The DualShock (officially DUALSHOCK and occasionally referred to as Dual Shock) is a line of vibration-feedback gamepads by Sony for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3^[1] video game consoles. A gamepad, also called joypad or control pad, is a type of Game controller held in the hand where the digits (especially thumbs are used to provide input The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console The DualShock was introduced in Japan in late 1997, and launched in America in May 1998, meeting with critical success. First introduced as a secondary peripheral for the original PlayStation, a revised PlayStation version came with the controller and subsequently phased out the digital controller that was originally included with the hardware, as well as the Sony Dual Analog Controller. For an account of the words periphery and peripheral as they are used in biology sociology politics computer hardware and other fields see the The PlayStation Dual Analog Controller (SCPH-1150 in Japan SCPH-1180 in the United States and SCPH-1180e in Europe is Sony 's first

Models

DualShock

Sony released the DualShock controller in different colors. Translucent Island Blue is shown here

The DualShock Analog Controller (SCPH-1200) is a controller capable of providing feedback based on the onscreen action of the game (if the game supports it), or vibration function. In Optics, transparency (also called pellucidity) is the Material property of allowing An analog or analogue signal is any continuous signal for which the time varying feature (variable of the signal is a representation of some other Vibration refers to mechanical Oscillations about an equilibrium point. The controller is called Dual Shock because the controller employs two vibration motors: a weak buzzing motor that feels like cell phone or pager vibration and a strong rumble motor similar to that of the Nintendo 64’s Rumble Pak. A pager (sometimes called a beeper) is a simple personal Telecommunications device for short messages The, often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo 's third home Video game console for the international market The Rumble Pak is a removable device from Nintendo that provides Haptic feedback while playing video games The DualShock differs from the Rumble Pak in that the Rumble Pak uses batteries to power the vibration function while all corded varieties of the DualShock use power supplied by the PlayStation. Some third party DualShock-compatible controllers use batteries in lieu of the PlayStation’s power supply. The rumble feature of the DualShock is similar to the one featured on the first edition of the Japanese Dual Analog Controller, a feature that was removed shortly after that controller was released.

The controller was widely supported; shortly after its launch most new titles, including Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro the Dragon, and Tekken 3 included support for the vibration function and/or analog sticks. Crash Bandicoot 3 Warped is a Platform game developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation. Spyro the Dragon is a popular Platform game series starring the Video game character Spyro, which was originally released for the Sony For other meanings see Tekken. Tekken is a Fighting game and is the first of the series of the same name An analog stick, sometimes called a thumbstick, control stick, or occasionally Some games designed for the original vibration ability of the Dual Analog such as Porsche Challenge also work. Many games took advantage of the presence of two motors to provide vibration effects in stereo including Gran Turismo and the PlayStation port of Quake II. Stereophonic sound, commonly called stereo, is the reproduction of Sound, using two or more independent audio channels through a Symmetrical Gran Turismo (commonly abbreviated to GT or GT1) is a Racing game designed by Kazunori Yamauchi. Quake II, released on December 9 1997, is a First person shooter computer game developed by Id Software and distributed Released in 1999, the PlayStation hit Ape Escape became the first game to require the use of a DualShock controller.

Like its predecessor the Dual Analog Controller, the DualShock has two analog sticks. An analog stick, sometimes called a thumbstick, control stick, or occasionally Unlike said controller the sticks feature rubber tips in lieu of the grooves recessed into the Dual Analog Controller's sticks.

DualShock 2

DualShock 2 (matte black model)

When the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system was announced, the DualShock 2 Analog Controller (SCPH-10010) included with it was exactly the same externally as the previous Dual Shock analog controller, except that it was black (colors came later), had different screw positioning (one fewer), and the DualShock 2 logo was added. Another way to tell the DualShock and the DualShock 2 controllers apart is that the connector that plugs into the console matches that console's memory card shape; the DualShock’s connector has rounded shoulders and DualShock 2’s is squared off. Internally, the Dual Shock 2 was lighter and all of the buttons (except for the Select, Start, Analog mode, L3 and R3 buttons) were readable as analog values (pressure sensitive).

DualShock 3

DualShock 3 (JPN Ceramic White model)

DualShock 3 (JPN Ceramic White model) top markings

Announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the DualShock 3 Wireless Controller is a controller for the PlayStation 3 that incorporates the features and wireless design of the Sixaxis wireless controller with rumble capabilities. The is a Video game Expo / convention held in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. PlayStation 3 owners can purchase a number of accessories for use with the console The Immersion v. Sony lawsuit has been speculated as a factor for why the Sixaxis did not have rumble capabilities. In 2002 Sony and Microsoft were sued by Immersion for Patent infringement for the use of vibration functions in their gaming controllers PlayStation 3 owners can purchase a number of accessories for use with the console The DualShock 3 controller was released in Japan on November 11, 2007 in black at a retail price of JP¥5,500. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The controller was released in North America on April 5, 2008^[2] for a retail price of US$54. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common 99; the DualShock 3 generated sales of over $10. 9 million in April 2008 according to Sony Computer Entertainment America. ( SCEI) is a Japanese Video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry mostly in Video game consoles and is a full ^[3] It will also be bundled with a Metal Gear Solid 4 themed 80 GB PlayStation 3, which will be released on June 12, 2008. (commonly abbreviated to MGS4) is a stealth action Video game. Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[4] 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";^[5] while various others reported more refined vibration effects than the DualShock 2, particularly with the Metal Gear Solid 4 demonstration. (commonly abbreviated to MGS4) is a stealth action Video game. ^[6]

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’ 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.

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. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The SIXAXIS is no longer being produced, and will not be available after it has sold out, likely by summer 2008. ^[7]

There is currently no confirmed European release date for the Dualshock 3, although the first units are being sold already.

Software requirements

PlayStation 3 firmware 1. 94 or higher is required to use the DualShock 3. The first software content release supporting the DualShock 3 was the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue free demo made available in the Japanese PlayStation Store on October 20, 2007. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (グランツーリスモ5 プロローグ guran tsūrisumo 5 purorōgu) is the latest installment in the Gran Turismo series The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony 's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable games consoles via the PlayStation A partial list of software that includes rumble support including patches (downloadable add-ons from the PlayStation Store to add rumble to software released before September 2007) was announced by SCEI at the TGS 2007. The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony 's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable games consoles via the PlayStation ( SCEI) is a Japanese Video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry mostly in Video game consoles and is a full The is a Video game Expo / convention held in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. ^[8] Support was added to Motorstorm with an online version 3. MotorStorm is a racing Video game developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Sony 0 patch in October, 2007. ^[9] 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".

See also: List of DualShock 3 Compatible Games

Emmy Award

The DualShock controller was given an Emmy Award for "Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers" by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on January 8, 2007. The following PlayStation 3 Games are compatible with DualShock 3 at launch Battlefield Bad Company Blast Factor * Burnout Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[10] Sony initially reported that the Sixaxis had received this award^[11] before issuing a correction. ^[12]

References