PlayStation Home

Richie · Post by **Richie** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:26 pm

I really, really wish we were having a Show this week. Home would be the hot topic, and we'd spend the entire fucking hour ranting about it.

And for the record, I came away from the Home preview with a distinct 'meh' feeling. Sure, it's nice to have 3D characters, chat rooms, homes and all. I just have a hard time seeing myself enjoying it. The 3D chat, homes, it's all been done before.

If I buy a PS3, it's gonna be over some killer app of a game I can't get anywhere else. Unless Home turns out to be a shitton of fun, it won't be a factor in my purchase.

Post by **BreakmanX** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:50 pm

I just think home is a step towards the future of online community, especially in consoles. It takes XBL and the previous technologies and adds on. THe matchmakings stuff that most people use will be there, but then there's more opportunities. I think it'll be fun to see it implemented.

The Vectrex controller, unmodded, was centered btw. I had one, and I distinctly remember the manual saying that. It worked like a charm too. Delicious console.

In the end we all like what we like, and that's fine. Its a testable psychological fact that everyone tries to justify their tastes, and I'm no different. I just would like, for once, to say something is cool and have it be talked about just for the merit of the product.

And yes, a show would be delightful this week. We should do one soon at any rate.

Post by **BreakmanX** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:02 am

In 1982 Atari released the first controller with a potentiometer-based analog stick for their Atari 5200 home console. However, the non-centering joystick design proved to be ungainly and unreliable, alienating many consumers at the time. During that same year, General Consumer Electronics introduced the Vectrex, a vector graphics based system which used a self-centering analog stick, obviously a precursor to the modern design.
For many years, consoles ignored analog technology, instead using the digital D-pad. It wasn't until the emergence of 3D gameplay that the analog stick was brought back for widespread use.
In 1995, Sony (realizing that analog technology could be useful) created a potentiometer-based analog joystick for use in Flight-Simulation games. The Sony Dual Analog FlightStick featured twin analog sticks and was used in games such as "Descent" to provide a much greater degree of freedom than the typical digital joysticks of the day.
In 1996 Nintendo introduced a modern analog stick called a control stick on their Nintendo 64 controller. Unlike the D-pad, the control stick allowed for varying levels of pressure and 360-degree control, translating into more precise movements in games such as Super Mario 64. (Incidentally, Super Mario 64 DS was criticized by some for imprecise control due to lack of an analog stick on the Nintendo DS.)

WiizerFanboy · Post by **WiizerFanboy** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:14 am

omg i would love to hear a show about this.

Mericks · Post by **Mericks** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:37 am

Well, Break, all I have to say to that is that I already did mention that the Vectrex was self-centered in my last post. That was a reading error on my part to be honest. Though that tidbit about the 5200 wasn't an error on my part, it did actually say it was self-centered.

Post by **BreakmanX** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:47 pm

I know Mericks. I do find it interesting that Sony did the analog stick before Nintendo. Brent, from the documentary team, and I were talking about how neither of us likes Sony any more than the other companies but we always find our selves defending them because so many people hate them. Its a really weird position to defend something that you just like ok.

Vamp [Bot] · Post by **Vamp [Bot]** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:29 pm

What's the point of liking any company, honestly, unless they're being philanthropic with their profit?

Mericks · Post by **Mericks** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:29 pm

BreakmanX wrote:I know Mericks. I do find it interesting that Sony did the analog stick before Nintendo. Brent, from the documentary team, and I were talking about how neither of us likes Sony any more than the other companies but we always find our selves defending them because so many people hate them. Its a really weird position to defend something that you just like ok.

Yeah, I know Brent. He's actually a pretty smart guy when it comes to this shit, and he's really honest when he states facts about companies. He doesn't let any bias get in his way ever. Oddly enough, despite not liking Sony, he never really gave off that impression. Lucky bastard got to miss school today for that documentary, fyi. I'd love to work on that documentary over going to school. That'd actually be fun.

Also, I looked up that info on the analog stick design. All I see is them having an analog stick design before the N64 came out. They didn't implement it until about 2 months before the N64 came out in Japan, so whether or not they were actually working on it before Nintendo is still to question, though I find it unlikely seeing as Nintendo could've started working on it any time while they were still with Sony.

Also, another interesting point is that the FlightStick is another 1 of those shitty, cumbersome analog joysticks, only there's 2 of them. Interesting note though, it did include a pointless thumbstick, though according to this, it was digital instead of analog. I'm looking at a picture of this thing as we speak too and my god it's an atrocious piece of shit that no one should ever want or desire. There's so many buttons, and to push face buttons you have to let go of 1 of the giant sticks.

Anyway, to restate what I've said, Sony made analog joysticks, and a digital thumbstick, and it is actually entirely possible that they did copy Nintendo regardless, especially since the announcement on the controller was only 9 months prior the N64 release. I mean this isn't really that much different than the SixAxis situation, assuming I can find Nintendo's announcement on their analog stick and/or when they began development.

Vamp [Bot] · Post by **Vamp [Bot]** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:44 pm

The point is not who made what first... honestly, it's that it DOES NOT MATTER!

Mericks · Post by **Mericks** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:59 pm

Considering the topic IS about copycats, it DOES matter for the conversation. After all, can one side really be a copycat if evidence shows that the other/neither side is. I'm not gonna say you're stupid, though, Vamp. I'm just gonna say I hate you and leave it alone.

Verence · Post by **Verence** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 6:34 pm

Actually, the topic Break made is

"PlayStation Home: I think it looks pretty sweet."

Mericks · Post by **Mericks** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:58 pm

Wow, I love your observation skills. Nice that you noticed how the topic changed extremely quickly.

WiizerFanboy · Post by **WiizerFanboy** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:09 pm

seems like we can never stay ON topic these days

Mericks · Post by **Mericks** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:18 pm

Probably because every topic can go only so far before it has to end.

WiizerFanboy · Post by **WiizerFanboy** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:19 pm

no it's just that one statement within a topic can set off a WHOLE new argument and before long a topic titled Playstation Home can turn into a topic
about nintendo analog sticks.