Will Sony Copy Nintendo?
Nintendo has kept the Revolution controller hidden from public view, supposedly to make sure Sony or Microsoft can't simply copy the controller for their own system. Now the question some have put up is will they. There are even some fake pictures of Sony showing off their version of the controller (they're all just joking, but it is still speculation).
First, I seriously doubt they can do it for the X-Box 360 or PS3. Both are going to be released soon (well, Sony maybe released soon), and neither has the time to implement such a controller at launch. Even if they don't intend to do so at launch, it will take them a long while to do the R&D for such a device (especially if they don't want to impede on Nintendo's patent).
This is of course presuming they even want to. The "mouse stick", as I call it, is unproven in the market. With such a diviation from convention, Sony and Microsoft will likely wait and see if it does well before doing serious work on copying the device.
One peice of evidence these specuators have is that Sony (and subsequently Microsoft) took Nintendo's inovations such as the rumble pak and analog control. Microsoft came in when both were standard. Sony however put out the Dual Shock controller around half-way into the Playstation's lifespan.
The problem was: the Dual Shock wasn't successful until the PS2 was released. The second stick and rumble wasn't really useful at the time, and few games took advantage of both. The reason it didn't succeeded wasn't because of the controller itself, but how it was released. Assessories and perefferals that expand gameplay often has to either be launched with a game or the system itself. This is appearent with Nintendo's idea of Gamecube-Gameboy Advance connectivity. When that was put out, few games even used it, much less used it's full potential. By the time a game that used it to it's advantage, it was too late.
Even if an assessory was put out with a game, it may not succeed beyond that game. DDR has been out for many years, but pads don't come with systems. Dance pads are only available with DDR and similar games. The reason the rumble pak succeeded was because it was a simple to program item. GC-GBA connectivity has programmers put out two screens at least.
As such, even if Sony and Microsoft wanted to copy the Revolution controller, they would have to do it in the next generation (PS4 and X-Box3). That is alot of time to kill, and both would have to stay afloat for at least 4 years, unless they want to pull a Sega (note: Sega cut off the Saturn before it even hit it's prime). By then, the controller would have to become the standard for them to make such a move.
But as Nintendo and Microsoft showed this generation, copying doesn't make a company be number 1. They would have to do something different that shows consumers that they are better. Nintendo may or may not do this with the Revolution, but it certainly seems like a better reason to go buy another system. Sony became number 1 by getting as many developers on their side and pushing 3D. They would have to show how they utilize the mouse-stick to a better degree.
So if Nintendo does succeed with the Revolution, even over taking Sony and Microsoft, the game industry may become an industry of inovation. Both rivals may go a different route, or optimize Nintendo's ideas. If either one is the case, we won't find out for four or five years. Quite alot can happen in just one year.
First, I seriously doubt they can do it for the X-Box 360 or PS3. Both are going to be released soon (well, Sony maybe released soon), and neither has the time to implement such a controller at launch. Even if they don't intend to do so at launch, it will take them a long while to do the R&D for such a device (especially if they don't want to impede on Nintendo's patent).
This is of course presuming they even want to. The "mouse stick", as I call it, is unproven in the market. With such a diviation from convention, Sony and Microsoft will likely wait and see if it does well before doing serious work on copying the device.
One peice of evidence these specuators have is that Sony (and subsequently Microsoft) took Nintendo's inovations such as the rumble pak and analog control. Microsoft came in when both were standard. Sony however put out the Dual Shock controller around half-way into the Playstation's lifespan.
The problem was: the Dual Shock wasn't successful until the PS2 was released. The second stick and rumble wasn't really useful at the time, and few games took advantage of both. The reason it didn't succeeded wasn't because of the controller itself, but how it was released. Assessories and perefferals that expand gameplay often has to either be launched with a game or the system itself. This is appearent with Nintendo's idea of Gamecube-Gameboy Advance connectivity. When that was put out, few games even used it, much less used it's full potential. By the time a game that used it to it's advantage, it was too late.
Even if an assessory was put out with a game, it may not succeed beyond that game. DDR has been out for many years, but pads don't come with systems. Dance pads are only available with DDR and similar games. The reason the rumble pak succeeded was because it was a simple to program item. GC-GBA connectivity has programmers put out two screens at least.
As such, even if Sony and Microsoft wanted to copy the Revolution controller, they would have to do it in the next generation (PS4 and X-Box3). That is alot of time to kill, and both would have to stay afloat for at least 4 years, unless they want to pull a Sega (note: Sega cut off the Saturn before it even hit it's prime). By then, the controller would have to become the standard for them to make such a move.
But as Nintendo and Microsoft showed this generation, copying doesn't make a company be number 1. They would have to do something different that shows consumers that they are better. Nintendo may or may not do this with the Revolution, but it certainly seems like a better reason to go buy another system. Sony became number 1 by getting as many developers on their side and pushing 3D. They would have to show how they utilize the mouse-stick to a better degree.
So if Nintendo does succeed with the Revolution, even over taking Sony and Microsoft, the game industry may become an industry of inovation. Both rivals may go a different route, or optimize Nintendo's ideas. If either one is the case, we won't find out for four or five years. Quite alot can happen in just one year.
posted by SeanM at 11:57 AM
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