Immersion

In Real Life

Why Don’t I Lose Myself In Games Anymore?

12:40AM April 6, 2011 | Leigh Alexander

You know when you’re going to finish a video game. It pushes its ethereal fist into your chest and seizes hold of your heart in a way you can almost feel – like being grabbed by the throat, a tightness in your chest that sets every nerve humming to the tune of the experience. More »


In Real Life

The Real World Is Not As Easy As A Video Game

6:30PM December 16, 2010 | Luke Plunkett

Continuing their run of excellent shows about bringing games into the real world, Rooster Teeth’s latest episode of Immersion looks at how well we’d fare if we had to live our lives in 2D. More »


Against Immersion

1:00PM August 4, 2010 | Oliver Hargrave

Do you want the video games you play to be “immersive”? Just like The Matrix someday? Writer Oliver Hargrave pens his objection to the concept in an article we’re proud to republish here. More »


News

Hot And Cold Running Game Controllers

4:14AM July 31, 2010 | Mike Fahey

When you play with thermoelectrics, you’re bound to get burned, or possibly chilled. More »


News

Sony Rumble Lawsuit Back, Guy Claims Sony Ripped Him Off

11:00AM May 19, 2009 | Luke Plunkett

In 2007, Sony settled a long-running dispute with Immersion, a company holding patents for control pad rumble technology. The world moved on. But now, the lawsuit (or at least part of it) is back. More »


Uncategorized

Ubisoft Pits Brains Against Bullets In CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars

5:20AM December 20, 2008 | Mike Fahey

Ubisoft has just announced CellFactor: The Psychokenetic Wars, a futuristic first-person shooter coming to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network that pits big guns against mental powers.

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News

Immersion Forced To Pay Microsoft $20 Million

12:30PM August 27, 2008 | Luke Plunkett

You’ll no doubt be familiar with the name Immersion. They’re the rumble guys. Microsoft had to pay them to get rumble in the 360 pad, while Sony refused, resulting in the rumble-free Sixaxis. When Sony eventually did cough up the money, though, that led to more dramas, as part of Microsoft’s deal with Immersion was a clause that said they would have to pay MS $US 15 million should Sony swallow their pride and pay for the use of rumble. Which they did. And it was a fee Immersion, in a delicious irony, refused to pay.That led to a legal tussle between Immersion and Microsoft, which has today been settled, with the rumble dudes agreeing to cough up $US 20.75 million. Phew. Hopefully that’s the last time we need to write the words “Immersion” and “legal” in the same story.

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Uncategorized

Sony Passing On Better DualShock For No Good Reason?

4:20AM October 4, 2007 | Mark Wilson

MGS4 producer Ryan Payton may think the DualShock 3 feels better than the old version—and maybe it does—but according to Sony, the new controller is using Immersion’s same base technology from 10 years ago. And it’s a major point of contention that confuses Immersion as much as anyone else since they have far better technology in the ready. I believe it’s actually less expensive. The old technology utilizes two motors to create the complex set of sensations, whereas Immersion’s new TouchSense technology utilises a single motor, but we drive the motor in unique ways so that you can get stronger yet crisper effects… So you save on at least one motor, there’s less power consumption, and you may save on other components and circuitry.

Oh, but it would cost Sony money in new licensing, right? More »