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The DualShock (officially DUALSHOCK and occasionally referred to as Dual Shock) is a line of vibration-feedback gamepads by Sony for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. The DualShock was introduced in Japan in late 1997, and launched in America in May 1998, meeting with critical success. First introduced as a secondary peripheral for the original PlayStation, a revised PlayStation version came with the controller and subsequently phased out the digital controller that was originally included with the hardware, as well as the Sony Dual Analog Controller.

Sony released the DualShock controller in different colors. Translucent Ocean Blue is shown here

The DualShock analog controller (SCPH-1200) is a controller capable of providing feedback based on the onscreen action of the game (if the game supports it), or Vibration Function. The controller is called Dual Shock because the controller has two vibration motors: a weak buzzing motor (like cell phone or pager vibration), and a strong rumble motor, similar to that of the Nintendo 64's Rumble Pak. Unlike the Rumble Pak, however, the DualShock uses the PlayStation to power the vibration function, whereas the Rumble Pak uses batteries. Some third party DualShock controllers use batteries in lieu of the PSone's power supply. This rumble feature is similar to the one featured on the first edition of the Japanese Dual Analog, a feature that was removed shortly after that controller was released.

The controller was widely supported; shortly after its launch, most new titles including Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro the Dragon, and Tekken 3 included support for the vibration function and/or analog sticks, some games designed for the original vibration ability of the Dual Analog such as Porsche Challenge also work. Many games took advantage of the presence of two motors to provide vibration effects in stereo; for example, Gran Turismo or the PlayStation port of Quake II. Released in 1999, the PlayStation hit Ape Escape became the first game to require the use of a Dual Shock controller.

Like its predecessor, the Dual Analog Controller, the DualShock has two analog sticks, and unlike said controller, the sticks featured rubber tips, in lieu of the grooves recessed into the Dual Analog Controller's sticks. However, the handles of the Dual Shock are a bit smaller than that of the Dual Analog Controller. The two-handle layout is one of the most ergonomic designs for a game controller, and, as a result, is used by many companies; this has included some applications very different from controlling a video game.^[1]

DualShock 2 (matte black model)

When the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system was announced, the DualShock 2 Analog Controller (SCPH-10010) included with it was exactly the same externally as the previous Dual Shock analog controller, except that it was black (colours came later), had different screw positioning (one fewer), and the Dualshock 2 logo was added. Internally, it was lighter and all of the buttons (except for the Select, Start, Analog mode, L3 and R3 buttons) were pressure sensitive. Another way to tell the PS1 and the PS2 controllers apart is that the connector that plugs into the console matches that console's memory card shape; the PS1's connector has rounded shoulders and PS2's is squared off. Although the support for it included 8-Bit analog sensitivity for the analog sticks, this can actually be achieved through the use of an original DualShock, as the potentiometers are the same.

Main article: Immersion v. Sony

In 2002, Sony and Microsoft were sued by force-feedback company Immersion for patent infringement for the use of vibration functions in their controllers. While Microsoft settled out of court, Sony continued to defend the case. Sony lost and was required to pay considerable retroactive royalties (approximately $91 million) to Immersion, for the seven years that the DualShock controller had been on the market, and suspend the sale of the controllers in the United States (including all PlayStation and PlayStation 2 console packages containing them). Sony unsuccessfully attempted to appeal the decision, and the judgment was speculated to be a contributing factor in the Sony's removal of vibration functionality from its original PlayStation 3 controller, the Sixaxis. Sony came to a settlement with Immersion, with an announcement on March 1, 2007 that two companies were planning to "explore the inclusion of Immersion technology in PlayStation format products."^[2]

Announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, the DualShock 3 is a controller for the PlayStation 3 that incorporates the features and design of the SIXAXIS wireless controller with vibration capabilities. It was released in Japan on November 11, 2007 at a retail price of JP¥5,500, in black color. The controller is expected to debut in North America and Europe in Spring 2008.^[3] Hands-on accounts at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show describe the controller as being heavier than the standard Sixaxis controller, and capable of vibration forces comparable to the DualShock 2. According to GameSpot, DualShock 3's "rumble was a touch weak";^[4] while various others reported more refined vibration effects than the DualShock 2, particularly with the Metal Gear Solid 4 demonstration.^[5]

The first release supporting the DualShock 3 was the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue free demo made available in the Japanese PlayStation Store on October 20, 2007.

A list of rumble patches (downloadable add-ons from the PlayStation Store, to add rumble to software released before September 2007) have been announced by SCEI at the TGS 2007^[6].

The DualShock controller was given an Emmy Award for "Peripheral Development and Technological Impact of Video Game Controllers" by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on January 8, 2007.^[7] Sony initially reported that the SIXAXIS had received this award^[8] before issuing a correction.^[9]

1. ^ Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987-2006 by Simon Dunstan, page 7
2. ^ Sony, Immersion Settle Patent Lawsuit Over PlayStation Console
3. ^ DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller With Rumble Feature To Be Introduced FOR PLAYSTATION®3. Sony Computer Entertainment (2007-09-20). Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
4. ^ TGS '07: Spot On - The Dual Shock 3. GameSpot. CNET. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
5. ^ Pigna, Kris (2007-09-26). Kojima Productions Says DualShock 3 Better DS2. 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
6. ^ PlayStation official TGS site (Hardware section)
7. ^ National Television Academy Announces Emmy® Winning Achievements: Honors Bestowed at 58th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards (2007-09-20). Retrieved on 2007-09-20.
8. ^ Sony Computer Entertainment America Wins Emmy Award for PLAYSTATION®3 SIXAXIS™ Wireless Controller. Sony Computer Entertainment America (2007-01-08). Archived from the original on 2007-01-10. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
9. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6164037.html