Oops! Sony declares SIXAXIS Emmy, Emmys say "uh-uh"

by Christopher Grant { Jan 9th 2007 at 7:51PM }

We weren't sure why the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences decided to give Sony's evolutionary SIXAXIS controller a Technology and Engineering Emmy and, evidently, neither were they. After Sony blasted out a press release proudly proclaiming the honor -- and after the internet rubbed its collective eyes raw -- we've learned that Sony wasn't alone in receiving an honor from the Academy. The list of Emmy Award winners for "Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers" include Sony Computer Entertainment of America and ... Nintendo! Did Nintendo's innovative Wiimote share the honor with the motion-sensing SIXAXIS? Not quite ... Séamus at Hydrapinion did some legwork and discovered that, while Sony had won an Emmy for Technology and Engineering, it wasn't for the SIXAXIS. Instead, Christine Chin from NATAS confirmed that Sony's Dual Shock as well as Nintendo's D-Pad (NES pad?) won "for the development of the generation of controllers that followed the classic joysticks." Oops! You know what they say happens when you assume ...

[Thanks, Ben]

Read -- SIXAXIS innovation Emmy - a joke? (UPDATE: Sony was wrong)
Read -- Technology and Engineering Emmy Award Winners

Tags: Emmy, Gamepads, Sixaxis, Wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Rubang @ Jan 9th 2007 7:58PM

The fabric of the universe has been saved!

Kesh @ Jan 9th 2007 7:58PM

Would have been hilarious if they had got the award though. And the nintendo fanboys screams would have been delicious.

3rd Gen @ Jan 9th 2007 8:00PM

Does Sony ever tell the truth?

Psaakyrn @ Jan 9th 2007 8:01PM

Anyone else getting tired of Sony statements being retracted?

-Heads up, please TRY TO CONFIRM before making statements that will bite you later. Like your "Worldwide Launch", "Spring 2006 Launch", "Motion Sensing is gimmicky", etc.

Andre @ Jan 9th 2007 8:01PM

My god... I think I'm just going to go into my room... close the door... and laugh till I die of starvation.

(teehee)

Thrawn @ Jan 9th 2007 8:06PM

Ahem...

http://nelson.ytmnd.com/

Defenestrator2.0 @ Jan 9th 2007 8:06PM

Duel Shock? You mean the controller that's extremely uncomfortable to use because most games require the analog stick, but instead the D-pad rip-off is retardedly placed in the most logical location for an analog stick on a controller? That Duel Shock?

latpack @ Jan 9th 2007 8:07PM

This is ridiculous. Corporations should be held to a higher standard of moral integrity then giving in to this kind of immature and deceitful behavior. How stupid do they think we are?

Psaakyrn @ Jan 9th 2007 8:13PM

to #8 latpack

Based on the number of people justifying Sixaxis' win on the previous post, stupid enough.

Delorted @ Jan 9th 2007 8:15PM

@ 8: If they think we'll buy George Forman's $599 USD take on a Xbox 360, pretty damn stupid

Rubang @ Jan 9th 2007 8:18PM

#2, you don't have to be a Nintendo fanboy to realize that as far as innovation goes, the Wii remote is the wackiest, newest, craziest shit on the market and the SIXAXIS is just a third party PS1 peripheral.

Josh @ Jan 9th 2007 8:25PM

I agree, Defenestrator2.0 (#7). The DualShock still winning something makes no sense. The D-Pad, yes, that is something important. If anything, they should be giving the award that the DualShock got to the GameCube controller. That's the most comfortable controller I've ever used.

It seems the only reason the DualShock is getting anything is because it's probably the most common.

TravistyOJ @ Jan 9th 2007 8:33PM

OMG! I can't believe Sony has fucked up this many times in a row. They just can't catch a break. I'm almost starting to feel sorry for them...

Wait. Nope, not yet. :)

B @ Jan 9th 2007 8:36PM

Riiiidge failure!

Phil @ Jan 9th 2007 8:38PM

Sony's PR department must've pissed off a voodoo shaman or something.

chris @ Jan 9th 2007 9:04PM

it's all so funny. I'm loving it. It's not every day you can just open the internet and read about another one of sonys screw ups... oh wait, Yes it is. HAHA

Zatos @ Jan 9th 2007 9:08PM

I can see why Sony did this... I mean, how could they announce their controller won an award when their brand new system doesn't have it anymore? Yeah, so I think they lied about it.

Agent MOO @ Jan 9th 2007 9:19PM

This is priceless...

McTendo @ Jan 9th 2007 9:22PM

@ Zatos

Ctrl+C from Dtoid.
Ctrl+V to Joystiq.

I see what you did there.

Bobbyjoe @ Jan 9th 2007 9:28PM

So what do you do when you're caught in a lie? Keep lying: http://www.gamersreports.com/news/4740/

"we decided to take the smart route and email our Sony PR representative. Here is what our contact had to say:

It was the SIXAXIS. The press release was correct."

v1cious @ Jan 9th 2007 9:48PM

they still won something, it just wasn't for Sixxaxis. where's the argument here?

Trev @ Jan 9th 2007 9:54PM

The sony controller design in the dual shock/sixaxis is probably one of the most imitated designs I've ever seen. Since the dual shock came first, it's not surprising it got an award and not the sixaxis. Even the much beloved xbox s-type or 360 controller have a lot in common with it. Reverse the left stick and d-pad and trim it down a little and you have a sony design. Kind of like the similarities between the gamecube and dreamcast controllers.

To give it the benefit of the doubt, the release list http://www.emmyonline.org/emmy/advmedia_winners_release.html doesn't really specify which controller and they are basically the same.

On the nicest interpretation, I'd take it as a communication blunder or an assumption. Sony really jumped the gun, but did still get an award. You can't say the dual shock design didn't have a big impact.

Yes, Sony definitely wrong. No, not a horrible PR lie, just a serious case of foot in mouth.

shaoron @ Jan 9th 2007 10:12PM

ok.. i can't stop laughing now!
all's well in the universe then...
well.. teh gaming universe.. haha!

slacker164 @ Jan 9th 2007 10:24PM

I don't really see any reason to bash the Dual Shock here. Even if you hate it, it's obvious that it's left an impression on the industry with most PC gamepads and many 3rd party controllers for other systems mimicking its design. The sixaxis winning anything is of course a horrible joke, but if they're looking at all controllers over the history of consoles, then the original Dual Shock deserves some kind of nod, as does the original NES pad. In the end though, score another failure for Sony's PR team.

Zatos @ Jan 9th 2007 10:48PM

@19 McTendo

Yes yes I did.
I'm criminal.

theGreenGrunt @ Jan 9th 2007 10:52PM

wow. just wow. unfreaking believable. seriously. wow.

i read joystick and kotaku for stories like this. its like watching a 100 car pileup in slow motion. who is running this company? is anyone? wow...

sony is in such disarray its unbelieveable. this is a billion dollar company people. and its being run into the ground by some really mentally ill people.

how did a huge corporation who controls the gaming world continue to screw up every single day? i think my 8 year old daughter could run sony better. she certainly couldnt do any worse.

I would be embarassed to work there and would most likely quit.

did all the smart people quit sony to work somewhere else? seriously?!

is it possible someone or a group of people are sabotaging the company? this is bizarre behaviour.

i remember when Apple used to look up to them and wanted to be like them. but times have changed. Apple is hugely successful/wealthy and cannot do any wrong and sony is circling the drain of obscurity.

Wiggymaster @ Jan 9th 2007 10:56PM

@ #24

I really see no reason to praise the Dual Shock either. The PS1 was out for two years before it was even released, and it was only created to compete with the N64's ground breaking analog and rumble features. All and all I think the Dual Shock 2 was the worst controller of last generation. Its sticks were horrendously loose and while Nintendo and Microsoft made use of depressable triggers (and Nintendo even used analog triggers) Sony had none. Both the second gen Xbox controller and GCN controller were a lot more comfortable than the DS2, too.

Azerael @ Jan 9th 2007 11:08PM

I wonder where the Sony fanboys are right now? The seem to have missed this...

Maybe they all slipped into an alternate reality because their brains overflowed with denial, tearing a hole in reality as the Universe tried to send them somewhere where they aren't in conflict with Physics, a parallel world where Sony hasn't completely screwed up.

And so the world is now free to no longer buy worthless Sony products. Thankyou, physics.

kanye001 @ Jan 9th 2007 11:37PM

Umm guys, you are dead wrong.

SONY DID WIN A EMMY.

BUt not for the Six, they won it for the X media Bar. Check the site.

Monkeyman @ Jan 9th 2007 11:42PM

wow, I hate you sony...that was the one of the dumbest and weirdest publicity stunts ever

Arokh Valdrez @ Jan 9th 2007 11:52PM

Wow, this is quite entertaining...fanboy wars are always hilarious.
personally, I like both Nintendo and Sony, I have a Wii and will be getting a PS3 once i have money, and assassin's creed comes out. For the dual shock controller i can see them getting an award, along with the D-pad. SIXAXIS over the wii-mote? not a chance

Sony jumped the gun WAY to much this time, so i will have my giggle (heeheehee), but i'll still be getting a PS3 anyways

oe @ Jan 10th 2007 12:00AM

I think the problem with Sony's attitude is that they assume it just doesn't matter if they lie in order to create their own version of reality re:PS3. And what pisses me off most is that they're probably right. Those of us who care probably don't make up a significant enough market share to matter, even though we should matter to them as gamers, "educated consumers" or whatever. And two years from now, when PS3 game dev comes into its own... who knows? I'm not an early adopter, myself, but by the time I decide to buy a new console, the PS3 may have turned Sony's image around through brute force— sans rumble.

edo @ Jan 10th 2007 12:09AM

OMG. Sony did 4D and 120 fps again!!!

nick @ Jan 10th 2007 12:15AM

yep.. from emmyonline.org:

"
The Emmy Award for Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers

* Nintendo
* Sony Computer Entertainment America
"

Mr. Denial @ Jan 10th 2007 12:32AM

You're all just jealous cuz the SIXAXIS is better than the WiiWii and the CrapBox360! PS3 iz teh uber l33t h4x0rz!!!

Mr. Can't-Detect-Sarcasm @ Jan 10th 2007 12:36AM

Hey Mr. Denial get ur stoopid sony fanboy ass outta here and STFU!!!

Dave @ Jan 10th 2007 1:06AM

I think a big part of the problem for Sony is that their entire decision-making control center comes from Japan. In Japan, Sony could release an actual turd-in-a-box and people would buy it.

Dave @ Jan 10th 2007 1:06AM

lol to Mr. Denial and Mr. Can\'t-Detect-Sarcasm.

Zatos @ Jan 10th 2007 1:06AM

What would be icing on the cake is if they retracted the award because of Sony's blatant lying.

Jonah Falcon @ Jan 10th 2007 1:20AM

For Sony:

http://premium1.uploadit.org/ryften/funnypics/makeitstop.jpg

cyberfrog @ Jan 10th 2007 2:32AM

I still have trouble seeing what was so innovative of the dual shock controller. The dual shock was based on the on the ps1 controller, which was basically a copy of the snes controller with extra shoulder buttons. The analog sticks were later added after the n64 was the first joystiq to use analog predominately and well (analog was available before but done rather poorly). In fact, i can't think of any n64 games that used the lil dpad over the analog off the top of my head. The ps2 added two analog sticks, which was nice but few games every used both analog sticks. In my opinion, the best aspect of the dual shock was how the rumble was implemented, much better than the n64 version at the time. I do agree that the dual shock is the most copied joystick, but i think that has more to due with the success of the ps2 than anything else.

mocax @ Jan 10th 2007 2:34AM

I believe DualShock was the first controller to overdo the controls by using analog for all buttons, and clickable joysticks.

waldo15 @ Jan 10th 2007 2:39AM

OK, that MAKES way more sense... I completely agree that the Nintendo was first in breaking the ground for what was the future of input devices for gaming, and that definitely the Dual Shock set the bar for what is today the best input device for a console.

Now, the SIXAXIS ... wait, I wrote it backwards... the SIXAXIS is not even an evolution of the Dual shock, instead it goes backwards with no rumble, tacky motion sensing and wireless technology that needs a wire to transmit the proper keys and synchronize with the console (say wha'.. wasn;t it wireless?).

Man, it plain sucks being Sony lately...

filterpunk @ Jan 10th 2007 4:42AM

Frankly, I've found the Dual Shock more comfortable than any other controller. In fact, one of the reasons I never bought an N64 was because its controller was so uncomfortable and awkward by comparison. I like the 360 and GameCube, but there are little quirks about them that keep the Dual Shock as my favorite.

In any case, some of you might want to read the posting on Hydrapinion more closely. Two different people from NATAS gave conflicting responses. In the response from Christine Chin, it's also noted that, "Chrstine also said she will clarify this with Sony."

This tells me that NATAS wasn't clear with Sony about the specific product being awarded, nor was it clear to the countless media outlets who reported on the story.
Given that it's 2007, it doesn't make sense to give an award like this to older tech, so the only natural conclusion is that it's for a more recent product. Sony might have made a false assumption, but had NATAS provided better information, they wouldn't have had to.

If anything, NATAS is to blame for being overly vague with both the public and the companies being awarded. That's assuming that the information posted is actually a real, accurate response from NATAS representatives, who apparently provide direct information to bloggers, but not major news sites.

Henry @ Jan 10th 2007 5:31AM

Here is an absolutely beutiful example of PS fanboy denial:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/01/09/why-are-ps3s-sitting-on-shelves-well-duh/

Shake @ Jan 10th 2007 5:53AM

''And the nintendo fanboys screams would have been delicious.''

They would've been justified though. If a controller which still had the same design since the 90's and a cheap knock off of the Wiis motion sensing won, I'm willing to bet that even Sony fanboys would see the injustice in that.

Earl @ Jan 10th 2007 10:23AM

Poor Sony. They can't catch a break anymore, now can they?

This is some funny stuff, but I can't help but to start feeling sorry for Sony. I loved my PS1&2, so I am feeling really bad for Sony now. Just one bad press item after another. This is getting so ridiculous that it won't even be funny if anymore bad news comes out.

WaterlooDude @ Jan 10th 2007 11:04AM

The award went to Nintendo's D'Pad and Sony's Dual shock. Sony immediately jumped on to make a buzz, while Nintendo kept it cool. You can tell a lot form the response of these two companies. This story just reaffirms that Sony is in a very desperate situation. It's suck to be incompetent.