Joystiq hands-on: new PS3 controller
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ May 9th 2006 at 4:15AM }
Immediately following the Sony keynote, we pushed and shoved our way to a quick and dirty session with the new PS3 controller. Warhawk was the only playable demo touting six-axis sensing functionality; so naturally, our destination was the setup featuring that game.
At first grip, the PS3 controller was light -- too light. It felt cheap, like one of those third party knockoffs. But obviously Sony has a different perception about the new weight. If indeed developers embrace the motion technology, then a lighter controller will be easier on the wrists.
Of course, our hands were all too familiar with the controller's curves, having held this same design since 1998 -- heck, it's virtually the same controller we've clutched since the PlayStation debuted in 1995. If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Wrong. Microsoft came correct this (next) generation. Sony has done nothing, in terms of physical design, to match that.
In practice, the sensing system felt tacked on, at least, tacked on to this Warhawk demo. The sensitivity certainly needed tweaking (it was overly sensitive), as did the response time. But those factors can be fixed -- and will be fixed. More awkward was our newfound thumb dilemma. Our thumbs didn't rest well on the analogue sticks and we found ourselves searching for a spot to put them. As seen here, they ended up in the air. (In other words, we are not flashing our 'two thumbs up' approval sign.)
Despite these negative reactions, we believe the sensing system, once adopted and tuned by developers, has the potential to attract consumers. There's a natural inclination, especially with first time gamers, to twist a controller in an effort to manipulate on-screen action. And of course, the added functionality is a perfect fit for flight-based games or racing titles, but how will it enhance other genres? How will it innovate?
Still, bigger issues loom. We can't help but feel this was a last ditch effort to thwart Nintendo's Wii premiere. And in that vein, Sony's added technology felt rushed. Here's to hoping we haven't seen the absolute final design of the new PlayStation 3 controller ... however farfetched that hope may be.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Joe Smith @ May 9th 2006 4:22AM
Total gimmick. This sort of control is always going to be sloppy and imprecise compared to a joystick or button. People do not move in precise ways - but want crisp precision in control. A good designer might come up with some interesting things to do with this, but overall, it will remain a gimmick.
Ray Hargreaves @ May 9th 2006 4:23AM
Please fix what is broken.
FU22Y @ May 9th 2006 4:26AM
Is this "sensing functionality" anything like Microsofts incredible Freestyle Pro of 16 years ago?
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004Z729.01-ASRTEOJPJWOEH._SCLZZZZZZZ_V53443854_.jpg
justchris @ May 9th 2006 4:27AM
Somehow I think tomorrow Nintendo will be saying 'Thank You' to Sony for proving that their controller design is a good idea. It seems to me a controller held in one hand is going to handle the motion sensing better than one held in two hands. And the Wii gives you motion sensing with two hands, EXCEPT they don't have to go in the same direction, or move at the same time.
I'm glad they're moving ahead with a next generation control scheme, but I wonder if it'll pan out with the controller shape.
SynikaL @ May 9th 2006 4:28AM
My biggest beef with Sony's "unvieling" of this "new" yet perpetual controller design is the sad fact that they still fail to realize how clumsy the fragmented D-pad is, and how flawed their side-by-side dual analog setup is.
I don't care about half-assed, pie-in-the-sky tilt function technology gimmicks that will more than likely be forgotten and underused by developers and gameplayers alike by the end of the console's lifespan (kinda like the PS2's analog buttons). Give me a damn controller that doesn't feel like 1995 in my hands.
-Syn
Yshaana @ May 9th 2006 4:30AM
Well THAT comes as a surprise for a company that only innovates by looking at it's competitor's patents...
Anyway, the only thing this console has for itself is it's great licences (FF XIII, Metal Gear Solid 4, and possibly GT4 (although I was really not impressed by the demo...)
As usual wait and see, but from my perspective, the PS3 will be a blue ray movie player with gaming capabilities, not the other way round...
Crias @ May 9th 2006 4:31AM
In response to Joe Smith, how exactly is a joystick (analog stick) precise? Precision, IMO, comes alot more from mouse systems as players learn to use them than from an analog stick.
Not only does movement allow more precision, but it allows more control variables. You move from the simple analog stick to movement in six planes... meaning a higher level of control.
Unfortuantely for Sony... Nintendo beat them to it, and everyone views Sony as an idea-thief at this point. The incomplete control functionality of Sony's controller just further "proves" this. If Nintendo's controller is easier to use (which people say it is, since it's already been tested by gamers when it was announced), Nintendo is going to take Sony to the bank on this one.
Amos @ May 9th 2006 4:31AM
What's up with these controllers getting lighter and lighter? I was actually dissapointed in the weight of the 360 pad...I liked it when my controller felt like it was made from a solid, 1st-party company, not when it feels like I could toss it up in the air and it wouldn't come down.
As for the tilt sensititivity whatever the hell...wow, I couldn't care any less about anything else on the face of this Earth, I think, and I believe most consumers will most likely feel the same. This has been done so many times to shame with PC pads. Sure, sometimes you wanna tilt your controller for movement, but would you honestly like to sit in your living room and have to do that with all your games or just use the fricking buttons. On a standard pad like this = poop.
MooNKnighT @ May 9th 2006 4:35AM
Why are there only 4 LED's? I thought the PS3 had support for 5 wireless controllers.
Tao68 @ May 9th 2006 4:35AM
"sarcasm/on"
A gimmick? No, of course not, Sony are the ones who innovate, and that incredible controller has been in working process for ages, it's the achievement of Sony's wholy game vision... no, Nintendo are the ones who release lame gimmicks, and give the indusry a bad name with a crappy technology... Sony's the leader in control innovation and game designs, ladies and gentlemen...
"sarcasm/off"
8 hours to go, forget about PS3...
scoot @ May 9th 2006 4:50AM
I loved the way the Warhawk producer could barely land the hawk at the end of his e3 demo, that just about sums this up how useful this gimmick is gonna be.
Joe A. @ May 9th 2006 4:51AM
i thought the ps3 supported up to 7 players?
only 4 LED lights on the controller from its pics.
4-d = 1999 idea from Logitech/Microsoft joypad for PC
Talk about gimmick.
Oh btw, there's plenty about the online menus and such, but what about online GAMEPLAY? It is a video game console after all...
crux @ May 9th 2006 4:51AM
Seriously. I really don't see the big deal. Aside from monkey ball and some racing games, there is so little scope for this setup. Sony don't get it. The Wii controller is like it is, not just to enable the control experience to be enhanced, but also because it isn't such a frightening concept for non gamers. No non gamer is going to be swayed by tilt functionality in the ps3 controller because at heart it still looks and functions like a ps3 controller.
Add to this the fact that you sipmly can't port Wii titles to the ps3 because of the lack of control, and a lack of force feedback and it is pretty dire. Jout think about how you would control a starwars game on Wii, one hand for movement, the other for your lightsabre/force powers. Because both are assigned to separate hands, it works. You simply cant do this with the ps3 pad. Which all begs the question, what is the point in this? Sure Sony may be able to say they have some movement functionality and throw around some buzzwords, but the ps2 had an online system, and no amount of buzzwords by them swayed the mass opinion that Live destroys it in every way. I see the same happening to the ps3 controller. They have effectively just upped the Wii's release list. I'm sure Nintendo expected this, it is after all a recognised outcome of blue ocean strategy. The thing is, how much could this damage Sony's reputation? We all know their questionable DRM obsession, their ps2 Toy Story fibs and ps3 pre rendered shenanigins, but now many will see ripping off of competitors ideas as being another reason not to buy a sony product. Just look at the deafening silence when they showed its functinoality to the press.
Magenta steam @ May 9th 2006 4:52AM
Great post Tao68.
I hate you $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ony you are the worlds biggest fags I can't think of a worse point in the history of mankind. Holocaust included!
Oh and don't give me any shit like $$$ony didn't steal that gyroscopic controller off nintendo they stole off logitech and Microsoft. Why cause if Nintendo didn't make there controller $$$ony would have stayed with Boronmerang controller.
Also lest anyone don't know Ninty owns loads and loads of shares in the company that invented gyroscopic technology. So I ee a lawsuit in $$$ony$$$ near future.
SLy @ May 9th 2006 4:54AM
"We kept this a sceret for a long time"
"We're not about gimmicks"
"Our innovative controller"
Just three of Sonys finest moments.
SAR @ May 9th 2006 5:04AM
could someone please explain to me how this controller has SIX axis of motion? so far from the demo descriptions I have only counted 2: pitch and roll.
clee @ May 9th 2006 5:14AM
It feels rushed because it is rushed. As i pointed out in an earlier posting: Jeff Gurstmann (think that's his surname) pointed out on the Gamespot video blog that the Warhawk demo's new control scheme was very hurriedly implemented, at the last minute (he talked to the Warhawk developers and they said they were up all night implementing it). Control schemes like this need to be a standardised, and if that demo was originally meant to run on the standard analogue stick control scheme, and then was rushed with the new gyroscope control scheme for this E3 presentation, then it is obvious that this is a reactionary move by Sony, with the move to implement this feature in their new Dual Shock controller obviously a reply to the Wiimote.
scoot @ May 9th 2006 5:19AM
#16- According to IGN the controller has 3 degrees of acceleration, and then roll, pitch and yaw.
Wild Homes @ May 9th 2006 5:21AM
yes, I'm interested in the whole seven or four support issue, also. it definitely would appear that with only four indicators that the PS3 is missing a few features that Sony has been promising.
Paul Cosgrove @ May 9th 2006 5:27AM
Re: SAR #16
I assumed they might be talking about the four axes on the analogue sticks as well.
On the subject of the controller itself, it all just feels like a gimmick tacked-on because Nintendo did it and they thought it might help sell some systems.
If Sony had come up with tilt sensors first, Nintendo's Wiimote would still get a lot more points in my book because it redefines the control input entirely, whereas Sony's just slapped another confused piece of tech onto their same, tired controller.
It sounds like an ill-advised move, too; if they had to remove the rumble feature because it interfered with the tilt-sensor (possibly an attempt to save face after the whole patent misfortune) I'd worry that it's far, far too sensitive to movement - which in the long run would give you less control, not more. You need some slack built into a system like that, or else every tiny movement gets trasferred - and nobody ever holds their hands completely still when they're playing a game.
bbalonis @ May 9th 2006 5:32AM
>>>#16- According to IGN the controller has 3 degrees of acceleration, and then roll, pitch and yaw.
i guess that means they have a 3 axis accelerometer and a 3 axis gyroscope... it is possible to get lateral motion from accelerometers, but with the sensitivity of todays accelerometers the lateral motion wont be good xyz motion. the way to get xyz motion from an accelerometer is to integrate (calculus) the acceleration to produce motion.. but since the accelerometers currently are not very accurate to much error will result from the intergration process. So, i think the x/y/z motion that they refer to will not be ly wiimote, but rather it will sense "jerks" in x/y/z but not true smooth motion. we'll see.
j @ May 9th 2006 5:34AM
I still am laughing at how stupid that dude looked swinging around the controller with two hands. He just looked funny as hell. They probably threw that together in a few hours before the conference in a last ditch effort. I don't really see this as stealing any of nintendo's steam. They probably have fully functional Wii Zelda ready to roll. If they play their cards right then they are gonna steal E3. The real problem for sony is trying to sell all their media as well as pay off the technology that will be used in the PS3. If the PS3 does well then they have nothing to worry about but if the sales are not good then they are gonna take a huge hit. I'm routing for the underdog. It would be nice to see nintendo hand them their ass just once. With yesterdays press conference they sure have the opportunity.
Andrew @ May 9th 2006 5:37AM
I do find it incredibly odd that after 10 years of the same exact controller, and finally some "standard" controller compeition (Xbox S and now 360 controller) Sony just seems to keep it's fingers in it's ears.
James @ May 9th 2006 5:38AM
It is lighter because of the missing vibration motors. Without the vibration function, all the games from PS2 that uses it (GT4, Tekken5, etc.) would feel like shit on a PS3.
Simple Person @ May 9th 2006 5:40AM
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Bad move from Sony, Developers will be making games for Wii more focused on the new controller because thats Wii appeal, but PS3 and xbox360 have the graphics appeal, so they will be mainly focused on graphics.
Besides when they port a game to both the PS3 and X360 they probably wont use the motion function because the X360 dont have that functionality. ( by making the Ps3 version using the function would kill their own work with the X360 port ).
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j @ May 9th 2006 5:45AM
I just noticed that nintendos press conference will be two hours long (seeing that it says cont. on gamespots watch it live section). I wonder if it will really last for two hours. That may mean that they are gonna dump alot of info!!!
Dave Johns @ May 9th 2006 5:55AM
History repeats itself. Playstation one came out with a standard controller, but after seeing what Nintendo did for the N64, Dualshock was born, ripping off both the analog control and rumble features from the Nintendo. Ten years later, and Sony is at it again.
In the end it's only natural that if someone has a good idea, you'd want to do the same thing. But here's the deal : don't call what the other guy does a gimmick, steal it and then turn around and call it innovation just because you're using it!
soco @ May 9th 2006 6:04AM
i've always said that this was the way to do the sensors. if you've ever watched little kids play games, they'll move the controller when pressing the buttons. this way you get to keep the complexity with the additional buttons. the only thing i could've asked for was they moved the analog joysticks to be like the xbox / gamecube, such that they're the primary ones.
personally i prefer the tiny little innovation of the 360s controller where the lights are on the face of the controller and show you which quadrant you're gonna be playing in. that was the stupidestly simple idea, that solves one of the most common asked questions when you get a group of people together. no longer have to waste a few seconds figuring it out. sony should've borrowed this idea as well.
one thing though, is the playstation 'button' in the center actually a button? is it supposed to work like the 360s ?
Alberto Einsteinio @ May 9th 2006 6:13AM
---------------------------------
"If it wasnt broken before, it surely is now..."
-Albert Einstein.
(ok,ok, so he didnt say that, but how could he, being dead, so I said for him using his name.)
------------------------------------
ModiusX11 @ May 9th 2006 6:21AM
It's all well and good, people ripping into each other about this controller and that function. I think the X360 pad is spot on, the right size, weight and shape, but one thing no-one has mentioned yet is does the PS3 pad have triggers, it looks like it does from the image, but I for one can't stand the idea of another PS2 / PS3 driving game with button control as opposed the the sensitivity and precision offered with the 'new fangled' trigger system.
Just my .02
neale @ May 9th 2006 6:22AM
what i dont get is the sticks. they still havent changed the shape of the top. iam so sick and tired of playing pro evo at friends houses on ps2s and my fingers constantly sliding off the sticks. ill be running down the wing and i can slowly feel my finger slippin off every single time.
whats weird is all my friends still use the dpad, yet when they play my 360 and GC they always use the analogue sticks. sony needs to swap that shit around.
no analogue triggers! how can u claim gt(insert number here) to be the greatest racing sim ever when youve got the choice of full acceleration, no acceleration, full brakes or no brakes. WE NEED ANALOGUE
TaiZ @ May 9th 2006 6:22AM
I've always felt like I would break a DualShock 2 if I was to squeeze the controller too hard, so I guess if I play a PS3 I'll have to hold it even more carefully. Will the DualShock 2 or 1 be compatable with the PS3 though? I love the wieght of the original, not too heavy, not to light (to me anyway).
soco @ May 9th 2006 6:28AM
how do the L2&R2 triggers feel? they don't look very trigger like to me, but i've read they act like triggers. clue us in please!
Grail @ May 9th 2006 6:37AM
Then is this a list of some of the gimmicky things that Sony is supporting?
1) Eye toy (and eye toy card demo I have to buy cards to play a video game?!?!)
2) GPS
3) Motion sensing controller (I'd rather have dualshock)
4) Original Playstation catalog downloadable (Nice but the games are OLD)
5) The PSP rear view mirror (Will developers support this?)
6) PSP-PS3 connectivity
7) HD at 1080p (HD on only the more expensive PS3?!?! not that's commitment to High-Def! thanks Sony!)
Pal @ May 9th 2006 6:38AM
It's a shame that we won't get any more Katamari games, this would have been nice for it.
I think that the PS controller is nice, but one thing needs to change: the triangle D-pad. It really hurts after a few matches of fighting games because of the break between directions. Oh Sony, trying to change the industry in weird ways.
This is definitely a slop job meant to contend with Nintendo, and it's pretty obvious. They better get crackin'!
Pince @ May 9th 2006 6:43AM
I must say, as much as I do have a certain love for the original dualshock, it was never perfect, and I don't think the same design will hold up again. The Xbox360 controller is amazingly well designed. It feels great. I love to gripe about Xbox stuff, but even I will admit that the 360 controls soooooo smooth. The dualshock was always solid, but I dont think it can survive another whole generation without at least some tweaking.
Come on Sony. You dont have to really be all that creative, but at least do something.
And the whole motion sensor thing is complete BS. Its actually kind of embarassing how obvious of a rip-off it is of nintendo. Nintendo decided to go their own way with the Wii-mote and put alot of thought and creativity into it. This motion sensor in the PS3 controller seems like it will just get annoying.
I don't move my hands when holding a traditional controller and I don't want to. The Wii-mote actually looks intuitive and comfortable, but the PS3 "I-swear-I'm-not-just-the-dualshock" controller just looks like a quick way to get carpal tunnel.
I understand wanting to steal attention from both MS and Nintendo...but they could have done it with something innovative, instead of an obvious attempt to grab at some attention for an all-around bland-looking console (at least, thats how it looks so far).
There is still plenty of E3 left to go. Please Sony, I want to be fair, I dont want to dislike you. Give me a reason not to.
I'm gonna go cry now until there is some good news about PS3...either that or study for finals...oh yeah, finals...forgot about those. Bye.
ill trooper @ May 9th 2006 6:44AM
Everyone: Knock it off haters, you will want one of these things more than a girlfriend when it comes out. Just settle down. Play the 360 until this comes out.
See you in line.
Mat Harding @ May 9th 2006 6:56AM
Where are you guys watching the warhawk demo of someboy using the new controller? Id love to see it!
freecajunlove @ May 9th 2006 6:57AM
ill trooper:
You're going to wait 3 years to buy one too?
Seamus @ May 9th 2006 7:01AM
Let me just say this to PS3 fanboys. NAN NAN NANANA!!! YOU HAVE A SUCKY CONTROLLER PROBABLY PAR WITH 360 GRAPHICS AND STOLEN TECH NANANANANA POOR GUYS. ok just had to get that off my plate
Alberto Einsteinio @ May 9th 2006 7:02AM
The best of motion sensing is lost in this controller, still need the analog to play an FPS. At least I will be able to watch HD movies with my Blu-Raystation3.
neale @ May 9th 2006 7:03AM
ill trooper: i dont have a hdtv so bluray and HD dvd is no use to me. i dont like MGS games. i use analogue sticks and i dont like my fingers constantly slipping off them.
now tell me why i want to go single?
D'oh @ May 9th 2006 7:15AM
I love Sony and how they get creative with other people ideas, usually they improve in some way what they copy (N64=1 rumble + 1 analogue / PS2=2 rumble + 2 analogues)yes, some leaps in technology they make indeed, but in this case I think even the Nunchuck alone will perform better motion sensing than the PS3 former banana.
I will wait in line at launch to get my Pee Ass 3,thats for sure.
(I think I am infected with fanboyism. Oh well...)
hendot @ May 9th 2006 7:16AM
neale: The dual shock 2 has analogue buttons. You don't have to go full brake or accelerator, just don't press the buttons so hard.
Pee Ass Tree @ May 9th 2006 7:23AM
That was nice...
PEE ASS 3, how could I not notice that :)
We wanna, we wanna...
PEE ASS 3
PEE ASS 3,say it again...
PEE ASS 3
PEE ASS 3,one more time...
PEE ASS 3
PEE ASS 3,just the girls now...
PEE ASS 3
the three could become tree but that wouldnt make much sense would it :P
neale @ May 9th 2006 7:27AM
2 analogue buttons... come on. they move what? 2mm at the most? hardly any point. and ive never ever noticed them. but now that ive been informed ill go see.
swap the the dpad and stick around, change the surface shape of the sticks, and stick some triggers on it. that was the most obvious changes to happen. and what actually happened? lost the rumble, gained lame-ass wiimote.
after a long days work when ken goes home, does he play videogames? does he play his competitions consoles?
Galley @ May 9th 2006 7:27AM
So I'm guessing there's no analog trigger buttons for use in racing games? Aaargh!
I Pee my Ass on a Tree @ May 9th 2006 7:33AM
HAHAHA, Sony sucked nintendo "wee" idea to stuff it in their "P-Ass" 3, now thats game porn.
As usual Sony ESRB rating is M for Money.
Juan @ May 9th 2006 8:09AM
lmao they even copied Nintendo's way of revealing new things. *breaks out PS3 controller out of pocket*
chiax @ May 9th 2006 8:11AM
ok now the fanboys can stop making fun of wii, they didnt reallize that they got a pee ass ever since the first iteration. lolzors!