Sony recently confirmed with 1UP that PlayStation 3 will not support force feedback, a technology that is often integrated into racing wheel peripherals. The explanation was vague: "All PS3 games are programmed for the Sixaxis which doesn't have force feedback, therefore the force feedback in the wheels won't be recognized."Perhaps Sony misspoke. There aren't any console gamepads that support the type of force feedback technology built into many top-line racing wheels, so when this feature is enabled in racing games, it's an additional programming step that only benefits players using an appropriate racing wheel -- it simply doesn't matter that Sixaxis lacks full force feedback (or even simple rumble feedback). If Sony is actively dissuading developers from coding in force feedback support for racing wheels compatible with PS3, it has nothing to do with what Sixaxis lacks ... then again, it might have everything to do with what Sixaxis lacks.
If indeed Immersion technologies like rumble and force feedback are never be supported by Sony's new console it's almost certainly the result of the 2003 lawsuit brought against Sony by Immersion, and the judge's denial of Sony's subsequent appeal.



















(Page 1) Reader Comments
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And when other companies try to help out for racing games, Sony stops them. Why? No idea. They need all the help they can get.
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*just throwing this out before some kid tries to offer it as an actual excuse*
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Sony MAY be disuading devs from coding in force feedback in games because it could hurt their bottom line.
Say youre sony.
And lets say a game has force feedback such as rumble.
Would you rather a 3rd party like pelican making a ps3 compatible rumble controler with no tilt tech and a customer buying THAT?
Or a sony branded sixaxis?
The former would be bad for you if you were sony, more profits not going INTO your pocket, and the heavily touted motion sensing tech selling point for your console becoming negated.
If the decision was left to sony, im sure they would rather devs not even put in any kind of force feedback into PS3 games to keep this from happening.
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Being a racing game fan, if it's true, I'll most definitely never buy a PS3.
I can't believe they actually said so ...
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http://www.forzacentral.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13972&highlight=gran+turismo+force+feedback
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if Sony allowed 3rd party peripherals to have force feedback with 1st party games or even 3rd party games, would they be in breech of the court discision that basically says "if you want force feedback then you gotta pay Immersion"?
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A little investigation reveals that Ridge Racer 6 has force feedback when used with the Driving Force Pro.
Polyphony have stated multiple times that the wheel will be fully supported.
IGN themselves have played the GTHD demo with a force feedback wheel, specifically noting the vast difference when switching to a rumble-free controller.
Bunk, Bunk, Bunk
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http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ridgeracer&thread.id=427
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Sony u lost my money unless you fix this major oversight.
Vanishing $$$$
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This information is inaccurate.
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SONY won't support FF. Third party developers already support it on the PS3.
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So does Sony not being willing to settle mean that the PS3 cant use the tech at ALL (so the article is correct) or just Sony hardware cant use it (so GT with Logitech wheel would be OK).
Does anybody know if FF works fine with GT4 when played on a PS3?
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Steering wheels on the other hand, as they are placed on top of/clamped to a solid object (desk, table, floor, whatever) can offer force feedback.
I'd expect a games journalist to know the difference, but then this is Joystiq.
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When I was in the industry I can remember more than one time where I had to correct an misinformed or ignorant SCEA spokesperson/educator for vendors. For example I would ask them something simple like how is this game coming along and they would look at me with this puzzled look and tell me that they have no idea what I am talking about.
SCEA spokespeople for the most part would come to meetings with vendors with prepared statements and not much else so I would not take too seriously what a SCEA spokesperson says.
What this site and others like it should do is go talk to Kaz and ask him directly about this.
In the meantime....I will borrow my buddy's GT Force wheel and use it with the GTHD demo from Sony's Playstation store and see if Force feedback is there.
Just to let you know, the demo controller options show all four of the Gt Wheels in detail and also allow you to configure each of them.
I will let you know of the outcome of this the next time a post similar to this or one about GT surfaces on this site.
Until then
Praise be the FSM
Praise be the Beer Volcano
Praise be the Stripper Factory
and most importantly.....
May all of you come to know the FSM and be touched by his Noodly Appendage
Stop global warming.....become a pirate...venganzadotorg
Tootles
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competition is good for everyone so i am really disappointed in the ps3's performance thus far, it better pick up soon!
that being said i have no desire to get a PS3 anyways since there aren't enough good exclusive games to pull me away from my 360. but this indeed could be a potentially bad blow for prospective customers.
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however, Sony still can't lose!
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-------------------------
Consumer Name: Consumer Email:
Model Number: N/A
Message from Consumer:
does the ps3 support forces feedback in racing wheels and games?
yes or no
Hi Ken,
Thank you for writing us.
The PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system comes with a SIXAXIS(TM) wireless controller. The
multi-axis motion sensing system found in the new SIXAXIS controller employs technology that
provides for seamless interactive operation, thus eliminating additional settings to TVs. With this
system, users are able to maneuver the controller as a natural extension of their bodies, all in
real-time and with high-precision.
Please note, although you may have seen images where the "PS" button on the SIXAXIS wireless
controller appears to be lit, the "PS" button does not actually illuminate, and this is completely
normal.
For more information regarding the SIXAXIS wireless controller please visit the following URL.
http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Using/WirelessController
We apologize for any inconvenience, however, peripherals that plug into the controller ports of the
PlayStation(R)(PSone(TM)) console and PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system are not
compatible with the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. We do not have information
regarding any adapters that will allow those peripherals to work on the PLAYSTATION(R)3 system. For
more information regarding the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system please visit:
http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3
If you have further questions regarding this message, please refer to your email case
number:4239425.
Regards,
Jim
Multimedia Representative
Sony Computer Entertainment America
Consumer Services Department
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