PS3 GunCon 3 controller boasts Wiimote-like abilities

It looks like those itching to find out exactly how the just-announced GunCon 3 controller for the PlayStation 3 would work need wonder no more, as Japan's Game Watch website appears to have scored the details, although they've since disappeared from the site. Wired's Game Life managed to preserve the key bits, however, which reveal that the controller functions much like a Wiimote, relying on a pair of markers placed on top of the TV that are detected by a camera in the muzzle of the gun. The gun also packs a full range of traditional controls, including six buttons and two analog sticks, although we doubt many will be ditching their SIXAXIS for it. While there's still no official word on a North American release, the gun and Time Crisis 4 will apparently be released in Japan sometime before the end of the year.

[Via Joystiq]

[Brent @ Jun 14th 2007 7:01PM]

Does it come with burlap sleeves, or are those sold separately?

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 14th 2007 7:01PM]

Exactly! The wii is a peripheral not a platform...

[Mrdrinkinglysol @ Jun 14th 2007 7:05PM]

Is that a wire I see coming from the bottom of the gun? C'mon, this is 2007, there's no reason any controller shouldn't be wireless at this point.

[akfotysvn @ Jun 15th 2007 5:00PM]

Uh thats probably not a wire - it's probably a wrist strap - people are just to stupid to realize that they should throw the remote at the TV

[Jesse S @ Jun 14th 2007 7:05PM]

I hate to say it...But guns like this have been out since before the Wii was even announced. Lik-sang carried them.

[Maneki Neko @ Jun 14th 2007 7:12PM]

In response to Frankenstein Black saying, "The wii is a peripheral not a platform..."

There has pretty much never been a successful accessory for a console in the history of gaming. If you want enough users to have it to make it worth developer's time to code for it, you need to include it in the default install. People buy consoles so that they don't need to buy add-ons.

[Grey Acumen @ Jun 14th 2007 7:53PM]

Try telling that to DDR and Guitar Hero fans.

[chrisco2k3 @ Jun 17th 2007 9:25PM]

Guitar Hero comes with the guitar. So the people who are coding for the accessory are the ones selling it. That's why it is successful, for the game.

[Aaron @ Jun 14th 2007 7:44PM]

TIME CRISIS!! I have so many good memories of playing Time Crisis 2 and 3 in the arcades. I can't be alone on that, right?

[Big @ Jun 14th 2007 9:19PM]

I have two Guncons.
The first was for Playstation 1 - a replica of the ARCADE GUNCON with a full slap back slide (like a real gun)

I also have the Playstation 2 Guncon DESERT EAGLE with the full recoiling slide.

I have the pedal for both of them.

ALL new gun controllers should have recoiling slides like real guns. HOWEVER I don't believe they should be wireless cause you just KNOW some dumbass kid is gonna take it to school and show it off and get shot by a cop.

In Black neighborhoods the cops shoot people for holding: wallets, spoons, cellphones...anything. I'd hate to see them justify shooting someone over a replica gun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeOaTpYl8mE

[Adoniteking @ Jun 14th 2007 7:50PM]

ORANGE!!! why!...OH WHY! do they always have to use ugly colours..

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 14th 2007 10:55PM]

so when the kids take it to a friend's house the cop that pulls them over doesn't see it sitting in the passenger seat and freak out...

[Firebird @ Jun 14th 2007 8:07PM]

Guys. That isn't the controller in the picture. Just letting you know.

[Neptune5 @ Jun 14th 2007 8:09PM]

I've been dying for a gun to use for resistance, this better not be a joke.

[KC @ Jun 14th 2007 8:13PM]

Finally! I remember back when I bought a saturn just to play Virtua Cop!

[Darayz @ Jun 14th 2007 8:43PM]

Is that an xbox 360 in the background?

[chenry @ Jun 14th 2007 9:05PM]

That is definitely an xbox 360 in the background.

[torg001 @ Nov 30th 2007 10:32AM]

looks like Ace Combat 6 in the background

[tyecies @ Jun 14th 2007 9:05PM]

I'm pretty sure they're orange because of a requirement of any somewhat realistic appearing fake gun needing to be painted some bright color. A kid at my high school got expelled/arrested for painting a realistic cap gun black (it was orange) and using it to threaten people who had been bullying him. so as fugly as it is, at least no kids will take it outside and get shot by cops

[Adoniteking @ Jun 14th 2007 9:34PM]

makes sense..but of all the colours that one can get out of the colour wheel, i mean ORANGE! like how uncool do we have to look..to watch an adult prancing about with an orange gun.

[Roflgoat @ Jun 14th 2007 9:43PM]

HAI ITS SONY. U GOT US. WE wER TRYING TO COPY NINTENDO LOL.

/sarcasm
/joke

[Carmelo Lisciotto @ Jun 14th 2007 10:01PM]

I don't care for it myself.

Carmelo Lisciotto

[Asterra @ Jun 15th 2007 2:05AM]

If it's using cameras, then it's not going to be lagged the way the Wiimote is. And frankly, that was to be expected, because if there's one function that really makes it obvious how much lag the Wiimote exhibits, it's gun-like aiming. Sure, the target Wii demographic (mommies, daddies, Mikeys) doesn't generally notice lag, but anyone buying THIS game sure as heck would.

[freduk @ Jun 15th 2007 2:05AM]

Guys sony is not making any copy the light guns are not working with new gen tv's means lcd, plasma, etc they had to find a new way to make it work, and also time crisis 4 is not a sony game, ok that's for the haters. Now you guys saying is it a 360 on the background yes it is but it's not for 360 see the link. Guys I'm sorry to say but the Wii is a pretty machine with a great controller, but at this level it won't be enough for me the Wii is just for fun when friends are around. Anyway here's the link. Oh and is that a black gun on the pic? http://www.playstatic.com/news/545

[ovad2 @ Jun 15th 2007 12:25PM]

what're the chances of it being released in a lefty version?
Lefties Unite!!!!

[arcadefan @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:30AM]

Actually, this technology has been around since long before the Wii. The "LCD Top Gun" works exactly the same way. The big-screen arcade gun games have been doing this for about a decade now. Next time you see a big screen "House of the Dead 2" machine or even a newer game like "Ghost Squad", take a close look around the edges of the monitor. You'll see there are about a dozen infrared lights surrounding the screen. This is what the gun uses to determine its position.

There is a little bit of lag, and the aim is not as precise as traditional CRT-based light guns, but the advantage is that you can have a much bigger screen (including plasma, LCD, etc), and it doesn't have to flash every time you pull the trigger.

[Aram0110 @ Feb 24th 2008 8:32AM]

Hello there,

I have Time Crisis 4. It's great fun, concidering a arcade style game. I very much enjoy it, but I find it weird controlling a knife with a gun... ?!?!? What were they thinking at Bandai. I really hop there's more to come to use the gun for....