DualShock 3 supplies low; import cost high

44 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Nov 1st 2007 12:33PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Peripherals

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.

Tags: dualshock3, motionsensing, rumble, sixaxis, sony

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

nerrrrrrd: Nov 1st 2007; 12:38PM

$80 for N64 tech? way to go Sony!

robert: Nov 1st 2007; 12:43PM

"Importers are allegedly charging about $80 USD"

read much?

sony has nothing to do with the $80 price, it's the importers making their profit off of the impatient people who have to have it early.

mattclarkie: Nov 1st 2007; 12:56PM

Your prices are well out. The average price for a SixAxis in the uk is between £30 and £35. Which means that your £40 price isn't expensive. Just because you get it for $50 doesn't mean we get it for £25 as the
indicated. Officially it is £34.99

Mr Intel: Nov 1st 2007; 1:54PM

i paid $65 shipping included for the white one two weeks ago cant wait to play R&C with rumble Wooooo Hooooooooo

F. Rocker or Fernando R.?: Nov 1st 2007; 12:40PM

I'm going to be half hearted on this one, but:

I thought that rumble was last gen tech!

FrankTheCrank: Nov 1st 2007; 1:00PM

$80 bucks for the controller doesn't count the additional $30-$40 their charging for shipping.

That's insane!!!

Why would people WANT this SO BADLY? I thought nobody cared? I thought nobody wanted this?

I think Sony is about to do a Playstation smackdown AGAIN!

Trev: Nov 1st 2007; 2:21PM

Bitch because it wasn't there now bash it because it is. Yes it has 'last-gen' rumble, just like the other two systems. It shows they were listening to people who wanted it and there's no requirement to buy new controllers at all, let alone at inflated import prices.

donker: Nov 1st 2007; 4:03PM

Yes they were listening Trev so good for them but they are charging the early adopters full price because Sony in their arrogance decided it wasn't necessary. Yes it isn't required but seeing that everybody bitched about it most people appreciate what it adds to a game. So Trev take your defensiveness and hit the road. If Sony cared they would charge wholesale pricing for people who are replacing their crap controllers.

Trev: Nov 1st 2007; 7:26PM

I don't see how pointing out Fernando would have hated on Sony either way as defensive; its really just observant. Maybe you're new here.

Either you bought a PS3 and have to deal with the same risks as any early adopter (hardware revisions and price changes) or you don't actually have a PS3, making your stance on this pretty fucking meaningless.

If you bought a PS3 for $600 its not Sony's fault you didn't wait until they were $500. If you already bought a bunch of controllers and must absolutely have rumble in all of them, that's also not their fault. They didn't make you buy them. MS didn't offer a cheapo exchange program for their shitty A-type controller when they rolled out the S-type, and the A-type actually WAS crap. Why should Sony give you a discount on a brand new product because you didn't wait?

donker: Nov 2nd 2007; 8:36AM

Well Trev I am not new here but i don't comment very often. I am quite familiar with Fernando's schtick. Your comments are defensive because of the way you state your point. "Bitch when it isn't there and bitch when it's put in" Fucking right I will and I have a right to. These arrogant Sony shits put in useless sixaxis and took out a component of the controller that people liked quite a bit. Why do you think they are putting rumble back into them? Because they recognized they fucked up. My point is valid about Sony offering a discount to early adopters. The vibration significantly changes the gaming experience. As for Microsoft not offering money when they shifted to the S controller I actually prefered the A controller. I am an actual full sized male and don't have little girl hands. Pussy.

Trev: Nov 2nd 2007; 9:43AM

If you think buzzing grenades, buzzing shotguns and buzzing car crashes significantly change a game I guess that's your business, but I also think you're trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Vibration has no impact on the way a game plays, looks, or sounds (unless you count the annoying noise coming from your hands). I can only think of the MGS series having used it for an effect actually integrated into the gameplay (mine detector, ap sensor) and good for that, but if that was taken out would MGS3 wouldn't have magically become terrible. In fact, I doubt anyone would have noticed.

And since your down to name-calling and insults instead of actually explaining why Sony should do something you won't hold another company to, I'm done wasting my time with you.

donker: Nov 1st 2007; 12:47PM

so you need minimum two controllers which means you will spend an extra $100 to have what should have been standard when released. Good for Sony for recognizing their mistake but that mistake will cost $100 to rectumfy. Ouch.

donker: Nov 1st 2007; 12:48PM

They made a profit off the original controllers and now they will be making profits off these controllers you have to buy. If they were fair minded Sony would offer discounts for people who already have the original crappy controllers. Making double profit because of their own mistakes isn't very ethical.

zhine: Nov 1st 2007; 12:51PM

Immersion threatening to sue them is hardly "their mistake."

donker: Nov 1st 2007; 12:56PM

Zhine nice sense of historical perspective. Everybody else could have rumble except Sony? Immersion was going to sue them so they couldn't include rumble? You dumb ass. I am not here to solve Sony's problems for them but it would seem that you are here to make excuses for them. If Sony couldn't solve a problem that Microsoft and Nintendo did then I guess they are an even more pathetic company than I thought originally.

KingOfGods: Nov 1st 2007; 1:07PM

It is their mistake for including tech that was patented by someone else without paying for it.

Tahiri: Nov 1st 2007; 4:49PM

Donker, you're the dumbass. Sony was being sued, and couldn't. MS and Nintendo were sued years prior and caved back then. MS even owns partof Immersion, and is why Immersion sued. The courts demanded Sony discontinue rumble.

I repeat, Sony was forced by law to stop using rumble.

Now lay off.

gone with the wind: Nov 1st 2007; 12:50PM

actually rumble is 3 gens old but that doesnt meen it can be used this gen does it, why cant the contollers be world wide release someone enlighten me?

F. Rocker or Fernando R.?: Nov 1st 2007; 12:52PM

I remember the old comments when Godisamyth, Curmeo, Shagi and many more was trying to explain that the new rumble is going to be TouchSense and that 360 and Wii are last gen rumble and PS3 is going to be nex gen rumble.

Good times. They make me laugh a lot.

hydralisk456: Nov 1st 2007; 12:55PM

What happened to those guys by the way? I know Shaggi is still around but did the other two get banned? Either way it's fine by me, at least Shaggi has his funny moments deep within the layers of Nintendo hate.

F. Rocker or Fernando R.?: Nov 1st 2007; 12:57PM

And what happen with Phattie too?

F. Rocker or Fernando R.?: Nov 1st 2007; 12:58PM

This is from Godisamtyh:

"Yes, basic rumble is last-gen. What they are talking about is a new technology by Immersion called haptic force feedback or as they like to call it Touchsense. This is different from basic rotating motor rumble."

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/04/rumor-rumbling-sixaxis-to-gain-touch-sensitivity-as-well/

This is from Curmeo:

"awesome news. Sony will show everyone what next-gen rumble will feel like, as opposed to 360 controller's last-gen rumble and Wii Remote's cellphone-like rumble.

now a special message for all the Sony/PS3 haters/trolls: Sixaxis motion technology was patented by Sony long before any Wii Remote motion patent. Improving the Sixaxis motion accuracy should be viewed as a positive improvement and good news. companies always improve their existing products, including both Nintendo and MS."

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/02/rumor-rumble-sixaxis-in-developer-hands/2

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Nov 1st 2007; 1:04PM

I'm pretty sure Phattie got banned. I don't know about the others though.

dan stabbingworth: Nov 1st 2007; 1:23PM

They realized that nobody liked them, and once they got banned, they decided not to create new accounts under similar pseudonyms to continue their annoying agendas.

GRANTED: Nov 1st 2007; 2:19PM

in that sense, they at least did us a favor, in the end. it would be nice if others followed their example.

f.r. i think you are the only one who cares what someone posted here a month ago. when no one posts something you can argue with, you resurrect old fanboy comments and disagree with them?

Mr Khan: Nov 1st 2007; 5:03PM

It is certainly a more pleasant way for Fernando to conduct himself

And it's fun to root through people's comments in their weblogs account, to see how they may have changed since they signed on (or since they changed their accounts)

def PD: Nov 1st 2007; 12:55PM

I don't see a reason to complain unless a) you've already bought 4 SIXAXIS controllers and/or b) Sony doesn't drop the price by $10 on the SIXAXIS or the DS3 ends up being more than $50.

The PSTRIPLE supports up to 7 controllers anyways so just buy 3 (more) DS3 controllers.

F. Rocker or Fernando R.?: Nov 1st 2007; 1:00PM

And for what you want seven controllers in your system?

There are barely two player splitscreen games on the PS3.

Vidikron (FU): Nov 1st 2007; 1:05PM

@Fernando

Well, I don't know why anyone would need 7 controllers, but there are plenty of split-screen games... including 4-player split-screen.

gone with the wind: Nov 1st 2007; 1:12PM

lol i like how you say just buy 3 more contollers yeah its only $150 so that my friends can have rumble forget that ill buy one for me and my friends can use the new gen rumbleless contollers, i personally only miss rumble when im playing ps2 games and dont notice it on ps3 games

Razorlution: Nov 1st 2007; 12:59PM

I am waiting on Sony for when they ship the systems with the Dualshock3 before I pick up my PS3. But if Sony doesnt want people importing the controller, they could just release the update when Americans get the controller. Otherwise they should have made the release dates the same on this side of the pond.

why not the LS2LS7?: Nov 1st 2007; 1:38PM

The update to support it comes with Ratchet & Clank. It is the 1.94 software.

It's clear Sony can't make enough of these for even the Japanese market, let alone the US.

At the company I work at we found that offering a new high-end product that isn't really available in full numbers actually depresses sales because some people say "I want the top one" and then when they can't get it right now they wait until later or don't buy at all.

So waiting for decent availability before shipping in the US makes sense.

Joshua: Nov 1st 2007; 1:09PM

I mostly want it for rumble in PS1/PS2 games when played on a PS3 (my only Sony system).

lothar: Nov 1st 2007; 1:22PM

Hope you have a BC PS3.

Just out of curiosity does anyone know if any of the existing PS3 games have support for rumble or is that going to be download updates (provided the dev releases them).

Joshua: Nov 1st 2007; 1:28PM

I have an American 60 GB model.

Ratchet & Clank already has rumble support built-in, at least. I'm not too sure about others, but you can see a list here:

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/070920be.html

why not the LS2LS7?: Nov 1st 2007; 1:22PM

Rumble already works in Ratchet & Clank too.

That having been said, no wait I'm paying $80.

Sean: Nov 1st 2007; 3:02PM

I'll take Gumbel over rumble any day.

hvnlysoldr: Nov 1st 2007; 3:41PM

I feel almost helpless in EBA without rumble. That beat as I tap the notes or the jarring fall when I miss is the only way I managed to beat Jumping Jack Flash on Rocking. Also I feel awesome in RE4 Wii with Wesker's and Hunk's amazing kick abilities or the utter failure when a chainsaw takes my head off.

punkasscrab: Nov 1st 2007; 5:16PM

I wish my controllers had rumble but I purchased them knowing full well that they do not. That means that I am not entitled to bitch when an upgraded controller comes out. Sony owes us nothing. This is the first generation of consoles bought entirely by whiney children.

GoonieGooGoo: Nov 1st 2007; 6:07PM

Sorry SONY....not gonna be suckered this time......

In fact....I'm going to continue getting my revenge by keeping my PS2 with all its DUAL SHOCK 2s....and its 200GB HDD :) hehehehe.

Focus on the GAMES for PS3.....not hype about a controller you should have included from the beginning.

Cuja: Nov 2nd 2007; 1:13AM

I'll wait till next Christmas 2008 and see what happens with the PS3 before I buy a system. No games, but a shitload of fanboys jerking one another off over crappy tech knowledge.

donker: Nov 2nd 2007; 8:59AM

So Tahiri Immersion sued Sony only because they were owned by Microsoft? Sony didn't put in rumble because they were being sued? Even though they said they didn't put it in because according to them it was "last generation"? So lets say your right and they didn't put it in because they were being sued why didn't they tell you that? Why did they lie to you and tell you it was because it was last generation? Because they don't respect you or their customers. They take you for granted. The fact that you sit here and make excuses for their failings is whats pathetic junior. Also your assertion that they couldn't do it because they were being sued is Bullshit. The fact that Sony got themselves in this predicament and didn't solve it like MS and Nintendo did shows their arrogance or stupidity. Either way its their fault. Seeing that you like to blame others for Sony's failings do you take responsibility for being such a loser or do you blame your mom for that?

bluecat: Dec 18th 2007; 1:27PM

sony are a corporation. they are a business that exists to make money, not to please every single customer in the world. sony may have not had a choice with rumble, then again they may have decided not to put it in so they could release it later and make more money. or maybe they wanted to get the ps3 out a.s.a.p and so decided to leave the rumble. whichever reason the suggestion of getting a discount if you have already bought a sixaxis is rediculous as then we could all claim we should have a discount for buying a ps1 and ps2. technology advances, get over it!