Sony's Claims to an Emmy Award Flatly Denied

[Iguana]

They're trying too hard. (http://spong.com/article/11466/Sony%92s+Sixaxis+Emmy+Claims+Flatly+Denied/?d=200701101313&cb=911)
A press release issued this Monday from SCEA read, "Sony Computer Entertainment America Wins Emmy Award for PLAYSTATION 3 SIXAXIS Wireless Controller."

In the same release, SCEA president and CEO, Jack Tretton, attributed this apparent success to "overwhelming consumer demand and critical acclaim".

Intrepid blogger Séamus Byrne over on his Hydrapinion blog reports that he contacted NATAS to find out how Sony’s Sixaxis had won the accolade while seemingly Nintendo’s Wii Remote had been overlooked.

A NATAS rep told him in no uncertain terms, "I would like to confirm that Sony did not win for their PS3 controller, they won for their Dual Shock analog controller…The award is from the Video Game Technology Group. It was nominated by our internal group and considered along with the Nintendo D-Pad both of which were considered Emmy worthy for the development of the generation of controllers that followed the classic joysticks.”

SCEA has not released a response to the misinformation as yet. However, a Sony spokesman told SPOnG today,"We're asking the Japanese - the Japanese are asking the Americans. So, currently, I'm looking into it."

The final list of winners on NATAS’s website would seem to confirm that Sony has made a bit of a boo-boo on this occasion.

[wigwam the]

hmm. sony seems to beleive that "any publicity is good publicity."

if they think that they're wrong.
dead wrong.


site-
spong.com? it seems to report news on all platforms... but the site looks like a huge ad for the wii...
unless I'm wrong.

[Iguana]

I dunno, I just found the link on a different forum.

[FutureWorm]

since when do they give Emmys for video game controllers, I thought the awards were for TV

[M3ntal]

To: cdaly@emmyonline.tv
CC: ascotto@emmyonline.tv
Date: Jan 11, 2007 11:00 AM
Subject: The Emmy Award for Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers

Hi there, I was just wondering on what grounds Sony's Dual Shock Analog controller was nominated for this award? They aren't responsible for innovating either the "Dual Shock" or "Analog" parts. They are both technologies "inspired" by Nintendo's N64 controllers which had the first analogue thumbstick control for a video games console controller, and the first force-feedback device in the form of the Rumble Pack which plugged into the base of the controller. I even recall Sony failing several times to prototype a force-feedback device on their controllers due to power contraints on the original PlayStation.

Sony have a long history of liberating technology from Nintendo spreading from their debut on the games consoles scene, the original PlayStation, which started life as Nintendo's SNES CD ROM expansion device which was never released, right up to now, with the motion detection features of the PS3's SIXAXIS being an obvious response to Nintendo's Wiimote controller.

The way I see it the only positive attributes that can be attributed to Sony in this area are ergonomics (the Dual Shock controller is possibly the most comfortable to use after all) and shrewd marketing skills.

I can only assume you do research before giving out awards and already know all this, and as such I wholly disagree with your decision to reward Sony for this kind of business practice and attribute them with acheivements that are clearly not their own.

Liam Dobson.

[MtlAngelus]

gg Liam.
Keep us posted if you get any reply.

[M3ntal]

From: Annmarie Scotto <AScotto@emmyonline.tv>
Date: Jan 11, 2007 3:21 PM
Subject: RE: The Emmy Award for Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers

Liam;
There was confusion and mis-information was reported. Please see attached for clarity on the Award(s) Sony received.
Thanks.

January 10, 2007

SONY Computer Entertainment received two EMMY Awards at the Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards, in Las Vegas on January 8, 2007. Details of these accolades are as follows:

The EMMY Award for Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers was awarded to SONY Computer Entertainment America, for the Dual Shock Analog Controller.

The EMMY Award for Outstanding Innovation Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of Personal Media Display and Presentation Technology was awarded to SONY Computer Entertainment, for the Xross Media Bar.

- National Television Academy of Arts & Sciences

To: Annmarie Scotto <AScotto@emmyonline.tv>
Date: Jan 11, 2007 11:14 PM
Subject: Re: The Emmy Award for Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers

I am aware of the Awards Sony received, and I am aware they received the Award for Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers for their Dual Shock Analog Controller, not for their latest SIXAXIS controller as many have reported. I stated all of this in my previous email. I was simply wanting to voice my opinion that they didn't deserve this award, and explain the evidence and reasoning behind that opinion.
It'd help if they actually read my email :/.

[AndrewTaylor]

Genius. I wonder if the Emmy awards panel can work out the difference between 0.002 dollars and 0.002 cents...

In their defence, I'd imagine they've got a lot of emails saying "why have you awarded Sony for staling Nintendo's motion sensor". I can't work out if this is irony.

[MtlAngelus]

Hehehe they replied but didn't bother to read it.

[Xinos]

Motion sensor controllers have been around far longer than Nintendo Wii. Microsoft invented one a long time ago, but it was crap. The PS3 controller is much more related to that (since it's only left-to-right tilt) than to the Wii controller, which is basicly a 3D space cursor.

The Wii controller should have gotten that emmy if anything..

[AndrewTaylor]

Motion sensor controllers have been around far longer than Nintendo Wii. Microsoft invented one a long time ago, but it was crap. The PS3 controller is much more related to that (since it's only left-to-right tilt) than to the Wii controller, which is basicly a 3D space cursor.

The Wii controller should have gotten that emmy if anything..

As I understand it Sony's motion sensor has, theoretically, the same capabilities as the Wii's, I think, but a few disadvantages:

> Last I heard it was much more laggy.
> Motion sensors don't belong in pads that shape. Microsoft proved that years ago.
> They called it the SIXAXIS despite the fact it clearly has only three axes (unless you count the sticks, in which case it has seven to the Wii's eight or eleven).
> You need both hands on it so there's a lot less you can actually do with it without letting go of the analogue stick(s) or the buttons.
> There isn't another for your other hand (which would, ironically, give it six axes).
> It isn't a light gun so it's not as versatile.

[Xinos]

What? Wait that's right, the sixaxis wasn't only left right, it's also forward and back. Still, it has no positioning like the wii controll, which is more like a light gun than than this is. The sixaxis is simply a 3D stearing wheel, and from what I hear it works great and is not laggy.

And what's this about it not needing both hands? I don't understand what your point is.

[AndrewTaylor]

The Wii's controller sits in one hand. As a result you can swing it behind you, you can drop it to your side, and you can turn it upside down. The PS3 pad can tell just as well as the Wii's can if you do any of those things with it, but that's no help to anybody, because it's not physically possible to actually do them, because your other arm gets in the way.

[Paul.Power]

With all the fuss (;)) Andrew made over it in the RealVG Admin forums, I'm surprised he hasn't linked to this yet:

http://www.realvg.org/display.php?type=news&id=102

[wormthingy]

I dont really see whats the big deal about this motion sensor thing.
there are two consoles coming with motion sensig capabilities, and everyone goes like: "OMG THEY STOLE IT FROM NINTENDOES! DDDDD:" instead of "cool, two consoles, both have motion senser things (y) ".
you might as well say they stole the entire concept of console fromt the first one.

And even if they did steal it, there is no use in mentioning it in every thread every time someone says "motion sensor", "Ps3" or "Wii". (eventhough this thread is mainly about it.. but still)

get over it already, it's old.

EDIT: one more thing, the controller of the Wii is clearly meant for a different kind/way of gameplay then the controller of the ps 3, which is also visible in their design.
so it's two controllers, both have different purposes, and ONE thing in common: motion sensors. that does not make it a ripp off, so unless someone comes with solid evidence that sony had ninja's or something spying at nintendoes and that they stole the wii-contoller concept, I'm calling it all bullcrap.

[AndrewTaylor]

all the fuss (;))

It was time sensitive. I'm well aware how long our peer-review process normally takes and it wouldn't have been funny in March.

I dont really see whats the big deal about this motion sensor thing. ... that does not make it a ripp off, so unless someone comes with solid evidence that sony had ninja's or something spying at nintendoes and that they stole the wii-contoller concept, I'm calling it all bullcrap.

Two minor points...

First, the fact that Nintendo announced a feature Sony had dismissed as impossible and then just a few months later Sony coincidentally announced the same feature pretty obviously indicates that Sony did just take the idea from Nintendo, so that Nintendo wouldn't have anything on their feature list Sony didn't.

Second, and I think more pertinently, what exactly do you think this thread is about? The whole thing was only mentioned in passing anyway, and that was in a context to which it was highly relevant, ironically unlike your own complaint.

[M3ntal]

I dont really see whats the big deal about this motion sensor thing.
there are two consoles coming with motion sensig capabilities, and everyone goes like: "OMG THEY STOLE IT FROM NINTENDOES! DDDDD:" instead of "cool, two consoles, both have motion senser things (y) ".
you might as well say they stole the entire concept of console fromt the first one.

And even if they did steal it, there is no use in mentioning it in every thread every time someone says "motion sensor", "Ps3" or "Wii". (eventhough this thread is mainly about it.. but still)

get over it already, it's old.
You missed the point completely. This discussion isn't about Sony stealing ideas, it's about Sony getting awards for the ideas they stole. Those awards should be given to the people Sony stole from, not Sony.

Sure, the fact there is more than one company making consoles shows that people originally stole the idea from whoever was first (Atari, i think it was), but to go to these other companies and credit them with being the first to make a console would be both historically and morally wrong.

I mean come on, Nintendo even came up with the name "PlayStation".

[Xinos]

The PS3 controller is still much more of a rip towards microsofts old gamepad than the wii remote. The only thing sony stole is the fact that motion is the new cool thing in gaming.

But that doesn't earn them an emmy.

[Bolton]

Like a certain famous personility would say: "Know Your Damn Role"

[Preasure]

Sony shouldn't have got anything for something which essentially is no more inventive than anthing else that's been done. They've relied on brand name and ability - keeping the PlayStation brand and uprading it, but that's failed them. They've stretched it too far when they should have dropped it and they're paying the price in the sales. Nintendo have gone for a whole new concept that actually deserves to win awards, but they've gone so far into new ideas they're leaving some people behind. Hence the reason the 360, an improved brand that's been pushed but not too much, and with inventive new ideas but not to too great an extent, is top of the sales figures.

[Paul.Power]

I'm puzzled why everyone is chatting about the PS3 controller when Sony won the award for the Dual Shock (even though, again, Nintendo did that first with the N64 controller)

I mean come on, Nintendo even came up with the name "PlayStation".

I'd never have guessed (http://www.realvg.org/display.php?type=articles&id=55)

[M3ntal]

Ronseal indeed, heh. Good article.

[Xinos]

I don't know if it's been said, but the sixaxis controller did not win an Emmy. Sony went out and said they did, but no, didn't happen. Sony did however win an emmy, but it was for the old Dual Shock controller.

"The Emmy was given to Sony AND Nintendo for 'Periferal development and technological impact of video game controllers'"
(And Nintendo won for the d-pad)

[AndrewTaylor]

I don't know if it's been said, but the sixaxis controller did not win an Emmy.
That was said in the first post. Then again in the seventh, and on a link in the fourteenth, and then reiterated once more for good measure in the twenty-first.

[M3ntal]

Xinos, are you sure you're not Annmarie Scotto? :P

[*Splinter*]

That was said in the first post. Then again in the seventh, and on a link in the fourteenth, and then reiterated once more for good measure in the twenty-first.

I think he's making the point that this thread is going round in circles and not getting far.

"PS3 lied about emmy!"
*proof*
"Nintendo should have got it anyway!"
"And PS3 lied about it!"
*proof*
etc.

[Xinos]

I heard it elsewhere first, so I read this thread rather lightly.

[MtlAngelus]

Liam, did they ever get around to actually reading and properly responding to your e-mail?
Or did you even bother trying again? :p

[M3ntal]

No, they didn't.