"What's Up with the New Controller?

A part from the stir around the authenticity of the game footage shown, almost everyone had something to say about the new Playstation controller; not surprisingly, the comments wer mostly negative. What's the deal? The new "boomerang" shaped pad is a major departure from the time-tested (and nearly perfect, in our opinion) design of the DualShock controller. Sony has said that the design is subject to change, but executives at the company just recently admitted to the Japanese media that any design tweaks will probably be minor at most.

Contrary to popular belief, the new controller design isn't just to "be different." The actual reason behind it is the patent infringement squabble currently going on betweenSony and Immersion, a company that produces force feedback technology-technology that, according to a court decision, Sony's DualShock controller is more than a little derivation of. Rather than license Immersion technology, Sony has opted to change its own, leading to the new PS3 controller design.

The new pad is based around interference-free, Bluetooth wireless technology and has a built-in rechargeable battery. To charge it, you'll just connect a mini-to-standard USB cable into the top of the pad and one of the four USB ports on the front of the PS3. It's also possible that the pad USB port could be used for a corded voice headset.""