Sum-up of second quarter research results!

We did a reading and post-itting session to sum up learning from interviews, benchmarking, CEP and everything we've done this autumn/winter. The file is uploaded to Egnyte and includes a lot more information. We discovered some sixteen different themes that came up, but in the end the findings were fairly simple. The file is called Research sum-up (long version).rtf.

The most important lesson that we learned is that console gamers and PC gamers are two different groups of people:

PC

Younger

More free time

Gaming alone

Console

Older

More responsibilities

Less time

More money

No time to systematically practice gaming skills

Social gaming

Dream controller qualities - according to users

Fits perfectly to hand

Gives appropriate feedback

More advanced feedback than regular vibration (but haptic)

Opportunity to turn feedback off/on

Actions resemble real life actions (e.g. pulling the trigger)

Opportunity to control with movements (accelerometer based) in wanted (off/on option)

One piece that can be moved freely

Aiming as accurate as possible

No need to move hand/fingers a lot

Wanted: all kinds of controlling devices

I think we should try to find all possible kind of controllers! 

From airplane cockpit to washing machine to game controllers. 

We can find cool ideas if we look a little further. Ideas to basic controller have probably come from other devices.

Random Finds on the Internet

Good site describing the Belkin Nostromo - http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/game-controller,review-27075.html

Interesting PS3 controller used for fighting - http://ps3maven.com/twisted-ps3-controller/

iPhone has game controllers now! - http://www.iphone-tips-and-advice.com/iphone-game-controller.html

Interchangeable button clusters - http://www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/games/gaming-controls.php

PS3 First Person Shooter Controller (includes precision of mouse and finesse of joystick) - http://www.game-addicts.com/20070322/fragfx-game-controller-to-cater-for-ps3-gamers.html

Xbox Control Freek for improved precision in its controller - http://www.gamingblog.org/entry/fps-freek-kontrolfreeks-add-on-for-fps-maniacs/

The Novint Falcon! - http://www.thetechnologyblog.net/archives/novint-falcon-3d-gaming-mouse/video-games

Controllers with keyboard+mouse -like abilities

Some stuff from last week:

USB Wireless keyboard with touchpad (very liked in review!)
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/wireless-usb-keyboard-touchpad-is-more-than-the-sum-of-its-par/


Ridiculous Toshiba gaming thing!


Asus Eee Keyboard (built-in computer and iPhone-like touchscreen)


Sony Internet TV Remote (Ugly!)


Prodige NanoX (very very small with tiny touchpad)