Cross-Platform Controller

[Demon_Skeith]

Rather than having to switch controllers to play your PS3, 360, or Wii, Sony is considering a future where you can play all three from a single universal controller.

According to the patent, the device would consist of a regular controller-shaped housing with physical shoulder buttons and a touch-sensitive LCD screen on the front. Using a screen instead of actual buttons means the shape and layout of the buttons displayed can be changed to fit whatever you were playing - even allowing you to switch between a keyboard and the controller.

More surprising yet, the patent goes on to list Amiga, Jaguar, Sega, and Turbographics as controller layouts that could potentially be used. A device like this one could be extremely useful for emulation enthusiasts and owners of multiple consoles, assuming they can get over the pain of having to use touch-screen controls.

source and pics

 

[froggyboy604]

I think the battery life won't be very good if it is wireless since it has to power a LCD touch screen a long with the controller.

I prefer a Joystick + button-based controller.

 

[JamesD31]

I don't think the LCD touchscreen will be super responsive, since most touchscreens aren't that amazing yet, especially for games. Also, that will be weird since you will need to change the feeling of having the buttons to touch, instead you just click and hope it will hit the button's itself. Also, if this happens that would mean sales for actual controllers will decrease, causing less money for the companies that make those.

 

[froggyboy604]

Maybe a better alternative is just be able to build your own controller by plugging in buttons were needed like Lego blocks.

That be kind of neat of having a Lego kit which allows you to make your own controller. But, I can see people with anger problems easily smashing their Lego controllers into many pieces when they lose a game.