Sony refutes copycat cries

Harrison speaks out

Sony chief Phil Harrison has told industry site GamesIndustry.biz that the motion sensing element of the newly unveiled Playstation 3 controller is not 'borrowed' or even inspired by the Wii's own groundbreaking interface, and that the company had in fact been plotting such an innovation since the 1990's.

Harrison, interviewed exclusively at E3 by GamesIndustry.biz, stated that the sensor had been under consideration since 1994, but that the necessary conditions had not been right to make the controller viable until now. He explained that "in reality you can't make some of the ideas that we have because the technology is not available in sufficient quantity or at a low enough price, and you kind of have to wait for certain things to converge."

He reiterated that the sensor was under consideration for some time, but that it wasn't shown at last year's E3 because it wasn't ready. He added that it was no surprise that that the Wii also boasts similar technology of the motion-sensing variety, explaining that other companies have 'obviously' been doing the same research as Sony.

Harrison stated that Sony took an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach with the dual-shock design, and simply wanted to add to what the platform holder regards as the industry de facto standard. "We didn't start the wave, but we've kind of jumped onto that wave," the chief conceded, before explaining that new methods of input and interaction will be defining elements of the next-generation experience. More as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge