Dual Shock 3 ready to rumble at TGS?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 17, 2007 11:31 am PT

Source: A passel of Web reports, many of which trace back to a report on British site C&VG. What we heard: When Sony unveiled the Playstation 3's Sixaxis controller at E3 2006, it made much of the controller's ability to control in-game action through the tilt mechanism. Unfortunately, Lair, the...

Source: A passel of Web reports, many of which trace back to a report on British site C&VG.

What we heard: When Sony unveiled the Playstation 3's Sixaxis controller at E3 2006, it made much of the controller's ability to control in-game action through the tilt mechanism. Unfortunately, Lair, the first game to use Sixaxis controls exclusively, was roundly panned in the press, receiving a Metacritic score of 56. GameSpot's own reviewer found Factor 5's fantasy air combat title virtually unplayable and the Sixaxis motion-sensing technology unresponsive.

One tried-and-true technology the Sixaxis left behind was force feedback, which Sony abandoned in the face of a nasty lawsuit. The plaintiff was Immersion Corporation, which claimed that the PlayStation maker stole technology to give rumble functionality to the Dual Shock and Dual Shock 2 controllers. In 2004, Immersion won the suit, and was awarded over $90 million in a settlement the following spring.

Despite the hefty fine, this past March, Sony and Immersion patched things up, announcing they were "exploring" the possibilities of a new, rumble-enabled controller for the PS3. Subsequent unconfirmed reports have claimed rumble-enabled Sixaxises have been in developers' hands for several weeks, a claim Sony has consistently refused to comment upon.

Over the weekend, C&VG reported a "climax" of online rumors saying a new Dual Shock would be unveiled at Sony's Tokyo Game Show keynote on Thursday (Wednesday evening in the US). The site did not cite any hard sources, but was enough, along with other online articles, to spark a widespread firestorm of speculation...

The official story: ...which Sony brushed off with an increasingly familiar refrain. "It's our policy not to comment on rumors or speculation" was all a rep would say.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus that a rumble-enabled Dual Shock 3 is coming. GameSpot has learned from a source close to Sony that the company is definitely working on a force-feedback-equipped controller for release in the "coming months." However, as of press time, Sony higher-ups were still apparently debating whether or not to unveil the device at TGS--though a less appropriate venue doesn't spring to mind. It was also unclear if the Dual Shock 3 would have the Sixaxis' tilt-sensing technology, or whether the functionality had been abandoned altogether.

477 Comments

  • -Venomz-

    Posted May 15, 2008 11:26 pm PT

    whatever..

  • iggorr

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 8:27 pm PT

    Cant wait to get a ps3 and mgs4.
    I also heard that mgs4 will come out for the xbox 360... is that possible? Cause the way I know it mgs4 is a ps3 exclusive

  • iggorr

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 8:25 pm PT

    Cant wait to get a ps3 and mgs4.
    I also heard that mgs4 will come out for the xbox 360... is that possible? Cause the way I know it mgs4 is a ps3 exclusive

  • GOAT_DUDE

    Posted Feb 9, 2008 7:16 pm PT

    AWSM!

  • ereekthegreat

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 12:50 pm PT

    I hope they don't abandon the sixaxis feature. It's been quite fun, and adds more life to the gameplay of some games. I do however think they could have done a little better with it. The sensetivity sucks on the new controller. If they fixed taht, nothing could beat it.

  • cheez_munkee

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 6:18 am PT

    they should make an upgrade kit for the other controllers, that would be good, you'd save money and have ur rumble feature too

    hows that for having your cake and eating it?

  • zellwwf

    Posted Oct 10, 2007 10:04 am PT

    Who said the SixAxis and motion sensing isn't working properly? It's 100% fine! I've played and Finished Blazing Angels Only with Motion Sensetive Flight! IT IS AWESOME but a bit tricky at first!

  • Sparky2002

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 1:05 pm PT

    NECK MESSAGES HERE I COME WOOT I DONT NEED TO NAG THE MISS NOW

  • Sparky2002

    Posted Sep 25, 2007 1:02 pm PT

    I am very happy to get my neck messarger back my neck misses it daily treatments Anyone tryed that

    & i do miss the vib you get Played Darkness now that need rumblers to enhance the hole effect that you are there in the game...........

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    Yes! Dualshock 3 rules!

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 8:10 pm PT

    whoo hoo! Rumble!

  • shadyjam_nyc

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 4:15 pm PT

    I still feel a little cheated that i brought an expensive console with what i class as an unplayable controller feature (Sixaxis) and no rumble to find that an 'updated' version of the peripheral is in the works.

    I'll be damned if i'm going to spend another £30-60 on controllers when i've already brought a couple of what will soon be classed as outdated Sixaxis' just to get the rumble feature that should have been available at launch.

    I hope for a Microsoft style official trade-in/get money off upgrade to the new controllers. I've never brought in to being taken advantage of by companies in terms of upgrading to newer designs and miniscule, useless added features, and i'm not going to come quietly if this is simply the case with these new developments.

  • funnyman101

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:28 pm PT

    wow is bout time for Sony to bring bak the vibration into the game

  • crossdx

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 7:44 am PT

    Great news! I love the rumble feature and don't care at all about tilt-axis. Always thought that rumble should be the standard and anything else, including this tilty nonsense, should be the extra feature.

  • BlueyesCyclone

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:10 am PT

    Sony ant stupid, they wont droup the sixaxis when they have so meny plans for it. And Nintendo can make there 4 axis work can't remember how many axis it work with rumble so can Sony.

  • tramsit

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 8:23 pm PT

    Man you could pick up a 2nd hand PS2 for 10 bucks to play Shadow of the Colusses on?? Or arnt they converters for the ps2 cords so you can use them on ps3? Why you would want to play old games is beyond me.

  • Mistacoon

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:29 pm PT

    @RaiKageRyu - exactly my point

  • Mistacoon

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:28 pm PT

    1 of many more problems solved. way to go sony. i now understand your evil scheme, make people pay for crappy sixaxis controllers, then release rumble controllers 1 year later to make more money, genius! now stop ripping your customers off sony.

  • nightshadow53

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    Finally they bring back the vibration function back. That almost convinces me to buy a PS3, but not yet they still have to do more, like drop the price more. And get more exclusives that will be worth playing on the PS3.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 5:47 pm PT

    Can we exchange our controllers in -stores?

  • speed_demon_15

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    finally after 11 months of waitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • cobrahalo1

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:39 pm PT

    This is freakin alsome tilt and sixaxis time to bring more rumbling action!

  • Nite_Warrior

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:32 pm PT

    well i think sixaxis is pretty cool but dualshock 3 would be cool also but dam i just bought a 2nd sixaxis controller

  • Oozaru_Kakkarot

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:30 pm PT

    Wait wait guys listen!!!! Ive found out how to solve this rumble vs tilt debate...a button should switch in between tilt and rumble!!!....I mean its just a thought...well anyway I hope MGS4 will incorporate the rumble feature...Hopefully the controler comes out before mgs4 giving kojima time to stick it into the game...

  • none17256375947

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:30 pm PT

    I'd much rather see PS3 developers continue to improve on the SIXAXIS then drop it completely… Even if this means dropping rumble.

    Lair was a disappointment mainly because people cannot calm down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vV5m5N9Odo when using these motion sensors…
    I'll admit, it took me over 2 hours before I really got the controls down for Lair, but after that the game was just great.. (ps. FLoW was the first SIXAXIS game, not Lair…)

    But SIXAXIS + Rumble may be nice.

  • mad_tyger

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:07 pm PT

    This is going to be awesome! The DualSixAxisShock will rock!

  • mad_tyger

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:06 pm PT

    IGN just confirmed it http://ps3.ign.com/articles/821/821010p1.html

  • membernametaken

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 3:44 pm PT

    Tilt + Rumble = Heaven.

  • KDogKool

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 3:29 pm PT

    The PS3 didn't rumble?
    Wow. I've always known the 360 is better.

  • Ricksterlau

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 3:24 pm PT

    Personally I have all 3 next gen-consoles and I can honestly say that the sixaxis controller is a total flaw. Firstly, it doesnt interlock into your grip which makes it feel very awkward. Secondly the L2 and R2 shoulder buttons are convex rather than concave which makes your fingers slip of the buttons when fully pushed in. Lastly in this modern era, without the rumble the controller feels totally dead especially in its light-tacky shell casing. I just wander whether Sony has actually thought though the design of the controller. I mean to say that you consider motion-sensitive response is more important than rumble is a valid point. However is that feature going to be utilised to its maxiumum possbile effect? I very much doubt it. High-end gaming requires a high level of precision and the sixaxis' motion-sensitive feature will not provide that. Not in the next few years anyway. Com'on Sony, you can do better.

  • Rakuho

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 3:15 pm PT

    rumble may be greter than tilt, but tilt and rumble is better than anything out there

  • Gater29

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 3:13 pm PT

    While I find it great that now I can play PS3 games with force feedback, now I have to go buy several new controllers... Sony, ya coulda patched things up before I bought my PS3. (Or at least give a complimentary controller to everyone who bought a PS3 already, but as if that would ever happen...)

  • elmetfano

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 3:13 pm PT

    kewl rumble

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 2:43 pm PT

    Rumble is last gen, really. Why? They went from the batarang to this? Every single time Sony tries something on their own they fail.

  • xraystar

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 2:03 pm PT

    i loved the PS controller design -- but when i got the chance to play the PS3, i was dual "shocked" as to feeling how cheap the controllers felt. i swear to gawd, if i were to drop it on the carpet, it would have shattered.

  • X_CAPCOM_X

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 1:23 pm PT

    Rumble > Tilty

    I hope that whenever this controller is announced and released it has full backward compatibility with PS2 games since I've heard that certain third party rumble controllers for PS3 do not work with all games from previous systems. I still need to play Shadow of the Colusses and I don't want to play it without rumble and the only Sony system I own now is the PS3.

    -ryvvn

    If you think rumble is greater than motion sensing of any kind, then don't play your wii. This is to everyone.

  • GunGriffin

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 1:17 pm PT

    This is great news! now if the new 40gig PS3 model rumor becomes true and if they price it for like say $300.00 smackers I would be a happy gamer indeed! I would start saveing my cash and waiting on the day to buy a PS3! Also it would be great if Sony would announce some more killer games to come out!

  • MagicalEmu

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 12:13 pm PT

    "However, as of press time, Sony higher-ups were still apparently debating whether or not to unveil the device at TGS--though a less appropriate venue doesn't spring to mind."

    I think they meant to say a more appropriate venue doesn't spring to mind. Poor word choice is one thing, but saying the complete opposite of what you mean is not acceptable.

  • GreenC4T

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 11:51 am PT

    Kewl! Now I can buy a second controller.

  • XanderZane

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 9:06 am PT

    Sony execs love to flip-flop. First the "rumble" feature isn't needed and will cause the sixaxis not to function properly and now they are announcing a new Dual Shock with "rumble". lmao!! Fanboys praise Sony for not having rumble and now they are praising them again for bringing it back. That's so hilarious. All I want to know is when will this new Dual Shock 3 controller be a pack_in with the PS3 system? I'll wait for that to happen before getting a PS3.

  • Eclipse83Lives

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 8:52 am PT

    I kid, I just think the most obvious bashers. Are the ones who try and hide them as semi compliments. Those are the ones the'll go after first

  • Eclipse83Lives

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 8:50 am PT

    Does

    Finally some good PS3 news!

    Does that quote come in the Microsft fan bash PS3 list of to dos? with the checks in the mail, lol?

  • seangames

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:59 am PT

    Any chance that updates for already released games, which allow for rumble? I'd love to play MotorStorm with some nice rumble!

  • Thanos_of_MW

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:49 am PT

    Can I exchange my controller for a rumble capable one?

  • confucioussayyo

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:46 am PT

    VideoGameGuy- Talk about being late to the party....I love how Sony dismisses rumble like it was some sort of archaic technology and now they embrace it and love it. Meanwhile they screwed over all their loyal customers who now have to buy new controllers. Good job Sony. Good job.-

    Didn't it say that they were sued by those guys?

  • confucioussayyo

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:43 am PT

    I could care less for rumble or tilt. I don't want my bones being jarred and I certainly don't want to have to snap my controller forward or sideways to do something. That's why God invented analog sticks. But hey, rumble is nice sometimes, but other times it can be a pain.

  • alberto2045

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 6:17 am PT

    awsome man!!!

  • BajenVaNamnet

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:47 am PT

    I so hope that they will announce a controller with rumble.

  • Unkillable

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:33 am PT

    Bring back the rumble!

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