Sony patent suggests PSP / PS2 control connectivity

Kotaku has spotted a US patent application filed by Sony in September 2005, which details the docking of a PS2 (or PS3) controller and PSP.

Ergonomics and practicality aside, such a set-up would finally resolve the ongoing issue of the handheld's lack of a second analogue nub (which is really only noticeable when playing certain types of game, granted), and would offer the ideal control method for most of the PSP's many PS2 ports.

But other than going against the fundamentals of the handheld � its portability � a unit such as this is highly unlikely to emerge, if only because of the logistics of incorporating its functionality into future PSP productions. After all, you can't just plug a DualShock joypad into a PSP and assume the second analogue stick would suddenly work � such things have obviously got to be coded into the game.

And even if they were, you'd then have to consider the risk of altering the dynamic and balance of said game, meaning you would have to effectively produce two versions of the same title. Which is clearly absurd on a number of levels.

That's not to say it couldn't happen � we don't obviously know everything Sony has planned for the future of its handheld � but we would say this is highly unlikely to be at the top of the company's 'to do' list. (More probable, it was an idea someone had early on in the PSP's life, the flaws or limitations of which have long since become apparent.)

At least as far as the gaming side of things is concerned, given that Sony had the opportunity to incorporate the control mechanics of the DualShock pad with the recent PSP redesign and decided otherwise. (On the other hand, we can see how the potential use of a Sixaxis controller in this context could have implications for PS3/PSP connectivity � but, again, it's difficult to imagine these to be directly related to PSP gaming.)

For now, then, it's simply a pleasant end-of-week diversion.