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The long awaited return of rumble to PS3 leaked while playing Burnout Paradise

The form of the PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS controller is relatively unchanged since its first introduction with the original PSone era with the DualShock. However, different with the SIXAXIS is the omission of rumble force feedback and the addition of motion control.

While several Playstation 3 games have made strong use of the motion sensing, gamers are still clamoring for the force feedback that they’ve grown accustomed to since console generations ago.

Those inside the videogame industry are prediction that rumble will make an eventual reappearance on the PlayStation 3 – with the Tokyo Game Show being the ideal place to announce it – Sony’s press conference won’t take place until Thursday morning.

According to a report from IGN, the return of rumble was inadvertently revealed at an EA Games press event. A demo from racing game Burnout Paradise was connected to a controller that appeared indistinguishable from the SIXAXIS, except for a sticker on the bottom labeled “RUMBLE.” The controller is also described as heavier than the standard SIXAXIS and provided feedback levels on par with the DualShock 2.

The reintroduction of rumble technology for the PlayStation 3 controller is a move expected following the news of Sony and Immersion settling a legal dispute that prevented vibration technology from launching with the console.

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Early adoptors
By daftrok on 9/19/2007 3:55:29 PM , Rating: 2
A firmware upgrade is easy enough if you want PS3 games to be rumbled enabled, but what about early adoptors? Will they get to trade in their controller for a rumble one at a small or no fee? Will the rumble controller come with a 10-15 foot USB cord rather than a 5 due to the fact that rumble drastically decreases battery life and the instances where charge and playing simultaneously will occur more often? Will the PS3s now come bundled with the rumble controller? These are dire questions that need to be answered and hopefully will end with a "Yes" and a "Yes no fee will be charged"




RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/19/2007 4:28:49 PM , Rating: 2
I don't think a firmware update will be necessary (I am not a programmer so I don't know that for sure, but I think it's more of a software level/game level change more than anything)..but if a firmware update is needed, what about users that aren't able to get online (as there are STILL several areas of the US, and other countries I am sure, without broadband)? Will it come with the controller, or will the rumble enabled games all ship with the update on disk?

I have a better question : Didn't Sony CLEARLY state that rumble WOULDN'T work with the Siaxis? (personally, like many people, I believe it was just a smoke screen to cover their rear end since the whole legal dispute with Immersion).

So what, will they NOT include the SIXAXIS functionality from now on since it "won't work with Sixaxis"?...you know, I'm pretty sure it works JUST fine..

(not to mention rumble isn't "next gen" according to Sony..I don't think I need to say how this makes them look..going on...)

So will this divide the PS3 game library into 2 distinct eras? Pre and Post Rumble? (I guess in theory Sony could have the devs make updates/patches for the current game lineup to include rumble, but that seems like a pretty big undertaking if you ask me..probably WAY more trouble than it's worth..and again the users without online would be in a position to not be able to download the updates/patches)

Not to mention, WHAT will happen with the at LEAST 4 MILLION+ rumble free controllers in consumers hands now? (the number is probably closer to 6 MILLION, but I will be nice here)...

Will they be discarded? I don't see them being worth anything once the new rumble controllers become the "standard" for the PS3..so trading them in may not be an option. The smart ones may trade them in early to get what they can out of them..but I don't see that being viable for the long term.

I DON'T see Sony offering a trade in program for the rumble free controllers however..do you KNOW how much they'd lose if ALL 4+ MILLION controllers were traded in and Sony had to eat the difference? It wouldn't be pretty. They lose enough on the PS3 as it is...

I don't see the cost being any higher personally though, at least not if Sony is smart.

A longer cord WOULD be needed I think since, as you stated, rumble greatly decreases battery life. No one wants to sit 5ft from their TV while their controller recharges.

Not to mention how does this make Sony look : "Rumble is Last Gen".."Rumble won't work with the Sixaxis".."Now FREE rumble with EVERY SIXAXIS Controller!!!"

..and I HAVE to comment on the articles statement of the "Strong use of the Sixaxis functionality by the devs" (not verbatim but that was the point stated)..last I checked Sixaxis is MOST of the PS3 games is at BEST mediocre..in some games it's downright terrible..

My two cents,
Kevin

legionosh@msn.com


RE: Early adoptors
By daftrok on 9/19/2007 4:59:53 PM , Rating: 5
Nice synopsis, but much too wordy. Sony said SIXAXIS wouldn't work with rumble but it does, just like Xbox 360 said 1080p is unnecessary but now they have it on there even though they said it wasn't possible and now HDMI, even though they said that it is was also not needed. All console makers have to stick their own foot in their mouth for the stupid things they say. That and I'm sure they'll have a recall program (they're so good at that) and let you trade it in, but if it costs something ridiculous like 20 bucks rather then 0-5 bucks there will be a consumer outcry.


RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/19/07, Rating: -1
RE: Early adoptors
By daftrok on 9/19/2007 7:04:31 PM , Rating: 1
How is it a loss if they ask for 10 bucks and the controller back? It seems like a break even (even a profit if they mass produce it correctly). They can easily open up the controllers they get and put rumble in it. Either way they better let us do a trade in for no cost or little cost. Frankly I think rumble is worth the extra 5 to 10 bucks. Don't assume that just because the controller costs 50 bucks to BUY it costs 50 bucks to MAKE.


RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/19/2007 8:06:23 PM , Rating: 1
If you had read my statement I CLEARLY stated that I assumed they were $25-$30 to make. I even opted for the low end $25 for my estimate. I'll even go $20 if that will make you feel better..

Maybe they can disassembled and retrofitted for rumble, I don't know. Maybe the current casing doesn't allow for the rumble mechanism to fit. I don't know that any more than you do. Even if the rumble mechanism DOES fit then you have to factor in what it cost them to retrofit the controllers. Labor is NEVER free.

They'd at least have to replace the control PCB in the controller, add the rumble mechanism, make any other necessary adjustments needed and then what..sell it as used?

Unless they totally take it apart and recondition everything to an "as new" condition, it would have to be sold as used.

They could melt down the casing if it doesn't fit. That is one option, but seeing as how the PCB would probably not work the rumble mechanism they would have to be retrofitted (if that's even possible) or more than likely scrapped.

So yes I see it as a loss for Sony. Logically you really can't look at it any other way.

Should Sony give current Sixaxis owners the option to trade in the old controllers? Sure they should, but they aren't obligated to, and I don't see them eating the cost in doing so..

Maybe my costs estimates were off, but I don't think I was too far off the mark.

In any case this will cost Sony if they opt for a trade in program for the consumer, and I don't think it will be cheap.

Kevin

legionosh@msn.com


RE: Early adoptors
By daftrok on 9/20/2007 12:47:58 AM , Rating: 1
Not used, recylced ;). Either way, I figured since they sold over 100 million PS2's, then they have made over 100 million rumble controllers, meaning the rumble will more than likely cost barely a dollar to make. Also the PS3 controller is exactly the same dimensions as the PS2 controller, and upon further dissection of the PS3 controller (kudos to IGN), there is clear room for the rumble. If they do let people do a trade-in, they will recycle the PS3 controllers in the sense that the casing will be melted and used in other applications. The motherboard will have to be tweeked to include rumble, and rumble will have to be fit inside the handles of the controller. If they can afford it, they'll input a longer lasting battery to compensate but I find that unlikely, so it'd be cheaper if they just get a 10-15 foot cord. If they give us a 5 foot there better be some damn good battery life on that thing.


RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/20/2007 1:48:25 AM , Rating: 2
I don't think the rumble motors themselves are expensive (then again the actual cost of the rumble motors themselves was never something we discussed)..but the labor involved would cost..

(and yes, recycled IS a better term..lol..).. ;-)

I didn't see the IGN controller dissection..if there is indeed room for the rumble (it seems obvious to assume their is, but you never can tell) then it may no as difficult as I made it out to be..

(although I still see it being a far than easy procedure/process. There would still be significant cost(s) involved on several levels, whether it be PCB replacement/modification, controller housing "recycling", ect, etc..I unfortunately see no cheap way out of this)

A longer lasting battery would be nice though, but doing so will only add to the cost of the controller (I don't think the rumble version will cost more though). Judging by the weight of my Sixaxis controllers the battery doesn't seem particularly hefty enough to support rumble for extended periods of time..

(perhaps long enough to beat a game..if it's Heavenly Sword..lol..I shouldn't tease)..

All kidding aside, I hope it turns out for the best. The last thing Sony wants to do is alienate (the "P.C." term for pi$$ off) part of their user base.

If Sony does offer a trade in program, then major kudos to them. The customers will (or at least they should) appreciate that. That's an expensive pill to swallow any way you look at it.

But if not, I can see some angry PS3 owners raising a fuss.

I guess we'll see what Sony does when the time comes.

Whatever the outcome, kudos for the discussion daftrok. I always welcome an intelligent conversation. :-)

Kevin

legionosh@msn.com


RE: Early adoptors
By daftrok on 9/20/2007 2:57:46 AM , Rating: 1
Damn you write alot...


RE: Early adoptors
By Funksultan on 9/20/2007 8:33:44 AM , Rating: 2
No joke. For the love of god, learn to communicate.

People come to Dailytech for concice news, and people's views on it. If you wanna start a diatribe on your every thought (including paragrpahs about WHY you're so damn long-winded), START A FREAKIN BLOG.


RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/20/2007 9:56:51 AM , Rating: 2
Learn to communicate?????

I think I communicate EXTREMELY well. I am VERY thorough and try to make sure I VERY clear on everything I write. No one EVER complains that they didn't understand EXACTLY what I was trying to say or that it didn't make sense, etc.

I don't see how I am failing to communicate at or on ANY level.

Was there ANYTHING, ANYWHERE in ANY of my posts that you weren't 150% clear on?....I thought not..

..and unlike a lot people in a LOT of forums I at least use paragraphs to make it easier for anyone reading my posts.

So I guess rank me down or whatever for being CLEAR and THOROUGH (never thought I'd be ragged on for being thorough and clear in my postings..go figure)

Maybe next time I'll be like these guys who make a comment and not explain a single thing in it..or the guys who can't use grammar or punctuation to save their life (mine isn't the best I know but I at least make the attempt)..

..you know, the ones who write 1200 words and not a single punctuation mark ANYWHERE..

..and you think "I" can't communicate...

Kevin

legionosh@msn.com


RE: Early adoptors
By daftrok on 9/20/2007 7:18:13 PM , Rating: 1
Let me abridge what you just said:

I am thorough and try to be clear so people understand and I know they do because no one ever asks to clarify. I don't want to be one of those people that don't explain anything or one of those people that write alot and use bad grammar, so SCREW YOU!

See, wasn't that quicker?


RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/20/2007 8:52:28 PM , Rating: 2
Quicker, yes. And it did basically say everything I just said.

I am not that rude however, so the whole "screw you" comment is not something I'd usually say.

You guys jumped on me for being thorough and clear, albeit a little long winded, bottom line.

As I was NEVER rude to anyone I was offended.

Kevin

legionosh@msn.com

P.S. go ahead and shorten this as well...I'm sure it's too long also.


RE: Early adoptors
By Locutus465 on 9/20/2007 12:48:09 AM , Rating: 2
I can think of a way for sony to justify not doing a recall... I personally (IRL) know of gamers (mostly women) who actually don't like rumble. Don't ask me why, I guess they find it distracting or something... Thus at least with the last gen x-box I was always sure to keep a supply of generic GameStop controllers (man. by madcatz) because they were the smallest wireless (or wired for that matter) x-box controllers you could find, and they didn't have rumble. If I was ever going to get the girls playing x-box, it would be with those controllers.

Actually makes me wish they had equivilent controllers for the 360... Though with the last gen controllers they tended to be a bit... err... twitchy... Not sure what it was with the original x-box, but it seemed like 3rd party controllers never *quite* worked right. I hope this time around the situation is better :P


RE: Early adoptors
By Legionosh on 9/20/2007 2:22:32 AM , Rating: 2
I don't think there are any grounds for Sony doing a recall period. Since there is nothing "wrong" with the controllers why would a recall be needed? They lack rumble, but it wasn't a feature originally touted when the PS3 was released. That's like doing a recall on an HDTV because the newer model has HDMI now. If a new feature is added to product X that doesn't make the old one defective. The same thing applies here.

I know some people are ok without the rumble (I sort of ride the fence on this. It would bother me less has Sony not tried to pull the wool over our eyes with the whole "rumble is last gen" and "rumble won't work with the sixaxis" statements). While I definitely won't reject the new controllers, I see no need to replace my current Sixaxis' anytime soon (at $50 a pop, that $100 I don't have to blow..and with the less than stellar PS3 lineup my PS3 currently serves as my PS2 and Blu-Ray player at the moment..sad but true)

In regards to third party controllers, with the exception of Logitech I steer as FAR from them as possible (and even then the new Logitech PS3 controllers lack some functionality). Third party controllers tend to either A) have shoddy controls, B) shoddy construction and C) last about 2 weeks..

I'd much rather pay more for a first party controller. They tend to be of MUCH higher quality ALL the way around. I've never gone wrong going first party (third party on the other hand...)

The mad catz micro controllers you mentioned actually weren't terrible (probably the best of the third party ones..at least on XBOX), but I still preferred the Microsoft S controller last gen..but to each his or her own.

Personally if someone prefers no rumble I am 150% ok with it. I like rumble and I am glad I have it on my 360..it does seem a little weird without it on the PS3 though.

(I have yet to see the Sixaxis feature be implemented very well though. I think the reason is because, unlike the Wii, the motion sensing functionality isn't the normal mode of operation for the Sixaxis controller..meaning that any motion sensing is tacked/added on to game X..which most of the time is going to feel tacked/added on.

Heck, even when the motion sensing functionality is at the CORE of the gameplay (LAIR) it can STILL be (pardon my french) craptastic. My friend said it was Horrible. Most of the reviews said the same thing. Morgan Webb (she's pretty) described the control of Lair on either ATOS or X-Play. While I don't normally use them for my review basis it was obvious how bad the control actually is. With this being done on National TV it didn't help Lairs already less than stellar outing.

While I think motion sensing is a cool feature, I don't know if it's accurate enough yet for every game genre out there.

I wouldn't dream of playing Forza 2 with a Wii level motion controller. I'd never finish a race (well I might finish...after being lapped 3-4 times). The same with something like Gears of War or Halo. Even Resistance:FoM is far too quick a game for a Wii level control scheme.

(I use Wii as the standard since it seems to have far better motion sensing ability than the Sixaxis, and it still isn't good enough for the games described above).

I didn't mean to ramble and I have to get some sleep..lol.

Just some food for thought.

Kevin

legionosh@msn.com


RE: Early adoptors
By Locutus465 on 9/20/2007 10:10:14 AM , Rating: 2
One major exception to what you write regarding 3rd party controllers.... Nintendo GameCube, I have yet to find a 3rd party controler for that platform that isn't every bit as good as the official nintendo ones. In fact, I never owned anything but 3rd party controllers for my GC (now used with Wii). The MadCatz/GameStop controllers *were* the bomb up until I had to replace the batteries the first time (at least with the first one I bought, black). I was loving the small size of it (missed rumble too), and everything. But then the batteries went on the blackone, I replaced them, and all of the sudden the right thumbstick didn't work anymore.

Perhaps I just got a bad one. I ended up getting a red one after that (still used the black for DOA) and I never had a problem with it (though I got rid of my x-box 1 before I had to change batteries).


I thought rumble was last gen?
By Phillycat on 9/19/2007 12:18:03 PM , Rating: 3
How will sony spin this?




RE: I thought rumble was last gen?
By shaw on 9/19/2007 12:38:07 PM , Rating: 5
<Sony> We have listend to the fans and we now offer rumble in our controllers! No other controller offer such a complete package of motion sensing movement and rumble so we feel people will not mind the extra cost in price.


By Locutus465 on 9/19/2007 1:12:05 PM , Rating: 2
"It's got PS3 on the lable so people will pay any price for it...." Opps.


RE: I thought rumble was last gen?
By mles1551 on 9/19/2007 2:27:49 PM , Rating: 2
Here's how Sony needs to spin it:

We decided not to waste time and energy on a useless completely frivilous controller and instead concentrate on developing quality PS3 games b/c 3rd party developers aren't going to.


RE: I thought rumble was last gen?
By 3kliksphilip on 9/19/2007 2:55:47 PM , Rating: 3
Motion Control! If only Nintendo could come up with some thing like this.


RE: I thought rumble was last gen?
By Locutus465 on 9/19/2007 3:05:20 PM , Rating: 2
lol, this is about the funniest thing I've read today! If I could still vote I'd vote you up!


By encryptkeeper on 9/20/2007 9:53:12 AM , Rating: 2
Don't worry I did. Seriously though, if rumble really IS back, Hideo Kojima will be happy. Just don't hold your breath for MGS4 for two more years.


Who cares?
By LordConrad on 9/19/2007 4:37:49 PM , Rating: 2
I never saw a use for the Rumble and always turned it off as I found it distracting and annoying. I was happy that the PS3 replaced the stupid rumble with motion sensitivity, which is actually useful. If you like rumble then this is good news for you, but I couldn't care less.




Rumble is back
By vadimur on 9/19/07, Rating: -1
RE: Rumble is back
By GoodBytes on 9/19/2007 12:27:54 PM , Rating: 2
[sarcasm]Why make it included... it should be a premium[/sarcasm]

Sony needs to get money back from the console, so why not make money on this premium controller.


RE: Rumble is back
By Bioniccrackmonk on 9/19/2007 12:29:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Yeeeii!!!!........I'm the 1st!


Would you like a cookie for your efforst? :)

quote:
PS3 offers backward compatibility for PSone & PS2 games, but not the rumble feature?! It's not next-generation, but it should already be there with next generation features.


100% agree with this, since the PS3 is backwards compatible and a lot of games from the previous generation have rumble features, well, it should be there. This means I get to buy new $50 controllers, yeah!!!


RE: Rumble is back
By ruibing on 9/19/2007 2:03:58 PM , Rating: 2
I will buy one of these controllers when it comes out. I hope they will release a firmware update for the PS3 that allows PS2 games to use it. And patch for current PS3 games like motorstorm to be able to use it as well.


RE: Rumble is back
By vadimur on 9/20/2007 3:30:38 AM , Rating: 2
And it's called dual shock 3!!


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