The new Playstation3 controller - motion sensitive

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 09:10AM #1

Well this was a surprise..

Basically a tweaked, wireless Dualshock 2 (no boomerang!) with gyroscopes for motion sensitivity - but no rumble. Detects motion on 6 axis.

Hands-on impressions:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/705/705934p1.html

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6149586.html

Hands-on impressions and video of Warhawk being demoed with the controller:

http://www.gamespot.com/e3/e3story.html?sid=6149597&pid=928383

monkeyfudge · 09-05-2006 09:14AM

Well I'm glad it's not the banana... but this design is around 10 years old at this stage... could they not have come up with something better?

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 09:17AM

They tried, people hated it - back to the old and familiar. It is tweaked a bit though - the analog sticks apparently have been improved and the shoulder buttons have been modified a little.

smokingman · 09-05-2006 09:21AM

Anyone notice that the cheaper version of the ps3 has no wi-fi, HDMI or memory stick/SD/compact flash support?

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509ae.pdf

oh and there's no more rumble in the controllers either - it interferes with the tilt sensors (didn't the game boy have a tilt sensor/rumble pack three or four years ago for a kirby game?)

Here's a hands-on... http://ps3.ign.com/articles/705/705934p1.html

Vegeta · 09-05-2006 09:23AM

why fix what aint broke, looking forward to it

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 09:24AM

smokingman wrote:

Anyone notice that the cheaper version of the ps3 has no wi-fi, HDMI or memory stick/SD/compact flash support?

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509ae.pdf

So wired controllers for the poor so yeah?

Wi-fi doesn't mean wireless controllers. As far as I know, wireless controllers are in both packages.

It's a bummer they cut the HDMI from the other version, but at least the HDD is standard.

Kinetic^ · 09-05-2006 09:25AM

smokingman wrote:

Anyone notice that the cheaper version of the ps3 has no wi-fi, HDMI or memory stick/SD/compact flash support?

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/060509ae.pdf

So wired controllers for the poor so yeah?

That's pretty ****, at least MS gave you the potential to have everything.

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 09:27AM

Keyser Soze 5 wrote:

That's pretty ****, at least MS gave you the potential to have everything.

Huh? You can get 'everything' for the higher price.

Ciaran500 · 09-05-2006 09:44AM

But you can't upgrade from the 20gb version after you buy it.

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 09:46AM

Ciaran500 wrote:

But you can't upgrade from the 20gb version after you buy it.

What makes you think you can't? They're removeable HDDs.

Ciaran500 · 09-05-2006 09:54AM

Well the wifi, card reader and HDMI slot is built in.

smokingman · 09-05-2006 09:56AM

LookingFor wrote:

What makes you think you can't? They're removeable HDDs.

You'll be able to upgrade the HDD alright but I think what Ciaran500 was talking about was the lack of HDMI, Wi-Fi and the memory card support which is lacking in the cheaper version.

Ciaran500 · 09-05-2006 10:00AM

Also why only 4 lights on the back of the controller? I thought it was 7

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 10:01AM

smokingman wrote:

You'll be able to upgrade the HDD alright but I think what Ciaran500 was talking about was the lack of HDMI, Wi-Fi and the memory card support which is lacking in the cheaper version.

I would say a wifi peripheral will be made available.

As for HDMI, you can't upgrade to that on 360 either.

As for memory cards..you have a HDD there now. But if you need to move data around, methinks it should be possible to transfer things to other devices via the network - for example a PSP memory stick over wifi, perhaps. Although I do think it's odd there's no memory stick support in the cheaper version.

smokingman · 09-05-2006 10:03AM

Ciaran500 wrote:

Also why only 4 lights on the back of the controller? I thought it was 7

Only four controller but the other three are going to be used for wireless headsets and other such devices for the 4 players.

I'm afraid it isn't a 7 player console.

Kinetic^ · 09-05-2006 10:03AM

Meh, still not impressed yet.

projectmayhem · 09-05-2006 11:34AM

smokingman wrote:

You'll be able to upgrade the HDD alright but I think what Ciaran500 was talking about was the lack of HDMI, Wi-Fi and the memory card support which is lacking in the cheaper version.

i'd say you'll be able to get extra plug-in type things in the future. but it's certainly worth the extra €100 to get the 60gb version

on the motion detection thing - what this really means is that microsoft is potentially being left behind. a few weeks ago peter moore said ps3 and nintendo aren't opening up for "innovation" (i know, he's a clown), but right now, xbox360 is the only console that's done nothing new.

live is a great service, but sony have it... for free! microsoft would want to have some killer announcement this year. halo3 wont make up for sony and nintendo's progress

Burning Eclipse · 09-05-2006 12:55PM

On the (revolutionary and completely new) control pad, there's a button between the start and select buttons that ps3.ign has dubbed the "guide" button... FFS, is there a single concept in this console that Sony didn't rip from Nintendo or Microsoft??

LookingFor · 09-05-2006 01:09PM

Yes, Burning Eclipse, there is

If it all works - and it seems to - then it's only a good thing. People shouldn't get precious about things that ultimately should make a product better, whomever it comes from. I mean, Wii was by Nintendo's own admission partially inspired by Sony's success with eyetoy.

Back on to the controller, apparently the analog sticks have been improved - they have technically more accuracy now, from 8-bit sensitivity to 10-bit. The sticks are also a little broader, apparently.

shortys94 · 09-05-2006 02:21PM

I like the way they protruded the L2 and R2 buttons out, maybe it will feel more satisfying and springy if you know what i mean as the nintendo gamecubes controllers shoulder buttons.....

I like the way sony have stuck to the old design, Im sure there will be an adaptor to use 360 controllers and if wanted wii controllers on PS3, and third parties may introduce some different designed controllers.....

What exactly is not included in lower priced PS3

Ciaran500 · 09-05-2006 02:24PM

HDMI, wireless and a card reader.

iregk · 09-05-2006 02:31PM

I thought Sony really could have come up with something better. I've never like the Sony Dual Shock and yes i know thats a matter of personal opinion but it has nothing on the xbox s controller for me anyway.

Its a tired old design thats now 10years old and I was really hoping for sony to move on from it.

steviec · 09-05-2006 03:44PM

Are the face buttons still analog? I was very very disappointed when they removed that from the 360. It's practically a prerequisite for Gran Turismo, though I suppose accelerate/brake functions are going to be moved onto the new triggers.

I think the motion sensing opens a lot of doors. In a FPS for example you retain your usual dual analog control, but could quickly flick the pad to target someone towards the edge of the screen rather than having to use the analog to look straight at them. While the Wii remote obviously suits point and shoot more naturally, I've already said I have reservations about how will it will work when you want to turn around, there's a lack of controls for switching weapons, issuing orders to team mates, using items, jumping, bringing up maps etc. etc. With the PS3 you have everything you always had and that bit extra.

The Warhawk developer pointed out you can now move the target around the screen instead of just where the ship is pointing, that wasn't possible when they just had two analogue sticks. This means things like driveby shootings in GTA might finally be useful as you have that extra dimension to play with. You can move one way, look another way, and point your gun a third direction and you couldn't do that before. And I'm not entirely sure you can do that on the Wii.

Then we have leaning into turns on a motorbike or in wipeout, no more messing around with shoulder buttons. Leaning around a corner in MGS could be far more natural than it has been in the past.

It's not something thats going to make developers completely rethink how they make games like the Wii. What it is is a subtle change that could really add a lot to some already great games.

Ciaran500 · 10-05-2006 08:49AM

steviec wrote:

While the Wii remote obviously suits point and shoot more naturally, I've already said I have reservations about how will it will work when you want to turn around, there's a lack of controls for switching weapons, issuing orders to team mates, using items, jumping, bringing up maps etc. etc. With the PS3 you have everything you always had and that bit extra.

The Wii controller has 6 buttons on it, 2 less than the 360/PS3 pad. With the motion sensor you can track some of those features to hand movement. e.g. In Red Steel you could twist the nunchaku to turn the handle of the doors or thrust it forward to kick it open.

Dermo · 10-05-2006 09:02AM

anybody else find it funny they're still calling it the dualshock when it doesn't have it's rumble anymore?

Burning Eclipse · 10-05-2006 11:59AM

This isn't fact but I could've sworn I read somewhere that Blu-ray disks are copy-protected so that if the output isn't through HDMI then the resolution is cut back to standard def rather than PS3's much touted 1080p.... where would this leave the lesser system in terms of movie playback?? Not positive, will do some more digging...

steviec · 10-05-2006 12:37PM

Ciaran500 wrote:

The Wii controller has 6 buttons on it, 2 less than the 360/PS3 pad. With the motion sensor you can track some of those features to hand movement. e.g. In Red Steel you could twist the nunchaku to turn the handle of the doors or thrust it forward to kick it open.

On the Wii, using the nunchuck configuration, you'll have one analogue stick, one trigger, two shoulder buttons and one face button at your disposal. There is also one d-pad and a couple more face buttons that look pretty awkward to get to holding the joypad vertically as you would be when using the attachment. This doesn't compare to two full clickable analog sticks, 4 face buttons, 2 shoulder buttons, 2 triggers and a d-pad all in easy reach at all times.

Nintendo have pretty much gone on record saying they've dumbed down the Wii controller to lure casual gamers. And while great games don't always need to have complicated control schemes, its always good for the developer to have options.

Oh and gesture recognition doesn't make up for buttons. Have you played Black & White? The novelty value is replaced by annoyance very fast.

Vegeta · 10-05-2006 12:46PM

Burning Eclipse wrote:

This isn't fact but I could've sworn I read somewhere that Blu-ray disks are copy-protected so that if the output isn't through HDMI then the resolution is cut back to standard def rather than PS3's much touted 1080p.... where would this leave the lesser system in terms of movie playback?? Not positive, will do some more digging...

What other video outs does the barebones PS3 have

Vegeta · 10-05-2006 12:53PM

component video (according to wikipedia) will display 1080p but not as well as the HDMI, so does the cheap PS3 have component video out. Cant see why sony with limit their format to only play on a HDMI connection, shooting themselves in the foot

Burning Eclipse · 10-05-2006 01:22PM

http://gear.ign.com/articles/691/691408p1.html

From that article it looks like you'll need HDMI or DVI. The press release just says multi AV out so they'd better include DVI in that otherwise BluRay films will be cut down to sub 720p resolution on the 20gb version. Won't have any effect on games as you said Vegeta but films have the copy encoding on them....

Vegeta · 10-05-2006 02:15PM

Burning Eclipse wrote:

http://gear.ign.com/articles/691/691408p1.html

From that article it looks like you'll need HDMI or DVI. The press release just says multi AV out so they'd better include DVI in that otherwise BluRay films will be cut down to sub 720p resolution on the 20gb version. Won't have any effect on games as you said Vegeta but films have the copy encoding on them....

oh the knob lords, well the whole copy protection thing isn't Sony's doing but for their own good they better put the ol DVI interface in there or else

The new Playstation3 controller - motion sensitive

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