DualShock
The DUALSHOCK is the name for the PlayStation/PlayStation2 controller included with both consoles. Originally released in May 1998 as a secondary peripheral for the Original PlayStation, a revised PlayStation hardware came with the controller, and subsequently phased out the original Digital controller that was originally included with the hardware, along with the hardware that included it. The controller was a success providing gamers witha new way to get further into their games. The DUALSHOCK stands as the main controller for the PlayStation/PSone/PlayStation2.
The DUALSHOCK analog controller is a controller capable of providing feedback based on the onscreen action of the game (if the game supports it), or Vibration Function. The controller is called DUALSHOCK because the controller has two vibration motors: a weak buzzing motor (like cell phone or pager vibration), and a strong rumble motor, similar to that of the Nintendo 64's Rumble Pak. Unlike the Rumble Pak, however, the DUALSHOCK uses the PlayStation to power the vibration function, where as the Rumble Pak uses batteries. (Some Third Party DUALSHOCK controllers use batteries in lieu of the PSone's power supply.) The controller was widely supported by many games at the time, including Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro the Dragon, Tekken 3, and many others. Like it's predecessor, the Analog Controller, it has two analog sticks, and unlike said controller, the sticks featured rubber tips, in lieu of the grooves recessed into the Analog Controller's sticks. However, the handles of the DUALSHOCK are a bit smaller than that of the Analog Controller.
When the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system was announced, the controller included with it was the same as the DUALSHOCK analog controller, except it was of a black color, and all of the buttons (save for the SELECT, START and ANALOG mode buttons) were pressure sensitive. This controller was dubbed the DUALSHOCK2 analog controller. Some games supported the pressure sensitive buttons, such as Square Enix's The Bouncer, SCEA's Gran Turismo 3 A-spec, various EA Sports titles, and others. However, such a feature is not as revolutionary now as it was when first introduced. Some titles today support the feature, but only for little things, such as varied camera rotation. Also, a similar feature was implemented into the controller included with the Microsoft Xbox.
The DUALSHOCK was introduced in Japan in late 1997 for the PlayStation Game Console. It launched in America on May 1998 and met with critical success. Alternatively, an Analog Controller was released in late 1997 that only featured the weak buzzing motor and lacked rubber tips on its analog sticks.
