Wasn`t it Sony that aquired!! the rumble facility for pads etc? From what I recollect was the people who did the rumble back pack and rare seat cushion sent the details to Sony who said NO but then made it their own!!! Sorry can`t find picture/link to back pack/cushion I have one but no pictures to hand :-(
Nintendo is the one who made rumble feature a standard in the industry. Nintendo was the first to let you put rumble features into a normal, standard and official controller anyway.
Super! Thanks, I always had that doubt. I actually really like that controller. It works like a D-Pad of sorts, but can also be "twirled" like some sort of (digital) paddle. Yeah, Pong-Clones and the Atari Paddles were analogue for sure. But they were not joysticks. So yeah, there was analogue control first, before digital control, but the analogue stick comes after that. There were many interesting controllers for pong clones; switches, knobs, little dial-thingies, and whatnot. I want to buy many of those. One day I'll have the cash. Pong rocks.
Well, the design is not Nintendo's anyway - the original design is by a company they bought out, who developed the exact same controller (without the gamecube add-ons etc) for presentations. It is meant to replace the mouse when using a PC on a protector. If copying changes the way we play then so be it. Nintendo copied the PSX memory cards on the Gamecube
True, and it was necessary for gaming to progress. What matters are the games ultimately and a new control method opens up options in games design and interface. That must surely be a good thing for everyone involved. The patent will likely cover the internal workings and not the application, since there are many motion sensitive devices already on the market and on past consoles.
