Rumble dropped from PS3 pad

By Ellie Gibson Published 9 May, 2006

More details of new controller.

Some more info regarding the PS3's new motion-sensing DualShock has emerged - including news that it won't feature any kind of rumble function.

Instead, you can expect a "six-axis sensing system", according to Sony - three for roll, pitch and yaw, and three for "3 dimension acceleration information" along the X, Y and Z axes.

DualShock 2's rumble feature has been dropped, says Sony, as the vibration "interferes with information detected by the sensor."

Other features of the controller include Bluetooth functionality for linking to the console itself. The L2 and R2 buttons have been enlarged, and now have "increased depth in stroke for more subtle control in games". In addition, the angle of the two joysticks has been slightly broadened.

The controller also features a USB port for wired control and charging. According to Sony, the cable can be attached and detached at any time (could this mean an end to those "Do not insert or remove peripherals while the console is turned on" messages? Which we've always obeyed religiously of course).

The new DualShock incarnation replaces the "boomerang" prototype Sony showed at last year's E3 when first announcing PlayStation 3 itself. The general consensus amongst the gaming community seemed to be that the "boomerang" design was "rubbish", which might just have influenced Sony's decision to go back to the original formula.

The PS3, in case you haven't heard by now, is down for a European release on November 17th, priced 499 Euros with a 20GB hard drive or 599 Euros for the 60GB model. That's just over £340 and just under £410 in the old money.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Baz_Dude #1 6 years ago

    Is there supposed to be a story here :-)

  • sickpuppysoftware #2 6 years ago

    zee article, she is borked

  • mr-retail #3 6 years ago

    missing rumble, missing story?

  • Jesus: Action Figure #4 6 years ago

    like the trash compactor on the deathstar on my screen :o
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 10:15

  • Markusdragon #5 6 years ago

    I blame society in general.

  • BravoGolf #6 6 years ago

    \o/

  • BillGaitas #7 6 years ago

    blank news ftw

  • ekko #8 6 years ago

    Thatcher's Britain
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 10:24

  • OnlyMe #9 6 years ago

    This IS the story. These are the new details. None. It was all said in the headline.
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 10:25

  • JediMasterMalik #10 6 years ago

    hhmm interesting (lack of) artcle EG. :p
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 10:26

  • abeit2 #11 6 years ago

    Best article ever

  • WicKeD #12 6 years ago

    So now Sony have dropped the rumble feature, are they finally admitting their guilt in the Immersion Case?

    That'll cost 'em!

  • JohnnyWashnGo #13 6 years ago

    So long Sony, its was fun while it lasted.

  • Blerk #14 6 years ago

    How can they still call it a DualShock without the rumble? :-)

    I won't miss the rumble, it was shit anyway. But I'm not bothered about the motion sensing either. If it was one or the other, I'd have rather kept the rumble.

  • bionutz #15 6 years ago

    me too, Blerk.

  • Markusdragon #16 6 years ago

    "(could this mean an end to those "Do not insert or remove peripherals while the console is turned on" messages? Which we've always obeyed religiously of course)."

    With the wi-fi generation, these messages are dead because the damn things can be anywhere in the room and still connecting to the console.
    It'll be interesting to see if we're allowed to turn them off while the console is on though.

  • jack_klugman #17 6 years ago

    So long RSI!

  • Steroyd #18 6 years ago

    Over the past 8 years my hands got too used to the rumble anyway that i wouldn't noticed if it was gone.

    ...at least i think.

  • el_pollo_diablo #19 6 years ago

    DualShock 2's rumble feature has been dropped, says Sony, as the vibration "interferes with information detected by the sensor."

    Sounds like cutting off your nose to me - drop one feature just so that you can say you've got another. And this whole directional tilting thing seems just to have been implemented to try and steal Nintendo's thunder.

  • el_pollo_diablo #20 6 years ago

    And another thing Sony - NOW is the time to stop insisting that all games feature the message

    "Saving to Memory Card (8mb) for Ps2. Please do not remove Memory Card (8mb) for Ps2 whilst data is being saved to Memory Card (8mb) for Ps2"

    when all you really need to do is say "saving"

  • bivith #21 6 years ago

    Isn't "Dual Shock" a bit of a misnomer now that the rumble has been removed?

  • #22 6 years ago

    bivith has a point :)

  • urban #23 6 years ago

    lol ofcourse if the entire world says ..your controller looks like a buttplug they are going to change their mind :)

  • Teeth #24 6 years ago

    As did Blerk further up :)

  • Triggerhappytel #25 6 years ago

    I agree with WicKeD, the first thing which sprung to mind when I heard this news was that Sony are backing down from the rumble feature because of the fees they have to pay to that Immersion company (hundreds of millions so far, I think). Why not change it to a significant degree (as Nintendo are exempt from these legal proceedings due to their different rumble feature)? I don't honestly know how much I'll miss it. Sometimes I play games with the feature disabled and don't realise for ages (happened recently with DQVIII). The only place it might make a real difference is horror games (Silent Hill or Project Zero) and maybe shooters, to indicate when you are getting shot (it's particularly good in Sniper Elite, when you quite often can't see your enemies).

    I'm quite happy with the news on the controller design TBH. I like the DualShock but also wanted more trigger-like second shoulder buttons, so this is great news for me. I'd quite like the 'arms' of the controller to be a bit longer, but other than that I'm pretty happy with this news. I guess we'll have to see how well the motion sensor thingy works. I suspect it will mainly be used in first-party titles. It's not quite as revolutionary as Ninty's controller, but I wonder if we will see any games built around playing with this controller?

    EDIT - all those sceptics saying it shouldn't be called DualShock any more, what I want to know is - have Sony officially named it DualShock yet, or is that early assumptions? Because there may be a name change on the cards due to this. We should know I guess before the week is out.
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 11:25

  • Steve007 #26 6 years ago

    10/1 odds on Sony releasing a DS3 pad in 18 months time with force feedback thus forcing punters to 'upgrade'.
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/06 @ 11:26

  • Daikon #27 6 years ago

    Wondering if my Rez vibrator will still be compatible ^_^

  • dr_zoidthrob #28 6 years ago

    So, dropping the rumble feature has got *nothing* to do with the $90.7m Sony was sued for last year then?


    hmmm...

  • Carpathian #29 6 years ago

    "Instead, you can expect a "six-axis sensing system", according to Sony - three for roll, pitch and yaw, and three for "3 dimension acceleration information" along the X, Y and Z axes."

    So, that's still just three then - X, Y and Z.

    Any other information is not an axis and is supplemental data to work out vectors etc.

    Ergo, it's a DualShock with no 'Shock' and three actual axis with 6 as a title.

    God, Sony are doing well on this one, aren't they ;o)

  • alpha-0ne #30 6 years ago

    core ps3 does NOT include HDMI connector, wireless connectivity and memory card slots

    i think id rather have rumble in my controller...

  • freedumb #31 6 years ago

    L2 and R2 buttons thing sounds like they've gone for what NIntendo did with their shoulder buttons on the Gamecube controller.

  • ilmaestro #32 6 years ago

    I think the point they're trying to make is that it isn't just a tilt sensor like people were saying it 'had to be' and can actually make a stab at handling 3D movement.

  • sir_tripod #33 6 years ago

    Out of all that's come from Sony's press conference, I can't think of a single thing that's impressed me in any way. I also can't help but think they've really dropped a bollock with the whole E3 affair.

    They've been quiet for a long time and long silences are usually very good or very bad. Example: Nintendo said nothing and it worked really well for them. The media and blogs all over the world did nearly all the advertising they needed. Sony's long silence has ended, with more silence and tumbleweeds being blown across the stage.

    Sony have really got their work cut out to turn this one around.

  • the creeper #34 6 years ago

    I don't really notice rumble in games all that much these days anyway (I imagine because I'm just used to it). I use a Wavebird controller with my Gamecube which doesn't have vibration, and it's never bothered me. I like the idea of the tilt control (sounds lke an evolution of what Archer Maclean developed for the PSP with Mercury, although they never released the attachment in the end), and the Warhawk demo makes me want to try it out.

    One question (not deigned to start any fan wars, simply because I don't know): does the Wii wand vibrate?

  • MetalJoe #35 6 years ago

    Surely they could have come up with some kind of a workaround. Is it really that hard to develop a system so that when the rumble feature is being used, the motion sensor is switched off (and vice versa)?

  • Wrestlevania #36 6 years ago

    How can we make PS3 better?!? That's right, by *removing* long-term, much-loved features - genius!

    DualShock --> TrippleWobble

  • DocTep #37 6 years ago

    "TrippleWobble"!

    Yeah, why not... That actually made me laugh - and not in the same way as any comment featuring the word "Wii".

  • dk_rare #38 6 years ago

    DualShock3... except it can't be called a DualShock anymore, because, well there is no SHOCK.

    DualTilt1 maybe? I assume the Dual meant the two sticks, not two rumble features. If it did mean the rumble... well then... just call it the Wobble, like someone else said.