Videogame hardware manufacturer, Splitfish, claims today to have developed a new force feedback system compatible with the PS3 Sixaxis controller. From the company's press release:
"This low power consumption force feedback technology called 'Sensor Effects - SensorFX' uses no moving parts to produce meaningful sensory feedback. A broad range of intensity and sensation compliment the ability to derive feedback sensations from isolated areas on the controller, to isolate one side or the other, movement from front to back or all areas at the same time. As an example, a gamer playing a race game can feel variations in pulse, strength and collision location and to feel intensity differences between a smooth guardrail swipe and a full frontal slam into a wall."
The interesting thing about SensorFX, which can be built into third-party controllers or supplied as an add-on for end users to plug into their own pads, is that it isn't based around Immersion Corp's patented Rotating Mass technology. It is, of course, rumoured that the real reason Sony has not included a rumble feature in Sixaxis is that the company is still embroiled in a legal dispute with Immersion over alleged patent infringement. Immersion owns the rights to many elements of rumble technology design, allegedly including those found in the Dualshock. If SensorFX really does represent a whole new take on vibration, this could be a way for Sony to build the element back into its controller plans without having to license technology from Immersion.
