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DualShock
The DualShock (originally Dual Shock, trademarked as DUALSHOCK or DUAL SHOCK, with the PlayStation 5 version as DualSense) is a line of gamepads developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation family of video game consoles. It is named for vibration-feedback and analog controls. Introduced in November 1997, it was initially marketed as a secondary peripheral for the first PlayStation console. The console's bundle was updated to include DualShock, and phase out the original PlayStation controller and the Dual Analog Controller. The DualShock is the best-selling gamepad of all time by units sold, excluding bundled controllers.
Introduced in late 1997, the DualShock Analog Controller (SCPH-1200) can provide vibration feedback based on game activity, as well as input through two analog sticks. Its name derives from its dual vibration motors. These motors are housed within the handles, with the left one being larger and more powerful than the one on the right, so to allow for varying levels of vibration. In comparison, the Nintendo 64's Rumble Pak has only one motor and is powered by a battery, while the DualShock has two motors and all corded varieties of the DualShock are powered directly by the PlayStation. The rumble feature of the DualShock is similar to that of the Japanese version of the Dual Analog Controller released a few months earlier, which was completely absent on all Dual Analog controllers released outside of Japan.
The Dual Analog, DualShock and all of its subsequent controllers include a standard set of controls that were first introduced in the original PlayStation controller in addition to the two analog sticks: a directional pad, Start and Select buttons, four face buttons, and four shoulder buttons. The face buttons in particular use simple geometric shapes instead of letters or numbers, which includes a green triangle, a red circle, a blue cross, and a pink square (
, 
, 
, 
); these shapes established a trademark that was heavily incorporated into the PlayStation brand. The designer of the original PlayStation controller, Teiyu Goto, explained the meaning behind the symbols: the circle and cross were made to represent "yes" and "no" respectively (as common in Japanese culture, and thus were typically used for "confirm" and "cancel" in most PlayStation games in Japan respectively, placed in the same way as the A and B buttons on the Super NES controller with similar functions), while the triangle symbolizes a point of view and the square is equated to a sheet of paper there to be used to access menus. In Western releases, the circle and cross functions are often switched (circle to cancel, cross to confirm) or reassigned to a different button (cross to confirm, triangle to cancel).
The DualShock, like its predecessor the Dual Analog controller, has two analog sticks with 8-bit precision.[citation needed] To compensate for control issues with certain games while the controller is in analog mode, a dedicated button known as the "Analog" button is included which allows the controller to function either in analog or digital mode, the latter of which turns off the analog sticks and allows the controller to act as an original PlayStation controller using only the digital buttons. Analog functionality is denoted by a red indicator light, which is turned off if the controller is in digital mode. Unlike the Dual Analog controller, the DualShock's analog sticks feature textured rubber grips with convex domed caps rather than the smooth plastic tips with recessed (concave) grooves found on the Dual Analog controller. Other visible differences between the Dual Analog and the DualShock include the longer grips and handles of the former and slightly larger L2/R2 buttons on the latter. The Dual Analog controller also has an additional mode accessible by pressing the "Analog" button a third time that provides compatibility with the PlayStation Analog Joystick, indicated by a green light on the analog indicator light rather than red; this feature was not carried over to the DualShock. The "Analog" button is also slightly recessed on the DualShock to prevent accidental switching between analog and digital modes in certain games.
The DualShock controller is widely supported; shortly after its launch most new games, including Waku Waku Puyo Puyo Dungeon, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro the Dragon, and Tekken 3 include support for the vibration feature and dual analog sticks, and Capcom re-released Resident Evil: Director's Cut and Resident Evil 2 with support for the controller added to these newer versions. Some games designed for the Dual Analog's vibration capability, such as Porsche Challenge and Crash Bandicoot 2, also work. Many games take advantage of the presence of two motors to provide vibration effects in stereo including Gran Turismo and the PlayStation port of Quake II. Beginning in 1998, the DualShock became bundled with the console as the standard controller for all regions, replacing the original digital-only controller that was used since its Japan and Western launches in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Released in 1999, the PlayStation hit Ape Escape is the first game to explicitly require Dual Analog/DualShock-type controllers, with its gameplay requiring the use of both analog sticks.
In 2000, the PS one (a redesigned version of the original PlayStation) was released with a slightly redesigned DualShock Controller (SCPH-110). This controller is similar to the first one, except with a "PSone" word mark replacing "PlayStation" underneath the logo, a purple hue on the buttons and sticks to match the color scheme of the PSone, a semicircle-shaped connector, and multiple color options for the body. The standard color of the controller was white, matching the color of the redesigned console.
The PlayStation 2 is backward compatible with the DualShock as it uses the same connector and protocol as the original PlayStation console, due to the console's backward compatibility with original PlayStation peripherals. However, certain PS2 games that utilize the DualShock 2's analog buttons such as The Bouncer are not compatible with the DualShock.
The DualShock 2 Analog Controller (SCPH-10010 or SCPH-97026) included with PlayStation 2's launch is almost identical externally as the previous DualShock analog controller, with a few minor cosmetic changes. It has different screw positioning and one fewer screw. A blue DualShock 2 logo was added to the top of the controller, the connector is shaped more square than the original DualShock, and both the cable and connector are black rather than grey. The standard controller is black (with other color variants being released later on), rather than grey as with the original DualShock. The analog sticks are stiffer than on the original DualShock.
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DualShock
The DualShock (originally Dual Shock, trademarked as DUALSHOCK or DUAL SHOCK, with the PlayStation 5 version as DualSense) is a line of gamepads developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation family of video game consoles. It is named for vibration-feedback and analog controls. Introduced in November 1997, it was initially marketed as a secondary peripheral for the first PlayStation console. The console's bundle was updated to include DualShock, and phase out the original PlayStation controller and the Dual Analog Controller. The DualShock is the best-selling gamepad of all time by units sold, excluding bundled controllers.
Introduced in late 1997, the DualShock Analog Controller (SCPH-1200) can provide vibration feedback based on game activity, as well as input through two analog sticks. Its name derives from its dual vibration motors. These motors are housed within the handles, with the left one being larger and more powerful than the one on the right, so to allow for varying levels of vibration. In comparison, the Nintendo 64's Rumble Pak has only one motor and is powered by a battery, while the DualShock has two motors and all corded varieties of the DualShock are powered directly by the PlayStation. The rumble feature of the DualShock is similar to that of the Japanese version of the Dual Analog Controller released a few months earlier, which was completely absent on all Dual Analog controllers released outside of Japan.
The Dual Analog, DualShock and all of its subsequent controllers include a standard set of controls that were first introduced in the original PlayStation controller in addition to the two analog sticks: a directional pad, Start and Select buttons, four face buttons, and four shoulder buttons. The face buttons in particular use simple geometric shapes instead of letters or numbers, which includes a green triangle, a red circle, a blue cross, and a pink square (, , , ); these shapes established a trademark that was heavily incorporated into the PlayStation brand. The designer of the original PlayStation controller, Teiyu Goto, explained the meaning behind the symbols: the circle and cross were made to represent "yes" and "no" respectively (as common in Japanese culture, and thus were typically used for "confirm" and "cancel" in most PlayStation games in Japan respectively, placed in the same way as the A and B buttons on the Super NES controller with similar functions), while the triangle symbolizes a point of view and the square is equated to a sheet of paper there to be used to access menus. In Western releases, the circle and cross functions are often switched (circle to cancel, cross to confirm) or reassigned to a different button (cross to confirm, triangle to cancel).
The DualShock, like its predecessor the Dual Analog controller, has two analog sticks with 8-bit precision.[citation needed] To compensate for control issues with certain games while the controller is in analog mode, a dedicated button known as the "Analog" button is included which allows the controller to function either in analog or digital mode, the latter of which turns off the analog sticks and allows the controller to act as an original PlayStation controller using only the digital buttons. Analog functionality is denoted by a red indicator light, which is turned off if the controller is in digital mode. Unlike the Dual Analog controller, the DualShock's analog sticks feature textured rubber grips with convex domed caps rather than the smooth plastic tips with recessed (concave) grooves found on the Dual Analog controller. Other visible differences between the Dual Analog and the DualShock include the longer grips and handles of the former and slightly larger L2/R2 buttons on the latter. The Dual Analog controller also has an additional mode accessible by pressing the "Analog" button a third time that provides compatibility with the PlayStation Analog Joystick, indicated by a green light on the analog indicator light rather than red; this feature was not carried over to the DualShock. The "Analog" button is also slightly recessed on the DualShock to prevent accidental switching between analog and digital modes in certain games.
The DualShock controller is widely supported; shortly after its launch most new games, including Waku Waku Puyo Puyo Dungeon, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Spyro the Dragon, and Tekken 3 include support for the vibration feature and dual analog sticks, and Capcom re-released Resident Evil: Director's Cut and Resident Evil 2 with support for the controller added to these newer versions. Some games designed for the Dual Analog's vibration capability, such as Porsche Challenge and Crash Bandicoot 2, also work. Many games take advantage of the presence of two motors to provide vibration effects in stereo including Gran Turismo and the PlayStation port of Quake II. Beginning in 1998, the DualShock became bundled with the console as the standard controller for all regions, replacing the original digital-only controller that was used since its Japan and Western launches in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Released in 1999, the PlayStation hit Ape Escape is the first game to explicitly require Dual Analog/DualShock-type controllers, with its gameplay requiring the use of both analog sticks.
In 2000, the PS one (a redesigned version of the original PlayStation) was released with a slightly redesigned DualShock Controller (SCPH-110). This controller is similar to the first one, except with a "PSone" word mark replacing "PlayStation" underneath the logo, a purple hue on the buttons and sticks to match the color scheme of the PSone, a semicircle-shaped connector, and multiple color options for the body. The standard color of the controller was white, matching the color of the redesigned console.
The PlayStation 2 is backward compatible with the DualShock as it uses the same connector and protocol as the original PlayStation console, due to the console's backward compatibility with original PlayStation peripherals. However, certain PS2 games that utilize the DualShock 2's analog buttons such as The Bouncer are not compatible with the DualShock.
The DualShock 2 Analog Controller (SCPH-10010 or SCPH-97026) included with PlayStation 2's launch is almost identical externally as the previous DualShock analog controller, with a few minor cosmetic changes. It has different screw positioning and one fewer screw. A blue DualShock 2 logo was added to the top of the controller, the connector is shaped more square than the original DualShock, and both the cable and connector are black rather than grey. The standard controller is black (with other color variants being released later on), rather than grey as with the original DualShock. The analog sticks are stiffer than on the original DualShock.