Post subject: The Playstation 2 in a bit of trouble
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:34 pm
Got Some
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:58 am Posts: 2105 Location: Austin
Dual Shocked: Sony Immersed in $90.7 million fine, injunction
US District Court favors San Jose tech company Immersion; Sony injunction to halt American sales of PS2s and affected materials.
Three years ago, Northern California technology company Immersion Corporation brought suit against Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft Corporation claiming copyright infringement of its proprietary technology used in the controllers for the companies' home consoles, the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Xbox.
Microsoft settled out of court with Immersion in 2003, avoiding messy legal proceedings for $26 million, which also got Microsoft a ten percent stake in Immersion.
Sony, on the other hand, left the decision up to the courts, a move that appears to have cost them a serious chunk of change. Last Thursday, United States District Judge Claudia Wilken ordered the electronics giant to pay Immersion $90.7 million in copyright infringement damages. The fine stems from the $82 million awarded to Immersion by a jury's decision on September 21, 2004, plus pre-judgement interest of $8.7 million tacked on last week, which Sony unsuccessfully objected to.
The tiff involves Immersion's technology that creates the "rumble" feature that causes controllers to vibrate in synch with events in games. The court found in favor of Immersion's claims that Sony's Dual Shock controllers, the standard 'sticks for Sony's PlayStation and PlayStation 2, and several of its games infringe on two of its patents.
The Oakland, California court also ordered an injunction stating that Sony is to immediately stop selling the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, both versions of the Dual Shock controllers, and 47 games found to use the vibration technology, including Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Gran Turismo 3. The injunction only effects sales in the United States.
Sony immediately appealed the decision, and has been granted a stay of permanent injunction, allowing Sony to sell its products as normal during the appeals process. However, Sony will have to pay a licensing fee to Immersion for the duration of the stay.
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:09 pm Posts: 10839 Location: metro west, mass Gender: Male
Oh gimme a break. With the sales of the PS2 absolutely DOMINATING the video game market, they're bound to have enough change to keep on truckin. The PSP will make them some money, and I'm sure the PS3 will own all.
-Sunny
_________________ "There are two ways to enslave and conquer a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt." -John Adams
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:58 am Posts: 2105 Location: Austin
SuneilKumar wrote:
Oh gimme a break. With the sales of the PS2 absolutely DOMINATING the video game market, they're bound to have enough change to keep on truckin. The PSP will make them some money, and I'm sure the PS3 will own all.
-Sunny
The article isn't about them losing money, it is about a ruling that says they have to pull the system off shelfs, along with several games that use the vibration function. I know they will do something to solve the problem, but it is a signifigant problem. What is funny is they are going to have to pay a shitload of money to a company that Microsoft owns 10% of. As for them dominating the market, that is true for the most part, though the XBOX has been outselling the PS2 in recent months. They are still pretty far behind overall.
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:51 pm Posts: 4329 Location: PA
SuneilKumar wrote:
The PSP will make them some money, and I'm sure the PS3 will own all.
-Sunny
Sony (and Microsoft) loses money on each piece of hardware it sells. Sony's margin was probably hurt by the launch of PSP. However, this loss will eventually be overcome by software sales.
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emanon wrote:
I think I either need to drink less to become more alert, or more so as not to care.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:45 am Posts: 236 Location: Biggest Little City in the World
How stupid can nintendo be? They are putting a ds like touch pad on the controller and REQUIRING developers to use it!!???
I cannot stand using a stylus on my ds .. And when you try, your hand covers up the entire screen, so you cant see where you are supposed to be touching!!
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:58 am Posts: 2105 Location: Austin
Flagon wrote:
How stupid can nintendo be? They are putting a ds like touch pad on the controller and REQUIRING developers to use it!!???
I cannot stand using a stylus on my ds .. And when you try, your hand covers up the entire screen, so you cant see where you are supposed to be touching!!
What a mistake
RIP nintendo
Yeah I don't think that is confirmed yet, but if they do that and make it the main control function then Nintendo is completly fucked.
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:51 pm Posts: 4329 Location: PA
Flagon wrote:
What a mistake
RIP nintendo
Nintendo will never die!!! I wouldn't mind if Nintendo stopped making home console hardware. That way, they could devote that much more time, money, and effort into what Nintendo does best - SOFTWARE! Alternatively, they could also focus on the area of their business where they hold their largest competitive advantage - the handheld market.
This last generation of hardware was the first in which three systems thrived (or survived depending on your perspective). Will the market sustain 3 systems for another generation (5 years)?
From what I've read the touch screen on the Revolution controller will allow you to "map" (aka assign) your own buttons and simplify the gaming experience.
_________________
emanon wrote:
I think I either need to drink less to become more alert, or more so as not to care.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:58 am Posts: 2105 Location: Austin
CopperTom wrote:
Flagon wrote:
What a mistake
RIP nintendo
Nintendo will never die!!! I wouldn't mind if Nintendo stopped making home console hardware. That way, they could devote that much more time, money, and effort into what Nintendo does best - SOFTWARE! Alternatively, they could also focus on the area of their business where they hold their largest competitive advantage - the handheld market.
This last generation of hardware was the first in which three systems thrived (or survived depending on your perspective). Will the market sustain 3 systems for another generation (5 years)?
From what I've read the touch screen on the Revolution controller will allow you to "map" (aka assign) your own buttons and simplify the gaming experience.
Of course nintedo won't die. I would actually prefer they just became a game developer so I wouldn't have to buy three different systems. What is strange though, is Sega has gone downhill in their game quality since they abandoned the console world. Their recent batch of games seem to be aimed more towards quantity over quality. Sonic Adventures, Monkey Ball, and their Tennis games are the only thing I have been impressed by in the last few years. I heard they are making a new Phantasy Star though finally.
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:51 pm Posts: 4329 Location: PA
C4Lukin wrote:
What is strange though, is Sega has gone downhill in their game quality since they abandoned the console world. Their recent batch of games seem to be aimed more towards quantity over quality. Sonic Adventures, Monkey Ball, and their Tennis games are the only thing I have been impressed by in the last few years. I heard they are making a new Phantasy Star though finally.
The only 5 star game Sega has made for this generation of consoles is Panzer Dragoon Orta. The best rail-shooter I have ever player. I'm sure you can find it cheap nowadays. If you have XBOX and don't have it, pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
It also has some of the best HD graphics out there. A treat for anyone with a HD set.
_________________
emanon wrote:
I think I either need to drink less to become more alert, or more so as not to care.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:58 am Posts: 2105 Location: Austin
CopperTom wrote:
C4Lukin wrote:
What is strange though, is Sega has gone downhill in their game quality since they abandoned the console world. Their recent batch of games seem to be aimed more towards quantity over quality. Sonic Adventures, Monkey Ball, and their Tennis games are the only thing I have been impressed by in the last few years. I heard they are making a new Phantasy Star though finally.
The only 5 star game Sega has made for this generation of consoles is Panzer Dragoon Orta. The best rail-shooter I have ever player. I'm sure you can find it cheap nowadays. If you have XBOX and don't have it, pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
It also has some of the best HD graphics out there. A treat for anyone with a HD set.
Yeah I forgot about Panzer. That game was a blast. to short lived though.
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