Fun speculation: 80GB PS3 to come with rumble Sixaxis?

by Nick Doerr { Jul 9th 2007 at 11:45AM }

[Update: The SIXAXIS controller has featured a red light in promotional materials since launch. The red light is not indicative of a redesigned controller.]

Let's keep the wave of slightly related news going. With the announcement of the 80GB PS3 and the price drop of the current model, everybody looked over a detail that may be important. Then again, it may be nothing at all. Over at PSU, the writers thought it worthwhile to point out that on the box for the 80GB PS3, the included controller was lit up all red in the circle we know as either the Home button, PS button, or clear button where the "Analog" button used to be. Why is it red? They feel it's because the controller is actually the new Rumblaxis controller (though we just made up the name).

This doesn't sound too far-fetched. Why else would they delay the new SKU until August, if not to wait until they can toss the new controller into the box? While it was just a picture with a lit-up button, we're going to nod along with PSU on this one and say that yes, in fact, the 80GB PS3 launching in August will come with the new rumbling Sixaxis controller.

[Thanks, Justin!]

Tags: playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, rumble, rumbling sixaxis, RumblingSixaxis, sixaxis, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mccomber @ Jul 9th 2007 11:54AM

The red button has appeared plenty of times before in Sony's materials.
It has nothing to do with any rumbling. The 80gb may come with the new sixaxis with rumbletasticness, but even that one won't have a glowing red home button.

cheese @ Jul 9th 2007 11:54AM

The original promo material for the PS3 and Sixaxis show the red glow as well. Look the Sixaxis up on Amazon and elsewhere. The dev controllers and debug units have sixaxis with the red glow though.

WhackMushroom @ Jul 9th 2007 12:08PM

no 2. is right ;) pissed me off that it didnt glow red for realzees

Tanya @ Jul 9th 2007 12:09PM

While I don't think the red PS home button is a definite indicator I do believe that this new sku will have the rumblaxis.

vannyx @ Jul 9th 2007 12:12PM

I feel cheated, i just bought the 60GB in june. I knew the price drop was coming. But a new model with 20 extra gigs and a better controller. I feel cheated. I really do. I cant return it because its past the 30 days. :-(.

Gunegune @ Jul 9th 2007 12:17PM

I doubt the red glow signifies a controller with force feed back, for all the reasons mccomber (#2)and cheese (#3) pointed out. On a side note, you can open up your controller and insert an LED so the "PS" button will glow.

Also, did anyone else notice "Limited Edition" appears on the box? What are your thoughts on that?

crazihops07 @ Jul 9th 2007 12:18PM

it has to be it, also in the haze 13 min clip on ign. the one with glamour in it, THEY BLUR OUT THE CONTROLLERS, in the video. look about 9:35 in the movie to about 10:00 u will see a dev put the controller down, and it moves in an unorthidox way.

ryano @ Jul 9th 2007 12:20PM

what did the old Analog button for the PS2 do anyway? i've never ever used it for anything...

ryano @ Jul 9th 2007 12:22PM

@Gunegune

i think packaging it with Motor Storm makes it limited. they won't be doing this for future releases. it's a timed engagement.

OrganicShadow @ Jul 9th 2007 12:22PM

I believe the rumble controller will come with 80gb PS3's, and any PS3's made later this year regardless of SKU, but I think it has nothing to do with the red button. The promo materials, and that image specifically, has always had a lit and not lit version where the PS button is. I think they are just trying to add some flair for the 80gb box art.

Hopefully they discontinue the non-rumble controller though. I think that would be the dumbest move out of all of this. Have two different SKU's with different controllers? That's like the wired and wireless deal with the 360. More crap to buy from M$ if you get the wrong model.

OmniAtlas @ Jul 9th 2007 12:37PM

My predictions for E3:

80 GB PS3 WITH RUMBLE support and a PATCHED version of motorstorm to support the rumble.

What a better way than to show the new controller off?

johnxmzzhang @ Jul 9th 2007 12:38PM

Sony just keeps dissapointing me everytime they come out with something new.... As a pioneer of the ps3(bought it on launch) I payed the full 600 for my 60gig ps3, but now the price has already cut 100$ and even worse they are offering a 80gig ps3 with possibly rumble controller, for the price that I payed for my ps3... Shouldnt the pioneers get something for buying it early? It is starting to seem like I made a bad decision of buying it early... Maybe they will do something for the pioneers like on home they will give special things or soemething for people who signed up for psn early. :( Sony makes me sad

cowpiebingo @ Jul 9th 2007 12:51PM

Compare this shot of the 80gig box http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=757875987&size=o

to the 4th photo down on this page
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/13/ps3-unboxing/

Notice a difference? Second line of the contents section.

Rumble is definitely in the 80 gig. Take it to the bank.

mccomber @ Jul 9th 2007 12:54PM

@14, it does suck, especially since we were supposed to already be playing a lot of the games we're still looking forward to.

What do you get for being an early adopter? The joy of being an early adopter. You pay the most, you have the least number of choices for games/accessories, and chances are the hardware isn't quite as good as it will be in the future. But, you get to have it first.
That pretty much covers it.

chris ciancanelli @ Jul 9th 2007 12:55PM

i've seen a bunch of videos with a glowing center 'home' button, most recently, in a "1up show" they were talking about Super Stardust HD, and they were using a controller that definitely was glowing red/amber in the center. Maybe it was on the PS3 test units - who the hell knows. But I also agree that I've seen that glowing button in other pictures, so no real surprise.

tristan88 @ Jul 9th 2007 12:57PM

seen this red ps button tons of times see it on a lot of canadan sites. even on te official playstation website before the s3 was released. this is nothng new

Anguish @ Jul 9th 2007 1:01PM

Alas guys,

Check Patrick Seybold's comment on the official Blog:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/07/08/new-ps3-new-price-drop-more-news-coming/#comment-6679

Just want to clarify for those wondering why the PS Button on the controller is red. That is what happens when you charge the controller. It is not a sign or indication of a new/different controller with the 80GB model.

Rivithed @ Jul 9th 2007 1:05PM

SCEA rep confirms that this is the same SIXAIXS with added visual effect (not rumble):

"The controller that comes with the 80GB is the same the controller we shipped at launch, in the packaging the PS button is probably lit up," said an SCEA representative."

Read Update 3 here: http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/2292/2/

ymmv @ Jul 9th 2007 1:08PM

cowpiebingo, you're right. The second line says "wireless controller" on the original retail box. On the new box the actual words are unreadable, but the interesting things is the fact that now there are three words visible. Hmmm .... wireless rumble controller perhaps?

crazihops07 @ Jul 9th 2007 1:15PM

They Know they Screwed up again. lol just with the price drop leaking. lol sony sony sony... too funny..

ymmv @ Jul 9th 2007 1:16PM

Ah, too bad... I just checked my own (European) PS3 box, and there it says Sixaxis Wireless Controller....

WhackMushroom @ Jul 9th 2007 1:23PM

8. they cannot sell it with motorstorm forever .. that would be like selling your console with madden 06 .. OHHHHH OHHHHHHHHH

OrganicShadow @ Jul 9th 2007 1:40PM

@24: The line looks a lot longer than SIXAXIS Wireless Controller. Looks almost like 4 words to me.

Either way we won't know till we know....will we? ;)

Nikos @ Jul 9th 2007 2:04PM

Sony advertises the SIXAXIS with the red led for a while now.
It’s nothing new...

Look here:

http://mivadika.com/forum/video-games/857-digital-life-2006-coverage-official-sony-flier-playstation-3-a.html

Kevin @ Jul 9th 2007 2:05PM

Anyone willing to speculate that this version will be lacking the Emotion Engine for PS2 games?

I'm betting on it.

Deathalo @ Jul 9th 2007 2:10PM

The red button is on the sony DEBUG controllers (not available to consumers). It lights up when you charge it, they mentioned this at the playstation.blog, Patrick Seybold wrote that in comment 268 in the price drop blog. Whether or not they will eventually add that into the new rumble controllers is anyones guess and has yet to be determined. I think it would be cool if they did, but it has shown up before so they might not. Also it is possible they will release the rumble SIXAXIS soon so if they added it in with the new 80 gb as soon as it's released, and updated the 60gb with one too, then that would make sense.

upz @ Jul 9th 2007 2:11PM

I think we are overlooking the fact that the official picture is just a mock-up / concept and not a picture of the actual, physical box. This is very evident in the full sized Flickr images that are posted to this site.

We could interpret this in two ways: One, the old Sixaxis is shown on this concept and the new rumbling one, along with the accompanying box art will be unveiled as a surprise at E3. Or two, we are reading way too much into this.

Jason @ Jul 9th 2007 2:44PM

Kevin (29), I think you're on to something. In the large box view, on the right hand side you can read the text: "This product has limited compatibility with Playstation and Playstation 2 format software"

Glad I have my EE version.

erac3rx @ Jul 9th 2007 3:25PM

I'd be some money the LE MotorStorm bundle at $599 (with rumble controller) will only be availalble until all the 60gb models sell through.

Then they'll take MotorStorm back out, ax the 60gb model, and sell the 80gb model + rumble controller for $499.

Keep in mind the 80gb hard drive is actually the same cost as the 60gb ones... the only reason they're switching is because the manufacturers are putting 80gb on a platter now in 2.5" drives instead of 60...

byah2142 @ Jul 9th 2007 3:53PM

The red glow was actually supposed to be in the original design of the controller but was left out, supposively due to power consumption or cost. I have seen modders add in their own LED and it's actually pretty cool. They must of left it in the old ads due because of the hurry of the PS3 release, not having time to redo the image of their ads. However, seeing as its in the new box art, could the be putting the LED back in?

hakbar @ Jul 9th 2007 4:09PM

@cowpiebingo

damn man! you got it right!! very nice investigation.

JP @ Jul 9th 2007 4:17PM

Why I am funny:

The red light is the PS3's "cool game gauge." Means it's almost on empty.

har har!

Ali Mo @ Jul 9th 2007 4:56PM

THERE IS NO NEW SIXAXIS CONTROLLER!

Patrick Seybold, Sr. Manager, PR for Playstation USA has already debunked this on post 268 here:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/07/08/new-ps3-new-price-drop-more-news-coming/#comment-6679

Quote:

Just want to clarify for those wondering why the PS Button on the controller is red. That is what happens when you charge the [UPDATED-edit] “debug” controller. It is not a sign or indication of a new/different controller with the 80GB model.

Unquote.

Whyser @ Jul 9th 2007 5:58PM

Also Dave Karraker also denied it:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor-smash/scea-responds-to-mysterious-red-light-rumor-276459.php

Titty Pink @ Jul 10th 2007 4:53PM

I dunno, I've seen pix with the button lit before. Acyually, I was kinda surprised/disappointed that mine didn't illuminate when I powered it up.As far as the 80 gig, I don't feel that I need the space. Maybe if I could figure out how to add my PS3 to my network that would change. Anyone have a good source for how to maximize the PS3's powers as a PC? All the linux stuff is out there, but there isn't a one stop shop for programs and how to info. Anyone?