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DualShock
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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 video game consoles. 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.
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.
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Encyclopedia
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 video game consoles. 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.
Models
DualShock
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. The controller is called "DualShock" 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. 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 instead 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.
Like its predecessor, the Dual Analog controller, the DualShock controller has two analog sticks. Unlike its predecessor, however, the DualShock controller's analog sticks feature textured rubber grips instead of the smooth plastic tips with recessed grooves found on the Dual Analog controller's analog sticks.
The controller was hugely supported; shortly after its launch most new titles, including Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro the Dragon, and Tekken 3 included support for the vibration feature and dual analog sticks. 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. Released in 1999, the PlayStation hit Ape Escape became the first game to explicitly require DualShock/Dual-Analog-type controllers, with its gameplay requiring the use of both analog sticks.
DualShock 2
When the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system was announced, the DualShock 2 Analog Controller (SCPH-10010) included with it was almost exactly the same externally as the previous DualShock 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. The analogue sticks were also noticeably stiffer for more accurate movements.
Internally, the DualShock 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
Announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the DualShock 3 Wireless Controller (SCPH-98050) is a controller for the PlayStation 3 that incorporates all the features of the Sixaxis wireless controller with rumble capabilities. The Immersion v. Sony lawsuit has been speculated as a factor for why the Sixaxis did not have rumble capabilities. The DualShock 3 controller was released in Japan on November 11, 2007 in black at a retail price of JP¥5,500. The controller was released in North America on April 5, 2008 for a retail price of US$54.99. It was released in Australia on April 24, 2008 for a retail price of AU$99.95, in New Zealand on May 9, 2008 for a retail price of NZ$109.95, and in Europe on July 2, for a retail price of €59.99 (July 4, 2008 in the United Kingdom and Ireland for a retail price of £39.99); the DualShock 3 generated sales of over $10.9 million in April 2008 according to Sony Computer Entertainment America. 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 demonstration.
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.
A Sony representative confirmed on 2 April 2008 that the SIXAXIS controller would officially be discontinued with the release of the force-feedback enabled DualShock 3 in mid-April 2008. The SIXAXIS is no longer being produced and is no longer in stock in most stores.
Software requirements
PlayStation 3 firmware 1.94 or higher is required to use the DualShock 3 in compatible PlayStation 3 format software. Firmware 2.00 or higher is required to use the DualShock 3 in compatible PlayStation and PlayStation 2 format software. 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. 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. Support was added to MotorStorm with an online version 3.0 patch in October, 2007. 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".
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. Sony initially reported that the Sixaxis had received this award before issuing a correction.
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