I read on engaget that the japanese rumble controller will be out in november and the US version sometime in spring. I imagine this is due to licensing issues. If I import one from japan next month, will it do anything or is it going to take a complete firmware update to make it work?

Japanese rumble controllers should work just as well as any other, in any region.

But you'll need the 1.94 firmware update for it to work. It is included on the Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction disc. There are almost no games, yet, with rumble support, though. R&C is the first, it seems. Warhawk is releasing a patch in December with rumble support. Edit: just found out (http://community.eu.playstation.com/showthread.php?t=155913) that MotorStorm will come out with a patch 25oct07 with rumble support.

I don't know for sure, but once you have that firmware, you should be able to feel rumble on PS2 games.

I've pre-ordered a ceramic white rumble controller from Japan through YesAsia.com. I wrote an article about that on my blog here (http://www.ps3blog.net/2007/10/23/preordered-japanese-dualshock-3/).

The firmware comes on the R&C disc...

I've got my ceramic white Dual Shock 3 ordered and am looking forward to getting it.

As far as will it work, henningh pretty much summed it up. It will work with the update.

JD

How much will the Dual Shock Sixaxis PS3 controller cost in Japan? What I mean is how much will it come out to in US dollars compared to Japan yen currency?

Because I have a friend who's going to Japan next month and want to give him enough money for him to get me 2 Dual Shock Sixaxis PS3 controllers to bring back for me.

You can buy them off Ebay for around $70 including shipping. So not terribly expensive. I am actually thinking about ordering two of the white ones..not even sure if those will be making it stateside...

I ordered mine from Play-Asia.com and paid $59.99 US + $11 shipping to Canada. Pretty much what the Sixaxis costs in the stores here.

JD

I would think firmware 1.94 would become available later this week if the Warhawk patch is hitting later this week.

got mine ordered thats for sure. ratchet, uncharted, and i think COD4 all have it right out of the box.

Sony should offer owners a free rumble controller.

I was attending the TGS in Tokyo last month and the DS3 was shown in a dedicated area.

when I asked abou launch date and specifications, they first understood (language barrier was real here)that I was living oustide of Japan and they confirmed launch date in Western countries being Spring next Year.

They also confirmed the controllers will have the same spcifications wordlwide.

I live in Japan and even the big stores are not advertising it yet, you can only find internet retailers selling it at around 5,000Yen http://item.rakuten.co.jp/i-tengoku/10000552/ so 45bucks for you guys in the US

Looking around the Games Show, I confirm alos a lot of games were advertsied on the SONY stand with Dual shock compatibility( like this on MGS4 http://nsa01.casimages.com/img/2007/10/25/mini_0710250629321461525.jpg (http://www.casimages.com/img.php?i=0710250629321461525.jpg)), new and existing ones so I'm expecting a lot of patch to be available here in japan soon as teh controller is meant to be out there on the 11th of November.

Just 3 days before my birthday, elle est pas belle la vie:D

got mine ordered thats for sure. ratchet, uncharted, and i think COD4 all have it right out of the box.

I haven't seen CoD4 support mentioned anywhere. It's not in the official list. Where did you hear this? I'll be buying CoD4 day one...

If it works for you guys and we definately won't be getting here in the US till next year then I will order them. I still have a feeling Sony is just pulling more strings and will soon announce "hey NA you will be getting the controller after all aren't we so great, now go out there and get our $400 PS3 as well?" That controller is a big thing for Sony not to do everything in their power to release it in US this holiday. They will make moeny off it big time. I don't see how nobody who has a PS3 this early will not be at least tempted to go buy one.