Logitech's PS3 controller: No motion, but yes to rumble

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 13th 2007 at 5:55PM }

IGN recently got some time with the Logitech Cordless Precision for PlayStation 3. The controller costs $10 less than the official $50 Sixaxis controller and is very similar to their famous PS2 wireless controllers, which worked quite well. This controller should also not be confused with the air-blowing PS3 wired controller Logitech previously released.

This new controller (pictured) is heavier than the Sixaxis and uses two AA batteries, giving 50 hours of play according to Logitech. The most bizarre thing going on with this controller is it doesn't have any motion control built into it, but it does come with rumble -- a feature that none of the PS3 games use. Of course, in time, the rumble will come back to Sony, but it is funny that Logitech placed rumble importance over getting the motion control feature license. For all we know at this point, Logitech made the right bet.

Tags: controllers, logitech, peripheral, playstation, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andrew Yoon @ Jun 13th 2007 4:10PM

But how will you play games that use the motion sensing? A lot of games have (unnecessarily or not) added waggle. For example, Ninja Gaiden.

Matias @ Jun 13th 2007 5:59PM

Does the rumble work for PS2 games? Non of the reviews mention this and I think it's one of the design ideas of logitech.

Poisoned Al @ Jun 13th 2007 6:02PM

It's not often a 3rd party pad look nicer to use then the real deal.

Jacki Boi @ Jun 13th 2007 6:02PM

Ahhh the rumble is the one thing the ps3 is missing.

and this actually lets you change the batteries (i know it sounds rediculous, but thats sony for ya)

chuck @ Jun 13th 2007 6:03PM

"For all we know at this point, Logitech made the right bet."

Right. Logitech made the right bet by including a feature no ps3 uses, one of which (while likely) hasnt been offically confirmed. It would have been smart to include both rumble and motion. It's kinda like leaving d-pad off an N64. Sure, you may not have used it much, but its still an important component thats missing.

Dave @ Jun 13th 2007 6:04PM

#1 has a point. The only advantage to this controller is using it to play past PS2 games because, like it or hate it, a lot of PS3 games use motion controls to an extent, and be it large or small, it could make the game nigh unplayable without the motion sensing.

While it's fan-freaking-tastic they've put bluetooth into their EXCELLENT PS2 controller so that I can use it in the PS3, it's not a good choice to use this for playing PS3 games.

Moe @ Jun 13th 2007 6:18PM

Even though I still think it's too expensive... I think the PS3
controller is better priced than the other controllers just because
it comes with bluetooth, motion sensing and a rechargeable battery.

Tom @ Jun 13th 2007 6:33PM

wow... so even now the Wiimote is STILL the only controller with both rumble AND motion sensing.

accidental @ Jun 13th 2007 6:48PM

^^ ...and a speaker and internal memory for the $10 cheaper than the PS3 controller.

GG Sony, ripping us off on controllers AGAIN.

accidental @ Jun 13th 2007 6:54PM

@Moe, how can you be fine with the fact that a PS3 controller with:
a rechargable battery, motion sensing and bluetooth costs more than a Wii remote with:
motion sensing, infrared camera, bluetooth, internal speaker, internal memory and rumble?

OGHowie @ Jun 13th 2007 7:01PM

Why do people even care that the PS3 is bluetooth? How does that add value?

Looks like Logitech also shortened the analog sticks which would be an improvement.

OGHowie @ Jun 13th 2007 7:02PM

I mean Why do people even care that the PS3 controllers use bluetooth?

Kye @ Jun 13th 2007 7:12PM

What they should really do is swap the d-pad and left stick's positions.

But what wouyld I know, I'm only a product designer.

chuck @ Jun 13th 2007 7:14PM

@accidental
a wii controller actually costs sixty since a numb chuck is needed to consider the controller complete.

Aberu @ Jun 13th 2007 7:24PM

At this point Logitech made the wrong bet more like it. Each Logitech controller so far has gotten the worst hardware reviews I have ever seen for a peripheral. One was put down because it wouldn't operate wirelessly (wasn't built with a PS button *smacks head*). All flight games feel much better with the motion sensing, this would be handicapping your play.

Leshrac @ Jun 13th 2007 7:26PM

This is ridiculous. I typically like Logitech controllers (I own both a PS2 and original Xbox wireless Logitech), but you don't create a console controller that isn't, at a bare minimum, fully compatible with any game that comes out, and then try to "make up" for it with a feature that currently no games support (and for all we know, may never support).

-Jeff
http://alinktothefuture.com

Aberu @ Jun 13th 2007 7:26PM

@12 because that way, OTHER bluetooth devices are compatible with the PS3. Like keyboards, mice, cellphone headsets, PDAs (eventually they might add support). Also if your Laptop or PC is bluetooth ready, then I'm sure the controller will eventually be supported in some way.

Aberu @ Jun 13th 2007 7:29PM

@9

Well if you want to play all varieties of games on the PS3 you only need a $50 controller (don't know where you got a $10 difference, the wiimote is still $45 right?).

If you want to play all varieties of Wii games, you need a Wiimote ($45), Nunchuk ($15), and a Classic Controller ($20) per person. Wii isn't so cheap anymore.

Chris Putnam @ Jun 13th 2007 7:30PM

I'd seriously consider a controller like this if it were complete. The DualShock/Sixaxis is child-sized and the slapped-on analog sticks make it awkward to hold. A quality third-party controller from a reputable company with better ergonomics and a cheaper price tag? Yes please.

But without tilt sensing? I don't care how gimmicky it is, if the game uses it for some feature you need, you're high and dry without it.

Oh well, maybe the Cordless Precision 2...

Deaddy @ Jun 13th 2007 7:37PM

Well as people have said, this will be useless for PS3 games but I have the PS2 version and its far more comfortably shaped than the PS2 Dualshock so hopefully they will rerelease this with tilt.

Tim @ Jun 13th 2007 8:00PM

to Kye:

It would make plenty of sense to swap the left stick with the d-pad, wouldn't it?

But wouldn't that make it an xbox controller then?

accidental @ Jun 13th 2007 8:23PM

@Aberu
You're right, so then the Wii remote/Nunchuk is $10 more expensive than the Sixaxis but now it has dual-handed motion sensing, internal speaker, internal memory and rumble over the sixaxis. That's worth an extra $10 for sure.

BPM @ Jun 13th 2007 8:45PM

@Aberu:
Wii Remote = $40
Nunchuk = $20

Plus, both accessories are only used when needed. Just like any accessory, you're not going to use it unless you need it. I'm sure you wouldn't use the GunCon 3 for Ninja Gaiden Sigma, right? But you're gonna need it for Time Crisis 4.

Wii Remote is the MAIN controller. Everything else is an accessory, and doesn't factor into the cost of entry.

(Although, I do believe the controllers for all three current systems are priced too high. Especially 360's wired controller. $40 for a wired controller?! Madness!)

Borat @ Jun 13th 2007 8:45PM

What the f??? How are you going to play games which use motion controls??

Dave @ Jun 13th 2007 8:46PM

@accidental:

Thanks for presenting to me the telltale sign of a guy who doesn't know what he's talking about: changing your position on the fly to reflect the facts that you didn't even know existed in the first place, yet continuing to support the same stance despite being proven wrong.

The Wii remote costs less because the central unit costs less. I know you have this whole vision that Nintendo is "the good guy who doesn't care about money, they just want you to have fun". They're not. They're a business. They're out to take your money, as proven by the 3 controller shells that they offer as opposed to the PS3's which can do it all with one.

Nintendo is just as greedy as Microsoft is just as greedy as Sony. Welcome to Capitalism.

ogvor @ Jun 13th 2007 9:01PM

While I currently don't own a PS3 (or plan on it anytime soon) I did enjoy my PS2 and Logitech's wireless controller. It is vastly superior to Sony's controller, both in ergonomics and analog sticks. This appear to be the same design and if you can live without motion sensing I highly recommend this controller!

accidental @ Jun 13th 2007 9:24PM

Thanks for your intro to capitalism Dave – a revelation indeed.
GG on the assumptions BTW.

You don't need the classic controller for any Wii games.
I believe that Nintendo's Wii Remote/Nunchuk is better value than a PS3 controller that kept the same shape as 12 years ago, omitted rumble and only boasts half the capabilities that the Sixaxis does.

I don't see how I don't know what I'm talking about here, I have both and I had to pay for both.

generaldane @ Jun 13th 2007 9:28PM

testing this crap

accidental @ Jun 13th 2007 9:35PM

*EDIT: Sixaxis, I meant Wii Remote.

KiraXD @ Jun 13th 2007 9:45PM

uhh who buys crappy 3rd party peripherals anyways... for the most part 99% of all 3rd party suff is junk, look at that crappy d-pad. The DS/2/SiaxiS has the best d-pad hands down... and no 3rd party uses it.

Jezreel @ Jun 13th 2007 9:45PM

If this controller lacks motion-sensing capability, what makes it any different from Logitech's current PS2 wireless controller?

Shiro @ Jun 13th 2007 10:58PM

Wait a sec, isn't Logitech owned by Microsoft?

Hmm, interesting.

Matt B @ Jun 13th 2007 11:28PM

good luck playing Lair.

Matt B @ Jun 13th 2007 11:29PM

Those who value rumble over sixaxis= suicide bombers.

BPM @ Jun 14th 2007 1:45AM

Jezreel:
Um, it has Bluetooth. Surely, that's worth something. :O

Shiro:
You think Logitech is owned by Microsoft? Well, you're wrong. So wrong. You're...
♪Wrong-wrong wrong-wrong
wrong-wrong wrong-wrong
YOU'RE WRONG♪♪

Hell, if anything, they're competitors, since they both make computer accessories (mice, keyboards, etc.).

Seriously, though, this is a bad idea, to make a PS3 controller without tilt.

bl13 @ Jun 14th 2007 2:12AM

"Wii Remote is the MAIN controller. Everything else is an accessory, and doesn't factor into the cost of entry."

Comparing the nunchuk with a lightgun is quite disingenuous, since non-standard controllers like light gun or guitar only work for a very limited number of games, and are usually bundled with the game itself. I don't know how many Wii games can be played just with the remote and not the nunchuk, but I know Wii Sports (boxing), Zelda and Rayman can't, so I hardly see how it's in any way shape or form optional.

Jezreel @ Jun 14th 2007 2:30AM

@BPM - According to the IGN review, it doesn't have Bluetooth. It still uses the same 2.4 wireless receiver dongle that the PS2 version uses.

BPM @ Jun 14th 2007 3:33AM

Huh, so it is... Guess it's even more useless than I previously thought.

Rob Holiday @ Jun 14th 2007 6:24AM

Won't somebody please make a wireless PS3 controller that is identical to the 360 controller. Or at least switch the damn left analog stick and d-pad. Come on Logitech... you would sell more controllers if you did. My PS3 is just a dust collector because I can't stand the SUXASSES controller.

DrXym @ Jun 14th 2007 6:52AM

@Jacki Boi, the PS3 controller let's you change the battery. It involves the simple task of removing screws on the back of the controller and unclipping the battery. One might also note that the SIXAXIS controller is also rechargeable via USB so the chances are you don't need to do this for years. And of course it uses Bluetooth so there is no USB dongle, and it has motion sensing that many games use.

This Logitech controller is little more than a rebadged PS2 controller. It's broken by design and is an utter waste of time for anyone needing a second controller.

As for Wii-mote comments. Get real, so many titles need a nunchuk that if you buy a second controller that basically means buying a second nunchuk too. And on top of that you might also need to buy a classic controller, and possibly even a GC controller if you intend to buy any VC or GC games.

Dud @ Jun 14th 2007 10:27AM

Awesome news! Logitech makes, hands down, the best controllers for consoles. The one they made for the PS2 is easily the best one ever made for any console. It's great they've finally added rumble. People don't even care about the motion sensing on the PS3, and you can play all the games without it, so no big loss.