About the author
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No, this is not a joke or any nonsense, but a patent application Sony filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office in the summer of 2020.
Slightly older players probably remember that the nickname banana was given to the first (and eventually abandoned) PlayStation 3 controller, of course due to its characteristic shape. This time, however, the matter is completely different, because it is not about creating a gamepad with some specific features, but using completely random items to play.
The banana fruit is just an example, but apparently very representative, because Sony itself uses it on the figures shown.
The patent describes software that, using a camera, would map objects from everyday life so that they were seen through the console as controllers. Meanwhile, the actions performed on this improvised accessory by the player, such as swinging or touching at specific points, would correspond to the regular buttons known from Dualshock.
One condition: the object used must not emit strong light due to optical limitations. In theory, however, nothing prevents you from replacing the controller with a hairbrush, plate or the just mentioned banana.
For the sake of your finances
As Sony explains, console accessories are becoming more and more expensive, and not everyone can afford to have several controllers, which the social side of gaming suffers from. The improvised equivalents are not intended to replace classic pads, but to be an ad hoc solution for multiplayer games, for example during parties. By the way, the game with unusual items could also be an additional attraction there.
Unfortunately, as it is with all patents, especially those in the US, so far it is only a loose concept. Without a plan or declaration of its practical implementation.
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