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PS3 Gets Rumble - Immersion Lawsuit Ended

post #1 of 27
3/2/07 at 3:29am
Thread Starter 
Hallelujah!

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/769/769390p1.html

Sony and Immersion Play Nice
Lawsuit ended, rumble coming, fans happy.
by Micah Seff

March 1, 2007 - Who would have thought that this day would come? Sony Computer Entertainment and Immersion announced today that both companies have agreed to put an end to their ongoing legal dispute and enter into a business agreement to incorporate Immersion's patented force feedback technology into future "PlayStation format products." Whether this means that the technology will be incorporated in future versions of the PlayStation 3's Sixaxis controller is still unclear, although what other "PlayStation format products" could they be talking about?

"We are pleased to have put this litigation behind us," said Immersion CEO Victor Viegas. "Our new business agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment is specifically intended to enable advanced vibration capability for the benefit of the PlayStation gaming community. We are happy to provide our technology in this regard and hope to make technical proposals very soon with respect to use of our technology in the PlayStation products."

As part of the agreement reached between the two companies, Immersion will be granted the full amount dictated by the District Court -- this includes damages, pre-judgment interest, and legal fees. The agreement also provides Sony with expanded rights with respect to Immersion's patents. No additional financial details were revealed, but it is expected that the termination of the litigation will have no material impact on Sony's consolidated earnings forecast announced on January 30, 2007.

"We look forward to exploring with Immersion exciting new ways to bring the largest and best range of gameplay experiences to our customers," said Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai, of Sony Computer Entertainment. "We are very excited about our new partnership with Immersion and the potential for new and innovative products incorporating their technologies."

I wasn't going to get a PS3 until later this year anyway. Now I'm glad I waited. I really wanted this - especially for my PS2 games.
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post #2 of 27
3/2/07 at 3:32am
That was the big news? That's sure going to make current owners happy.
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post #3 of 27
3/2/07 at 10:04am
Well I'm sold, one PS3 please.
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post #4 of 27
3/2/07 at 10:42am
Yep all I needed to get over that $600 price tag was rumble reinstated. /sarcasm
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post #5 of 27
3/2/07 at 11:51am
I thought rumble was a "last-gen" feature?
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post #6 of 27
3/3/07 at 7:03pm
I think it's awesome, the lack of rumble was a real deterent for me not just for future games, but for playing my current ps2 games when my ps2 breaks again (and I know it will). I really think even the current owners are going to appreciate that if they want rumble they can buy a rumble enabled controller. Probably need to download a patch too.
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post #7 of 27
3/3/07 at 8:12pm
Appreciate dropping another $100 on two rumble enabled controllers? Somehow I doubt that.
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post #8 of 27
3/3/07 at 10:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninhead
I thought rumble was a "last-gen" feature?

So did I. Let me not waste any more words on Sony.
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post #9 of 27
3/4/07 at 12:55am
I can't believe that many of you care about rumble. What part of your body do you hold the controller with?
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post #10 of 27
3/4/07 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg David
I can't believe that many of you care about rumble. What part of your body do you hold the controller with?
The part(s) which is/are able to register motion, movement, and physical sensations and transport this information to our brain via our central nervous system.
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post #11 of 27
3/4/07 at 3:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Overlord
The part(s) which is/are able to register motion, movement, and physical sensations and transport this information to our brain via our central nervous system.
you put it in your butt? That's weird.
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post #12 of 27
3/4/07 at 3:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by B_MetalSucks
you put it in your butt? That's weird.
Not my thing, but given your purported penchant for space-docking I can understand why you would interpret my post in such a manner.
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post #13 of 27
3/4/07 at 4:36am
Mind you, anybody who's still supporting Sony probably should have a sixaxis controller crammed into their rectum, but that's a whole different discussion.
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post #14 of 27
3/4/07 at 4:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SONY PRESIDENT
These people sure do excited about what should have been included in the first place!
Whats interesting to me is how forgiving some consumers can be.
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post #15 of 27
3/4/07 at 10:25pm
Well I was going to get a PS3 anyway because of the blu-ray player capabilities. This announcement is making wait a little longer with my purchase, because I don't want to have to double dip for controllers. How long do you think it will be till Sony starts packaging in rumble enabled controllers?

Probably it won't happen until they use all of their current stock.
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post #16 of 27
3/4/07 at 10:28pm
So a long fuckin' time then.
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post #17 of 27
3/4/07 at 10:41pm
Yes. but if I get impatient I'll just buy a PS3 at Costco, and then return it for a rumble enabled one when they come out.
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post #18 of 27
3/4/07 at 11:05pm
rumble was 2 gens ago nintendo 64 days....

glad ps3 is keeping up with todays technology

cue blueray death countdown now!
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post #19 of 27
3/4/07 at 11:23pm
Quote:
cue blueray death countdown now!
You can count down in reverse? Cool!
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post #20 of 27
3/5/07 at 5:47pm
I'm not tech-language savvy- is this in reference to the "rumble pack" that started out on less complex consoles? Because one of my first sexual memories was watching my female next door neighbor masturbate with one of these in front of me. We were the same age. Man, was that a hard memory to wipe out.
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post #21 of 27
3/5/07 at 7:34pm
And what, you couldn't get out a camcorder? Selfish bastard.
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post #22 of 27
3/5/07 at 9:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KABONG
I'm not tech-language savvy- is this in reference to the "rumble pack" that started out on less complex consoles? Because one of my first sexual memories was watching my female next door neighbor masturbate with one of these in front of me. We were the same age. Man, was that a hard memory to wipe out.

"NINTENDO SIXTY-FOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR!!!!!!!"
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post #23 of 27
3/5/07 at 9:33pm
The rumble pak shook like whoa on the train level in Starfox 64. I remember thinking the damn thing broke the first time I finished that level.
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post #24 of 27
3/5/07 at 9:45pm
^ Best level in the game. Especially if you found the secret path. I wonder if the game will still be rumble enabled when it is released on the virtual console. It'd be interesting having the wiimote in your lap and the classic controller in your hands.
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post #25 of 27
6/18/07 at 9:00pm


Quote:
CNET is reporting that Microsoft has filed suit against Immersion—the company that had in-turn sued Microsoft in 2003 claiming patent infringement—alleging that the company violated its contract with the Xbox 360 manufacturer. Immersion, a provider of haptic technology, more commonly referred to as force feedback, recently settled its own suit against Sony for similar patent infringement claims.

According to the CNET report, Microsoft's claim of breach of contract includes a provision that requires Immersion to pay fees "based on certain business and IP licensing arrangements."

Could the recent kiss and make up with Sony and rumors swirling of a SIXAXIS re-release with Immersion's tech have triggered the bloodlust of Microsoft's legal department? Does this put a damper on PLAYSTATION 3 with force feedback controllers? Immersion's not talking, yet, but expect to hear more about this exciting legal dispute about patents in the future.
If I was a patent attorney for Microsoft, this would be the greatest day ever. Not only could I revenge myself on the organization that pestered us for years and eventually forced a settlement, but I could potentially cripple Sony's ability to use rumble technology even though they've already forked over their own settlement! The timing is perfect.

I'm guessing Microsoft has a contractual right to be consulted/sign off on major third party deals; including settlements that grant Sony the right to use Immersion's technolgy.
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post #26 of 27
6/19/07 at 1:18pm
Now if only Microsoft could find a way to take blu-ray from them. Although Sony keeps stepping on its own foot with the format, I'm sure some guy will show up and say they stole the process from him or something.
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post #27 of 27
6/19/07 at 3:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAIRUS
Now if only Microsoft could find a way to take blu-ray from them. Although Sony keeps stepping on its own foot with the format, I'm sure some guy will show up and say they stole the process from him or something.
Hmmm...I suspect you know that already happened.

More details:

Quote:
Just what hasn't been honored? The complaint details the Sublicense Agreement (SLA) that Microsoft and Immersion entered into in 2003, following the settlement between the two parties. According to the complaint, the SLA entitles Microsoft to a minimum $15 million payment as a result of Immersion's settlement with Sony. Microsoft and Immersion apparently agreed to share the bounty that would stem from a court battle with Sony, and Microsoft says they have yet to be paid. In fact, Microsoft had a stepped arrangement which provided that additional compensation should be paid to the company if the total settlement amount surpassed $100 million, which Microsoft believes it has. How can that be true if the Sony settlement was for just $90 million?

Microsoft accuses Immersion of having failed to promptly disclose the full terms of their settlement with Sony, and they also accuses the company of "actively attempting to characterize its agreements with Sony as something other that [sic] what they are—a settlement." The accusation is that Immersion categorized part of the settlement as "licensing" of new technology. Microsoft sees any licensing stemming from the suit as being part of the settlement proper, and they want their cut.

Thus Microsoft says that in addition to the original $15 million "base obligation" owed as a result of the SLA, the agreement also entitles Microsoft to compensation for an additional amount to be determined at trial.
Mischaracterizing settlements as "something else" has been a hotbed of litigation for years. This is a fascinating situation. However, with these further details it looks like Microsoft might have difficulty keeping rumble away from Sony, unless they can demonstrate that Sony was aware of the SLA and assisted Immersion's efforts to circumvent it.
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