A patent filed by Sony today appears to suggest Sony are working on a Universal Game Controller. “A universal game console controller that has an LCD presenting, depending on what type of game console a user has input, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console,” says the patent.

We’ve seen keyboards for PCs that do a similar thing, but this is entirely LCD and thus the buttons available can change completely depending on what the game is.  The internet is currently wild with speculation on what this might be for, including some interesting ideas about the controller being used for Xbox 360 and Wii systems.

Here at TSA we like to think we’re a little more reserved, and whilst there’s currently nothing to suggest that you’ll be controlling the Master Chief with a Sony branded controller any time soon, there is mention of Xbox (and Nintendo) on the images in the patent, and there’s clear reference to X, Y, A, and B buttons in addition to the PlayStation ones.

The controller also appears to have a micro processor inside it, along with some storage.  Kinda looks a little bit like a PSP, but with the option to control other devices.  We’ve fired off an email to Sony in a fairly desperate attempt to garner more information but all we can say is that we’ll be watching this one very closely indeed.

Only thing that comes into my mind that can take advantage of this would be the new Ericsson phone/psp/new controller?? I'll cross my fingers.

here's some more info:

This is more interesting than I had originally thought. Sony filed a patent last year (it was only unearthed today or yesterday) describing a universal video game controller. You know how there’s universal remote controls (like this one I used), smart devices that can control a TV, cable box, DVD player, etc.? It’s the same principle here: a single device that’s about to function as a video game controller for all sorts of consoles.

A universal game console controller that has an LCD presenting, depending on what type of game console a user has input, a controller key layout for a first type of game console or a controller key layout for a second type of game console.

The picture does a pretty decent job of describing the controller. You’d have a “controller” in your hand, and on that controller would be a touch-sensitive LCD. Various controller layouts would be placed on the LCD. So, you’d have a GameCube button layout when in GameCube mode, a Dual Shock layout when in PS1 mode, and a DreamCast layout when in DreamCast mode.

Depending on how responsive the LCD is, and how comfortable the actual plastic is in your hands, it could be a nifty little thing.

But, why should Sony want to create such a controller? Is there really such a demand for universal video game controllers that it was worth it to Sony to A) come up with the idea in the first place, B) draw up schematics, and C) file all the paper work with the U.S. Patent Office? It’s not like all of that can be done in some guy’s lunch break.

Let’s say there’s not a demand. Why do I need a device that can emulate the “look and feel” (well, kinda) of an SNES controller?

PS3 Virtual Console!

Now, there’s zero proof to that effect, but it would certainly make sense in the “why bother with such a controller” department.

news - via Kotaku

That said, a PS3 Virtual Console would be legitimately neat, I think.

lol, its not even out, hell there is just the start of info about it..and your already talking about

"don't get it"?

o'l, well what the basic's about this is such:

well its a controller that you as the consumer can imput your own layout of  button control's

say if you want to play on your xbox360, jut switch to your pre programmed control layout for the controller to control your xbox360

this is a programmable remote that act's a any game controller controller!, not to mention it may be able to do that same function of say a layout control setup to control DVD player's, DVR's, video streaming topset boxes.etc/

well if you think of it as this pertain's to a lcd screen, that connect's to a controller itself , in other word's a hand crontroller say designed based on the xbox360 is only rumble function with trigger's, and a whole where this little LCD SCREEN CAN CONNECT TO. VIA MINI USB

that way, you could have . the consumer pick's up the physical crontroller he like's best but connect's this device to the controller.!

that way a true universal controller, but the consumer would still have to pick the physical form factor, just the main control programming layout is not done though this device to connect to any game system or CE topset box.

not just that, but think about it could even interface with any topset box that you own and allow you to control any of those devices, so instead of needing one controller for each device this would allow the say, Microsoft to make a base shell controller that has IR, and Bluetooth function in the shell controller , but allow this screen to make the conncetion to any of the other devices that you may have as a consumer.

yes but they are not inclusive of also for game controller's due to the fact their not designed like a standard game controller is.

this design would allow you to instead of using one of those type's you would have a game controller type physical controller with this lcd device that would allow you to control all your device's. its a somewhat nich design is mainly targeted toward gamer's but I could see how this would cut down on the number of control device's a gamer would need.

use that Microsoft game control shell to control. your

PS3 ,xvox360,tv, dvr etc..all from that same gamer centric controller.

lol, glad that I could help...

it can even emulalte SEGA controllers..that got me interested