PS3 firmware 3.0 locking out knock-off controllers?
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 3rd 2009 6:07PM
posted September 3rd 2009 6:07PM
Well, here's a bit of a curious situation. As Joystiq reports, it wasn't long after the PS3 firmware 3.0 went live that the first reports of problems started cropping up, with one particularly nagging issue being that some controllers (specifically the CECHZC2H Ceramic White DualShock3) seemed to be locked out of the console once the update was installed. After hashing it out a bit on the official PlayStation3 forum, however, users apparently determined that the controllers in question were in fact knock-offs and not official Sony product, which raises some different but just as interesting questions. Namely, is Sony locking the knock-offs out on purpose, or is firmware 3.0 just too much for them to handle? For its part, Sony doesn't seem to be saying anything on the matter just yet, but we'll keep you posted.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
damn its THAT many fake controllers out there??
yo' momma is fake.
that was random as hell....
But true!
zing
Sony is Pulling an Apple.
It's for your own safety people, PS3 controllers have built it battery which might goes boom and burn your house if it was cheap battery.
It's not worth saving 10$ over getting the official controller, remember Sony batteries are the best when it comes to build quality (Hopefully people will get the joke or I'm going down)
@DR House:
Your joke was too heavy handed and you pointed out your own joke (even though nearly everybody who reads Engadget would have gotten it).
I'm not voting you down, but if you end up Low Ranked, that's likely why
Last I saw it was just controllers in general, no specific ones. It was doing the same to real and 3rd party.
that's one scary avatar.
I'm pissed off that the PS3 locks out PS2 /PS1 games.
Actually, all PS3s have over 99% PS1 compatibility.
Apparently you're not angry enough to actually try a PS1 game before bitching.
Sony never fail to amaze.. another SonyLOL
You have no clue of what's going on... just being a sheep, following the Sony-haters crowd. LOL.
That's not true.
Sony have made multiple public relation failures in the past few years which have caused common use of the word 'SonyLOL'.
You have no clue of the use of an elipsis. And you missed a good chance to correctly use a semicolon.
Laugh out aloud, right?
Er... wouldn't that be "LOA"?
That was kind of the idea :)
I tried to read what you said, but it was too straining on my eyes. I'm sure it was a valuable post though. Kudos to you.
I didn't want to spell it out for you but you are more clueless than first thought. If the cheap and fake DS3 controller, which was built not quite up to specification, fails after the firmware upgrade while other controllers don't, then why would it be Sony's fault?!
And by the way, attacking someone on the terms of grammar, punctuation or syntax usage is a clear indication the attacker already lost the argument over the main point. But that's not all: you've committed a "self-ownage" by misspelling "ellipsis" -- if you were to attack someone on the ground of punctuation mark misuse, you better make sure you don't commit any mistake yourself.
Huh... that's odd..
Sony milking money? LOL Try Micro$oft milking money making you pay extra for almost everything you will eventually have to buy for their console. Sony has included almost everything you need to get started (if not everything)
Controller with built-in rechargeable batteries? Check.
Controller Charging cable? Check.
Wi-Fi? Check.
Standard HDD? Check.
Blu-Ray? Check.
Free Online Multiplayer? Check.
Only thing I can think of, that they do not include is a mic... but the ability to use any bluetooth headset in itself is enough for me.
Can also browse the web, and plug in pretty much any USB keyboard and Mouse and be able to use it.
Microsoft is still a great company in my opinion, I just like my PS3 better. (Owns PS3, PSP, 360, DS, Wii, and a Gaming PC [proud vista owner] )
Huh?... That reply was meant for someone else XD
Why should sony allow fake controllers to be used with their machine. It's like like Apple not allowing Palm to sync Pre with iTunes. It's all about user experience. Sony can't guarantee that these third party controllers will be as good as their own ones. Well done Sony for looking after the consumers.
Because they paid for the controller and the PS3. If sony is going out of their way to lock their own customers out (probably to milk more money, typical sony) then something is wrong with them.
No. It's not Sony's job to lock out people who thought they bought genuine Sony product. If they KNEW they were buying Suny FunStation controllers for their PS3, yeah, lock 'em out. But these people thought they were buying products manufactured by Sony, which turned out not to be the case.
@Uwaga:
Sony milking money? LOL Try Micro$oft milking money making you pay extra for almost everything you will eventually have to buy for their console. Sony has included almost everything you need to get started (if not everything)
Controller with built-in rechargeable batteries? Check.
Controller Charging cable? Check.
Wi-Fi? Check.
Standard HDD? Check.
Blu-Ray? Check.
Free Online Multiplayer? Check.
Only thing I can think of, that they do not include is a mic... but the ability to use any bluetooth headset in itself is enough for me.
Can also browse the web, and plug in pretty much any USB keyboard and Mouse and be able to use it.
Microsoft is still a great company in my opinion, I just like my PS3 better. (Owns PS3, PSP, 360, DS, Wii, and a Gaming PC [proud vista owner] )
If Sony wants to knock off controllers that *claim* to be made by Sony but aren't that's ok with me. Clearly those controllers are illegal because they claim to be something they are not and could cause trouble for Sony and users. However knocking off any non Sony hardware that hasn't paid some kind of protection license money is a bit over the edge. Imagine if Dell, HP or Apple suddenly said you couldn't use your standard USB flash drive because that company didn't pay them off for permission. Pretty crappy thing to do. PS3 controllers are nothing but standard very basic USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices, maybe you think they invested in some kind of SSB (Sony Serial Bus)? If you use an open standard then you shouldn't be allowed to usurp that group derived standard by claiming that nobody else can use it on your hardware. If you use an open standard like USB you invite open development. Sony has shown they are quite friendly with open source software and invite people to use it.
Why are you being downvoted? Do people really not understand the issue with UNLICENSED product versus licensed 3rd party gear. Imagine you're a 3rd party hardware licensee that payed a premium to Sony and Sony allows some joker to do the same thing for free. WTF are you guys? Tards?
I don't see the big deal. This is like saying Microsoft should stop patching Windows if hackers manage to allow them to use the product for free. If you're gonna be buying fake goods, it's a price to pay isn't it? I'm not taking a moral stand here, it just doesn't make sense to me why a company is being thrashed simply because they're protecting their copyrighted products. (and it remains to be seen if they really deliberately are) Sony spends money into designing and patenting a product, someone rips them off, I think they have every right to screw them over.
THE GREAT WHITE HYPE
Ya, but you're a bit biased.
Perhaps they were taking a note from Apple and implementing a block on an "improper use of the Vendor ID number".
I see no legit reason that Sony should make their product work with knock-off peripherals--only peripherals that have been licensed should be supported.
I see no legit reason that Sony should make their product break previously working connections with knock-off peripherals other than to be a dick. Why do you think it's acceptable that they do this?
If you pay attention to the "how to identify" videos, the knockoffs have trouble syncing and such. To call them fully working before is a stretch.
I'm using a Hori PS3 controller, and I've had no problems.
No no, its knock-off controller that PRETEND to be Dual Shocks. The ones from Gamestop and Max are ok, since they dont PRETEND to Dual shocks.
This isn't true... I just got a new ps3 slim, and I have updated to the firmware 3.0. On a suggestion from one of my kids, I tried my Logitech PC Wireless controller (USB) and it worked instantly, and seamlessly with the PS3.
Pleasant surprise! I thought I was going to have to buy another controller!
Wisealma
knock-off does not means controllers not made by Sony, it means controllers nor made by Sony but looks and have all the branding of a real Sony controller. A controllers that says it built by ACME is not a knock-off
Imagine that. Licensed gear working as intended.
So why do they use standard Bluetooth (and pay royalties) then? I thought that was one great advantage over Microsoft's proprietary RF system.
3rd party controllers will work fine, it seems sony are blocking illegal clones of the sony dual-shock 3 controller :)
I object to this - not because I think Sony should be restricted from controlling what goes into their FW, but because they never disclosed "Will make your 3rd party controllers stop working" in the update notes. If you're going to block out certain HW in your FW, that's one thing. Lying about it so that people update without knowing that they'll lose their controllers? That's just wrong.
If they're unlicensed products, how is Sony supposed to keep track of their functionality? They can't test every unlicensed peripheral in existence prior to upgrading their hardware. This is why license agreements exist in the first place.
Buy official. Avoid Hassles.
In all fairness, nobody knows if this was intentional. It could have just been a side-effect of some other change to the software. You can't really expect them to test out knock-off controllers when testing the new console firmware.
Honestly it seems like everyone that is against this move is misunderstanding what is going on. Sony didn't block 3rd party controllers from working with the PS3. Like many people in the thread have told you, their third part controllers still work. However, when a FAKE dualshock is made and sold as an official Sony product, problems will come up. First of all, yes, Sony is losing money through loss of sales and royalties. Also, any problems with the fake dualshock, problems with the PS3 caused by the fake dualshock, or any other issues will be turn against Sony because the controller is using Sony's name.
This is a smart move on their part, and it makes a lot of sense. Sure, some consumers out there will be hurt by it, but they should have purchased a legitimate product in the first place.
Actually the FW agreement states that you can expect non licensed peripherals and pirated software to not work. Next!
What I don't get is why everybody keep saying Sony is blocking 3rd party controllers. If you actually HAVE a PS3 then you would know that PS3 allows you to plug in almost ANY USB controller that works on the PC.
The lock out is most likely because it's a knock off pretends to be an official Dual Shock and then PS3 tries to treat the controller as a dual shock it breaks because it's not fully compatible.
It's a SONY!
That's what she said.