Sony making "break apart" PS3 pad

By Robert Purchese Published 13 June, 2008

Wants to capture Wii enthusiasts.

Sony is busy making new controller for PS3 that breaks apart into two bits, each containing an accelerometer like the Wii remote, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

It's a little unclear when the pad will be officially unveiled, but sources said working models have already been shipped off to some developers.

The potential for new game types to made should open the PS3 up to the kind of audience Nintendo has been so successful at selling to with its Wii machine.

Sony will be hoping that alongside Blu-ray becoming the de facto high definition disc format and PlayStation Home ready to roll out later this year, motion-based games will help sell more PS3 machines.

The PS3 did originally launch with motion-sensing functionality in the Sixaxis pad, albeit in a limited manner. And this was at the expense of rumble, which is to return in the DualShock 3 pad to be released in Europe sometime this year. Hopefully.

Sony declined to comment on the matter at the time of writing, although an announcement is expected soon - making an E3 unveiling a strong possibility.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (67) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • Gaol #1 4 years ago

    Not interested.

    I'm sure the 9 kabillion zillion people who seem to like these shaky stick things will give it a look in...

    Or not. One dust collector in the house is surely enough.
    Edited by 1 at 13/06/08 @ 16:43

  • jaywalker3010 Verified Mastering Manager, Square Enix #2 4 years ago

    So its like the bottle in the Apprentice, it splits apart, hmm wonder if it will make the £29.99 retail price ;)

    Apologises to anyone who didnt watch the apprentice, but am sure theres not many on here who didn't ;)

  • Gaol #3 4 years ago

    The Apprentice bottle was more interesting to be fair.

  • Raya #4 4 years ago

    Ah so like the nintendo Wii fakes that were put about or the breakable controller that was made by a 3rd party for ps2. Just thought I'd remind people before we got 'gosh - what a good idea' ;-)

    Late, the whole point of the Wii motion controllers are that they are standard and the whole system uses them as do the games. Sony launching this just puts it in the buzz controller or eye toy category. Unless Sony are brave enough to make developers use it as a standard and give them away free to PS3 owners that is, it'll be the odd game support - like Wii balance board in fact

  • playgen #5 4 years ago

    So thats a third pad already!, is the rumble pad even out here yet?!
    I hope this fails, Sony should be trying to do something different, rather than just copying nintendo. After all its because the Wii is different that it is so succesful.

  • Razz #6 4 years ago

    The prophecy rang true then! :D

  • smelly #7 4 years ago

    Not a week goes by where a story doesnt appear that sony and/or microsoft are making their own wii style controller.

    Shaking/rotating controller SUCKS for games.. The Wii controller is GREAT for pointing at the screen.. that's it.

  • steoc4 #8 4 years ago

    "Late, the whole point of the Wii motion controllers are that they are standard and the whole system uses them as do the games. Sony launching this just puts it in the buzz controller or eye toy category. Unless Sony are brave enough to make developers use it as a standard and give them away free to PS3 owners that is, it'll be the odd game support - like Wii balance board in fact"


    Surely that's the whole point. The likes of Buzz, Singstar and Eyetoy all did this kind of thing for Sony long before the Wii came about.

    I don't think many people would want them to replace the Dual Shock 3 with this, since traditional pads still serve their purpose very well for most genres. It's a lot more likely to be an optional extra that'll be packed in with whatever the first game for it is, much like Wii Fit / Eye Toy or whatever.

  • Killerbee #9 4 years ago

    The main problem I see with this is that it isn't the standard pad people will get with their PS3 therefore it'll only ever attract a small sub-set of the market - in the same way Eye-Toy did. The only way Nintendo have got the Wiimote and nunchuck combo to work is because everyone who owns a Wii has that controller setup, so developers can make games for it knowing the potential audience is there.

    This from Sony is never, ever going to come close to that.

  • Skywise #10 4 years ago

    I'm looking forward to Boom Blox PS3 already!

  • des #11 4 years ago

    Another controller,lol
    Will it have rumble?

  • AOFanboi #12 4 years ago

    Um, custom controllers have been made for years - in particular the Dreamcast for a ton. How many games did support the maracas? Two (though only one was released here). The Bass Fishing rod? Would you want to play anything except Resident Evil with the Gamecube chainsaw controller?

    So people who want to use the games that use this controller will buy it, just like Buzz! players get those controllers and Wii Fit in effect IS the controller.

  • mossychops001 #13 4 years ago

    @Des

    Des you mum's long white controler next to her bed, rummble?

  • Razz #14 4 years ago

    o_O

    retardsaywhut?

  • miiiguel #15 4 years ago

    off-topic: it's.... er... well "odd" to read a comment like the "mossy" dude. I mean, it's soooo tasteless (for a Portuguese), I couldn't imagine reading someone posting that in EG.pt (and they seem much younger).

    Anyway, it was just a cultural-shock thing, nevermind. Desperation leads to this kinda comments I think, or maybe cultural differences are bigger than I thought.
    Edited by 1 at 13/06/08 @ 17:30

  • penhalion #16 4 years ago

    I think both Sony and Microsoft will produce Wii style pads now that they know this is the way to attract traditional non-gamers to the show. I'm not sure what use the Sony pad will have unless they also have a sensor bar to track the thing spacially. Heck it looks like microsoft have flat out ripped off the Wiimote. I wonder which company (Sony or Microsoft) will also have the cheek to say "You can use the Wii sensor bar too if you already have one".

  • VibratingDonkey #17 4 years ago

    Sounds kind of sketchy... I keep thinking of those crappy third party controllers.
    Edited by 2 at 13/06/08 @ 17:35

  • smelly #18 4 years ago

    "Another controller,lol
    Will it have rumble?"


    Look at all the attempts they had at a ps1 controller until they got it right by copying nintendo...

  • 8bitMofo #19 4 years ago

    This will take all the fun out of smashing my controllers into two parts.

  • Saii #20 4 years ago

    If I wanted to experience Wii, I'd play with my Wii

    wait... erm...

  • betahoven #21 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • des #22 4 years ago

    @mossychops001

    o_O

    retardsaywhut?

  • seasidebaz #23 4 years ago

    Here we go! I have a pic of it!

  • betahoven #24 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • Scimarad #25 4 years ago

    Sod that - The worst thing about Super Mario Galaxy is the controller...

  • Feanor #26 4 years ago

    Jesus, the Dual Shock 3 still isn't out in Europe yet?

  • Xerx3s #27 4 years ago

    "The prophecy rang true then! :D "

    /sees thunderstorm outside
    /hears violins

  • Steroyd #28 4 years ago

    :(

  • Bumhug360 #29 4 years ago

    "Will it have rumble?"

    Yes, apart from Europe which gets a non rumble version

  • dahsif #30 4 years ago

    I fucking called it

    A YEAR AGO. (after reading a story on CVG)

    EDIT: and no, Sony isn't "making it", a young start up made it. Sony must just be showering them with money.
    Lastly they demoed the controller and it was BRILLIANT. I was playing Subsistence at the time and I thought I could "break" the pad into two parts to go up ladders or throw a grenade in the game.
    Edited by 1 at 13/06/08 @ 19:38

  • seasidebaz #31 4 years ago

    @dahsif:

    Too slow. The news broke in 2006. Better luck next time.

  • smelly #32 4 years ago

    @seasidebaz & dahsif

    I think you're confusing "rumour" with "news".. this is news.. 2006 was rumour.

  • Bluetribe #33 4 years ago

    It's going to fail... hard.

  • VMerken #34 4 years ago

    "Jesus, the Dual Shock 3 still isn't out in Europe yet?"

    I concur.

  • WinterSnowblind #35 4 years ago

    Soo.. what happened to all the Sony fans mocking Microsoft for copying Nintendo? ;)

  • dahsif #36 4 years ago

    @smelly

    I don't think I'm confusing anything; in fact when I read the story (and watched the vid), there wasn't even a rumour up yet. It was something like a start-up vying for attention.

    This will be the greatest controller of all time, and for this reason I'm giving it an 8/10.

  • lovely2cu #37 4 years ago

    Interesting. Let's hope Sony can repeat what they did way back when with the original Dual Shock, and improve on Nintendo's pioneering controller.

  • penguin_overlord #38 4 years ago

    This makes a lot of sense. The Wii's biggest asset is its controller. If Sony can replicate that they could be onto a winner.

  • Apostle #39 4 years ago

    So something else Sony will announce, delay, delay again, claim it's on schedule (or give no comment) then eventually admit it is actually delayed *again*, then release in 2010.

  • DrDamn #40 4 years ago

    @penhalion
    The Wii sensor bar uses a proprietary type mini port in the back so unlikely.

    Personally I think if you accept the wii-mote is a good idea then logically both the 360 and PS3 could benefit from something similar. It would be good if they improve on the original with more buttons, or at least usefully placed ones, and removing the umbilical cord between the two bits. I'd like to see the controller applied well to 360 / PS3 games.

  • IronGiant #41 4 years ago

    That'll be MS annoyed then, im certain one of their 'surprises' at E3 will be very similar.

  • Skywise #42 4 years ago

    @Miiguel, although I'm dutch and used to clear language that comment by Mossy seemed very tasteless and weird to me as well.

  • Bangaioh #43 4 years ago

    I think this is so stupid...

  • drumbaby #44 4 years ago

    Good for them. If Ninty can foist loads of shitty 'games' on the gullible casual gamer by virtue of a gimmick, then why not Sony?

  • penguin_overlord #45 4 years ago

    I can't see this being released until next yeat at the earliest as it will take time for developors to write software that uses it. And I wonder by then how important this type of controller will be. Is the Wii remote the future or just a side-thing for certain games? It certainly shouldn't be an integral part of the PS3 as many gamers, myself included, prefer a standard controller.

  • locus2k1 #46 4 years ago

    thats great... can i have the DS3 now?

  • Les #47 4 years ago

    "thats great... can i have the DS3 now?"

    go to http://www.renchi.com and get one. Should arrive within a day or 5.

    As for the article, on the one hand it's a good thing to have similar control mechanisms across the consoles so that it's easier for new gamers to move to other machines. On the other hand, I'm not too fond of a multiple controllers per console set-up. Though you might argue that we already had that situation basically with Eye Toy, SingStar mics, etc.

  • DrDamn #48 4 years ago

    @Les
    I think the wiimote has demonstrated it's a good idea, but also that the set-up is not ideal for all games. I don't think there is such a thing as a "universal" controller.

    Wiimote also started off with a number of attachments (nun-chuk, classic controller + a variety of shabby largely pointless plastic accessories)

  • bonker #49 4 years ago

    I'm stunned, stunned I say, that Sony & MS (but especially MS with their lower & Wii-level price-point) haven't already got their 'remote' controllers out already with a bundle of 'Sports' games etc.

    I mean, FFS, it must take like £100k tops to 'create' the controller (and sell for a 1000% profit as N do) and 1% of the development time & cost of a 'real' game to come up with 'Chicken Shoot' et al.

    N can never compete with MS on MS' turf but I can't see why MS can't compete on N's ...

  • bigbadbeasty #50 4 years ago

    @ bonker

    LOL... great bullshit post. Not an ounce of fact there. Nice one.... sigh

  • Ryze #51 4 years ago

    Tacked on?

    IDIOTAS!

  • Kryon #52 4 years ago

    Those of you complaining about the lack of DS3. Just fucking buy one off the net you silly gits

    That's a bit like saying "stop whining that the PS3 has less AAA games", just buy a 360 you silly gits. While it's true, it's hardly the point.

  • captaineurogamer #53 4 years ago

    It was a matter of time and absolutely needed for Microsoft and Sony , if you look at the NPD figures

  • DrDamn #54 4 years ago

    @bonkers
    Tech should be easy for Sony and MS to develop but without treading on Nintendo patents? Not so easy.

  • L42yB #55 4 years ago

    Don't think this is a good plan from Sony. I really don't think that the "casual market" will fork out all the cash for a PS3 just to play a bunch of mini games (surely they would just buy a Wii for 1/3rd of the price)... and I'm also not sure how appealing this will be to the hard core audience that did actually fork out the money for a PS3(surely this lot are waiting for a decent exclusive title)... so it's kinda a lose-lose scenario for Sony.

  • DrDamn #56 4 years ago

    @L42yB
    You are making the assumption this is just for the casual market. The better games on the Wii show that this sort of controller is great for a number of different game types if done well.

  • Xerx3s #57 4 years ago

    "evilfoxhound: why are you defending Sony? "

    42.

  • eurisko2k #58 4 years ago

    wow, sony see what nintendo do and copy it... hummm analog stick, rumble, motion control.... Is anyone that surprised

  • Xerx3s #59 4 years ago

    There is nothing wrong with copying. 95% of everything is nothing but a copy of what was with added improvements or a mixture of other copies.

    Better a good copy than a bad original idea. Not that I fancy a future where it is all waggle controls but that's just me.

  • Bounty_Hunter #60 4 years ago

    Feanor
    13-Jun-08 18:21:58 Jesus, the Dual Shock 3 still isn't out in Europe yet?

    Just go to CD Wow for dualshock3 controllers ( white/Black)

  • Kryon #61 4 years ago

    "trebell, I'm defending Sony because i just played MGS4 and it has changed the way I view games forever LOL "

    Yeah, I especially loved the bit were Psycho Mantis mocks you for not owning a pad that rumbles, great way to rub it in a bit more...

    BTW, just so you know, Sony didn't make MGS4, Konami did...

  • Kryon #62 4 years ago

    True (for the moment, anyway) but I still see no reason to forgive Sony all their follies just because Konami made a good game.

  • Kryon #63 4 years ago

    I own both systems so I'm not bothered if it gets a 360 release but I'm quite sure it could easily be done (in fact Kojima said as much himself), it would need multiple discs, no doubt but tbh I'd prefer a quick disc swap than the 4/5 minute install in between every act.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/08 @ 19:42

  • Eraser #64 4 years ago

    The Wii is succesful because of more than just it's pad. It's the buzz. It's the hype. That's something Sony will never be able to capture by releasing just an add-on controller. And still, an add-on peripheral will never "make" a gamesconsole.

  • peteb #65 4 years ago

    i saw something like this on cvg once, I wonder if its the same thing?

  • onyxbox #66 4 years ago

    i don't think this will catch on without a killer app to go with it.

    both Sony and MS must be looking at those Wii and DS NPD numbers and thinking, "we picked the wrong demographic" and how can we have a slice of that pie.

    I read somewhere that MS are even ripping off the Mii's now with something called 'Avatars'? Sad and desparate if you ask me.

  • Marshall2008 #67 4 years ago

    From kotaku:

    An anonymous industry source has told Kotaku that reports of a "break-apart" motion controller for the PlayStation 3 that splits into two parts are not entirely accurate.

    The control system, said the source, actually consists of a smaller-sized device that can attach to the body - and multiple devices are intended to be used in concert, such as wearing two on the hands to move a character's hands in-game, or four, on hands and feet at the same time to move a character's body.

    Though the source admits the technology might have evolved since the last time it was seen, the source disputes the idea that any of these pieces merge to form a single controller. It is also unclear how the individual pieces will be packaged, whether individually or in sets.

    Sony declined to comment on "speculation."

    On another note: I thought that Kojima was struggling for space on the Blu-Ray disc for MGS4? The Pal Iso is 32gb in size (including regionalisation and the repeated data sectors to speed streaming up etc)
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/08 @ 12:53