Battery life the main obstacle for rumbling Sixaxis?

by Colin Torretta { Jun 14th 2007 at 6:00PM }

Innerbits, the site that posted the awesome breakdown of XMB memory costs last month, has come through again with a great article about the upcoming rumble-capable Sixaxis. According to the site, they've gotten confirmation from two different sources at Sony that they have been working on a rumbling Sixaxis for several months now and are just trying to work out the last of the kinks.

Currently, the biggest issue is battery life -- or the lack thereof. Evidently between the rumble and the wireless support, the battery has been draining too fast to be considered acceptable. As it is now, Sony touts 30 hours of battery life per charge on the Sixaxis and while Innerbits didn't specify what the current battery life of a rumbling Sixaxis is, you can assume that anything less than 5-10 hours per charge will be considered unacceptable. Nobody wants to have to hook up their controller in the middle of a marathon game of Warhawk.

The article also talks about some of the PR problems that Sony will face with the release of a new controller. PS3 owners who have already bought the original Sixaxis will now have to either deal with the lack of rumble or go out and buy 2-4 new controllers, and that adds up to no small chunk of change. Also after Sony has maligned rumble-support as 'last-gen', will consumers be willing to embrace their sudden about-face? Relevant questions for sure, but considering how PS3 owners have been clammoring for rumble support it's likely that they will be willing to purchase additional controllers. What about you guys? Would you replace your original Sixaxis controllers for a more rumbly one?

Tags: rumble, sixaxis

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

steve @ Jun 14th 2007 6:22PM

won't be near the top of my shopping list.

Kr155 @ Jun 14th 2007 6:28PM

I would buy one. and only one. It would be great for games that take advantage of it for game play (ie mgs3 use as heartbeat detector) but as an immersion tool I don't even miss it. I only have 2 controllers now so having to buy a third wouldn't put me off. I'll eventually need a third anyway

Justin @ Jun 14th 2007 6:29PM

#3 took the words outta my mouth. well most of his post.

the part about the mgs3 type gameplay effects..
and the part where i'm only buying one. and i have 2 now..and'll need a third eventually.

aj Romero @ Jun 14th 2007 6:31PM

i would buy, but only one so that when my friends come over i will be the only one ith rumble and i can laugh at thme! heheheh

tom @ Jun 14th 2007 6:33PM

Vibration will NOT cause carpal tunnel syndrome. That is caused by the repeated crushing, pinching and/or flexing of the carpal tunnel in the wrist (like from moving a mouse and resting your wrist on the desk when you type.)

Maurice M @ Jun 14th 2007 6:34PM

I think Sony could spin it into a "YOU DEMANDED IT SO WE BROUGHT IT BACK!" kind of ad campaign. I don't really see this as biting anyone in the ass really. Rumble is very much an optional feature after all. Plus, it'll be a long time before any game comes out that use it (unless they patch old games) and I doubt any developer is going to make it a mandatory part of their game any time soon with such a split userbase.

sam-evans @ Jun 14th 2007 6:36PM

For every SIXAXIS you currently have, you should be able to buy a rumble one one for half price.

not sure how they would do this though

humpty @ Jun 14th 2007 6:50PM

Vibration can exacerbate tendinitis.. the constant vibrations cause your muscle to twitch constantly.. not good.. imagine operating a jackhammer or snowblower.

mccomber @ Jun 14th 2007 6:51PM

Best case; a trade in program, even one with a bit of cost involved. Worst case; I wait until a game comes along that makes me say "this would be better with rumble." Or until games come along that use it for actual gameplay elements. Either way, I don't think I have to worry about new controllers anytime soon.

Brian @ Jun 14th 2007 7:23PM

I will buy one, nothing better than a vibration between the hands.....

Luke @ Jun 14th 2007 7:23PM

I'd rather have vibration anyday, the motion sensing is crap anyway I hate using it. Plus I prefer not having to move my hands all over the place like a retard to play a game.

Xbox 360 is currently the best controller on the market.

Mr Khan @ Jun 14th 2007 7:35PM

No

See: Wii Remote when not using IR Sensor

Unless you think a good 40-50 hrs is poor life

JimyD @ Jun 14th 2007 7:42PM

I've been holding off on buying a second controller ever since the story broke that Sony and Immersion kissed and made up. The rumble-less controller is fine but like it was mentioned above, it would be good to have a rumble version for certain games (racing, fighting, sports, etc.). It would also be good to use it as a reward (i.e. winner's choice) when gaming with friends. Now they just need to release the damn thing!

ill trooper @ Jun 14th 2007 8:00PM

I will buy another one. Just as I bought the first 'dual analog' when it debuted on the PS1, and just as I bought the smaller xbox controller to replace the massive first one ("The Duke" I think it's referred to as). Just as I bought multiple N64 controllers and even the NegCon for the PS1 for Wipeout. Just as I bought the fishing controller for the Dreamcast fishing game, and the Steel Battalion controller for the Xbox, etc., etc...

They got me hooked.

Honestly though, when I switch over to the PS3 after playing some 360 ("Who said that!?") I sort of prefer the lightness of the Sixaxis... I'd rather have rumble, but I like the low-weight trim controller.

I only wish they had put a pair of PS1/PS2 controller/memory ports on there instead of all the card readers. Lame move, surely made on purpose.

dantemustdie @ Jun 14th 2007 8:25PM

I only have 1 sixaxis right now. Ive been waiting for a rumbley one before I go out and get another one.
So bring it on sony

ryan @ Jun 14th 2007 10:36PM

i think if they incorporate one of those russian made batterys that recharge when you shake the controller that would work niiiiiicc...cept you'd have to worry about over shakage and inevitably *gasp* exacerbate tendinitis!!!

seriously i was never a fan of the motion thing. it's only there because sony didn't pay the rumble guys to begin with. they needed somthin quick and "next gen".

and lo, the SIXAXIS bastard child was born!!

jyorgan @ Jun 14th 2007 10:49PM

I don't get the fixation with rumble, the only way it would add immersion for me is if its a game that features a vibrator. If they ever do, i just might buy it.

Andir3.0 @ Jun 14th 2007 10:58PM

I always turned rumble off, so... no. If anyone wants to give away their non-rumble controllers though, I'd be glad to take them off your hands. ;)

Urza @ Jun 15th 2007 12:04AM

I'd grab a rumble controller in a second. Rumble is the prime reason I haven't retired my PS2. I can't imagine God of War 2 or Tomb Raider Anniversary without it. So bring it back!

As for the 360's battery power, you have to remember, the 360 has a huge battery casing on the bottom of the controller. The PS3 controller uses a proprietary internal battery that Sony probably doesn't want to give up on by using external batteries. It'd means we won't have to buy new controllers when our batteries don't charge anymore in 2-3 years. ;)

Lp47 @ Jun 15th 2007 1:04AM

I will for sure get one maybe 2. I already have to normal ones but i hope they come up with a solution for the non-rumble.

Asher @ Jun 15th 2007 1:18AM

It seems the majority of people posting here are not SUPER AMPED! about the rumble. I for one, am happy with the lighter rumble-less controler. I don't notice the rumble even when i play games on the ps2 that have it. But maybe that's just me.

I'm just curious where all this, 'the fans demand it!' stuff is coming from. (maybe they just don't post here, i'm not looking to hard.)I don't know, it just seems like it's another case where, the X-BOX has it so we have to have it. I'm a huge SONY/PS fan but come on SONY, stop trying to just outdo the X-BOX and do your own thing. I'm afraid Sony is going to try to play catchup and forget blaze thier own path.

RPG @ Jun 15th 2007 1:24AM

I bought 3 PS3 controllers with my 4th being a PS2 controller via USB just for this occurrence...

RPG @ Jun 15th 2007 1:26AM

I bought 3 PS3 controllers with my 4th being a PS2 controller via USB just for this occurrence...

KomradAndre @ Jun 15th 2007 1:41AM

Rumble has never really immersed me into a game as of yet, if anything it distracts me from it. for example: You get hit by a blast ( rumble!) you feel it in your hands? frankly, it seems odd to me. A rumble feature on a steering wheel seems more plausible.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Jun 15th 2007 6:49AM

What? Lithium batteries aren't powerful enough?

Do SIXAXIS controllers have a damn short circuit built into them, or what?

JayFight @ Jun 15th 2007 8:43AM

like so many others i have two controllers but i plan to buy not one but two rumble controllers why? because like they said eventually you'll need a third and more to the point ussally when you need a third you'll need a forth soooo.... that's why also i already have carpal tunnel (stupid typeing class and arcade machines working in unison)and i have found that the vibrations from the controller feel nice especially when i move the controller to the wrists like haveing my own massager lol oh and they may not have placed memoery card slots and controller ports for ps1/ps2 but they have a first party memory slot that can now transfer information back and forth and there is if my memory is correct a third party controller slot as well they both plug into the usb ports which means without a usb hub you have as many as 4 slots to use and the hubs ? well......

PS3 RULES @ Jun 15th 2007 8:51AM

I'm gonna buy one of them but that's it, the 2nd player has to suffer. I mostly only play 1 player games anyway.

ShadowHawk01 @ Jun 15th 2007 9:31AM

Sony could always say "Rumble is not next-gen until WE say it is!"

Seriously though. I cannot stand playing a sports or racing title without rumble. Even the Action/Adventure games have gotten better at using rumble correctly. I could however live without the motion controls.

Popfrogs @ Jun 15th 2007 9:36AM

Rumble support was due to all the whiners on the official Sony forums and elsewhere. It seems here we have a more mature crowd. I'll admit, there are some games that use it well, but they're in the minority.

Ultimately Sony should send us older PS3 owners coupons for half off, and sell them straight to us.

Breeze @ Jun 15th 2007 11:21AM

@Popfrogs

I agree totally. Vibration is lame and the fools that think it immerses you in a game need a baseball bat immersed into their cranium. I really don't get how a vibrating piece of plastic is supposed to place you right in the action. It's a bloody vibrating controller. But I think we really know why they want the 'vibration' back....

Aclerok @ Jun 15th 2007 12:20PM

I'm hoping that since they are doing the trade in for the Fifth Element Blu-Ray that they will do something with the controllers. If they do that then I will definitely get them to replace my 2. Otherwise I may get one, but I definitely won't get two as I rarely play 2 player games.

coyurtney @ Jun 15th 2007 2:23PM

I don't buy the battery life crap. Why does the 360 controller with rumble and wireless work fine?

Akozlenok @ Jun 15th 2007 2:45PM

no thanks, could care less about rumble ~_~

ryn @ Jun 16th 2007 2:19AM

@ everybody who says it doesn't immerse you in the game:

uh, last time i checked a gun makes a pretty lasting impression as far as force feedback is concerned. stop being bitter that the ps3 didn't launch with rumble and accept the fact that giving players options is a wise decision.

come next year, please do yourselves a favor and flick "off" in the vibration submenu.

Leif Ostlund @ Jun 17th 2007 9:37AM

I committed suicide the first time I came to grips with NO RUMMLE ..... BUT, shockingly during game play I hardly, if ever, notice .

Having said that , Well implemented Rubble is a defiant plus and a must-purchase once available.

YadaYada @ Jun 17th 2007 6:41PM

For xboxts the 360 controller is the best in the market...but it isn't.Why? Cos off the fucking D pad thats way..it stinks....
Futhermore the batterys of the 360 are rubbish. And yeah the 360 as rumble (kind off) but thats it. it as no Tilt function, there fore the battery last longer.

livinonnosleep @ Jun 17th 2007 10:22PM

I currently own a 360/Wii/PS2 and have purposely held off on buying a PS3 just for the lack of rumble support. I think that Sony dropped the ball on this one, whatever the reasons they say it wasn't included it boiled down to the lawsuit between them and Immersion. At first they said it was because it would interfere with the motion sensing I call bull on that, obviously if they are including it now it isn't a big enough interference to take into consideration plus the Wii has motion sensing and a rumble. Honestly they should have made up with Immersion earlier and released the console with rumble so that developers wouldn't have to guess weather or not the player had it. Just like Microsoft should have had a mandatory HDD unit on all their 360's at shipping like the original Xbox did. Luckily if they wanted Sony could correct that error by offering free rumble controller replacements. I think it's just plain dumb to spend $600 on a system that doesn't have a basic feature that was available to the N64. Viva la rumble!

TD @ Jun 18th 2007 1:42PM

Carpal tunnel? No thanks. I'll stick to the non-rumbel sixaxis.

Tigre @ Jun 23rd 2007 5:26AM

The only way Sony can move these controllers if they ever hits the market is if they charge the same price as the Sixaxis controller. If Sony tries to be greedy then the controller will move very slowly out the gate.

Anyway if the price is right then I'll get one :)