Why use the DualShock 3 when you have the Space Navigator?

by Nick Doerr { Apr 3rd 2008 at 11:30PM }

Sure, the DualShock 3 is hitting stores in a matter of days in North America, but what other peripherals are out there you should totally be using on the PlayStation 3? How about an intense 3D mouse intended for graphic artists and manipulating Google Earth? Enter the Space Navigator: essentially, it works like any mouse peripheral for the PS3.

You can use it to scroll around the XMB, surf the web, or whatever. It just looks a lot cooler than a normal mouse and since it isn't a PS3 controller, impresses friends when you mysteriously have the ability to access things on the PS3 whilst your controllers charge in plain view. Apparently, the buttons on the Space Navigator have the same effect as the X and O buttons on the DualShock 3. This means you could probably use this (or an ugly, normal mouse) for simple games like Everyday Shooter or PixelJunk Monsters. Sort of. Still -- there are a ton of peripherals that work on the PS3 and it's good to see yet another in action.

Tags: peripheral, peripherals, space-navigator

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Taylor @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:54PM

ive got the same laptop as that guys got on the video lol

the mouse looks pretty cool you tested it on a ps3 thoe?

Michael @ Apr 4th 2008 12:10AM

The dual shock 3 is in north american stores now, gosh!

hey_big_dck psn:fuliano626 @ Apr 4th 2008 12:28AM

half the fun of playing games is the controler why replace it with a mouse. mouse = noob, controllers = anti-noob

Catdogburger @ Apr 4th 2008 1:37AM

Lets try playing UT3 eh?

i get a keyboard and mouse, and you can use a controller.

I wonder who has the advantage?

hey_big_dck psn:fuliano626 @ Apr 4th 2008 6:29AM

probably i will but let me buy the game first wich i have been thinking about getting just haven't taken the plunge yet.

John @ Apr 4th 2008 11:09AM

catdogburger, nobody cares that you can own, using a keyboard and mouse. That simple thing is for babies. Play UT3 against people only using the controller-- that's where you show your real skill. As someone sorta said before, Mouses are for Babies.

Lars @ Apr 4th 2008 12:31PM

I don't understand why a more elegant HID is automatically "for babies".

I mean to say that you prefer a controller is cool, but to say anyone who doesn't use a controller is friggin 'tard, just shows how much of a condescending prick you are.

Random1448 @ Apr 4th 2008 1:20AM

I just bought a DS3 today. The EB games by my house got a couple in early. It's so cool.

Plake0815 @ Apr 4th 2008 3:12AM

Hey,

i'm supporting the 3Dcontrollers, but starting with the SpacePilot is a little bit high (it's the most expensive 3Dcontroller from 3Dconnexion, since he uses a display) it's originally meant for helping with programming 3D Models...

Try the navigator first (only the controller and just two buttons... hey, circle and square are just two ^^) for around 60€... or 50$.

I use it myself for the webbrowser and the XMB

Dahk @ Apr 4th 2008 9:33AM

In other news, I JUST GOT MY DUALSHOCK 3!

Woooooooo! Although not too many things support it right now lol. I was hoping GT:HD would, but it doesn't work lol.

Uncharted is mostly good and works as it should've, although its REALLY distracting since I haven't played with vibration functions since the PS2 lol.

John @ Apr 4th 2008 11:10AM

oh okay, lol. Hey lol what's your middle name is it LOL? lol, wow you are so funny when you type LOL, lol I can almost feel it lol.

farfisa @ Apr 4th 2008 11:21AM

Was anybody else waiting for the part in the video where it hooks up to a PS3?

Lars @ Apr 4th 2008 12:37PM

I was too. I don't understand how Nick can make the assumption that it will work in any other way than a mouse. Mice won't work in games unless they specifically allow it. If Everyday Shooter had mouse support, now that would be news all on it's own.

Also it looks damn slow. Doesn't look like more than just a silly gimmick to me.

Fernando @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:06PM

I borrowed a spacenavigator and a spacepilot from work to try on my PS3.
It does not work like like Nick claims.

I use it on a PC and on a MAC, for both platforms it requires a driver that enables you to configure the response from each axis and also lets you configure what the buttons do.

I'd like to see Nick post a video where he can make either device work with a PS3.

Is it real or is it speculation?
There is a forum at 3DConnexion (the makers of the hardware) where you can see some interest on people developing applications that can use the pilot or navigator on Linux or Unix but nothing on the PS3 so far.