I don't know what Sony is planning, but looking at the patent applications can be a terrific way of getting an early glimpse at what Sony is cooking up in their vast R&D laboratories, providing a first look at the Vita's back touch panel, and at the PlayStation Monitor. This time, the US Patent Office has revealed something incredibly different - a PlayStation controlled interactive toy.
Originally filed back in 2008, the recently published patent shows Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s aim to improve upon the ActiMate with better technology and integration with PlayStation products.
The interactive toy openly draws inspiration from the Microsoft ActiMate, which failed to sell when it was released back in 1997, with the patent mentioning the ActiMate's several times.
The wireless, USB and Ethernet ports also allow the toy to connect to “other peripheral devices in addition to game controllers”, the PlayStation Portable and the EyeToy. It also means “the interactive toy may be readily arranged to communicate with a PS3 via either a WiFi or Bluetooth wireless link”. When a PS3 is loaded with a DVD or Blu-Ray disk with support for the toy it will connect to the device and interact accordingly:
The interactive toy openly draws inspiration from the Microsoft ActiMate, which failed to sell when it was released back in 1997, with the patent mentioning the ActiMate's several times.
The wireless, USB and Ethernet ports also allow the toy to connect to “other peripheral devices in addition to game controllers”, the PlayStation Portable and the EyeToy. It also means “the interactive toy may be readily arranged to communicate with a PS3 via either a WiFi or Bluetooth wireless link”. When a PS3 is loaded with a DVD or Blu-Ray disk with support for the toy it will connect to the device and interact accordingly:
This is a cool thing, however, I don't see the practicality of having one. If a kid have this, will she/he still wants to go out and make friends or will it make him a loner? Has the provisional patent application approve yet?
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