SONY Playstation3 Dualshock3 Controller vs. Sixaxis vs. Dualshock2 Review

This is a review of the Japanese Playstation3 Dualshock3 Controller (Ceramic White version).

The Dualshock3 is the successor to the PS3 Sixaxis controller. Already out in Japan, the Dualshock3 is due to be released on April 15th in the United States. I was able to get a Dualshock3 in December from a friend in Japan. The good news is that the Japanese version works without problem on the American PS3. The Dualshock3 is currently available in two flavors: Ceramic White and Black. I got the white one and find it useful to differentiate between the Dualshock3 and the Black Sixaxis I own.

The main difference between the two controllers is the Dualshock function which causes the controller to vibrate during game play. This is similar to the function on the Dualshock2 which was available on the PS2. There are some subtle differences though.

PS3 Dualshock3 versus PS3 Sixaxis:

The first thing you notice is that the Dualshock3 at 192.0 grams is significantly heavier than the Sixaxis at 137.1 grams. This added weight is due to the rumble mechanism. If you're used to the old PS2 Dualshock2 controller, you'll like this better. I've owned this for over 3 months now and one thing I've noticed is that the analog joystick seems to be a bit more sensitive on the Dualshock3 than on the Sixaxis. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. I suppose the greater sensitivity lends itself to finer control, but I also find myself slicing a lot more golf shots with the Dualshock3 because it is harder to move the joystick straight up and down. The difference between the two controllers is significant enough that I specifically use the Sixaxis over the Dualshock3 when playing golf games. If you're already used to the PS2 Dualshock2's vibrating controller, the Dualshock3 brings back what's been missing from PS2 games like Champions: Return to Arms, and adds another dimension to PS3 games like Motorstorm and Burnout Paradise. Battery life for the Dualshock3 is shorter than the Sixaxis with the vibration function enabled, but seems comparable with it disabled. With regards to the Sixaxis function, I didn't notice much of a difference between the two.

PS3 Dualshock3 versus PS2 Dualshock2:

Besides having the obvious differences like the addition of Sixaxis control and the new variable control R2 and L2 trigger buttons, the Dualshock3 is ever so slightly heavier than the Dualshock2. I'm guessing this is due to the added battery. However, if you were given one without the other to compare it to, it would be quite difficult to notice any difference in weight. In terms of analog joystick sensitivity, I would say that the Dualshock2 is similar to the Sixaxis, and that the Dualshock3 is more sensitive. The rumble feature on the Dualshock3 seems stronger than my PS2 controller, but not as precise. For example, in Champions: Return to Arms, the heart beat feels more realistic on the PS2. On the Dualshock3, it feels stronger, but more sloppy.

In summary, if you've owned a PS2 and miss the vibration function of the Dualshock2, the Dualshock3 is a definite buy. If you were never a big fan of the vibration function, but are uncomfortable with the weight of the Sixaxis, you might get one just for the heft and leave the vibration function off. If you're into golf games like I am, you may not want to get rid of your Sixaxis as I sincerely feel that the Sixaxis is a more forgiving "club". When all is said and done, there's little to complain about this upgrade to a classic design.

How to install a new Playstation 3 hard drive and NOT lose your data

Transfer your games, game-saves, video and music from your old Playstation 3 (PS3) HD to a new one.

What you will need:
1) A PC
2) External USB HD with at least as much capacity as the data you want to transfer over.
3) The 2.5" SATA HD you are going to install. (It must be a SATA 2.5" laptop HD)
4) A GOOD Philips head screwdriver.

What to do in a nutshell:
1) Format an external USB HD as Fat32
2) Connect external USB HD to PS3
3) Back up existing PS3 HD to external USB HD
4) Install new 2.5" SATA HD
5) Restore external USB HD data to new PS3 HD

What to do step by step:

Step 1: Format an external USB HD as FAT32!!!
Turn on your PC and connect the external USB drive to your PC. If you have a 20 GB PS3, then you can just format your drive as FAT32 and go to the next step. The PS3 only recognizes the FAT32 format so a NTFS formatted drive WILL NOT WORK.

If you need to save more than 32GB, then you will need to use a program like Western Digital's Data Life Guard Tools to format your HD as FAT32. Click here and download the Data Life Guard Tools. Install the program following directions. Plug in your USB HD and run the program. Click on "Set Up Your Hard Drive". Click on the USB tab, select your device and click next. Check "Select this box if you want to change advanced options". Then check "Custom Partition" and click next. Delete any partitions you may have. Slide the slider to 100% and click on "Properties". Check "FAT32"and hit OK. Click on "Add Partition" and then click next. Click "Erase", next, then "Yes". Click "Done" and close out the program. Your External USB HD is ready to use!

Step 2: Connect external USB HD to PS3
Remove your external USB Hard Drive from your PC and connect it to the PS3’s USB ports. Turn on PS3.

Step 3: Back up existing PS3 HD to external USB HD
On your Xross Media Bar (XMB) Go to Settings>System Settings>Backup Utility>Backup and follow directions (Copying a 60GB took me about 90 minutes).

Step 4: Install new 2.5" SATA HD
Power down your PS3 and turn off the PS3 with the switch in the back. Unplug your PS3.
Stand the PS3 on its Right side. On the top (left side of PS3), you should see a plastic cover with a sticker on it. Remove this cover. (I found the best way to do this without scratching anything is to put your fingernail in the slot on one end and squeeze the cover by pushing towards the other end. This will cause the cover to arch and the middle section of the cover should bulge towards you. While doing this, grab the bulging part of the cover with your other hand and pull up.) After the cover is removed, unscrew the blue screw making sure it doesn’t fall inside the unit. Flip up the wire handle and slide towards the front of the unit. Then slide the hard drive and bracket assembly out. There are four small silver screws that hold the HD in its bracket. A word of caution. The screws holding the HD to the HD bracket are VERY TIGHT. Make sure you have a good Philips head screwdriver and be careful not to strip the head of the screws. Before you remove the HD, compare it to the new one and make sure they are similar and also note its orientation with respect to the bracket. Remove the screws and replace the HD. Replace the 4 screws. Slide the HD back into the PS3 and then slide it towards the rear of the unit. Replace the blue screw and fold down the wire handle. Replace the plastic cover. Plug the PS3 back in and turn it on. The PS3 will now detect an unformatted drive and ask you of you want to format. Hit yes and restart the system when done formatting.

Step 5: Restore external USB HD data to new PS3 HD
Go to Settings>System Settings>Backup Utility>Restore and follow directions (Wait another 90 minutes). Restart.

That's it. You’re done.
If everything went well, all of your games, game saves, music, and videos, should be there. If you were part way through a video, it will even remember where you left off as well! Enjoy your new PS3!