About the PS3 Controllers

Sixaxis and DualShock 3

• The first two official PS3 controllers were the Sixaxis and the DualShock 3 controllers. They have identical buttons, so gameplay functions are no different between the two. The Sixaxis controller was available when the PS3 launched, but the DualShock 3 only became available later. That controller added a rumble feature, so compatible games make the controller shake at appropriate points during gameplay. The DualShock 3 also weighs slightly more than the Sixaxis controller.

Battery

• All PS3 controllers have batteries built in so they can function wirelessly using Bluetooth. Eventually you'll need to recharge the controllers, using a USB cord. To recharge, you can plug them into the PS3 while it's on or into nearly any device with USB ports. You can play video games while charging the controller. You cannot use the controllers for PC games. The controller's LEDs blink during recharging.

Controls

• PS3 controllers have left and right analog sticks that nearly always control movement and point of view; you can also press down on the sticks to use them as the R3 and L3 buttons. Controllers have X, Circle, Square, and Triangle buttons on the right for common game actions. The four other main "action" buttons are the trigger buttons. The R1 and L1 triggers are near the top of the controller, and the R2 and L2 are larger and near the bottom. On the left is the directional pad, often relegated to "shortcut" actions. The Start, Select and PS buttons are in the center of the controller. The Start button normally pauses games, and the Select button normally accesses a secondary in-game feature, like a map. The PS button turns the controller on, and it allows you to access the XMB menu during a game or media playback. Controllers also have motion-sensitive hardware, though that feature isn't used in many games.

Miscellaneous

• You can set the controller to automatically shut off after a certain amount of inactivity. This option is in the XMB menu's "Settings" section in "Power Save Settings," then in "Controller Auto-Off." You can also disable the vibration feature in DualShock 3 controllers if you want to save battery power; this option is in "Settings," "Accessory Settings," then Controller Vibration Function." The LEDs on the controller indicate which number the controller is for multiplayer games.

PlayStation Move Controller

• One of the more recent PS3 accessories is the PlayStation Move Motion controller, which requires the PlayStation Eye camera. Moving the wandlike controller directly translates to actions on screen, providing a very different gaming experience than traditional gamepads offer. On the front the controller has a PS button, a "Move" button, and the same X, Circle, Square and Triangle "action" buttons that standard controllers have. On its sides are the Start and Select buttons and on the underside is a trigger button. Additionally, the PlayStation Move Navigation controller complements the main Move controller by adding an analog stick, a navigation pad, X and Circle buttons, the PS button, and two trigger buttons. Both of these controllers are wireless and are recharged like the standard controllers.