Apparently the PlayStation 3's Sixaxis controller could have rumble in the very near future. Game developer blog, Innerbits, can confirm two independent sources within Sony stating that the company has been "working on prototypes for for several months". The only thing stopping you getting white-finger while playing the next version of Motor Storm (the upgrade to which has been delayed, by the way) is, apparently, a 'battery life issue'.
According to Innerbits, "Officially, the corporate line is still “no comment”. Unofficially, Sony is facing some difficulties with battery life; i.e. Between the rumble and the wireless support, the batteries are draining too fast to be acceptable for consumers."
It's also being reported that (despite Sony's Phil Harrison calling rumble, 'last-gen', and the company complaining that Immersion's rumble technology would interfere with the motion sensitivity), "...no mention of the rumble having an adverse affect on the motion sensitivity".
This all echoes statements made by Sony Computer Entertainment (America) C.E.O., Jack Tretton, in March when he alluded to changes being made to the PS3s controllers.
Where all of this leaves companies such as Splitfish and its rumbling controller, or Hori with its Famitsu-rumoured rumbler is open to question.
Source: Innerbits
According to Innerbits, "Officially, the corporate line is still “no comment”. Unofficially, Sony is facing some difficulties with battery life; i.e. Between the rumble and the wireless support, the batteries are draining too fast to be acceptable for consumers."
It's also being reported that (despite Sony's Phil Harrison calling rumble, 'last-gen', and the company complaining that Immersion's rumble technology would interfere with the motion sensitivity), "...no mention of the rumble having an adverse affect on the motion sensitivity".
This all echoes statements made by Sony Computer Entertainment (America) C.E.O., Jack Tretton, in March when he alluded to changes being made to the PS3s controllers.
Where all of this leaves companies such as Splitfish and its rumbling controller, or Hori with its Famitsu-rumoured rumbler is open to question.
Source: Innerbits
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
anon 15 Jun 2007 15:04
1/3
I never noticed it was missing to be honest
Kirk 16 Jun 2007 12:21
2/3
I hope they change the shape a little too, so it is more ergonomic...
Wayne 17 Jun 2007 21:07
3/3
they don't just need to get the rumble back in, they need to redesign the whole controller. The analog sticks in particular, having used the extremely ergonomic Xbox 360 controller, feel quite awkward, while the R2 and L2 trigger buttons are slippy and should be curved inwards. They may have the most powerful, feature-laiden console on the market, but that controller belongs back in the dark ages. I used to think that the original xbox controller was the worst peripheral ever, but that crown now rests firmly on the head of the SIXAXIS. Get it sorted Sony