PS3 keypad officially coming first week of December

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 14th 2008 at 5:30PM }

Although we've pretty much unofficially known since August, Sony's VP of Sales, Ian Jackson, confirmed that the PS3 keypad will make its way to retail during the first week of December. The peripheral is currently listed for the rather ~~outrageous~~ disagreeable price of $50.

Gallery: PS3 Wireless Keypad

Tags: keypad, ps3-keypad, ps3-wireless-keypad

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

toscomor @ Nov 14th 2008 5:33PM

Uh...
... FIRST!

Now, seriously, outragerous.

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Nov 14th 2008 5:51PM

Can't you just plug in a keyboard and use that instead?

NukeAssault @ Nov 14th 2008 6:11PM

Yep, i use a usb keyboard.

Vince UK @ Nov 14th 2008 6:59PM

"Can't you just plug in a keyboard and use that instead?"

To use a keyboard would mean either putting the controller down or typing one handed.
To use this Sony thing, you can use your thumbs or hold in in one hand and type with the other.
Either way it's not ideal, but this has sofa appeal.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 14th 2008 7:45PM

You can use any USB or Bluetooth keyboard on your PS3. I use an Apple Bluetooth keyboard.

Superstar90 @ Nov 14th 2008 5:34PM

Looks uncomfortable.

Esat Dedezade @ Nov 14th 2008 5:35PM

I concur.

Ergonomics just threw up glancing at this thing.

Comfort just fainted.

Value for money? Well... he just shot himself between the eyes.

Bluebrake @ Nov 14th 2008 6:14PM

I suppose they didn't want to look like they were ripping off Microsoft, which isn't much of an excuse. Looks like you'll actually have to move your entire hands up on the controller to reach this thing with your thumbs, which pretty much defeats the purpose. And let's not start on the price.

Esat Dedezade @ Nov 14th 2008 6:21PM

It looks like when you type on this thing, your palms are gonna be moving the analogue sticks...

Lemmiwinks @ Nov 15th 2008 9:29AM

Ergonomics: Yer doin' it wrong.

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 15th 2008 7:45PM

Actually: Ergonomics, their doing it right.

Put a Playstation controller in your hand and put your thumbs in a position where you would type if you were using a keyboard at the bottom of the controller. Now put your thumbs in a position where you would type if you had the PS controller. Notice the difference in strain that bottom position puts on your thumbs?

Go ahead try it. If you don't have a PS controller, and are still saying that this is not ergonomic, maybe you should shut up, because you don't know what your talking about.

D_Average @ Nov 14th 2008 5:35PM

I can't wait to comment on Joystiq with this new device!

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 14th 2008 5:37PM

The 360 one has a better design, backlight, and is way cheaper, comes with a headset, and I bet is way more comfortable...

Why did they have to design this keypad to be on top of the controller?

Ignatius @ Nov 14th 2008 6:31PM

Sony's Design Team: Durrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Johnny Bravo @ Nov 14th 2008 6:31PM

Not commenting about the price, but have you ever grabbed a ps3 controller?
From what I can imagine from my imaginary texting, there's no ergonomic way to put a keyboard below the thumbsticks. The controllers are way different...

Hala Madrid!! (THE BIRD IS THE WORD!!) @ Nov 14th 2008 6:32PM

Agreed

This thing is just awful.

Kspraydad @ Nov 14th 2008 10:08PM

If it doesn't work with the PS3 what the fuck relevance does what you just said have?

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Nov 14th 2008 11:59PM

Bravo is correct. There's no good way to put a text pad under the PS3 controller... because it's the same design they've been using for over 10 years...

MastrCake @ Nov 15th 2008 12:38AM

Keep in mind that this has its own Bluetooth-thing inside of it, independent of the controller.

That and the touch-sensitive pad would explain the crazy price.

Eggy @ Nov 15th 2008 5:45AM

Sorry instead of some fanboys I trust the people who have actually tried it.

tkAshur @ Nov 15th 2008 6:37PM

Touch sensitive whozit? Wheres that at? Is it meant for easier mouse control or something??? I can't think what else it would be for...

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 15th 2008 7:55PM

No way!

Fernando thinks a MS product is better than a Sony product!

Im in disbelief ... Mad catz sells a similar chat pad for about $20.00 cheaper. The great thing about the PS3 (unlike the 360 & Wii) is you can just your computers keyboard. You can use any BT headset as well so no need to pay for Wii speak or a wireless headset.

PS3 FTW!

I'm not convinced this chat pad is as bas as everyone is making it out to be. I prefer to actually try things out before railing on them.

BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Nov 16th 2008 3:36AM

You CAN use any USB keyboard with 360 and Wii...

profsr Chaos @ Nov 14th 2008 5:41PM

If you cant wrap it up in bacon then whats the point.

EricC @ Nov 14th 2008 8:38PM

That's what she said?

Hmm...I'm both disgusted and intrigued by my own comment...

Evan @ Nov 14th 2008 5:40PM

I could use a keypad for LBP's text chat.

But, I'm not sure about the position above the controller. The 360's text pad looks better.

I think I'm just going to get a bluetooth headset. Not cheap, but at least it will do double-duty for my iPhone and PS3.

Rhamsey @ Nov 14th 2008 6:08PM

actually, now that i think about it, your kinda right, i dont like how this one is above the controller. however it is elevated, so maybe it will work out fine.

gameplayFanBoy @ Nov 14th 2008 5:45PM

Sorry, that design looks aweful. I love my PS3, but I will not be getting this.

Shagittarius @ Nov 14th 2008 5:45PM

Thank god now I can finally finish the registration process...

DangerMouse @ Nov 14th 2008 5:50PM

I'd probably try it at $20.

But $50?

lol

brickwalker0 @ Nov 14th 2008 6:12PM

agreed, $50 is absurd. im betting the price will drop to $40 after christmas, but thats still a ripoff.

The_Doctor @ Nov 14th 2008 7:33PM

The thing is, it will end up being something even more ridiculous like AU$90 down here where the world doesn't appreciate our currency :(

007craft @ Nov 14th 2008 5:56PM

Sony sure likes to make your thumbs go to un-natural spots. First they make a controller with the left thumbstick down low (why i always hated the sony pad) then they make this. Terrible design. And overpriced to boot.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 14th 2008 7:48PM

Oh yeah, making your left thumb go down low is completely unnatural. Everyone knows that the human body is shaped such that the left thumb is naturally designed to go high, while the right thumb is naturally designed to go low.

I personally don't see what's strange about having both sticks at the same height. You do have to adjust your hands to reach any of the 4 active zones on the controller, but once you do so, both work just fine. The 360 controller is the same way, you just adjust your hands a bit differently.

LameDuck @ Nov 15th 2008 3:49PM

Go hold a 360 controller, then a PS1/2/3 controller. On the 360 controller, both your thumbs should be up, making almost a check-mark or V shape. On the PS3 controller, atleast for me, thumbs will be making a L or, if you can contort your hands enough, you can manage doing the PSP claw.

I hate how people say that the 360 controller is made for FPS and the PS3 controller is better for everything else. I can't play a PS3 game without my hands hurting. The dual-shock needs a redesign bad, even if it will end up looking like a mutated 360 controller. I'm sick of playing Playstation games and then my hands being stuck in the claw for hours.

On topic: This thing is going to be a load of junk. I can imagine it now... I'll be taping and the palm of my hand will it a button and screw it all up. This will end up overtaking the Wii control in the number of broken TVs and busted eyeballs.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 15th 2008 5:00PM

I think your check mark stuff doesn't explain it. Because if you play an FPS on 360, your right thumb making an "L". Are you saying your right hand is in pain more quickly on a 360 controller?

It's really just which controller is comfortable for you. Luckily for me, I can use either of them without pain.

LameDuck @ Nov 15th 2008 6:34PM

I'm saying that my hands don't hurt at all on a 360 controller because my thumb isn't in an L shape. On the PS3 controller, thumb is almost always at an L because the controller likes to slid down which forces my fingers to fallow. Even when it is in the right posistion, my thumbs are REALLY close to an L. I can't stand that. Games that don't use both analog sticks aren't as bad as the ones that do like SOCOM. I can't play SOCOM at all. D: The controller always ends up moving so far down that it feels like it's going to pop out of my hands.

All that aside, the dual shock needs a redesign. I don't think anyone would argue that.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 14th 2008 5:58PM

worthless accessory.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 15th 2008 10:38PM

worthless comment.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 16th 2008 4:44AM

nice way to define your comment johnny.

Cygnoid @ Nov 14th 2008 10:25PM

You're not reporting this properly. Amazon.com has the price listed at $50 but there is no confirmation that this is an accurate price. It makes sense for Amazon to overshoot the price because they need to have some asking price before they can accept preorders. However, their price is speculation and nothing more. If you don't report it as such you're leaving out the very basis of that part of the story. Literally every last piece of confirmed information regarding the chatpad has come directly from Sony. We're not going to know what the price is until they announce it to reporters and bloggers, or to retailers. Until that happens there is no point in making news out of Amazon's likely-overblown guess at the price. But by all means, enjoy the havoc this is stirring up among fanboys.

Courtney @ Nov 14th 2008 6:02PM

Removed from the controller, it looks like some kind of strange codpiece.

Marty @ Nov 14th 2008 7:16PM

Oddly enough, you'd probably have an easier time typing on it if it were actually a codpiece.

Chase @ Nov 16th 2008 5:32AM

+1 Marty

:rofl:

holyice7 @ Nov 14th 2008 6:04PM

It looks like it'll blend.

That's the most exciting and positive thing I can say about this, really. Thank goodness for USB keyboard support.

Rhamsey @ Nov 14th 2008 6:06PM

looks sweet. i hope its as good as the 360 one, that one is a (surprisingly) great accessory.

player66 @ Nov 14th 2008 6:06PM

One word for this piece of junk...

(Ahhhhhh)Awkward!

CyberKnight @ Nov 14th 2008 6:23PM

It doesn't look like it plugs into the controller at all, just fits on it. Which would mean it has its own power supply and connection to the PS3. That would account for the added cost (compared to the 360's chatpad, which draws power & connection through the controller).

It's also supposed to work as a mouse, isn't it? I remember something about being able to slide your finger over the keys to use it like a touchpad?

(It also makes me think "added weight", which makes me think it's still going to be very uncomfortable.)

If it is self-contained like that, does that mean it could possibly be a generic BlueTooth mouse/keyboard for something other than the PS3?

why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 14th 2008 7:50PM

I'm fairly certain it plugs into the USB port on the top of the PS3 controller and uses the PS3 battery. So I don't think you need to worry about that.

It's still ridiculously priced. I'm staying away.

Kspraydad @ Nov 15th 2008 12:25AM

Yes...it has its own battery supply and can be used without the controller. If you DO snap it on and charge your controller it has a USB passthrough and both the keyboard and controller will get charged.

It has its own battery.

It has a built in touchsensitive 'mouse pad' by holding in one of the shoulder buttons on the keypad the keys turn into a 'mouse'.

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