Whatever happened to this interesting PS3 handheld controller from Sony?

Maxconsole writes, Way back in 2006, Sony filed a patent (uspto.gov) for a handheld computer interactive device. The 3D game controller was designed to be held in your hands and can capture all your palm and finger movements, and then transmit them as commands into your PS3 or PC. The patent also reveals that it features tactile feedback. But we have not heard anything about this interesting concept for quite some time, who knows when Sony may strike with it if ever...

NFGcontrols

Insert credit, have posted about a site that The Joypad mentioned earlier last month, which is a joypad/stick review and modding site.

Lawrence/NFG has a new site, to (as he says) "get this festering love of controllers out of my system." It's called NFGcontrols, and has reviews, how-to guides for hacking and modification, and features about controller theory. It's all pretty nifty stuff - like this mod that allows use of a Neo Geo, Atari, or FM Towns sticks on a wireless 360 pad (not in the cleanest way, but still). This post is also interesting, regarding the two manufacturers of PS1 pads - one of whom was excellent, and the other, not so.

Top 10 - Best Console Add Ons/Accessories

Gaming corner have posted their top 10 best addons for consoles, it's interesting what didn't make it, than what did.
Source Go Nintendo.

Insider says PSP 3000 will be able to play games with PS3 controller

A Best Buy insider has tipped us off to say that the new PSP 3000's will include the ability to play games on the PSP using a PS3 controller. And you will also be to use composite cables (480i) to play games on the TV instead of requiring a component 480p. This should be treated as a rumor until confirmed.
Source maxconsole

PLAYSTATION 3 Wireless Keypad Listed For $49.99

Just last week, Sony announced the PS3 DUALSHOCK / SIXAXIS Wireless Keypad. The Wireless Keypad has appeared on Amazon.com, listed for $49.99. The release date is also shown for November 30, 2008.
Source gaming bits

Wireless Keypad For PLAYSTATION®3 To Be Introduced

Keypad Attaches to SIXAXIS™ and DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controllers
for Quick and Simple Text Input on PS3®

Tokyo, August 21, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would release the Wireless Keypad, a new peripheral for SIXAXIS™ and DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controllers for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®), this holiday season throughout the world. It will be introduced in North America in late November. It will be also introduced in Japan, Europe and Asia by the end of this year.

The highly anticipated Wireless Keypad is designed to fit precisely into the unique shape of SIXAXIS and DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controllers, and can be easily attached or removed. By using the product instead of the on-screen keyboard, users will be able to enjoy text chat communication more easily and comfortably in their hands, just as they would use familiar portable communication devices. It supports text chat in PlayStation®Home as well, and enables users to enjoy interactivity playing on-line titles and enjoying entertainment content more smoothly.

Equipped with Bluetooth® functionality, the Wireless Keypad can be paired to PS3 by simply connecting the keypad to the USB cable that comes bundled with the PS3 system. Also, two shortcut buttons, a Communication Button and a Message Box Button, are placed on the lower part of the Wireless Keypad, enabling users to jump to pre-set features on XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) such as “Friends” and “Message Box” during game play, which help PS3 users to smoothly communicate with each other. Additionally, a Touch Pad Button allows PS3 users to use the entire surface of the keypad as a touch pad, allowing them to easily maneuver the pointer while web browsing, simply by sliding their finger on the keypad surface.
Source press release.

Old videogame patents

Insert credit posted this on videogame patents on the net:
Frank was browsing around the google patent archives, and happened upon a few game patents. Then I started poking around, and found a few more. It's really worth browsing through in full...poking at 'related patents' is particularly rewarding. You can find tons of stuff that didn't come out, or didn't come out as initially devised. They've all got illustrations, which helps flesh things out. I'll highlight a few of the interesting things I found for you here.

Nintendo:
early NES cartridge
unreleased official Nintendo adaptor for Famicom games(!!)
another NES cart revision
ROB patent with early robot designs. Submitted by Gunpey Yokoi himself.
unreleased keyboard housing patent from Nintendo of America!
early Powerglove patent, with rudimentary Powerglove design...quite different! You have to view the whole document to see the glove or anything interesting.
This isn't Nintendo officially, but is related to the NES. It's a button presser that you roll on the ground, and then it presses A and B for you, alternately. Extremely lame.

Sega:
crazy toy in which you drive a real toy car, mounted on the front of television, on a video track.
Sega VR Helmet from 1992
VMU. Hooray!

Fairchild:
Channel F cart

Konami:
portable arcade looking thing
handheld console - both of the above seem to be LCD systems though, sadly.

Game.com
Game.com patent from Tiger. There are a few more, if you're interested.

Tomy:
Tomy handheld console - seems to be LCD again. 1991.

Supervision:
If you don't know what Supervision is, it's a Chinese GB clone...very odd one at that. See here.
Supervision patent one
Supervision patent two
That Supervision ultimately looked like this.

Sony:
The Pocketstation changed a lot from its initial design:
Pocketstation rev 1
rev 2
rev 3
rev 4
rev 5

As you can see, I was mostly looking at older handhelds and related stuff. There's plenty more to see if you look at the console side, peripherals...there's tons of wacky game lore for you to find.
Source insertcredit

Sony To Set Compatibility Standards For PS3 Music Games

Michael Shorrock, Sony's director of third-party relations, announced on the Playstation blog that he's been working with the major music game developers (i.e. Rock Band's Harmonix, Guitar Hero's Activision, and others) to ensure basic compatibility for peripherals between the games. Joystiq has a compatibility matrix that shows which devices work with which games. "...Rock Band 2's guitar and drum set will work with Guitar Hero: World Tour and with Rock Revolution. Conversely, Rock Revolution's drum set will work with both Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2. In addition, Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2 will both support the SingStar microphones. We're still working hard to ensure compatibility between the Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles currently on the market, and we hope to have an announcement on that shortly."

Source Slashdot