[Akisa]

How does this not conflict with the patents that I'm sure Microsoft has for it's Kinect?

Same reason that Kinect doesn't conflict the EyeToy and PlayStation Eye.

Please. Eyetoy is a single camera. It's a friggin' webcam with some software behind it. Kinect is a dual camera system, with one of the cameras being, I believe, an infrared depth sensing device almost exactly as described in the Sony patent. You're essentially saying that the automobile was a refined version of a skateboard. Be serious.

Now for a moment, when reading the patent, I thought Sony was talking about having some sort of device at the rear or side of the room as well as at the front. If that was the case, then yeah, they'd have something original there -- and something which could work to give exceptional precision, I'd expect. But reading further, and I don't think it's there (which means I should probably run off to the patent office right now) but I haven't been able to get the images to load yet.

No it's more like Sony invented the car and then Microsoft invented the Model T, so Sony decide to improve upon to compete with the Model T.

Can you explain how you're getting that analogy? I mean, the technology differences between the eyetoy and the kinect are fairly vast. What on earth, besides blatant fanboism, makes the technology of the eyetoy remotely comparable to that of the Kinect? Go ahead and describe to me the similarities in the tech and how MS copied Sony specifically, I'm listening.

Trust me it's not blatant fanboyism, I have dropped the console and focus exclusively on the PC. They're just casual readings from their respective Wikis.

 

[Beautiful End]

Well, even if Sony came out with the PS Eye first and stuff, I still think they;'re following a trend. If Microsoft had never released the Kinect, Sony would be more than happy with their MOVE set, I'm sure.

I mean, I'm pretty sure they knew of the Kinect's development while they were working on the MOVE, but it was already too late because they had already decided to copy Nintendo on this one. So now this?

I love my PS3 more than anything. But come on, Sony. You don't need this. Your titles are good enough as they are. In my case, I bought the MOVE and the sharpshooter and I hated it. The controllers are convoluted and its not even close to what you do at arcades. Or with the Wii. But that's just me.

Now, like someone said, if this would have been a one-camra-in-front-ofyou-and-one-behind-you gimmick, then MAYBE it would sound interesting. I remember some sort of thing like that came out about a decade ago (I don't think it was the Virtual boy), where you'd put on a visor and you'd literally only see the game. You'd turn right and the camera turned right. You'd lean forward a bit and you'd walk. It was fun except for the fact that it had a cable that was connected to a computer or something and every time you'd turn around all over the place, you'd get tangled with the cable.
If Sony would be able to create something like this, only without the visor, or perfect that technology, then MAYBE that would be a huge hit. Something that really makes you feel like you're inside the game instead of giving me a funny-looking wand and waving it all over the place like I'm giving someone a handjob. I'm looking at you, Today's Show.

 

[Ieyke]

FFS.

MS copied Sony's EyeToy and Eye by making Kinect, and now everyone's giving them crap for essentially making the third version of the PlayStation Eye?
Really?

If you were complaining from a Nintendo perspective you might have a leg to stand on. Nintendo tends to do totally off the wall stuff long before anyone else thinks it might be a remotely good idea. I can't really name anything Nintendo has copied aside from online capabilities...

Sony does some innovating and Sony does some straight-up improving of other people's ideas. They started the use of discs, game cameras (EyeToy/Eye), and backwards compatibility, and they basically invented the idea of selling updated console models when they released the PSone as an updated PSX (which has carried over to the PS2/PS2 Slimline, PS3/PS3 Slim, 360/360S, white Wii/black Wii MotionPlus set).
They copied and improved the SNES controller (added grips and L2 and R2), copied the N64's analog stick idea and took it to its logical conclusion by adding 2 analog sticks to their controllers (which is now the "traditional" controller format across all platforms), they refined the N64's Rumble Pack into the form of the DualShock controllers (again, with integrated force feedback becoming a widespread feature), they took the Wiimote idea and combined it with the PSEye to make the much better PS Move,

Microsoft almost purely copies everyone else. They take other people's ideas and usually improves on them a bit. I can't think of a single original idea from either XBOX.
They (like everyone else) took online from the Dreamcast(and they've probably got the best online from most standpoints), the controllers are hybrids of Dreamcast and DualShock controllers (but apparently never figured out the force feedback thing?), Kinect derived from Sony's EyeToy/Eye, avatars from Miis....
I'm not saying MS doesn't make the better versions of some stuff, but they sure as hell can't hold the high ground regarding copied ideas vs original ideas.