SONY PLAYSTATION SIXAXIS DUALSHOCK 3 PROTOTYPE VERY VERY RARE
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:1218314 | Model: PlayStation DualShock 3 |
| Platform: Sony PlayStation 3 | Brand: Sony |
| UPC: Does not apply |
Welcome to my auction!
Up for sale is a VERY RARE prototype Sony Sixaxis / DualShock 3 controller.PLEASE READ the description below for my observations and research about this pad!
This is one of the earliest known forms of the PlayStation 3 pad and one of the first after the "boomerang" mockup shown at E3 2006. This version is confirmed to have shipped out with some of the earliest devkits, before the console hit the market.
Apparently, at the time Sony were still... trying to figure out the construction and shape of the final revision. Hence, this controller closely resembles a DualShock 2 in appearance and form - the dimensions are the same, and the plastic used in the mold has a similar sparkle to it (albeit toned down) with a little lighter color. The R2 buttons, for example, are the same as a PlayStation 2 controller, and don't have the trigger-like shape of the final controller. The buttons and analog sticks appear to be the same as a DualShock 2.
There are no "Sixaxis" markings on the body, and at the time, the Analog button was still present.
The back of the controller has also been modified to include housing for the internal battery, which at the time was larger than the final one and required a protruding section in the middle.
There is a sticker on the back informing that the controller hasn't been inspected and authorized by the FCC, and is being imported only for testing. It is believed that this particular example came from a game studio in the UK.
So far, there are two known revisions of this pad: one with a protruding board on top with the 14-pin connector next to it, and one with two miniUSB ports (this).
This is a totally different, earlier prototype than the more popular version that very closely resembles the final Sixaxis/DualShock 3 - the one that already has the PS button (with a light).
This controller is noticeably different than the other examples that I've sold on eBay. The information about these prototypes is so scarce that it's been very hard to piece together any solid information. Here's what I've been able to gather from my observations and research on this matter.
- The motherboard of this controller is marked MSU REV3 M2, and the other controllers that I offered for sale so far were MSU REV5.1.
- The motherboard construction is different, and the REV3 M2 pads have two boards sandwiched together, while the REV5.1 pads are of a single board construction, similar to final DualShock 3's.
- The internal battery is also different. In REV3 M2 pads it's in a cool, metal casing with no markings, while REV5.1 pads have "US323450A7T" batteries dated 2006/3/2 that looked more like regular DS3 batteries (but not quite there yet).
- The top of the controller doesn't have the protruding board with four LEDs, the optical and 14-pin connectors and the miniUSB port. Instead, it only has two miniUSB ports (made by Tekcon) which this time are flush with the body, with one of them covered up with black tape. The 14-pin connector is inside on the motherboard and not accessible without taking the whole thing apart, while the optical connector and LEDs are missing completely.
- REV3 M2 pads don't have motors, which makes sense due to the Sony vs. Immersion lawsuit going on during the console's development. Because of this, the Sixaxis controllers that shipped with first retail PS3's didn't have vibration functions. The situation changed in 2006, when the case was settled and DualShock 3's were released in their full glory. It doesn't appear that there are contact points on the motherboard to solder the motors to, so I'm guessing REV3 M2 pads didn't have them at all.
- Because there are no motors, the plastic frame holding the internals is also different.
Given how this controller is marked MSU REV3 M2 should, by all logic, place it as an even earlier prototype than the REV5.1.This doesn't however answer the questions of why is the optical port missing and why is the 14-pin one inside, not readily accessible, and why are there no LEDs?
Why do REV5.1 pads have the protruding board on top, which gives them a true look of a piece of technology that's in early development, while REV3 M2 pads are tidier with their construction?
Or does the "M2" in REV3 M2 stands for Model 2? Perhaps Sony, when they lost the case to Immersion, went back to the drawing board, to an earlier Revision 3 pad, and developed the Model 2 that included all of the necessary changes?
Or is this really an earlier Revision, just a second model of it?
Unfortunately, I do not have a PS3 devkit to test this controller.
According to my information, the prototypes still worked with retail PS3's up to a certain system update.
Given that these were made by ALPS and Sony, and knowing the DualShock's legendary durability, I wouldn't be suprised if they still worked, but please note that I cannot test them.
This is a unique chance to own a very rare piece of gaming history. There is very little information of these controllers, aside from the fact that most sit with collectors that own the earliest devkit revisions.
Shipping is from Warsaw, Poland. I will ship via Polish Post's priority tracked service.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for your interest!
00157
Up for sale is a VERY RARE prototype Sony Sixaxis / DualShock 3 controller.PLEASE READ the description below for my observations and research about this pad!
This is one of the earliest known forms of the PlayStation 3 pad and one of the first after the "boomerang" mockup shown at E3 2006. This version is confirmed to have shipped out with some of the earliest devkits, before the console hit the market.
Apparently, at the time Sony were still... trying to figure out the construction and shape of the final revision. Hence, this controller closely resembles a DualShock 2 in appearance and form - the dimensions are the same, and the plastic used in the mold has a similar sparkle to it (albeit toned down) with a little lighter color. The R2 buttons, for example, are the same as a PlayStation 2 controller, and don't have the trigger-like shape of the final controller. The buttons and analog sticks appear to be the same as a DualShock 2.
There are no "Sixaxis" markings on the body, and at the time, the Analog button was still present.
The back of the controller has also been modified to include housing for the internal battery, which at the time was larger than the final one and required a protruding section in the middle.
There is a sticker on the back informing that the controller hasn't been inspected and authorized by the FCC, and is being imported only for testing. It is believed that this particular example came from a game studio in the UK.
So far, there are two known revisions of this pad: one with a protruding board on top with the 14-pin connector next to it, and one with two miniUSB ports (this).
This is a totally different, earlier prototype than the more popular version that very closely resembles the final Sixaxis/DualShock 3 - the one that already has the PS button (with a light).
This controller is noticeably different than the other examples that I've sold on eBay. The information about these prototypes is so scarce that it's been very hard to piece together any solid information. Here's what I've been able to gather from my observations and research on this matter.
- The motherboard of this controller is marked MSU REV3 M2, and the other controllers that I offered for sale so far were MSU REV5.1.
- The motherboard construction is different, and the REV3 M2 pads have two boards sandwiched together, while the REV5.1 pads are of a single board construction, similar to final DualShock 3's.
- The internal battery is also different. In REV3 M2 pads it's in a cool, metal casing with no markings, while REV5.1 pads have "US323450A7T" batteries dated 2006/3/2 that looked more like regular DS3 batteries (but not quite there yet).
- The top of the controller doesn't have the protruding board with four LEDs, the optical and 14-pin connectors and the miniUSB port. Instead, it only has two miniUSB ports (made by Tekcon) which this time are flush with the body, with one of them covered up with black tape. The 14-pin connector is inside on the motherboard and not accessible without taking the whole thing apart, while the optical connector and LEDs are missing completely.
- REV3 M2 pads don't have motors, which makes sense due to the Sony vs. Immersion lawsuit going on during the console's development. Because of this, the Sixaxis controllers that shipped with first retail PS3's didn't have vibration functions. The situation changed in 2006, when the case was settled and DualShock 3's were released in their full glory. It doesn't appear that there are contact points on the motherboard to solder the motors to, so I'm guessing REV3 M2 pads didn't have them at all.
- Because there are no motors, the plastic frame holding the internals is also different.
Given how this controller is marked MSU REV3 M2 should, by all logic, place it as an even earlier prototype than the REV5.1.This doesn't however answer the questions of why is the optical port missing and why is the 14-pin one inside, not readily accessible, and why are there no LEDs?
Why do REV5.1 pads have the protruding board on top, which gives them a true look of a piece of technology that's in early development, while REV3 M2 pads are tidier with their construction?
Or does the "M2" in REV3 M2 stands for Model 2? Perhaps Sony, when they lost the case to Immersion, went back to the drawing board, to an earlier Revision 3 pad, and developed the Model 2 that included all of the necessary changes?
Or is this really an earlier Revision, just a second model of it?
Unfortunately, I do not have a PS3 devkit to test this controller.
According to my information, the prototypes still worked with retail PS3's up to a certain system update.
Given that these were made by ALPS and Sony, and knowing the DualShock's legendary durability, I wouldn't be suprised if they still worked, but please note that I cannot test them.
This is a unique chance to own a very rare piece of gaming history. There is very little information of these controllers, aside from the fact that most sit with collectors that own the earliest devkit revisions.
Shipping is from Warsaw, Poland. I will ship via Polish Post's priority tracked service.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for your interest!
00157
