Sixaxis: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:51, 7 March 2019

The Sixaxis Wireless Controller is the wireless controller for the Sony PlayStation 3. It is notable for being able to be tilted to further control games such as Grand Theft Auto IV.

Feature and Design Changes

Wikipedia has an article on:

Sixaxis

The Sixaxis can operate wirelessly via Bluetooth; up to 7 simultaneous controllers are supported natively by the console.

The main new feature of the controller is the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration along all three dimensional axes, providing a full six degrees of freedom.

The Sixaxis, while similar in shape to the original DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers, features finer analog sensitivity than the DualShock 2. The controller also features more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, with an increased range of depression. In the place of the "Analog" mode button switch of previous dual analog models is a jewel-like "PS button" with the PlayStation logo, which can be used to access the home menu and turn the console on or off.

Sony announced that because of the included motion sensors, the vibration feature of previous PlayStation controllers was removed, reasoning that the vibration would interfere with motion-sensing. Some have disputed Sony's reasoning, citing that the Wii Remote controller has both motion sensing and vibration capability. In late 2007 in Japan and 2008 for North America and Europe, Sony released the DualShock 3, which is similar in design to the Sixaxis; however, force-feedback was added to the controller. With the introduction of the DualShock 3, the Sixaxis was discontinued.

Sixaxis in GTA IV

In PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV there is an option in the controller tab of the pause menu to turn on Sixaxis. Sixaxis can be used for a number of things, and each one can be turned on and off separately, so the player can use Sixaxis for what they want to use it for. Sixaxis is turned off by default. While Sixaxis is turned on, the button associated with the same action still work, so if the player is in trouble they can just hold the controller still and use the buttons.

The SISAXIS feature can be used for:

Reloading a weapon
Steering a bike
Steering a boat
Piloting a helicopter

Going to the phone and choosing "Sixaxis Tutorial" will activate a training side-mission; see below.

Sixaxis Tutorial

The Sixaxis Tutorial is training level offered in the PS3 version of GTA IV; it is available at anytime (except during missions) via Niko's cell phone. The 4-part mini-level places the player at Francis International Airport in the runway area (an area that usually triggers a 4-star Wanted Level in the regular game). The player goes through four training levels:

Reloading a weapon

A very quick lesson in which the player learns how to shake the controller to reload. Afterwards, Niko walks into a beacon to move on.

Riding a motorbike

Niko rides through several beacons on the runway.

Navigating a boat

Niko pilots a boat offshore from the airport through several beacons. This is the first opportunity players have to use a boat.

Piloting a helicopter

This lesson serves double duty: it serves not only as a primer on flying a helicopter with Sixaxis control, but also is an opportunity to practice flying in general since this is likely the player's first exposure to flight in the game. Niko has to pilot the helicopter through several rings, and then safely land back on the helipad. Note: unlike the other tutorials, it is possible for Niko to be injured for wasted if the helicopter crashes.

Following the tutorial, Niko finds himself standing outside the main terminal and is left to his own devices; any vehicle being driven when the tutorial is activated will be lost.

Notes

It is possible to exit the runway area of the airport and travel a short distance from the airport using any of the transportation methods provided or on foot, but if you go too far the tutorial fails (a warning message is shown if Niko strays too far).
There is no traffic, cops or NPC pedestrians in the vicinity as long as the tutorial is active.
Although pigeons cannot be found, it is possible to climb one of the control towers and access a shotgun pickup during the tutorial; normally, attempting to access this pick-up triggers the wanted level.
The tutorial can be repeated as desired, making it handy for repeating the shotgun pick-up or practicing flying, boating and motorcycle riding (using the Sixaxis controls is optional - the regular controls also work).
Completing the training level isn't necessary for 100% completion.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The Sixaxis Wireless Controller (trademarked SIXAXIS) is the official wireless controller for the Sony PlayStation 3. In Japan, individual Sixaxis controllers were available for purchase simultaneously with the console's launch, without a USB to USB mini cable, at a price of JP¥5000 including tax (about US$40). Individual Sixaxis controllers were also available at launch in the United States for US$49.99, C$59.99 in Canada, and £34.99 in the UK.[2] The word "Sixaxis" is a palindrome.
+[[File:Sixaxis2.jpg|thumb|The final Sixaxis Design]]
+The '''Sixaxis Wireless Controller''' is the wireless controller for the [[Sony]] [[PlayStation 3]]. It is notable for being able to be tilted to further control games such as [[Grand Theft Auto IV]].
+== Feature and Design Changes ==
-The 2005 "Boomerang" or "Banana" design for the controller was officially abandoned.
+{{Wikipedia}}
+The Sixaxis can operate wirelessly via Bluetooth; up to 7 simultaneous controllers are supported natively by the console.
-=== History ===
+The main new feature of the controller is the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration along all three dimensional axes, providing a full six degrees of freedom.
-At E³ 2005, Sony showcased their "boomerang" design. Sony stated that the original controller "was very clearly designed as a design concept, and was never intended to be the final controller, despite what everybody said about it."
-This was replaced by an upgraded wireless version of the DualShock 2 at E3 2006.
+The Sixaxis, while similar in shape to the original DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers, features finer analog sensitivity than the DualShock 2. The controller also features more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, with an increased range of depression. In the place of the "Analog" mode button switch of previous dual analog models is a jewel-like "PS button" with the PlayStation logo, which can be used to access the home menu and turn the console on or off.
-Until Sony announced the name in early October, reviewers had been calling the controller "DualShake."
+Sony announced that because of the included motion sensors, the vibration feature of previous PlayStation controllers was removed, reasoning that the vibration would interfere with motion-sensing. Some have disputed Sony's reasoning, citing that the Wii Remote controller has both motion sensing and vibration capability. In late 2007 in Japan and 2008 for North America and Europe, Sony released the [[wp:DualShock#DualShock_3|DualShock 3]], which is similar in design to the Sixaxis; however, force-feedback was added to the controller. With the introduction of the DualShock 3, the Sixaxis was discontinued.
+==Sixaxis in GTA IV==
+In [[PlayStation 3]] version of [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] there is an option in the controller tab of the pause menu to turn on Sixaxis. Sixaxis can be used for a number of things, and each one can be turned on and off separately, so the player can use Sixaxis for what they want to use it for. Sixaxis is turned off by default. While Sixaxis is turned on, the button associated with the same action still work, so if the player is in trouble they can just hold the controller still and use the buttons.
-=== Feature and design changes ===
+The SISAXIS feature can be used for:
-The Sixaxis can operate wirelessly via Bluetooth; up to 7 simultaneous controllers are supported natively by the console.
+*Reloading a weapon
+*Steering a bike
-The controller also features a USB mini-B port, which can be used to connect a USB cable for internal battery charging and wired operation. The controller can be seamlessly swapped from wireless to wired operation, and is charged automatically upon connection. The [[PS3]] comes with a USB to USB mini cable, but spare controllers do not include these cables; only one cable should be needed for all of one's controllers. The controller can operate up to 30 hours on a full charge. The battery is not replaceable; according to a Sony spokesperson, the Sixaxis should operate for "many years before there's any degradation in terms of battery performance," and stated, "When and if this happens, then of course Sony will be providing a service to exchange these items."[5] Later, it was revealed that the Sixaxis came with instructions how to remove the battery and that the battery was fully removable.
+*Steering a boat
+*Piloting a helicopter
-A major feature of the controller is the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration along all three dimensional axes, providing a full six degrees of freedom. This became a matter of controversy, as the circumstances of the announcement, made less than eight months after Nintendo revealed motion-sensing capabilities in its new game console controller, with only one game shown at E3 to demonstrate the motion-sensing feature, led to speculation that the addition of motion-sensing was a late-stage decision by Sony to follow Nintendo's move.[citation needed] Further fueling the speculation were comments from Incognito Entertainment, the developer behind the motion-sensing PlayStation 3 game, Warhawk, that it only received development controllers with the motion-sensing feature 10 days or so before [[E3]]. Developer Brian Upton from SCE Studios Santa Monica later clarified that the Incognito had been secretly working on the motion-sensing technology "for a while", but did not receive a working controller until "the last few weeks before E3".
+Going to the [[Mobile Phone|phone]] and choosing "Sixaxis Tutorial" will activate a training side-mission; see below.
-The Sixaxis features finer analog sensitivity than the DualShock 2, increased to 10-bit precision from the 8-bit precision of the DualShock 2. The controller also features more trigger-like R2 and L2 buttons, with an increased range of depression. In the place of the "Analog" mode button switch of previous dual analog models is a jewel-like "PS button" with the PlayStation logo, which can be used to access the home menu and turn the console on or off. The PS button can be customized to light up if you modify the controller. A row of four numbered LED port indicators are on the top of the controller, to identify and distinguish multiple wireless controllers and can also display the remaining battery charge.
+==Sixaxis Tutorial==
+The Sixaxis Tutorial is training level offered in the PS3 version of GTA IV; it is available at anytime (except during missions) via Niko's [[Mobile Phone|cell phone]]. The 4-part mini-level places the player at [[Francis International Airport in GTA IV Era|Francis International Airport]] in the runway area (an area that usually triggers a 4-star Wanted Level in the regular game). The player goes through four training levels:
+===Reloading a weapon===
+A very quick lesson in which the player learns how to shake the controller to reload. Afterwards, Niko walks into a beacon to move on.
-=== Removal of vibration capability ===
+===Riding a motorbike===
-Sony announced that because of the included motion sensors, the vibration feature of previous PlayStation controllers was removed, reasoning that the vibration would interfere with motion-sensing.[7] Some have disputed Sony's reasoning, citing that the Wii Remote controller has both motion sensing and vibration capability. Haptics developer Immersion Corporation, which had successfully sued Sony for patent infringement,[10] expressed skepticism of Sony's rationale, with company president Victor Viegas stating in an interview, "I don’t believe it’s a very difficult problem to solve, and Immersion has experts that would be happy to solve that problem for them," under the condition that Sony withdraw its appeal of the patent infringement judgment. Immersion later emphasized compatibility with motion-sensing when introducing its next-generation vibration feedback technology. Subsequent statements from Sony were dismissive of the arguments from Immersion, with Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Senior VP of Marketing Peter Dille stating, "It seems like the folks at Immersion are looking to sort of negotiate through the press and try to make their case to us … we've talked about how there's a potential for that rumble to interfere with the Sixaxis controller."
+Niko rides through several beacons on the runway.
-According to SCEA, as a result of removing force feedback, PlayStation 3 games do not support force-feedback in steering wheel controllers: "All PS3 games are programmed for the Sixaxis which doesn't have force feedback, therefore the force feedback in the wheels won't be recognized." This caused backlashes from some gamers, arguing that rumbling found in the DualShock controller and force feedback are not the same thing.
+===Navigating a boat===
+Niko pilots a boat offshore from the airport through several beacons. This is the first opportunity players have to use a boat.
+===Piloting a helicopter===
+This lesson serves double duty: it serves not only as a primer on flying a helicopter with Sixaxis control, but also is an opportunity to practice flying in general since this is likely the player's first exposure to flight in the game. Niko has to pilot the helicopter through several rings, and then safely land back on the helipad. Note: unlike the other tutorials, it is possible for Niko to be injured for wasted if the helicopter crashes.
-=== Return of "rumble" ===
+Following the tutorial, Niko finds himself standing outside the main terminal and is left to his own devices; any vehicle being driven when the tutorial is activated will be lost.
-On March 1, 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment and Immersion Corporation announced that both companies have agreed to end their patent litigation, and have entered a business agreement to "explore the inclusion of Immersion technology in PlayStation format products", which has been reported to indicate the possibility of a future vibration-capable version of the Sixaxis controller. In an interview with GamePro posted March 6, 2007, when asked if Sony would consider a "pro" Sixaxis controller with features such as rumble support, SCEA President Jack Tretton replied that the American branch will have peripherals "that will address the interests of the U.S. consumer," and that it is "certainly open to changing the Sixaxis controller if it addressed North American gamers."
+===Notes===
+* It is possible to exit the runway area of the airport and travel a short distance from the airport using any of the transportation methods provided or on foot, but if you go too far the tutorial fails (a warning message is shown if Niko strays too far).
+* There is no traffic, cops or NPC pedestrians in the vicinity as long as the tutorial is active.
+* Although pigeons cannot be found, it is possible to climb one of the control towers and access a shotgun pickup during the tutorial; normally, attempting to access this pick-up triggers the wanted level.
+* The tutorial can be repeated as desired, making it handy for repeating the shotgun pick-up or practicing flying, boating and motorcycle riding (using the Sixaxis controls is optional - the regular controls also work).
+* Completing the training level isn't necessary for 100% completion.
-=== Emmy Award misattribution ===
+[[Category:Systems]]
-Sony originally reported on 2007-01-08 that the Sixaxis controller had been given an Emmy Award for Technology and Engineering by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, but the press release has been removed as of 2007-01-11. An image of the original press release was captured before Sony removed the article. After contacting the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, it was revealed that it was in fact Sony's DualShock controller that won the Emmy and not the Sixaxis controller as indicated.