When we first heard of the brouhaha stirred up by the discovery of the PS3 controller-PSP hookup patent, we quickly dismissed the idea as highly speculative. However, the recent information obtained about the 1.80 developer release leads us to reexamine the issue, and provide a possible theory.

The 1.80 release contains a new PSP related utility, making it possible for developers to generate a display on the PSP. It is clear that Sony is allowing developers to use the PSP as a secondary display, and not just for remote play. Possible applications for such utilities are too numerous to list, ranging from a simple rear-view mirror for a driving game, to listing your own private inventory in a multiplayer RPG.

This wouldn’t be the first time that an external display device was used in conjunction with a console game to enhance the user’s experience. The most successful example is Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, on the Gamecube, which required each player to have its own GBA in order to play. Pacman Vs. did something similar. The most famous (and perhaps most ingenious) example is the Dreamcast version of the NFL 2K series, which lets player select their next play using the small display screen embedded in each controller (using the VMU).

As for the patent, most theories have been about using the PS3 controller to control the PSP. We suggest the opposite: the PSP will serve as an extra output, tied to a specific user. This would allow multiple users to play on the same TV screen, while maintaining a private screen with a private view on their game.

Given this utility, it makes sense for Sony to provide a way to hook up the controller to the PSP. How else will you hold both the PSP and controller while playing? The relevance of this patent has now become apparent.

Posted by Raoul on Friday, August 24th, 2007 at 12:02 pm.