Nyko PS3 rumble controller beats DualShock 3 to market

by Nick Doerr { Mar 7th 2008 at 2:30PM }

As you could probably deduce from the subject line, Nyko has unleashed their third-party rumble and motion controller upon the world. Before we even get our hands on a first party controller (besides importing), no less. So, if you really want to, you can purchase the wireless monstrosity pictured above. It retails for $59.99, which is $5 more than the DualShock 3 will retail at. (Note: It's currently $50 on amazon.com.) It's your call, but for some people the size might actually be a plus. For you see, some people are used to handling giant tools in their hands. And by tools we, of course, mean controllers.

Expect a full hands-on shortly.

Gallery: Nyko PS3 Zero controller

Tags: dualshock-3, nyko, rumble, zero

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Hyams @ Mar 7th 2008 2:34PM

Haha ... penis.

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Do these controllers do motion sensing? Most 3rd party PS3 controllers don't, which kind of sucks.

Eddie @ Mar 7th 2008 2:55PM

Ha!

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It clearly says "...Nyko has unleashed their third-party rumble and motion controller upon the world."

You got the Penis, but you didn't get that? Weird...

Popfrogs @ Mar 7th 2008 4:07PM

Maybe he was reading it cockeyed. See what I did there? ;)

Hyams @ Mar 7th 2008 6:46PM

I was distracted by the penises.

... so big...

emaxximus @ Mar 8th 2008 9:55AM

"Expect a full hands on shortly"

...and mabey we'll test the new controller too

Eggy @ Mar 8th 2008 5:36PM

penis puns are funny

alex @ Mar 7th 2008 2:34PM

Worth looking into.

Jason B. @ Mar 7th 2008 2:35PM

Isn't the whole point behind 3rd party peripherals is that they are supposed to be cheaper?

drdre74 @ Mar 7th 2008 2:36PM

will games with motion control work with these? Just wondering.

Eddie @ Mar 7th 2008 2:55PM

"...Nyko has unleashed their third-party rumble and motion controller upon the world."

Jason B. @ Mar 7th 2008 2:42PM

The controllers have motion and rumble, according to Nyko's website.

Killer Loki @ Mar 7th 2008 2:46PM

Don't know about you but those controllers look uncomfortable and oddly shaped.

Dan Davis @ Mar 7th 2008 2:47PM

Who cares? Rumble is last-gen technology...

Dahk @ Mar 7th 2008 2:51PM

May be last-gen, but just as crucial in the current-gen.

Heck, rumble is even being implemented for tactile feel in apps for iPhones and whatnot during typing and clicking. Thus, the newly labelled "Tactile Sensation" is new-gen.

http://iphonegap.com/2008/03/05/virtual-iphone-keyboard-with-tactile-sensations/

... some random news for you =P. It's a Friday and I'm at work =/.

Eddie @ Mar 7th 2008 2:56PM

HAHA!

ryan @ Mar 8th 2008 2:59PM

"rumble is last-gen"

umm, that was Sony's PR back in the day of SIXAXIS if you can't recall. that was a huge reason why i was never initially excited for the PS3. because of that BS.

but now Dualshock 3 is coming out.

i may just pick up this controller tho, at the least the R2 and L2 actually look like real triggers compared to the SIXAXIS R2 and L2.

Dan Davis @ Mar 8th 2008 11:29PM

Yeah, that was sarcasm, if you can't recall.

tjmwiles @ Mar 7th 2008 2:49PM

The controller you are linking to does not have rumble.

Nyko's Description: "The Zero controller is an entirely new ergonomic design, built to maximize comfort for all players while providing a unique and stylish appearance. With full six-direction tilt functionality and vibration support, the Zero is fully compatible with all PS3 software and control schemes. "

Amazon's Description: "The Zero controller is an entirely new ergonomic design, built to maximize comfort for all players while providing a unique and stylish appearance. With full six-direction tilt functionality, the Zero is compatible with all PS3 software and control schemes."

Notice the lack of rumble mentioned?

A reviewer on amazon :"my only complaint is that all of the print ads i have seen for it as well as nyko's product description on their website list this controller as having rumble. it doesnt. there is a tiny disclaimer on nyko's site saying that the next version will feature rumble but wont be released until late march/april. if i had known that i would have waited to buy one."

Organic_Shadow @ Mar 7th 2008 3:10PM

Correct. NOBODY has the rumble+tilt version yet, as it JUST SHIPPED YESTERDAY. Go look at the Nyko site, the press release was posted yesterday.

Don't expect to see them on shelves until early next week- much less Amazon.

WE REPEAT: AMAZON DOESN'T HAVE THE ONE WITH TILE AND RUMBLE- JUST RUMBLE.

Dahk @ Mar 7th 2008 2:57PM

From IGN:

- Dual vibration motors for full rumble feedback in supported games*
*Please check game manual for rumble support options.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/857/857467p1.html
__________

IGN's review (sorry to... distract from your soon-to-be hands-on PS3F =P): http://gear.ign.com/articles/852/852422p1.html

They say: The rumble pack is housed in the main section of the controller, and is ready to go out of the box. As long as you're playing something like Ratchet and Clank that's already rumble-ready, it'll start kicking the moment you fire. It's a bit less of a shake than 360's pack, but it still feels nice to have that tactile feel back again. As for the six-axis technology, Zero does a fine job, and it feels identical to the current PS3 standard.

Enjoy!

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 7th 2008 3:10PM

It actually resembles the 360 controller way more now. Which is a BIG+ IMO. Im gonna ck this out. Might buy this one over teh DualShk3

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 7th 2008 3:14PM

Thumb Indentations FTW!!!!

Zoesch @ Mar 7th 2008 4:48PM

Now that you mention it, that might make me buy one for FPS sessions... depends on how good the D-Pad is and I might pick these with rumble instead of the DS3

FreshJulius @ Mar 7th 2008 3:15PM

Is this Steampunk?

Popfrogs @ Mar 7th 2008 4:09PM

No but you can paint it a rusty copper color and it will be. Don't forget the green around the bolts.

edboy @ Mar 7th 2008 3:39PM

for only a bit more you can import the DS3 (in black, white, and silver!). i have one, it rules my life...

yomama07024 @ Mar 7th 2008 3:41PM

This thing is freakin ugly. Wait for the Dualshock 3 because it is cheaper and it looks nicer.

BlitzyMighty @ Mar 7th 2008 4:04PM

PS3FANBOY NEEDS TO TAKE DOWN THIS AMAZON LINK! It is the model Nyko released last year, which sometimes worked, sometimes didn't, and had no rumble. I just called my local Gamestop, and they said they got in the new version yesterday, March 6, that DOES have rumble. I'm gonna try to buy it after work, as you can get your money back if you keep the packaging. I'll post again with impressions, as Sony's controller is way to small and slippery.

Fraser JK @ Mar 7th 2008 4:05PM

Yeah right, like I'd want a Boomerang!

Otsego_Undead @ Mar 7th 2008 4:32PM

Too bad nyko products are balls, not to mention fugly.

StevenRafael @ Mar 7th 2008 4:34PM

Atleast it ain't Madkatz.

Popfrogs @ Mar 7th 2008 4:58PM

Well after reading over at IGN and seeing better pictures, here's my take on this thing.

Pros:
-bigger than the dainty Sixaxis (I have man hands, 6' 7" and the sixaxis cramps me up sometimes)
-concave analog sticks
-home button/PS button
-rumble + tilt

Cons:
-goofy battery pack, not internal like the sixaxis
-crappy one-piece d-pad like the Xbox
-wireless dongle. WTF? Bluetooth is built in! And judging by the 30 foot range, this is a Bluetooth dongle, so it's a double WTF.

Does anyone know why 3rd parties can't/won't use the PS3's bluetooth?

TinyTim121 @ Mar 7th 2008 8:43PM

lol fair points made. I personally prefer Dualshock 3, but people who get cramps with Sixaxis may see this as a better alternative

As for the 3rd parties Bluetooth dongle, i would guess maybe with something extra added, it gives them a good excuse to raise the price (Although producing a Bluetooth dongle would add to production costs) or maybe the only way they can get the rumble and tilt to work is through another USB Bluetooth device (And i doubt that also cause just about anything works with PS3's bluetooth. Headsets ect. They don't need a dongle)

I would guess its just to raise the prices.

Bran @ Mar 7th 2008 6:09PM

I have always preferred the 360's controller. It feels like it was molded to match my hands. The sixaxis/ds3/ps2/ps1 controller are just not comfortable like the 360's. I suppose if all you want to do is play tekken, then the ds3 is where it's at.

If this is like the 360 controller, then I'm in.

Draeconius @ Mar 7th 2008 7:48PM

bah....im not impressed, i already have a dualshock3 and i didnt even have to import it....and i live in Canada. They had one at the video store near my house.

Kevin @ Mar 7th 2008 9:49PM

MadCatz and Nyco.
WORST 3rd party peripheral developers ever.

360s chubby design works well for those with larger
(or chubby) fingers. I have small deft fingers. the SIXAXIS/DS3 is perfect for me. I can feel a significant drop in ability whenever I play with the 360 controller.
My friend can't play on the PS3 controller because his hands are too large. He sticks to PC gaming.

xrich @ Mar 7th 2008 9:54PM

ridiculously big..ridiculously expensive...

Pukel @ Mar 8th 2008 2:23AM

I can't stand the PS2/3 controller layout and find it unusable for FPS. Many here seem to feel the opposite way.

Surely the moral is that third-party peripheral manufacturers need to broaden their design ideas for controllers. If Nyko had moved the left analog stick to the 'Xbox' position then we'd be talking.

The only reason I don't own a PS3 is the controller (specifically, the left analog stick position and shape). Laughable, but I doubt I'm the only one who places more importance on the controller than on the graphics chip. The success of the Wii would seem to agree with my theory . . .

George Arauz @ Mar 8th 2008 9:32AM

man those things are ugly

BlitzyMighty @ Mar 8th 2008 1:18PM

BOUGHT THIS NEW CONTROLLER YESTERDAY at gamestop store...
I gotta say its nice so far. The rumble feels great. The controller is wonderfully larger that the standard, and you can use AA batteries if you want. Having to plug in and sync up with the USB dongle is a little annoying, and the square, circle, etc buttons are a little close together. Also, it seems that theres a little bit of play in the right analog stick, like you have to move it a tiny bit past the center range for it to register, but its REALLY responsive and its great having indented thumbpads. Overall I think its a good buy and we should stick it to Sony anyway for having such a reatrded approach to releasing the new DualShock, especially releasing outside of Japan in f-ing APRIL. I have four Sixaxis controllers as it is, but I'll just sell one on ebay and get some money back.

RPMd70 @ Mar 8th 2008 6:15PM

i'm just gonna wait and buy the ds3... i personally like the tilt action (heavenly sword aftertouch was fun) i'm thinking that the ds3 will have both tilt and good vibrations. well, i hope so at least...