RUMBLE... Do you honestly care about it?

[BlackMamba]

Thought I'd bring up this argument again because I am interested in whether or not people truly care about rumble feedback or not.

I feel like Sony taking away rumble is similar to Coke introducing new Coke back in the 80s. Although a large majority of people preferred new Coke in blind taste tests, the actual product was met with such hostility that it was scrapped shortly after launch. Why is this? It seems as if people were so offended by a change to a product they loved that they couldn't see how impractical they were being. In fact, they gave blind taste tests to several noted critics of new Coke and they all ended up preferring new Coke!

Which brings me back to rumble... is it impractical in this day and age? Does a controller responding by buzzing for a few seconds really mirror the damage dealing activities inherent in videogames? Does the convulsion buzz you get from a Dual Shock 3 really replicate (to any extent) the impact of getting hit by a linebacker in madden for example?

Basically, is it time we let go of rumble? Maybe we were just jealous that 360 fans lorded the fact that they had rumble over us. We had to have it because it was something that the 360 offered over the PS3.

One additional note: People sometimes say, "if you don't like rumble, turn it off". Fine, that's a reasonable solution. Right? Well, it seems like most games I play don't have an option to turn off rumble! Please correct me if I'm wrong. EDIT: I'm wrong - Rike pointed out to me how to turn off rumble for any game.

[Maximus]

I think force-feedback is very useful for racing and shooting games.

There is also a new type of feedback being developed to imitate sports better.

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I think force-feedback is very useful for racing and shooting games.

There is also a new type of feedback being developed to imitate sports better.

But, is it really? Almost every game today offers sufficient visual and audio aids to suggest when you're getting hit in those type of games. I switch back and forth between the SixAxis and Dual Shock 3 on a regular basis (depending on which one is charged) and do not feel as if I receive any additional benefit from using the Dual Shock 3. In fact, if anything I am annoyed whenever I have to use it because it is a) heavier and b) has annoying (IMO) rumble.

[Maximus]

Force feedback can allow small adjustments in driving line which are too small to really see. Play GT5 with a G25 or another wheel then turn rumble off, it will make the whole point of a wheel completely pointless.

The reason Sony got rumble back was for GT5 and MGS4. Mostly GT though, it makes a huge difference to the overall experience.

[kpkelley]

Having played with rumble for so long, it feels weird when I play with my backup sixaxis controller.

I think the rumble controller may be heavier as well.

[tarvis]

Originally Posted by Maximus

The reason Sony got rumble back was for GT5 and MGS4.

It also helped that the Immersion v Sony suit had been settled.

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Force feedback can allow small adjustments in driving line which are too small to really see. Play GT5 with a G25 or another wheel then turn rumble off, it will make the whole point of a wheel completely pointless.

The reason Sony got rumble back was for GT5 and MGS4. Mostly GT though, it makes a huge difference to the overall experience.

That is interesting. But, perhaps this could be solved by only having rumble in the additional steering wheel peripheral (as racing games are the only games where rumble is indeed practical because your hands are on the wheel in real life)? Why does any other type of game need rumble (including MGS4)?

[Rike255]

To answer your question about turning rumble off, all games can have rumble turned off. Just press and hold the PS button and go into controller settings. It's a game independent setting.

[Warjack Prime]

No. It's annoying because it always vibrates against my wedding ring and sounds terrible and loud.

[Monkey]

Do you like to just look at and listen to your girlfriend, wife, steet walker, etc? Or do you like to touch, perhaps muting the audio at times would be nice as well.

Originally Posted by Warjack Prime

No. It's annoying because it always vibrates against my wedding ring and sounds terrible and loud.

Hmmm, sounds like it is trying to tell you something. PS3 it only does everything (Psyschotherapy)

[boxterduke]

Originally Posted by Warjack Prime

No. It's annoying because it always vibrates against my wedding ring and sounds terrible and loud.

I take off my wedding ring when I get home

I like rumble, it makes me feel connected to the game hehe. I was playing Borderlands on the PC a couple days ago and got hit by a rocket and was wondering how come I did not feel a rumble then I remembered that I was on the PC

[Excalibur-king]

It adds to the experience, but i never really cared for it back in the 90's it was really kool but now i can do without it for sure.

[Larsco]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

Thought I'd bring up this argument again because I am interested in whether or not people truly care about rumble feedback or not.

I feel like Sony taking away rumble is similar to Coke introducing new Coke back in the 80s. Although a large majority of people preferred new Coke in blind taste tests, the actual product was met with such hostility that it was scrapped shortly after launch. Why is this? It seems as if people were so offended by a change to a product they loved that they couldn't see how impractical they were being. In fact, they gave blind taste tests to several noted critics of new Coke and they all ended up preferring new Coke!

Which brings me back to rumble... is it impractical in this day and age? Does a controller responding by buzzing for a few seconds really mirror the damage dealing activities inherent in videogames? Does the convulsion buzz you get from a Dual Shock 3 really replicate (to any extent) the impact of getting hit by a linebacker in madden for example?

Basically, is it time we let go of rumble? Maybe we were just jealous that 360 fans lorded the fact that they had rumble over us. We had to have it because it was something that the 360 offered over the PS3.

One additional note: People sometimes say, "if you don't like rumble, turn it off". Fine, that's a reasonable solution. Right? Well, it seems like most games I play don't have an option to turn off rumble! Please correct me if I'm wrong. EDIT: I'm wrong - Rike pointed out to me how to turn off rumble for any game.

This has nothing to do with rumble, but rather the "New Coke" phenomenon. It is correct that the new coke was favored in taste tests. A majority of the population did prefer the taste of new coke over the original. Where the market research folks made their big mistake was is how they "weighed" the polling results. Although it was true that the majority of people surveyed did prefer new coke, it happened that the minority of people that prefered the original were the ones who bought most of their product. For example, out of 3 people, 2 prefered the new coke. However, those two people rarely bought the product. The one person who preferred the original was the guy who was drinking 30 cans a week. So basically, they altered their product to please the people who weren't buying much of it any way. Their most loyal customers, (biggest spenders), preferred the original.

On the rumble topic... I can take it or leave it. The only game I've played where I really felt it helped me was back on the PS2. In the "Champions" RPGs, the controller would pulse like a heartbeat, letting me know that my health was getting low.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I turned it off in the XMB menu settings the very instant that it was added to the firmware on my system. The only purpose that rumble serves me is to help me drain the battery of my controllers quicker... and nobody really wants that.

[Nielsb90]

I often forget its there.. But like others have stated, it is useful for racing games

[RAZGRIZ-1]

Rumble is a staple of console gaming. So YES, I freaking love rumble. I forgot how much I missed it when I bought one at midnight with my MGS4. SIXAXIS on the otherhand......

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by Kakashi Sensai

Rumble is a staple of console gaming. So YES, I freaking love rumble. I forgot how much I missed it when I bought one at midnight with my MGS4. SIXAXIS on the otherhand......

+1

It's very useful in sport games

[Hayabusa85]

I turn it off so obviously I don't care about it