Sony's 80GB PS3 to include SIXAXIS with rumble?

It's all coming so fast. No sooner does Sony fess up to August price cuts than we start hearing tell of a response from the 360 camp, and now it sounds like Sony has even more goodies for the PS3 faithful. First off is a Circuit City memo that got forwarded to us showing those price cuts indeed happening today. It'll get advertised next week, but if those shelf jockeys are doing their jobs, you should supposedly be able to walk into a Circuit City right this minute and walk out with a brand new 60GB PS3 for $499. To add further drama to the situation, people are taking clues from the 80GB PS3 box as proof of the inclusion of a "Rumblaxis" (fancy new word courtesy of PS3 Fanboy) controller being included with the new system that's set to launch in August. People are conjecturing the red light on the Home button is a clue to such rumble functionality, and eagle-eyed readers have also noted that the "Contents" section of the box has more text describing the SIXAXIS item than can be found on the 60GB box. To be honest, we're not spotting the difference, but feel free to make up your own mind with the links provided below. Check out the Circuit City memo after the break.

[Thanks, Vagrant Pistol]

Read - Red light Rumblaxis theory [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Read - Contents flap Rumblaxis theory [Thanks, Jeremy]
Read - Original box photos

---copied from source---

From: XXXX XXXX, Sales Development (XX XXXX)
Approved message.

Effective immediately (Today, Monday, July 9, 2007), a permanent $100 Price Break is in effect on the PlayStation 3 - resulting in a new low price of $499.99 on the SON 98000.

ACTIONS NEEDED:

1. The SON 98000 is currently advertised (at $599.99) with a free wireless controller (SON 98040), and due to the unexpected price drop you will need to manually adjust the price today on the SON 98000 to $450.00 and the 98040 (controller) to $49.99 for a total of $499.99. The PKG will be adjusted to ring correctly starting tomorrow Tuesday, July 10

[Jesse S @ Jul 9th 2007 2:29PM]

It looks like I may finally succumb to the console wars and pick up a 360 and PS3 later this summer.

[Big @ Jul 9th 2007 8:15PM]

Sony should have done what Microsoft did and invested in the company that patented force feedback rather than try and fight a legal battle in a time of anti-monopoly judgeships.

Its a shame the PS3 wasn't launched with a Rumbling Six Axis cause it makes no sense for the re-inclusion of dualshock to be big news.

Still, I don't care how big your hard drive is or what features the controller has - IF YOU DON'T HAVE SIGNATURE PS3- ONLY GAMES, its nothing more than a glorified Blu-Ray player.


Anyone remember the Philips 3D0?

[David @ Jul 10th 2007 8:21AM]

see black google http://blacklys.com/

[doshey @ Jul 9th 2007 2:30PM]

dam new unit comes out and now everyone think rumble is in the contraler

[riggs @ Jul 9th 2007 2:37PM]

boy i sure do want one of those spiffy new contralers everyone is talking about.

[Tim Goldsmith @ Jul 9th 2007 2:45PM]

holy dislexia batman.

i'm pretty sure the original ps3 controllers were shown with the PS button being a reddish-orange color, because i remember thinking to myself, back in the day when the ps3 was the new kid on the block, that the actual button is black whereas in the picture i had seen earlier (perhaps in an ad or in an instruction manual?) the button was red. or maybe i'm just losing it

[Tim Goldsmith @ Jul 9th 2007 2:53PM]

FTW

[Britboyj27 @ Jul 9th 2007 2:37PM]

Best Buy also dropped the price $100 today.

[360FANBOY @ Jul 9th 2007 2:49PM]

The deal has indeed gotten even sweeter!!!!. In addition to the price break, Circut City is giving away an additional controller for free!!!! and sony is still giving away the five free blU ray discs!! I.. MUST...BUY...NOW NOW NOW NOW

[Ranger_000 @ Jul 9th 2007 2:48PM]

The red light on the PS button doesn't mean anything, it isn't even a red light either. All of the marketing materials that Sony has provided since before the launch of the system, have the SIXAXIS with an orange-ish PS button.

[JP @ Jul 9th 2007 4:12PM]

Surprisingly, the red light is the PS3's "cool game gauge." Means it's almost on empty.

[Nikos @ Jul 9th 2007 2:50PM]

Sony advertises the SIXAXIS with the red led for a while now.
It’s nothing new...

Look here:

http://mivadika.com/forum/video-games/857-digital-life-2006-coverage-official-sony-flier-playstation-3-a.html

[NETMITO @ Jul 9th 2007 2:50PM]

Very complete the site*)

[I.P. Freely @ Jul 9th 2007 2:50PM]

Actually, the red button has been in all product shots of the Sixaxis since launch. Check Amazon or Gamestop and it's there... and has always been.

[Revels @ Jul 9th 2007 2:51PM]

New SKU also has a scratch n sniff blu ray logo. Minty!

[Cory @ Jul 9th 2007 3:00PM]

The "contents" theory is a bust. There's only one more item listed on the 80Gb box (they can be counted even if they can't be read) and that is just the disc for MotorStorm. Besides, why would there be more if they changed the controller? The "Rumbleaxis" controller would be listed INSTEAD of the SIXAXIS, not in addition to it.

[Pal @ Jul 9th 2007 3:02PM]

I was expecting gold trims on the 80GB version, but oh well. It's going to be a pain to see who has the bigger e-penis now.

In any case, Circuit City's product page for the 60GB PS3 also has a controller with a red Home button, so don't go crazy.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Sony-PlayStation-3-60GB/sem/rpsm/oid/166283/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

I also find it funny how the PS3 box is full of red instead of blue.

[Zeus the God @ Jul 9th 2007 4:23PM]

That would be the same as the PS2 version of the box that came bundled with GT3 (Gran Turismo 3). It was red instead of blue; the same reason this is red... Its a bundled package with MotorStorm, changing the color.

[Pal @ Jul 9th 2007 7:21PM]

It wasn't odd at all for the GT3 bundle, since color had less significance then. Now that we have Blue-Ray (blue) and HD-DVD (red) claiming primary colors as their own, there's some significance.

[Zeus the God @ Jul 9th 2007 10:25PM]

Well the colors aren't trying to point out features of the system, its supposed to make it stand out from all the rest to show that its a bundle... Blu-ray and HD-DVD don't have anything to do with it.

[Bennett @ Jul 9th 2007 3:01PM]

Xbox 360 controllers: green LEDs
Wii remotes: blue LEDs

Naturally Sony had to bust out the red LEDs for the PS3

[Jeff @ Jul 9th 2007 3:05PM]

we'll rumble in the controler would be the only reasion I would pick up the 80GB... I am one of the ones that has been waiting on the 60GB version to drop in price... Now I am all set to get it and I guess I will wait untill after E3 to get all the details...

[stephenbratz @ Jul 9th 2007 3:14PM]

"Now, rumble I think was the last generation feature; it's not the next-generation feature."

- Phil Harrison, Feb 26, 2007

[JeffNLA @ Jul 9th 2007 3:17PM]

One again Sony shows nothing but contempt for it's loyal customer base. Of course I am not one of them. Early adopters get the royal shaft - baahaahaa

[jon @ Jul 9th 2007 3:20PM]

I bought a 60gb ps3 at circuit city yesterday and got an extra controller for free. Then today I went in and got $105 price difference refunded. Total haul is $155 saved.

[Galley @ Jul 9th 2007 3:46PM]

Don't forget your five FREE Blu-ray discs.
http://www.bluraysavings.com/

[James @ Jul 9th 2007 4:20PM]

...which would be awesome, if any of those free movies weren't terrible.

Pass.

[Bob @ Jul 9th 2007 6:37PM]

Wow, can't even give some people free stuff without them bitching.

[Kevin @ Jul 9th 2007 3:25PM]

Anyone willing to speculate that the new 80gb will be lacking the Emotion Engine for PS2 games?

I'm betting my ass it won't be there.

[deepak @ Jul 9th 2007 3:33PM]

Video showing the new sixaxis controller...

http://www.ps3focus.nl/v3/videos/speler.php?id=188

[GamerGuyX @ Jul 9th 2007 3:37PM]

You idiots. That same image was used in a PS3 pamphlet that I got around launch time.

[archalien @ Jul 9th 2007 3:42PM]

The glowing PS button was a normal six axis shipped w/ early dev/test kits, I dont know why they droppped it....battery life possibly, but in my dev/test lab at EA we still have a few lying arounf that r in pretty bad shape cuz they're so old. So the glowing ps button really is/has no indication on rumble or not.

[kevin @ Jul 9th 2007 3:43PM]

It is becoming a bit INSULTING for Europe, just a tiny tiny bit.
Europe got the cut down version of the console without PS2 hardware.
Europe can keep dreaming about larger hard drive.
Europe can't have a SIXAXIS/free game deal (Not to mention the current deal buy a blu-ray drive get 5 movies).
But sure... Europe can pay more. Loads more.

[Paris K @ Jul 9th 2007 4:09PM]

SCEE will be making a major announcement regarding the PlayStation 3 this Thursday related to SCEA's price cut.

We'll be getting our price cut too. Lets just hope its a big one.

[Sy @ Jul 9th 2007 4:07PM]

80 GB HDD PS3 + Motorstorm + Rumble SIXAXIS = $599 makes a lot of sense.
60 GB HDD PS3 = $499

[Zeus the God @ Jul 9th 2007 4:16PM]

I may actually buy one of these, now. The 360 is more powerful, but MotorStorm is one game that I must have...

[Blah @ Sep 6th 2007 6:28PM]

The 360 is not more powerful!

[Mile @ Jul 9th 2007 4:16PM]

Come on Sony - add another $100 and let me make cell phone calls!

[Kevin @ Jul 9th 2007 4:26PM]

me want my HDMI cable included with my 80GB of space!!!!

[Siva @ Jul 9th 2007 6:25PM]

HDMI cable is $5 on monoprice.com. Quit whining. I would rather have a original 20GB PS3 for $399. That is what I bought back in Feb for $499.

[Adam Pflug @ Jul 9th 2007 4:35PM]

Like other people have said, the red LED has been on promotional materials since the beginning. I'd like to add though that the controllers that come with dev kits actually do have this LED (and always have), where as store-bought ps3s do not. Not sure why this is, but it doesn't really justify thinking there will be rumble in the controller (though the delay until august might).

[Ali Mo @ Jul 9th 2007 4:56PM]

THERE IS NO NEW SIXAXIS CONTROLLER!

Patrick Seybold, Sr. Manager, PR for Playstation USA has already debunked this on post 268 here:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/07/08/new-ps3-new-price-drop-more-news-coming/#comment-6679

Quote:

Just want to clarify for those wondering why the PS Button on the controller is red. That is what happens when you charge the [UPDATED-edit] “debug” controller. It is not a sign or indication of a new/different controller with the 80GB model.

Unquote.

[deepak @ Jul 9th 2007 5:36PM]

have a look at this video - u'll have second thoughts

http://www.ps3focus.nl/v3/videos/speler.php?id=188

[coldconfession13 @ Jul 9th 2007 5:18PM]

479(elite) + 200(hd dvd drive) + (wireless)99$= $798 (hell dont get the wireless still more hell dont get the hd dvd drive and get wireless still more)

PS3 = 499(includes wifi, blue ray and for a limited time 5 free blue ray movies)

I honestly dont know whats a better deal

[coldconfession13 @ Jul 9th 2007 5:18PM]

479(elite) + 200(hd dvd drive) + (wireless)99$= $798 (hell dont get the wireless still more hell dont get the hd dvd drive and get wireless still more)

PS3 = 499(includes wifi, blue ray and for a limited time 5 free blue ray movies)

I honestly dont know whats a better deal

[Jeff @ Jul 9th 2007 5:30PM]

WAIT!?!?! "adjust the price today on the SON 98000 to $450.00 and the 98040 (controller) to $49.99 for a total of $499.99." Does that mean one could possibly get a PS3 for 450$?

[elam110 @ Jul 9th 2007 6:20PM]

I picked up a PS3 from Circuit City at 1 today. Not only did I get it for 499, but they kept their free controller deal running, so I got a free controller along with the 5 free Blu-Ray movies! Awesome deal, it makes the PS3 SO worth it!

[CoRDCuTTeR @ Jul 9th 2007 6:48PM]

So you walked out with 5 free blu-ray movies or do you still have to send off for them... I just got a ps3 from Circuit City and got it for 499 with free controller but did not walk out with 5 blu-ray discs

[CoRDCuTTeR @ Jul 9th 2007 6:53PM]

Actually they gave me a raincheck on the controller because they didnt have any in stock...

[Pal @ Jul 9th 2007 7:26PM]

CoRDCuTTeR: http://www.bluraysavings.com