14 DAY TRIAL // A preview - based on Shane Bettenhausen and Ryan O'Donnell talking about the PlayStation 3's new rumbling controller, the DualShock 3, and how it worked in Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4 demo at this year's Tokyo Game Show - reveals that the new rumbling feature has been improved quite a bit. However, 1UP.com also hints at a GameDaily piece where SCEA corporate communications' Kimberly Otzman stated that "the rumble feature on the Dual Shock 3 is the same as Dual Shock 2." So, is it, or isn't it a better controller?
As always, when it comes to a new controller or a new feature implemented into one, opinions are very divided. Not to worry - the more opinions, the better. Now, according to the same website responsible for the MGS 4-and-DualShock 3-at-TGS preview, Kojima Production's Assistant Producer Ryan Payton was present at a KP Report podcast this week, where 1UP contributor John Ricciardi asked Payton whether it was "safe to definitively say that the rumble in the Dual Shock 3 is better than the rumble in the Dual Shock 2."
Payton's quick and concise answer was "Absolutely, yeah. It feels better, and I think Shane experienced that too." That's pretty much what the man had to say on this topic, so we'll just have to go by this statement until we can get a hands-on experience with the DualShock 3. But think about it this way: Sony has had quite some headaches with the rumble implemented in its DualShock controllers over the years, so why come up with the same thing over and over again?
Leaving aside that bringing something new to the market is an important factor that helps in keeping track with the times, Sony has every reason to make the rumble experience for the PS3 better than the previous ones, as it's crucial to getting the PS3 moving. And if that's not reason enough to make a better rumbling controller, then throwing it in Nintendo's face (Wii Remote) surely is. Either way, all signs point to a better DualShock controller.