TGS07: Behold, the return of Rumble ... unofficially?

by Nick Doerr { Sep 19th 2007 at 9:30AM }

It seems rumble is definitely making an appearance at the Tokyo Game Show. While playing the latest build of Burnout Paradise, IGN's staff noticed that the game was giving them some good vibrations -- through a controller. It was a PS3 controller that was a bit heavier than the SIXAXIS and had a funky "Rumble" sticker attached to it. It's believed to only be a prototype, as the rumble technology seemed fairly similar to the PS2 technology. With this bit of news, we expect the formal unveiling of the official, new, rumbling Sixaxis during Kaz Hirai's keynote speech tomorrow.

Tags: sixaxis, tgs07

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TRUTH @ Sep 19th 2007 9:36AM

**Rumble is So Last Gen**

But I Want it!!!

AlanS17 @ Sep 19th 2007 9:43AM

Heck yeah! I wonder what this will do to controller battery life, though...

Alistair Braz @ Sep 19th 2007 9:45AM

I swear i just sent this in like 5mins ago...anyways Rumble is back

Nate @ Sep 19th 2007 9:51AM

Ug. Well, thanks a lot PS2 fanboys. Thanks for making Sony waste tons and tons of time and manpower on something as useless and annoying as a vibrating game controller. So, what you're saying is, instead of getting Home sooner, more exclusive games, a lower PS3 pricepoint, improved development kits, or more first party games, we get to have our hands vibrate when the car on the screen hits a guard rail? Whoopee.

Ghaleon @ Sep 19th 2007 9:55AM

Any gamer would say rumble is needed for the Playstation 3, not just Playstation 2 fanboys. Fanboys if anything would be the first to say "SONY WAS RIGHT RUMBLE IS GARBAGE"

ruibing @ Sep 19th 2007 10:06AM

I already have two sixaxis, but I would probably get rumble one when it comes out. I hope it can be used for PS2 games.

FrankTheCrank @ Sep 19th 2007 10:08AM

Sony needs more than just an updated Dual Shock controller.

Give us some cool waggle friendly controllers.

The Dual Shock design is not waggle friendly.

Josh @ Sep 19th 2007 10:28AM

Thank you Sony...I will now buy a PS3. I'm glad that Sony has listened to the gamers on this one.

Neil @ Sep 19th 2007 1:05PM

This news is just meh for me, I love car games (Gran Turismo the most) and the rumble was often too much and left your hands feeling like they were vibrating,even without the controller in your hand.

I'm not against having rumble but not having it wasn't a big deal for me.

wonway01 @ Sep 19th 2007 10:37AM

I still want a controler with ajustable voltage shock. Depending on the situation the voltage increases to the point you have to drop the controler.

Now I'd buy that!

TheSh0wstopper @ Sep 19th 2007 10:39AM

"as the rumble technology seemed fairly similar to the PS2 technology"

It better be a prototype. The new controllers should have the touch sense technology. If it doesnt then they are gonna eat their words about rumble being last gen.

TheSh0wstopper
"who needs a vibrator when you can have a rumble axis"

Luke @ Sep 19th 2007 10:39AM

Rumble is "last-gen"? Sounds like a cliche buzzword to me. Rumble and its younger cooler brother Force Feedback are the wave of the future - such developments immerse the gamer more than without it. Take it easy.

Ste @ Sep 19th 2007 10:43AM

I must be the only gamer on the planet that doesn't enjoy rumble...

It just takes me "out" of the game instead of immersing me in it more.

Pepe @ Sep 19th 2007 10:47AM

no matter what ... the invention of rumble is responsible for one of my most memorable videogame moments ever.

after that psycho guy in mgs said: "put down your controller and I'll show you my mental powers", seeing him doing his mind tricks and then watching the controller wander across that laminate floor just blew me away.

classic stuff!

NATO_Duke @ Sep 19th 2007 10:47AM

Josh - seriously, c'mon, really...you want us to believe you didn't get a PS3 because of rumble....c'mon man.

Illusion8400 @ Sep 19th 2007 10:47AM

For all those saying that Sony fucked up for stating "Rumble is a last gen tech"

Here is a qoute from Phil Harrison, I think it was from an interview with 1UP

"Well we were in a legal battle, what did you expect us to say? Now that its behind us we can look to the future and maybe see rumble implemented again."

Nuff said, that's it, no more comments, all is well know.

Semler @ Sep 19th 2007 10:49AM

I wish they'd offer some kind of trade-up program for those of us that bought a full compliment of controllers.

Popfrogs @ Sep 19th 2007 11:22AM

@16: No shit. Sony should send us all coupons so we can trade in our normal Sixaxis controllers. Why should we suffer because Sony was embroiled in a lawsuit with Immersion? Why should we pay twice for something that should have been settled and shipped Nov. 17th, 2006?

I'm not being indignant here but Sony needs to make a concession for us. Pack the new boxes with the new controllers, recall and retrofit every old controller in the supply chain, and send us coupons or free controllers.

minimalniemand @ Oct 9th 2007 12:41PM

Rumble is the definition of pointless last gen crap. As long as it just vibrates, no matter what happens in the game its nonsense.
I turned it off in all games back in the days and I will do so if they implement it in future controllers, too

mystical_304 @ Sep 19th 2007 11:52AM

We don't need to play Bioshock to know how cool rumble is. I found more immersion shaking my controller to get a monster off me in Resistance than just feeling a rumble everytime a bomb goes off, or everytime a tank rolls by, or everytime I take a footstep, or..wait..Rumble is so immersive it rumbled in just about everything you did last generation! That's innovation and the way of the future! Forget the controller becoming a wheel during racing games, it just needs to rumble when you hit a wall...because you know cars rumble when they do that right? Forget flying your Warhawk with the tilt, we just need rumble everytime we fire a missle, or shoot the gun, because that's much...much better. I don't like taking steps back just to please a sensless feature.

And as far as MSG goes, I was more wow'd when he read data off my memory card more so than the rumbling scene.

Popfrogs @ Sep 19th 2007 11:56AM

@20: I agree. Just vibrating really is last-gen. Touchsense is next-gen and I can't wait to experience it for myself.

And the thing with Psycho Mantis was sweet. It took me forever to figure out unplugging the controller and putting it in port 2 so he'd quit reading my moves. THAT was innovation.

UltimateNinja9 @ Sep 19th 2007 12:07PM

If you have a surround sound system with a decent subwoofer then you don't need rumble. I still want it though and i think they should call the new controller KIXAXIS.

joining the dark side @ Sep 19th 2007 12:48PM

rumble is stupid i turn it off on the ps2 and 360 controllers, i'm sure i'll do the same if i have to get one of these at some point. it is just plain annoying. thanks you stupid whining fanboys, i'm sure this will make future controllers cheaper, NOT. why waste the time and money on this crap? instead they could have used the resources on something useful. there are meny things they could have done instead of this including trying to make handheld controllers to rival the nintendos controllers, which i believe is the main reason (fun factor) they are winning this war. price dont hurt either but i think that is the number 2 reason.

Josh @ Sep 19th 2007 12:53PM

NATO Duke - Rumble wasn't the only thing that was holding me back but it was one of the big things. The firmware 2.0 update should take care of the main issues I had, #1 being that you can't play music while in a game. With 2.0 being released soon, a price cut on the horizon and finally some good games out I can justify the purchase. I have absolutely no interest in Home but have always been a big fan of some of the exclusives Sony holds (MGS, FF, God of War, etc).

B1gC72 @ Sep 19th 2007 2:24PM

i cant believe people were actually not buying PS3's just because it didnt have rumble. that is just plain retarded. half the time i dont even notice the rumble as it is. i even turn it off if i know there isnt going to be any part of the game that i would have a disadvantage because it was off. no rumble is not a reason to completely shun a console.

anyway, i only bought 3 controllers so ill probably get one when it comes out just to have 4 controllers.

Tim Parsons @ Sep 19th 2007 2:56PM

wow can't belelive how many say Rumble is useless, last gen and so on,. if it is then simply put DONT BUY ONE amd just STFU about it.

John Q Sample @ Sep 19th 2007 3:47PM

I was on the fence regarding whether I should buy a 360 or a PS3, but this is the final feather that will lean me over. I'm getting a PS3 now. Unless Halo 3 gets a 10 on IGN, and a 10 would be the only thing to justify its super hype right now.

So yeah rumble is big for me. As long as they keep tilt in, then yeah. Touchsense would be even better.