Support NeoGAF

[yurinka]

Nintendowere the pioneers of the D-Pad, analog sticks, rumble features, and even the ergonomic grip design on controllers.

Mattel Intellivision (1979), Entex Select-a-Game (1981), Epoch Galaxy II (1981) had dpads before Nintendo.

In computers Cromemco JS-1 (1976) was the first analog stick. In consoles Atari 5200 (1982) had the first analog stick.

Rumble features debuted in the arcades in the 70s, then at home in PC controllers both as rumble and force feedback before debuting in consoles.

Controllers with ergonomic grips are as fuck, way older than the N64 one.

the first camera used for games before the EyeToy,

Not true

clickable analog sticks,

No, it didn't. PlayStation's Dual Analog controller was the first

So what about Sony .. What unique hardware innovations have they brought to the table, Have they ever introduced new features or have they just refined and polished existing ones?

Sony JS-75 (1984), the first wireless (infrared+batteries) game controller. Released before NES was released outside Japan

Sony Joy Turbo JSS-11 (1986), first adjustable joypad/joystick autofire

Sony JS-303T (1987), integrated autofire (16 shots per second) and 'Cycloid' floating nub that felt like an analog nub even if was a 8-way digital dpad

Eyetoy (2003), introduced AR / motion based games

PS Move (2010, but its prototype was publicly showcased in 2000 at the same time than Eyetoy), motion based controllers

Plus a few more (I'm sleepy, very likely there are way more):

• Dual Analog Controller: first dual analogs
• Dual Analog Controller: first clickable analogs
• Dual Sense: first Dual rumble
• PSP Camera: Portable AR, Invizimals did Pokemon Go way before and better
• PS2: first console with DVD discs
• PS3: first console with Bluray discs
• Six Axis: movement detection in 3 axis of direction and 3 of rotation
• PSVR: first console VR (Virtual Boy wasn't VR)
• Remote Play
• Cross Buy
• Cross Save
• Cross Play
• PS+: First console multi-game subscription with monthly downloadable games
• PS Now: first cloud gaming in consoles
• PS Now: First console multi-game subscription with a pre set library of games

 

[PropellerEar]

Nothing can beat Waggle controls

 

[dgrdsv]

- This gen: Dualsense, Tempest 3D audio, SSD tech that beat PC tech on release date (DirectStorage is where exactly?), dual layer blu ray discs, PSVR 2, PSSR (first console with a true AI upscaler).

You're trying way too hard.

• Tempest 3D audio is just GPU h/w used for audio processing. You can use any GPU this way, it's a s/w thing.
• SSD tech that beat PC tech on release date - depends on what you're looking at, it's awfully slow for writes for example. Nothing comes to consoles w/o compromises.
• dual layer blu ray discs - not a console tech.
• PSSR (first console with a true AI upscaler) - cmon now.

This gen Sony made some good things with controller - MS/Windows still hasn't catch up to DualSense haptics.
But that's basically it. Everything else was either taken from PC tech as is or used in a way which can only be applied to consoles.

 

[coffinbirth]

This thread

 

[DenchDeckard]

Sony did eye toy. Used disk based medium and pushed their formats into the consoles such as cd rom and dvd/ blue ray which helped consumers.

They didnt really invent anything but they did refine other people's work.

Such as move controllers. Rumble. Analogue sticks. Etc

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

• PS1 pioneered CD-ROM in consoles
• PS2 had optional network adapter.

AI will destroy history so fast, I'll better have my laugh now.

 

[Parazels]

In computers Cromemco JS-1 (1976) was the first analog stick. In consoles Atari 5200 (1982) had the first analog stick.

We should appreciate the real implementation of a technology, not just inventing it without proper application. Nintendo directly aimed for 3d gaming and it worked out.

 

[Trunx81]

Come on, no one?
The soundchip of the SNES

 

[Kotaro]

Nintendo invented video games idgaf what you all saying!!

 

[Astray]

What Has Sony Actually Contributed to the Video Game Industry in Terms of Hardware Innovations?


For example:

Nintendo were the pioneers of the D-Pad, analog sticks, rumble features, and even the ergonomic grip design on controllers.

Sega delivered the first console with built-in online capabilities (without any add-ons), the first camera used for games before the EyeToy, clickable analog sticks, and many other innovations in arcade.


So what about Sony .. What unique hardware innovations have they brought to the table, Have they ever introduced new features or have they just refined and polished existing ones?

Literally the most important one of its time: Making CDs the then-dominant form of games media, which not only REDUCED prices to the consumer, but also paved the way for advanced graphics, thus making video games something you can sell to a normie.

3rd parties only started flourishing when Sony entered the scene.

Edit: Just realized this is your third thread about Sony.. Show us on the doll where Kutaragi touched you.

 

[cartman414]

Best ergonomic based on the nature of the human body.

Among the least ergonomic controllers.

 

[cartman414]

I want blood, violence, mature and heavy content in games, with production on the level of movies. That's something Sony nailed and still does well, that's what really matters, and I think it was PlayStation that actually popularized this kind of game.

But when it comes to hardware innovation, Sony did a bunch of stuff that doesn't even get proper credit. For example, PlayStation Move was already a project back in the PS2 days, there's even footage showing the prototype running with the EyeToy (which itself was another innovation that probably inspired the Kinect). All this was before Nintendo and Microsoft jumped on it.

The problem is, Sony always had the bad luck of missing the timing on these things or just not fully backing what they launch.

Like the rear touch on the Vita, it was a cool innovation, but the handheld flopped. It also had remote play with the PS3 and even some touchscreen features similar to what the Wii U and later the Switch used. Too bad the Vita failed.

Nintendo had the motion control idea in mind for GC but the tech wasn't ready yet.

 

[Team Andromeda]

straight out put, not meddling

Got it — you want Sony's hardware innovations compared to competitors like Nintendo, Microsoft (Xbox), and others. Let's put it side by side so you can see where Sony was ahead, where they were following, and where others were first.

---

Sony vs Competitors in Video Game Hardware Innovations

Media & Storage

• Sony
  • PS1 pioneered CD-ROM in consoles (Nintendo 64 stuck with cartridges).
  • PS2 made DVD standard, huge adoption also for movie playback.
  • PS3 introduced Blu-ray (rival format to HD-DVD).
  • PS5 brought a custom ultra-fast SSD (still considered one of the fastest on any console).
• Competitors
  • Nintendo: Stuck with cartridges until Switch (but for portability reasons). No optical drive beyond GameCube's mini-DVDs.
  • Microsoft: Followed with DVD (Xbox), then HD-DVD add-on (failed) and Blu-ray (Xbox One). Series X uses SSD too, but slower than PS5's.

Sony often led in media format innovations, pushing industry adoption.

---

Controllers & Input

• Sony
  • Dual Analog (PS1) → set standard for dual-stick control.
  • DualShock (1997) → rumble + dual sticks.
  • DualShock 4 → touchpad, light bar, share button.
  • DualSense → adaptive triggers + advanced haptics (still unmatched in fidelity).
• Competitors
  • Nintendo: True pioneer — D-Pad (NES), analog stick (N64), motion control (Wii), Joy-Cons (Switch).
  • Microsoft: Xbox Controller S (huge improvement over "Duke"), refined triggers with rumble (Xbox One), Elite Controller (customization, paddles).

Nintendo = most experimental. Sony = refinement and immersion. Microsoft = ergonomics & customization.

---

Audio

• Sony
  • PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech → hardware-accelerated spatial sound for any headphones.
• Competitors
  • Nintendo: Historically less emphasis; Switch has no advanced 3D audio.
  • Microsoft: Windows Sonic + Dolby Atmos support, but software-based.

Sony leads with custom audio hardware.

---

Backwards Compatibility

• Sony
  • PS2 fully compatible with PS1.
  • PS3 (early models) had PS2 hardware built-in, later removed.
  • PS5 plays most PS4 games, but no native PS3 support.
• Competitors
  • Nintendo: Mixed — Wii played GameCube, Wii U played Wii, Switch dropped all legacy support.
  • Microsoft: Best here. Xbox One / Series X|S support select Xbox, 360, and One titles, often with enhancements.

Sony started strong, but Microsoft eventually dominated in long-term backward compatibility.

---

Networking & Online

• Sony
  • PS2 had optional network adapter.
  • PS3 → free online play, but weaker infrastructure than Xbox Live.
  • PS Plus (paid service) improved reliability, cloud saves, etc.
• Competitors
  • Microsoft: Xbox Live (2002) set the gold standard for online play.
  • Nintendo: Always lagged behind, online remains inconsistent.

Microsoft innovated first; Sony caught up but with different priorities (free → then paid).

---

Accessibility

• Sony
  • Project Leonardo (2023) → first major accessible controller.
• Competitors
  • Microsoft: Xbox Adaptive Controller (2018), widely praised.
  • Nintendo: Very little progress here.

Microsoft led, Sony followed, Nintendo barely present.

---

Other Hardware Innovations

• Sony
  • PSP & PS Vita pushed handheld multimedia (high-fidelity screens, dual analog portable).
  • PS VR (2016) → brought console VR to the mainstream. PS VR2 improved with eye-tracking & OLED HDR panels.
• Competitors
  • Nintendo: Game Boy / DS / Switch = handheld dominance. Switch hybrid form is unmatched.
  • Microsoft: Never entered handheld gaming, no VR hardware.

Sony innovated in VR, Nintendo in portability, Microsoft skipped both.

---

Overall Balance

• Sony's Strengths: Media formats, immersive input (DualSense), 3D audio, VR, sleek design refinements.
• Nintendo's Strengths: Bold input experiments (motion, touch, hybrid design), handheld innovation.
• Microsoft's Strengths: Online infrastructure (Xbox Live), backward compatibility, accessibility controllers.

---

So in a nutshell:

• Sony = immersion & multimedia leader
• Nintendo = creative, risk-taking pioneer
• Microsoft = services, ecosystem, accessibility

I've never read such utter tosh in all my life SONY more so on the CD side

SONY did give us dual analogue controls, which we all use today. Forget Nintendo or SONY.

I would say Atari were the true pioneers, like most stuff in video games the Americans and West did it 1st

 

[SuperC]

No, it didn't. PlayStation's Dual Analog controller was the first

Nope
The first clickable analog stick was in Sega Saturn Controller

 

[Sethbacca]

It was a product of its time. It couldn't help but be popular.

There were plenty of products of their time that have failed or lost to more popular formats.

Minidisc, DIVX, Betamax, HD DVD, HDCD, etc etc etc

 

[Parazels]

There were plenty of products of their time that have failed or lost to more popular formats.

Minidisc, DIVX, Betamax, etc etc etc

Discs had already been successfully used in consoles before the PSX. It's ridiculous to give Sony credit for popularizing this format.

 

[Sethbacca]

Discs had already been successfully used in consoles before the PSX. It's ridiculous to give Sony credit for popularizing this format.

I wasn't disputing that, I'm just saying that there are always other options and formats that can be used and success isn't a guarantee. Just because something is or has been popular doesn't always mean it's the best option. The post was saying "It couldn't help but be popular" which isn't the furthest thing from the truth. There's always a risk.

 

[cireza]

For the CD, as someone who lives in Europe, all the merit goes to SEGA with the SEGA-CD. And I don't care what a lot of people might think, for having been there, it was fucking glorious. The SEGA-CD rules. Of course, NEC made the PC-Engine CD even before, so in the console space, they are the ones that deserve the credit. CD was still a good format for PS1 and Saturn, but in my opinion it was not as great as on SCD and PCE-CD in terms of usage. I find that on SCD and PCE-CD, it really helped making everything better : nothing was lower quality with this format. More content, Redbook Audio etc... While on PS1 and Saturn, we started to see things going backwards because games were filling more and more space for bad reasons (thus leading to poor quality music sometimes, because falling back to lesser formats), as well as streaming which was always complete shit and something that kills lens.

Otherwise, Sony have been great at forcing proprietary formats on as many consoles as possible to make even more money. Not sure that this is a good thing though. It didn't help the PSP that's for sure.

Outside of the Dual Analog, which I never found the layout good in any way, I just don't see anything worth mentioning.

 

[Kilau]

I don't think any of them are particularly innovative, they've brought various existing technologies to gaming but we are mostly experiencing games the same way for the last 50 years. On a couch, TV, controller or handheld.

 

[diffusionx]

I want blood, violence, mature and heavy content in games, with production on the level of movies. That's something Sony nailed and still does well, that's what really matters, and I think it was PlayStation that actually popularized this kind of game.

But when it comes to hardware innovation, Sony did a bunch of stuff that doesn't even get proper credit. For example, PlayStation Move was already a project back in the PS2 days, there's even footage showing the prototype running with the EyeToy (which itself was another innovation that probably inspired the Kinect). All this was before Nintendo and Microsoft jumped on it.

The problem is, Sony always had the bad luck of missing the timing on these things or just not fully backing what they launch.

Like the rear touch on the Vita, it was a cool innovation, but the handheld flopped. It also had remote play with the PS3 and even some touchscreen features similar to what the Wii U and later the Switch used. Too bad the Vita failed.

i dont know why nerds are so focused on which company was the "first." As you point out, being the first comes with major risk and downside.

All the stuff we are talking about, people had ideas to do it way before 1998 or whatever. Like, motion controls - there were NES accessories that used motion controls. Sega released a motion control device for the Genesis, it was horrible. That's the downside of being first, it usually stinks. You usually don't want to be the first, you want to see where the tech goes until it's good enough to be good and in a mass market device.

 

[yurinka]

Nope
The first clickable analog stick was in Sega Saturn Controller

The Sega Saturn Controller didn't have analog sticks to click

We should appreciate the real implementation of a technology, not just inventing it without proper application. Nintendo directly aimed for 3d gaming and it worked out.

Many companies implemented it with "proper application" before than Nintendo, including the two I posted.

 

[Astray]

Nope
The first clickable analog stick was in Sega Saturn Controller

The Saturn didn't have analog sticks..

What an absolute clown.

 

[SuperC]

The Saturn didn't have analog sticks..

What an absolute clown.

Released in July 1996 with a clickable analog stick, the PS1 Dual Analog Controller was released in 1997

Do your research before you start talking shit

 

[LakeOf9]

• Dual analog
• Expanded optical media
• The Share button
• The DualSense in its entirety

 

[cartman414]

Erratum: Ps1, made gaming development easier and made console gaming more mainstream and popular not just for kids but also for adults whatever status in life. It was so popular that even in the tv series "Friends" Playstation was mentioned.

People call Wii the first system for normies, but that Friends part just proves PS1 was the first, lol.

 

[StueyDuck]

Is this one of those threads where every time someone mentions something, someone else mentions some obscure, barely recognisable, completely unknown, most likely didn't get out of RnD product made in some strange land as if to say Sony didn't pioneer anything in the gaming industry?