The traditional gamepad remains the preferred method for playing video games because it works. Almost nothing that tried to dethrone the simple device came close. However, a patent application from Sony can turn things around, allowing you to use a simple household object like a controller. In the case of Sony, it seems that same I want you to use a banana. Just don’t let anyone eat your controller before a big game.
In a document identified by GamesIndustry.biz, Sony said that “it would be desirable if a user could use a cheap, simple, non-electronic device as a video game peripheral”.
Enter the banana. Or, if you prefer, two bananas. Or an orange. Or basically anything else that doesn’t have lights on.
Presumably, you would be able to use just about anything with this patent-pending system, since you would be moving the “non-luminous” object based on the poses you are doing with it. An image also shows the X and Triangle buttons mapped to different parts of the shell. In addition to the banana – or two bananas – Sony mentions objects like oranges, mugs or pens.
If bananas really are a viable option, assuming the technology is actually launched, it would not be the first time that someone would use the yellow fruit for video games. More than four years ago, Twitch streamer Rudeism played the smart monkey Winston in Overwatch with a variety of bananas attached to his gear. Potassium is a good conductor of electricity, making it surprisingly viable.
For years we have seen people use weird things like video game controllers, including Dance Dance Revolution pads for games that are certainly not designed for them. A company that officially supports him is another story.
Sony is familiar with game controllers. The new adaptive triggers in DualSense are very unique, offering different levels of resistance based on what you’re doing, and also used pressure sensitive buttons for more control inputs before. We are not sure it will work well, but we really want to play all games with bananas now.