PlayStation may be in trouble

[Chiz]

*reading from BusinessWeek.com*
Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp.'s video game unit has been ordered to pay $90.7 million in damages over a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States related to the PlayStation2 console, the company said Monday.

In a 2002 lawsuit, Immersion accused Sony of patent infringement with the Dual Shock controller for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. Dual Shock makes the controller shake in time with what's going on in the game.

Read full article here

*reading from Joystiq.com*

Japan Today reports that in addition to a hefty, $90.7-million fine for damages, Sony Computer Entertainment may be forbidden from manufacturing, using, selling or importing into the United States any of their products that include computer controlled vibrating motors because those products infringe on patents held by Immersion Corp.

Read full article here

---

Basically, any product or game using (or packaged with) DualShock technology may no longer be available in America. While this is not directly related to MegaMan Legends, it could damage sales of the PlayStation enough to make PlayStation games harder to come by, including MML, MML2, and MOTB.
Also, many developers may switch to other consoles, like the XBox or the GameCube for future releases.

Just thought everyone should know, Sony just suffered a massive blow, and MML3 (or any other future PlayStation game) may be further away than before.

[pitch]

MML Three could easily come out on another company's console, so I'm not really all too worried about that.

Really sucks for Sony... They were kinda dumb about it though, if I understand this stuff correctly.

I heard something about this stopping the production of the PSPs... is that true?

[Notmyname]

Sony is... Screwed.

The sony dualshock controllers were like... the absolute BEST controllers there are. Serously.

and now there gone.

[PharaohManXe54]

Well, what I gather from what Eric said, PSP production wouldn't be stopped cause it doesn't have a Dual Shock controller. But seriously, those are the best controllers EVER. At least this won't hurt DDR production, hehehehe. But hey, look at it this way, we all (at least I know I do) have MML, MML2, and the MOTB PLUS maybe 1 or 2 Dual Shock controllers so maybe, if Sony goes out of business or just stops making Dual Shocks, we'll have a hefty fortune under our belts. This could take down Sony a peg, but I just wish that this would have happened to Xbox or Microsoft so that Nintendo could be the dominant company.... Oh well, here's hoping.

[Chiz]

I just finished buying 10 working various-coloured DualShocks and DualShock 2s from my friends for about $5 each, so I'm set. (waiting for demand to rise, then pop on eBay with these wonderful controllers that are required by your favorite games)

EDIT: A lot of my friends are upgrading from PlayStation to PlayStation 2, so there's chance I could get a few more DualShocks

[Santa Melty]

Ooh, there seem to be some very enterprising people here. The law may take a few months to proceed though, so I wouldn’t be too worried just yet.

If they do lose this, there are thankfully only a couple of games on that list of infringements that I might miss. I prefer Nintendo myself. Anyway, Sony will be fine. It's a large blow, but they can take it.

If there is a Legends 3 in the works, it'll be aright, regardless of the outcome of the case. Like that guy up there said, Capcom would simply market the game on a different console.

As far as the PSP... What the heck is a PSP? o.o

[Chiz]

PSP - Paint Shop Pro Play Station Portable, it's the new toy Sony is sporting.

BTW, That "guy" is Pitch

And I wonder what the PS3's controllers will be like, now that the DualShock line has been snuffed out. I mean, the PS2's only official controller was the DualShock. All PS2 controllers shook.

[Santa Melty]

I could have called him Pitch, but then what if he were to change his user name? Then I would become the object of endless abuse for calling a forum member a name that was not theirs. Over time, the ridicule would reach a fever pitch, and I would leave in disgrace. Crazed by such an event, I would then plot to take over China by assassinating and impersonating their leader. I would continue this for several years as I horded all of the country’s resources before selling off the land to the Russians. Using the fabulous wealth I would then posses, I would contract the world’s top physicists to find a way to break the laws of physics. Utilizing this knowledge, I would travel back in time to the Triassic period and take some DND from various carnivorous dinosaurs. I would genetically enhance them, splice their genes with those of the tomato, and rule the world with my new army of tomato-dinosaur monsters. Now would you really want that? Playing it safe is the key.


Playstation… Portable? A handheld that can play PS games? That can’t have a very long battery life. Aww well, whatever. I didn’t even know what that was until a couple of minutes ago. As for PS3 controllers, I guess they could just have the Duelshock minus the ruble feature, couldn’t they?

[GustaffGlyde]

Heh, it may be good in that it would, as Pharaoh pointed out, knock Sony down a bit. They’re just a little to egotistical for my tastes (dear heavens, their answer to the PSP’s unresponsive square button was just… too egotistical to believe [It’s old news… very old. But read here if you want.] The problem wasn’t really big, but their response to it… when Nintendo’s DS had the pixel problem they offered to repair any and all DS that were affected for free whereas Sony just says they did it on purpose, never told anyone, and could care less if it causes anyone a problem.)

Yeah, I have yet to buy a Sony product that hasn’t broken so I’m not very fond of them (my CD player died after one month, my earphones go through a three month period before needing to be replaced, my PS2 has broken repeatedly forcing me to resort to other means of playing my games, and my controller is nigh dead, but of course since I don’t use my PS2 anymore its no problem. Anyways, Sony products all they were, and not cheap ones either. The only technical support they ever gave me was, “Have you tampered with it” (because what wrong could almighty Sony do?) or, “Get it repaired” (for a price of almost ¾ the cost of the original product).

Ah, but now I’m just ranting about a bias of mine. As for the controllers, they’ll stay the same for the most part. It isn’t the controller, it’s the dual shock motor used within them. All they need to do is develop a new kind of motor and apply it to the old controller. I think it’s more the lawsuit that they’re worried about. That’s just what ol’ Howard Stringer needs after becoming the first American/British CEO of Sony (he has dual citizenship, but he’s Welsh so it’s a little more on the British side). But yeah, even if they have to pay it won’t hurt them too much. It’d be a setback and certainly wouldn’t be good for Stringer but in the long run they’ll manage. Sony is an okay company, I just haven’t always liked their way of going about things (darn it, pretty graphics and massive advertising campaigns do not make a good game! A good movie, maybe, but not a good game), and if they could actually make their products work for more than a couple of months I might actually like them… might….

If, somehow, they are banned from selling PS2s (it is on the list) then it’ll hurt a lot more, but the PS3 is coming along soon enough and not too many people are still buying PS2s over here in America. Also, with the PSP out they’ll still be getting a profit (The square button problem isn’t a reason to not buy a PSP. It was the response they gave that’s just… so… bleh). Still, I’d assume they will lose the Dual Shock but be able to keep the PS2. It also shouldn’t affect the games listed as most of the time the dual shock is optional and only there because it was in the controller.

As for MML3, this shouldn’t affect them much, if at all. Capcom is not Sony. They may have to redesign their program to work with whatever Sony uses to replace the dual shock, but it wouldn’t set the game back all that much. Besides, most of the time the dual shock option is optional. MML3, if it is being produced, wouldn’t suffer much from this (unless the PS2 is banned, but as I said it's very unlikely)

To end things off, I’ll quote the ol’ Urb-Dictionary entry for Sony

1. Sony
A company that's 10 times bigger than Microsoft but gets a free pass from the fanboy American public because they have Squaresoft games and don't railroad American companies. Overcharges for their electronics because of the name regardless of more inexpensive and reliable brands being out there.

I listened to my Sony-licensed CD with my Sony-made Discman with Sony-made headphones while playing my Sony Playstation 2 with NFL Gameday 2004 made by Sony-owned 989. Then I played Sony-owned Everquest on my Sony-made Vaio laptop online while listening to Sony-licenced Joan of Arcadia on my Sony television.

Bill Gates could only dream of having that much power.

[pitch]

mltmlt22 said:

I could have called him Pitch, but then what if he were to change his user name? Then I would become the object of endless abuse for calling a forum member a name that was not theirs. Over time, the ridicule would reach a fever pitch, and I would leave in disgrace. Crazed by such an event, I would then plot to take over China by assassinating and impersonating their leader. I would continue this for several years as I horded all of the country’s resources before selling off the land to the Russians. Using the fabulous wealth I would then posses, I would contract the world’s top physicists to find a way to break the laws of physics. Utilizing this knowledge, I would travel back in time to the Triassic period and take some DND from various carnivorous dinosaurs. I would genetically enhance them, splice their genes with those of the tomato, and rule the world with my new army of tomato-dinosaur monsters. Now would you really want that? Playing it safe is the key.

Rest assured, my name is never changing. Do you know how long it took me to come up with my name? I put a lot of thought into it; it took a really really long time. So that will never be an issue. Now to stop wasting space

I really have hated Sony ever since they made the Playstation Two.... Like GustaffGlyde said, they're very egotistical... Every one of my Playstation controllers broke within like a month after I got it. My playstation craps out every now and then, too. Which is why I never even considered getting a PS Two.
-the number keys on my keyboard don't work, incase anyone was wondering why I'm typing out the word "two"-

I really think the PSP is another example of how big their egos have grown. The thing is absolute crap. In my opinion, it was only created to draw stupid sony obsessed people away from Nintendo's portables. Again in my opinion, portable gaming should be Nintendo's area. I haven't even been following news on the PSP, but does it still use those ridiculously stupid UMD discs? Stupid move if you ask me... they say it can play DVDs right? but then you have to buy the DVD on a separate special disc just so you can watch it on their PSP? Correct me if any of that's wrong - like I said, I am behind in all this - but that's ridiculous if it is true.

Even with that large blow Sony's taken, they're sure to bounce back - sadly. Sony makes a lot more than just Playstation and the Dual Shock controller. Hell I probably got ten different sony products in my room right now. They'll be fine.

[PharaohManXe54]

Pitch said:

-the number keys on my keyboard don't work, incase anyone was wondering why I'm typing out the word "two"-

Try turning your keyboard upside down and smacking the back non-button side..... trust me, it works cause the same thing happened to me...... BTW, it's so cool to have you back pitch .

Anyways, after reading the article Gustaff Glyde showed me, I have lost all respect for Sony. ON PURPOSE!?!?!? GREAT ARCHITECT!??!? THE ONLY GAMES YOU GUYS HAVE ARE STUPID SPORTS AND SHOOTING GAMES! YOU COULDN'T CREATE A DEEP STORY IF YOU DRANK A BOTTLE OF "DRINK THIS AND CREATE DEEP STORIES". Seriously, SquareSoft (Yes, soft. The merger is only a figment of our imaginations), why do you put up with them? Nintendo has a much more loyal fanbase and it's so stupid for you to submit to the big dog Sony. I hope that Sony gets shut down and Nintendo buys the rights to Parappa the Rapper and Ape Escape, the only 2 good things made from Sony. OMG, PLEASE READ THE STUPIDITY OF THE ARTICLE..... If you need me, I'll be in my room.... *slams door*

[pitch]

PharaohManXe54 said:

Try turning your keyboard upside down and smacking the back non-button side..... trust me, it works cause the same thing happened to me...... BTW, it's so cool to have you back pitch .

;D I use a laptop. I tried pullin the keys off and cleaning them, but they still don't work. something's wrong with the thing and I hafta replace it. Until then the only numbers I can type are 5 and 6. Oh, and thanks.

Yeah, whoever said all that about the Square button being faulty on purpose was pretty dumb... I mean, geez, they can't even admit when they make a mistake... It's like they're literally saying that they don't care how crappy their product is. It's your problem; deal with it.
Fad company I tell ya...

[JMC47]

you guys are crazy, or really hard on your stuff. I through my controllers and play PS2 non-stop all the time. I have a PS1 controller around 9 or 10 years old that still works like new, and none of my PS2 controllers have broken. My PS1 and 2 both work, though I don't dust my PS2 often, so I have to clean it out once in a while, but other than that it has given me no trouble. Game cube and X-box on the other hand make me mad, I can't keep a gamecube controller for 6 months without the joystick stopping to return to center, or the Z button to stop working, and X-box... its in the clear, except my first controller has a broken joystick brace, or whatever you call it.

And I will be getting a PSP, and I will be ignoring the DS, all my Sony products work like new, and the company sueing sony should also sue Nintendo (Game Cube) and Microsoft (X-box), which also have controllers that rumble.

[Reaverguy Rises]

PSPs will rake in enough money, let alone the new PS2s.

[pitch]

JMC47 said:

and the company sueing sony should also sue Nintendo (Game Cube) and Microsoft (X-box), which also have controllers that rumble.

Microsoft made a settlement, and I think Nintendo may have as well. Sony was the only company dumb enough to leave it to the courts, to my knowledge.