The Pixar film "Wall-E"...
As reported on MTV Multiplayer (and confirmed by us), the North American release of the rumble-enabled Dualshock controller brings with it the (timely? untimely?) demise of the Sixaxis. "It'll no longer be offered after it's completely sold through at retail (likely by the summer time frame)," a Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson told us via email. That seemed like a rather casual dismissal of a device once heralded as the "next generation" of input devices, so we've decided to honor the Sixaxis' passing...with one quote for each axis from its brief, troubled history. Sayonara, Sixaxis.
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The Date: October 2006
The Man: Kaz Hirai, president, Sony Computer Entertainment
The Source: Kikizo
The Question: If the new Sony is less arrogant, where's our rumble?
The Quote: "The issue when we're talking about trying to have motion sensing as well as a vibration feature, is trying to isolate the vibration feature from the motion sensors. Is it technically feasible? Absolutely. But the other problem, or the balancing act that you need to do, is to be able to present the controller to the consumer at an affordable price. We have one controller in the box, but many consumers will want to go out and get an extra controller. And if we have to come up with technology - which you can technically do - to isolate the vibration from the sensing, if that means that the controllers are going to be so expensive, then we're doing the consumer a huge disservice by coming up with a controller that is not very affordable. So it's a balancing act that we need to do. And we felt that ultimately, the vibration feature, which is a feedback feature, as compared to the motion sensing which is an input functionality, when you compare the two, we decided that the input device or methodology is a lot more important that feedback, and that has been a strategic decision that we've made."
The Date: October 2006
The Man: Phil Harrison, former head of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios
The Source: ThreeSpeech via GI.biz
The Question: Any regrets? And why not have both gesture and rumble?
The Quote: "I think that the next generation interfaces that can be created built on Sixaxis motion sensitivity give tremendous gameplay benefits that far outweigh a reactive vibration function….[T]he decision that we've made to build in the Sixaxis functionality, and Bluetooth wireless, and great battery life, and all the other functionality that comes with it, far outweighs the chatter that we're getting on vibration. And, it's incredibly light! Just pick it up!"
The Date: January 2007
The Man: Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid
The Source: GamePro
The Question: Were you shocked, shocked by the loss of the, um shock?
The Quote: "I really miss the rumble feature, and I already said to Mr. Kutaragi that I want the rumble feature back."
The Date: February 2007
The Man: Phil Harrison, former head of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios
The Source: GameDaily
The Question: If we yell and scream enough, will you restore rumble? Pretty please?
The Quote: "I believe that the Sixaxis controller offers game designers and developers far more opportunity for future innovation than rumble ever did. Now, rumble I think was the last generation feature; it's not the next-generation feature. I think motion sensitivity is. And we don't see the need to do that. Having said that, there will be specific game function controllers, potentially like steering wheels that do include vibration or feedback function—not from us but from third parties."
The Date: March 2007
The Man: Kaz Hirai, president, Sony Computer Entertainment
The Source: Sony Computer Entertainment PR, via GI.biz
The Question: You've just settled your legal dispute with Immersion--what's next?
The Quote: "We look forward to exploring with Immersion exciting new ways to bring the largest and best range of gameplay experiences to our customers….We are very excited about our new partnership with Immersion and the potential for new and innovative products incorporating their technologies."
The Date: July 2007
The Man: Phil Harrison, former head of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios
The Source: GameVideos
The Question: Your shifting position on the importance of rumble--bit of a comedown, innit?
The Quote: "As to previous statements that I made; we were in a lawsuit--what do you expect me to say? We were in a lawsuit. We were in litigation. Of course I have to defend our view. And actually, I still truly believe that having the Sixaxis controller the way it is is the best way to control games. And I think that we're looking forward to working with Immersion going forward, and who knows where that is leading us."
