Originally posted by: C3PX
"they're the only ones not willing to pay for the patent post-lawsuit (you know, the same one that both Microsoft and Nintendo paid for...)"
I had not heard about the whole lawsuit thing. Who owns the patent for the vibrating controller idea? The first I remember seeing it was when Nintendo released the rumblepack with Star Fox 64, then Sony started puting it in their dual shock controllers, then it seemed like it became pretty standard.
It was a third-party, I believe. If you scan the archives at IGN, you may be able to find a few articles on the lawsuit. I have a funny feeling that while Nintendo patented their own rumble devices, Sony ripped the Dual Shock device from a third party (Immersion Corporation) only to be sued years later. If I remember correctly, Microsoft went to this third party later and paid for use of the patent. Sony had to pay said third party a princely sum.
EDIT: Found an article, here it is...
Sony's struggle with Immersion dates back to 2002, when Immersion came after Sony and its DualShock vibration feedback system for controllers. Immersion also pursued Microsoft and its controllers, but Microsoft settled with the company and entered into a licensing agreement, leaving Sony to fend for itself. In September of 2004, Sony lost a jury trial and was ordered to pay US$82 million in damages for infringing on Immersion's patents. Half a year later in March of 2005, Sony lost an appeal and damages were revised to nearly $91 million.