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Wireless 360 controller tops battery life test
According to a feature from the folks at GamePro, Xbox 360 owners can expect more gaming bang for their battery-life buck. Multiple tests on the Xbox 360 wireless controller, SIXAXIS and Wii Remote were conducted to see which one would last the longest. Scraping the bottom of the battery-life barrel was the PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS which only held out for 18 hours and 41 minutes; mainly due to the lack of auto-off functionality. Second place went to the Nintendo Wii remote, doubling Sony's time at 36 hours and 43 minutes. Xbox 360's wireless remote topped the list at 56 hours and 56 minutes. While the article states that the Xbox 360 dashboard battery indicator isn't as accurate as the PS3 or Wii, a single-day charge and play session always lasted longer on Xbox 360. In case you were wondering, the irony that anything associated with the Xbox 360 won a reliability test was lost on no one. [Thanks, marklar. Via Ars Technica]
New Japanese PS3 targets Satin worshippers
Never one to cast judgment upon any potential customers, Sony has announced a new PlayStation 3 color aimed at Japanese kids in service of Satin. Packing a 40GB hard drive and a matching SIXAXIS wireless controller, the "Satin Silver" model is scheduled for release on March 6th at the price of ¥39,980, or approximately $666 $376. Those hoping to feel Satin's rumblings in their idle hands can also pick up a similarly colored Dual Shock 3, which releases on the same day for ¥5,500 ($52). If you were foolish enough to pledge your allegiance to that Ceramic White model, consider this your chance to repaint. %Gallery-15364%[Via Engadget]
"Wireless Vibrating Grip" promises to make SIXAXIS rumble, money disappear
We know that there's plenty of folks out there eager to get their hands on Sony's rumbling DualShock3 controller, but we're hoping there's not many desperate enough to consider something like this contraption in the interim. Apparently known only as the "Wireless Vibrating Grip," the device rather obstructively attaches to your controller and presumably makes it vibrate with no rhyme or reason whatsoever at your command. Apparently sensing that wasn't enough of a selling point, however, the manufacturer which seemingly does not want to be named has also seen fit to throw an FM radio into the mix, which surely must have Sony reconsidering their whole controller strategy right about now.[Via Tech Digest]
Revolutionary: GlovePIE v.30, The Great Equalizer
Every (other) Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. So you've tuned in to Revolutionary expecting to see the dramatic conclusion of the Controller Showdown. Well, as I was evaluating games to use in the matchup, I found myself revisiting old scripts I'd put aside, and building new scripts for games which wouldn't be fit to judge the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote and SIXAXIS. I realized that because of the recently updated build of GlovePIE, my passion for scripting has been re-ignited! You see, the latest version of GlovePIE supports the SIXAXIS, Xbox 360 control pad, and standard PC control pads, on top the already robust support for Wii Remotes and attachments. There's also a new function which allows you to easily write scripts for any and all of these controllers universally. So, before we commence with Round 2, let's take a look at the GlovePIE update that will figure heavily in the big battle.
Revolutionary: Controller Showdown, Round 1
Every (other) Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/nintendo/Revolutionary_Controller_Showdown_Round_1'; Nintendo has recently been accused by a former game developer of copying the idea for the Wii's central point of interest, but whether or not Nintendo took inspiration from this industrious engineer is not the topic of today's Revolutionary. There have been many motion-based game controllers to precede the Wiimote, but none have been so well-received that they can pull double duty as the gearworks of a money printing machine. For the Playstation 3, Sony took a page from Nintendo's playbook and ran with it, so we'll be putting the SIXAXIS through its paces to see how it measures up.
Nintendo, Sony sued for alleged patent infringement
A Pennsylvania company has filed suit against Nintendo and Sony for allegedly violating its patent held for a "hand held computer input apparatus and method." The Wiimote, Nunchuk, Sixaxis, and PS3 Blu-ray remote were all named in the lawsuit filed last month in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Copper Innovations Group claims that these devices infringe on its 1996 patent for a method of sorting devices connected to a system by number identification.Copper is after a cut of Wii's lucrative profits and PS3's (once there are some), seeking payment for damages, with interest, and legal fees. Copper is also calling for a permanent injunction that would prohibit Nintendo, Sony and 3rd-party manufacturers from further infringing on the patent.
Nyko introduces new PS3 controller charger
Nyko is releasing a second version of its PS3 controller charge station and it's the bomb. Actually, it looks more like a bomb detonator. The company says the Charge Base 2 has a faster recharge rate and comes with two light-weight Mini USB adaptors that attach to the controller and "allow for easy drop and charge functionality." The price of the unit is $30 and should be available now at retailers. So if you've got extra AC plugs about the place and just can't be bothered with plugging your Sixaxis into the PS3, here's another option.
Nyko rolls out Charge Base 2 for PS3
Nyko's already delivered one SIXAXIS charging station in the form of the original Charge Base, but those that don't need to charge four controllers simultaneously may do well to consider the company's just-announced Charge Base 2, which'll accommodate a pair of controllers and save you a few bucks. It's still not a perfect solution, however, as you'll have to attach a pair of adapters to the SIXAXIS's mini-USB ports before you drop 'em in, and try not to lose them when you take 'em off. But if you want to give your PS3 a rest and get rid of one less tangle of cables, you should be able to grab one of these next week for $30.
amazon.com to sell $20 SIXAXIS controllers [Update]
An anonymous, but reliable source informed us that amazon.com has some significant Black Friday deals coming up. The biggest item we saw on the list for PS3 owners: a $20 SIXAXIS controller. Yes, it won't rumble, but if you want multiplayer gaming over the next few months, this is your best bet.Dirt for PS3 will also be $30. Additional deals will be unveiled during the sale (and we'll update this post if anything worthwhile shows up). The sale will begin on Friday and last until Monday (if supplies are still available).[Update: Call of Duty 4 is also on sale for only $48.]
Sony DualShock 3 unboxing: ready to rumble?
While it wasn't as though our Tokyo bureau was blessed with PS3 firmware 2.0 way in advance of us poor saps in the States, they certainly were among the first in the world to snag the retail release of the most controversial next-gen controller, MIA since launch in late 2006 until now: Sony's DualShock 3. (In ceramic white, no less!) It's nothing you haven't already seen here on Engadget, but feel free to inspect the package porn in the gallery below, letting waves of envy wash over you as that ¥5,500 ($50 US) burns a hole in your pocket. But hey, no reason to get too worked up, after all what possible need could your next-gen PlayStation have for the hottest "last-gen" feature on the block?%Gallery-10105%
DualShock 3 supplies low; import cost high
Import retailers are warning non-Japanese consumers that the DualShock 3, Sony's contrition controller, will be in extremely limited supply when it goes on sale Nov. 11. Importers like Play Asia say they've already pre-sold their expected supply. Sony obviously doesn't like import retailers, but they should take it as a good sign that consumers are keen to import the new DualShock 3 controller before its spring release in the States and Europe early next year. Importers are allegedly charging about $80 USD (£40) for what will probably be $50 (assuming it's the same price as the Sixaxis when it comes across the ocean).But, but, but why would you want to import the DualShock 3 when the rumble won't work with many old games? Well, Resistance: Fall of Man is patched to accept rumble and we're expecting hoping that other games have rumble added onto them soon. We're not going to make any "rumble is last generation" cracks because we're just happy Sony is bringing back the rumble. You really don't know what you've got till it's gone.
Pelican intros Controller Charging Station for PlayStation 3
Nyko's SIXAXIS charging dock may serve the same purpose as Pelican's forthcoming device, but we'll give the sexy award to the latter. The Controller Charging Station for PlayStation 3 boasts a very unique, if not admirable design that holds two SIXAXIS controllers above ground and juices 'em up through the exposed mini USB plugs. Additionally, the base of the unit is home to two full sized USB ports (shown after the jump), so there's always the option of charging up four PS3 controllers at once should you choose. The price? $29.99 when it lands in just a few weeks.
We can't enjoy it at release, but Haze will have rumble
OK, so the video above is silly showing that an injection of the steroid/hallucinogen "Nectar" from the game Haze will cause the Sixaxis to rumble like it's the recently announced DualShock 3. But it is nice to know that Haze will ship with rumble in the coding -- even if we can't use it at launch.Looks like the Japanese, who will have the DualShock 3 this year, will be the only ones to enjoy rumble with their Haze at release. Everyone else on this little blue planet has to wait until early '08. Many of the games currently in development for the PS3 are being designed with rumble in mind and older PS3 games will supposedly receive patches. The guys at PS3 Fanboy tell us that if you really need to rumble with Haze you can always import a DualShock 3 from Japan and it should work fine. We'd prefer to wait for Sony to make some minimal-cost customer-friendly Sixaxis to DualShock 3 exchange program, but we're not holding our breath.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
It is a last gen feature; DualShock 3 same tech as DualShock 2
Remember when Sony's Phil Harrison called rumble a "last generation feature?" Well, can't call the man a liar because he was absolutely right! GameDaily BIZ confirmed with Sony today that the technology in the recently announced DualShock 3 is identical to that in the DualShock 2. So anybody expecting Immersion's next-gen rumble technology can just let those dreams pass into the ether.As for battery life, the DualShock 3 will last approximately 15 hours with the rumble feature on, and 30 hours (the same as the Sixaxis) with it off. As for the DualShock 3 replaces the Sixaxis, Sony Corporate Communications' Kimberly Otzman says, "Nothing has been decided yet, stay tuned." The natural assumption would be the DualShock 3 will replace the Sixaxis across the board by holiday '08, but don't expect any announcements like that until early next year.
TGS07: DualShock 3 unveiled, PS3 learns to shake, rattle and roll
At their Tokyo Game Show press conference today, Sony finally revealed how the PS3 got its groove back. Kaz Hirai announced that the DualShock 3 -- a Sixaxis controller with rumble -- will be out this November in Japan and Spring 2008 everywhere else. Future games, such as Metal Gear Solid 4, will incorporate rumble technology, while older titles can enable rumble through software updates. No price has been given, nor was there any discussion on whether the Sixaxis would be phased out.
Released PS3 titles may become rumble compatible
Following the not-so-surprising announcement of a rumble-ready PlayStation 3 controller, Sony sent out a press release to list all of the titles that are compatible with the new controller. The list features pretty much every title in the console's library except for flOw and Lair. Also mentioned in the press release is that "PS3 titles that are already in the market may become compatible with the rumble feature through software update." It sounds like a no-brainer, but we're hoping this means Sony will set the trend by updating all first-party games from Resistance to Heavenly Sword. For sake of being complete, we've alphabetized the list of compatible titles and posted it after the break.
Sony's DualShock 3 is finally official: PS3 gets rumble
Kaz Hirai has come to the Tokyo Game Show bearing good news indeed: Sony's finally putting out a SIXAXIS with rumble, the DualShock 3. The controller will look exactly like the SIXAXIS, and is going to be hitting Japan this November, and North America and Europe in spring 2008. A few games in development have the function already, including Metal Gear Solid 4, and existing games can be updated with rumble over the PlayStation Network. Of course, the beans were spilled by EA earlier today, and Kaz says Sony let developers know about the controller as soon as it was decided upon, which would explain all the other leaks over the year. What Sony has constantly described as a technical difficulty stemming from the motion sensitivity of the controller has apparently been overcome, but it's still hard not to pin it all on that Immersion lawsuit no matter how much spin Sony puts on things. There's no word on price for the DualShock 3.
EA leaks SIXAXIS with rumble at Tokyo Game Show?
If you're a publisher trying to keep mum about a "brand new" controller functionality from Sony, it might be best not to put those controllers into the hands of members of the press and set 'em a rumblin'. The big sticker on the back that says "RUMBLE" doesn't exactly help either. IGN spotted the new, much rumored version of the SIXAXIS while at a pre-Tokyo Game Show event, playing a demo of Burnout Paradise. IGN says the controller is notably heavier than the SIXAXIS, but otherwise looks identical, and the rumble was comparative to a PS2 controller. An announcement is expected tomorrow at Kaz Hirai's keynote.[Via Joystiq]
TGS07: Rumbling SIXAXIS accidentally revealed by EA
According to IGN, EA accidentally revealed the rumbling SIXAXIS to the press in its pre-TGS media briefing. The PS3 version of Burnout Paradise had a heftier feel to it: the controller was heavier and had a giant sticker that said "RUMBLE." With the cat out of the bag, IGN also added that "A formal announcement is expected tomorrow at Kaz Hirai's keynote address." Early word on Kaz's keynote suggests that other significant announcements will headline Sony's presentation.[Via PS3F]
TGS07: Behold, the return of Rumble ... unofficially?
It seems rumble is definitely making an appearance at the Tokyo Game Show. While playing the latest build of Burnout Paradise, IGN's staff noticed that the game was giving them some good vibrations -- through a controller. It was a PS3 controller that was a bit heavier than the SIXAXIS and had a funky "Rumble" sticker attached to it. It's believed to only be a prototype, as the rumble technology seemed fairly similar to the PS2 technology. With this bit of news, we expect the formal unveiling of the official, new, rumbling Sixaxis during Kaz Hirai's keynote speech tomorrow.
