DualShock 3 PS3 Controller Hands-on

Engadget Reports:

Sony just put out the DualShock 3 SIXAXIS controllers to test on the floor here at Tokyo Game Show. We'd pretend we're all stunned to see this atrocious "last-gen" feature somehow made it into Sony's super futuristic next-gen hardware that until today has had absolutely no need to enable games with haptic feedback, but it's not like there wasn't a clear path between Sony's settlement with Immersion straight up to the controller's launch today.

No word on the "touch sense" end of business, or exactly how much heavier it is than the regular old SIXAXIS, but it's certainly got a bit more heft. IT also put out a decent amount of rumble, but the thing was pretty straight forward and convention so far as we could tell, so unfortunately there just aren't any surprises for us to report back with.

[ATLRoAcH]

I wish we could of had the Dualshock 3 in time for uncharted.Oh well spring 08 looks great Dualshock,Home,and GTA4 of course.I hope GTA4 supports Dualshock.

[Rama26285]

eBay is your friend! With the controller coming out in Asia well before coming out in the rest of the world, eBay is going to be flooded with the new controller! They might be a tad over-priced due to the exclusivity - but is it worth getting it early?? I'd say so! Especially with the games coming out supporting it...

[nekon]

My thoughts exactly.. except without eBay. I hate importing things from eBay sellers. I say visit the big online retailers for piece of mind. I figure everyone is going to buy at least one, I know I am.

[barom]

ahh dang no new rumble technology. bummer

[Charlie2688]

calm down my friend nothing has been confirmed yet

this are still prototype controllers as confirmed by many websites a LOT could happen till next year :)

[CG]

Sony "Rumble is so last gen"!!!
Sony "We dont want to confuse the consumer with multiple squ's !!!"
Sony fanboys "we dont need/want rumble becuase sony said its last gen"

Sony and there fanboys lol what a bunch of f'cking hypocrits!!!

[crck]

Need I remind you of some of the things MS has said?

Our system has a 3% failure rate.
Our system has a failure rate within the industry norm.
There is no systematic flaw in the 360.
Ya' know things break... Its how we treat you afterwards.
Hdmi is not needed.
HD discs are an unproven format.
First party games will be $49.99.

I could go on and on. Guess what? Companies lie. Get over it.

[Bolts]

I actually agree with this Xbot. The rumble is pointless and unimpressive. Having my pad "rumble" doesn't add anything to the game's context. What we need is a control that doesn't use those crappy analog sticks for FPS games and some real force feedback.

This rumble DS 3 looks like a total ripoff.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Actually "rumble" is 2 gen's ago. 64 rumble pack, come on!

I think Sony should've just included this with the original controllers, and not made a big deal about it. Rumble is a bit gimmicky, but there's no reason for every control created from now on not to have it.

[LeShin]

Except, that they couldn't implement them in the controllers at first as everyone knows that they were in a lawsuit with Immersion, the guys who implement the rumble tech.

[Prismo_Fillusion]

Okay, I got owned.

First person ever on the website to admit to being wrong about something?

[WIIIS1]

Not according to Sony, that wasn't the reason why rumble was not implemented.

[Figboy]

for the love of god, we *KNOW the true reason for why Sony didn't include rumble (the Immersion litigation), but do you think it would have been good business for them to bring out their dirty laundry *EVERY TIME they were asked about it?

so they came up with some c*ck and bull about rumble being a "last gen" feature, and "not needed."

which, while false in a way, sounds much better than, "oh, well, we used the technology without permission, and are now being sued for it, and until the litigation is resolved, we can no longer implement it in our Playstation 3 console. don't you just want to buy our console *NOW! aren't we adorable, with our deceptive business practices!"

companies lie all the time. they spin the truth all the time. this is not a new practice. even us individuals spin the truth whenever it suits us. it's in our nature.

the way i see it is this; they couldn't use rumble before, now they can. *BUT, they could have easily continued to *NOT use rumble, even though the suit was settled (i mean, not using rumble would have saved them money, considering that they now have to pay a licensing fee to implement it into the controller), but, listening to consumer complaints, they are implementing rumble again. for the gamers.

but don't think that that doesn't, in some way, benefit Sony. after-all, they get to sell those interested in having rumble again brand new controls, which, despite the licensing costs they have to pay to Immersion, still makes them a profit on each controller sold.

it's a triple mutually-beneficial relationship:

Sony gets money from new Dual Shock 3's
Immersion gets money from new Dual Shock 3's
and the millions of gamers out there that wanted rumble get it, via the Dual Shock 3.

i'm failing to see the downside here, but then again, i don't care about rumble (i could take it or leave it. it tends to irritate my hands when the controller rumbles too much), so the Dual Shock 3's announcement doesn't affect me either way. unless a game uses rumble in such a way that it would be *IMPOSSIBLE to have the same game without rumble (imagine Wii Sports without the Wii Remote), i just don't see it's necessity in gaming. i've been using rumble since 1996, and it *STILL hasn't done anything more than shake uncomfortably when i get hit. Silent Hill has been the only game series that i feel makes rumble vital to the gameplay (as your health depletes, your heartbeat gets faster, a tactile warning that you need to use a health potion, since there is no HUD while you're playing), but even i've gotten through Silent Hill 2 on my PS3 without rumble.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

*clapping*

yes, you're the first...

[QuackPot]

* Millions of rumbleless controllers out there that need to unloaded(a stock runout).

* major AAA titles coming requiring a large console base for better sales.

* newer SKUs are benefiting from reduced production costs

=====> A MAJOR PRICE DROP IS COMING BEFORE XMAS/NEW YEAR BREAK.

BTW: Unlikely any price drops to be announced before the holidays - just packages and deals. And the rumble controllers might come earlier if the rumbleless run out faster.

[sandip787]

booo this had so better be touchsense, otherwise ive been defending next gen rumble for no reason.....

[ninja_united]

i´ll buy it

[s8anicslayer]

any thing's gotta feel better then that empty piece of plastic