Immersion corporation today announced the availability of their next-generation vibration feedback systems which they hope will result in better force feedback effects with better power consumption profiles. Some of the main points they address include compatibility with motion and tilt-sensing controllers; Nintendo users are already aware that Wii will support both motion-sensing and feedback, and perhaps this will give Sony the ability to add this functionality to their wireless controller. Overall, the new feedback system appears to be a more streamlined, better defined system for including force feedback in a console or PC. Hopefully, their work on the feedback APIs will make force feedback more prevalent on the PC. The effects in the few PC games that supported the force feedback mice from Logitech and Saitek were interesting, but never really gained acceptance in any significant way. If backward compatibility is really supported as well as Immersion suggests, then adoption of the new technology this late in the next generation console cycle won’t be an issue. With the Xbox 360 already shipping, and Sony pretty much leaving force feedback behind, this would seemingly only be a possibility in either the Wii console, or in third party controllers. And, it remains to be seen (or felt) how much better this new technology really is.

Full Press Release after the jump.

Immersion Corporation Introduces Next-Generation Vibration Technology for Video Console Gaming Systems
Backward Compatibility Without Cost or Power Consumption Increases

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jun 19, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Immersion Corporation (Nasdaq:IMMR), a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, introduces its next-generation TouchSense® vibration technology to match the realism expected of next-generation video console gaming systems. The new technology supplies a wider range of vibration effects that come even closer to simulating the physical world than existing console gaming systems. The new TouchSense technology also supplies improved synchronization with audio and onscreen graphic events, backward compatibility for vibration effects in current games, powerful and intuitive authoring tools that allow developers to create a much wider range of effects in less time, and the ability to work alongside motion control and tilt sensing—all without cost, power consumption, weight, or space increases for most systems.

“Next-generation realistic sound and graphics are very impressive and help extend the illusion of the game,” said Vic Viegas, Immersion CEO. “But to more closely emulate the real world and provide an even more immersive experience, you also need to engage the sense of touch. Gamers like vibration feedback in their console games today and have definitely come to expect it. Our new technology supplies a dramatic improvement in the action that gamers feel. We believe it is an innovation the market deserves to have in next-generation consoles.”

With the new technology, vibrations can be crisper, shorter in duration, more closely spaced, more in sync with onscreen events, simultaneous, and both stronger and more subtle to supply a new level of realism. Shorter, crisper effects allow the feel of machine gun fire to be more staccato-like and also more closely synchronized with the sounds and appearance of realistic gun fire. New levels of strength and variation allow gamers to feel the accelerating surge of powering up a light saber, followed by the transition to a subtle hum, then the jolt of clashing with their opponent’s light saber. A more subtle capability allows the springy sensation of hitting a tennis ball or the fast, crisp connective feel of catching a long pass, supplying a far more immersive experience. Multiple, simultaneous game effects can be separately rendered to increase engagement and excitement. For example, distinctly different vehicle vibrations caused by driving over gravel, rocks, and mud could be felt along with the sharp pop of shifting gears or the force of acceleration or deceleration.

Immersion’s next-generation technology is designed to provide all-around better performance without system tradeoffs, as well as dramatic advancements in developer tools:

—The new TouchSense technology is compatible with motion control and tilt sensing that allow players to control certain game actions by moving or tilting a handheld controller. Because the speed at which a user moves the controller is much slower than the frequencies generated by TouchSense technology, the two signals can be differentiated using filtering and other techniques. Immersion also offers engineering services to implement the technology within a particular console system.

—Power consumption will not be greater than existing dual-motor systems, and in many cases will be less. Next-generation vibration tends to include a wider range of effects, from subtle to full strength. So, unlike dual-motor systems, full voltage will likely be used less and may result in reduced power consumption.

—Space and weight will be less for vibration components because the new technology employs only one actuator as opposed to two motors, an advantage when using motion or tilt control.

—Backward compatibility to supply very similar tactile sensations for games designed for present-day dual-motor systems will be possible using Immersion’s emulator on the console or inside the peripheral, providing a transparent process requiring no action by the user.

—The technology can work in a wireless controller and employs a compact communications protocol that speeds the transmission of control functions to better synchronize tactile effects with onscreen action.

—Depending on the quality of the dual-motor system under comparison, the new vibration system can cost less because elimination of the cost of one motor in a great many cases will offset a slightly more complex single actuator.

—To take advantage of the new capabilities, Immersion supplies effect creation and programming tools, Immersion Studio® for Gaming SDK, that let developers quickly mock up and edit a graphical representation of the effect, preview the effect on the controller, and store it as a file. Immersion’s software in the console interprets the file and controls the actuator to faithfully play it.

“Programming vibration effects with existing console toolsets is akin to the punch-card era of computing,” explains Christophe Ramstein, Immersion senior vice president, research and engineering. “Immersion Studio allows developers to deal in objects and inter-relationships like any modern programming language, freeing them from tedious low-level mechanics and letting them concentrate on integrating the vibration effects with graphics and sound. They can finally focus on the art of creating even more compelling vibrations.”

Console and peripheral manufacturers and developers all will be involved in bringing next-generation vibration technology to market. Available now, next-generation vibration technology is comprised of three main components: (1) Immersion’s sophisticated control algorithms, APIs, and drivers designed for the gaming console, (2) easy-to-use, high-level developer tools for creating rich and realistic tactile effects for console games, and (3) innovative actuator designs for enabling next-generation vibrations in gaming peripherals.

About Immersion (www.immersion.com)

Founded in 1993, Immersion Corporation is a recognized leader in developing, licensing, and marketing digital touch technology and products. Bringing value to markets where man-machine interaction needs to be made more compelling, safer, or productive, Immersion helps its partners broaden market reach by making the use of touch feedback as critical a user experience as sight and sound. Immersion’s technology is deployed across automotive, entertainment, medical training, mobility, personal computing, and three-dimensional simulation markets. Immersion’s patent portfolio includes over 600 issued or pending patents in the U.S. and other countries.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of Immersion Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

All statements, other than the statements of historical fact, are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of earnings, revenues, or other financial matters; any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning the breadth and timeline to implement next-generation vibration technology into gaming consoles, peripherals, or games, release of gaming consoles, peripherals, or games supporting next-generation vibration technology, or any change in revenue that may occur from such implementation, or consumer and market acceptance of next-generation vibration technology in particular, and force feedback products in general; proposed products or services; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statement or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Immersion’s actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with Immersion’s business which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for Immersion’s products or a delay in or failure to achieve the acceptance of force feedback as a critical user experience.

For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause Immersion’s actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in Immersion’s most current Form 10-Q, which are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect Immersion’s beliefs and predictions as of the date of this release. Immersion disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of financial, business, or any other developments occurring after the date of this release.

Immersion, the Immersion logo, Immersion Studio, and TouchSense are trademarks of Immersion Corporation in the United States and other countries.

SOURCE: Immersion Corporation