DualShock 3
From PS3Wiki
The DualShock 3 Controller, marketed as the "DUALSHOCK 3" is a controller for the PlayStation 3 that incorporates the features and wireless design of the Sixaxis wireless controller with extra features including rumble capabilities.
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Release
After being announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the DualShock 3 controller was released in Japan on November 11, 2007 in black. The controller was released in North America on April 5, 2008. The DualShock 3 generated sales of over $10.9 million in April 2008 according to Sony Computer Entertainment America. And it was released on July 2, 2008 in Europe.
Rumble Requirements
To use the rumble ablities of the DualShock 3, the user must have the System Firmwware 1.94 or higher, and a game supporting the rumble feature. Some game developers are releasing patches on the PlayStation Store to support this invaluable technology. In consoles with backwards compatibility, the DualShock 3 controller vibration function can be used in appropriate PS2 and PS1 titles. Future releases of games that support DualShock 3 capability will be labeled with an icon of the controller and "DualShock 3 Compatible".
Reviews
It is also bundled with the Metal Gear Solid 4 themed 80 GB PlayStation 3, which was released on June 12, 2008. Hands-on accounts at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show describe the controller as being capable of vibration forces comparable to the DualShock 2. According to GameSpot, DualShock 3’s "rumble was a touch weak but stuck close to PlayStation 2's force feedback"; while various others reported more refined vibration effects than the DualShock 2, particularly with the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots demonstration.
Feature and Design Changes
The DualShock 3 is identifiable by the top labeling which incorporates both "DualShock 3" and "Sixaxis" markings. It is also easily noticeable when lifting the controller as the DualShock 3 at 192.0g weighs 40% more than the Sixaxis’s 137.1g. The back markings indicate the DualShock 3 draws up to 300mA of current at 3.7V for a power consumption of 1.11 Watts, an order of magnitude increase from the 30mA of current at 3.7V (0.111 Watts) listed on the Sixaxis. Additionally, the casing on the DualShock 3 is entirely opaque as opposed to the semi-translucent casing on the Sixaxis.
Sixaxis Future
Sony representative confirmed on 2 April 2008 that the SIXAXIS controller will be officially discontinued with the release of the force-feedback enabled DualShock 3 in mid-April 2008. The SIXAXIS is no longer being produced, and will not be available after it has sold out, likely by summer 2008.
