PS3 Recharge built in batteries or AA batteries?

[Koneesha]

Does anyone know if they use the built un batteries like the ps3 controller for the ps3 or AA batteries for it?

[ThePaska]

If you are talking about the wireless guitar controllers for Rock Band. All that is known is that it will be wireless, there has been nothing said of how it will be powered and charged. I assume that it will be like the PS3 controller and be chargeable.

[TheRocker]

I assume that it will be like the PS3 controller and be chargeable.

I hope so , that way i don't have to buy batteries whenever they run out of charge.

[trilidar]

Here's hoping they're not (built in). I'm counting on good old AA or AAA's myself.

Just do what I did for GH2 PS2: buy $20-25 worth of rechargeables and you're set.

tril

[JimNasium]

Here's hoping they're not (built in). I'm counting on good old AA or AAA's myself.

Just do what I did for GH2 PS2: buy $20-25 worth of rechargeables and you're set.

tril

Why would you not want it built in?

[AdamBomb629]

The GH III guitar will not be rechargeable through the system (FWIW).

[Quinarvy]

The GH III guitar will not be rechargeable through the system (FWIW).

The GH 3 controller is made by RedOctane as well...

And Activision.

[trilidar]

Why would you not want it built in?

A couple of reasons:

1) Makes it more difficult to replace in the future if/when the batteries die.

2) If I happen to forget to charge it up and go to play and it's dead: that's time wasted while I have to wait for it to charge.

If it uses a standard battery type (AA or AAA), then all I need to to is grab a fresh set of rechargeables and I'm back in business.

I fail to see how anyone can balk at $20 worth of rechargable batteries (and that's a seriously inflated number, because honestly it wouldn't take more than $10 to do the job) after spending upwards of $250 for a game.

tril

[Terranova]

A couple of reasons:

1) Makes it more difficult to replace in the future if/when the batteries die.

2) If I happen to forget to charge it up and go to play and it's dead: that's time wasted while I have to wait for it to charge.

If it uses a standard battery type (AA or AAA), then all I need to to is grab a fresh set of rechargeables and I'm back in business.

I fail to see how anyone can balk at $20 worth of rechargable batteries (and that's a seriously inflated number, because honestly it wouldn't take more than $10 to do the job) after spending upwards of $250 for a game.

tril

It's clear you no nothing of the PS3 sixaxis battery do you even own a PS3 ? .. first the battery has a very long life span basically it's the same as a cell phone battery, secondly you can play as you charge via the USB ports so if the RB controllers are done this way just get a longer USB cable or an extender cable which is very cheap plug in an play the game as it charges once done unplug and go wireless.. the way to go is clearly for the battery to be built in you don't need to waste money on new batteries or time changing them.. and as i said you can play as it charges no time lost at all.

[LZ_Reborn]

Can anyone think of a reason why they wouldn't go for the built in rechargable battery? other than cost of course. I'm also hoping for built in battery I don't want to be bothered with buying and changing batteries all the time.

[TheRocker]

Can anyone think of a reason why they wouldn't go for the built in rechargable battery? other than cost of course. I'm also hoping for built in battery I don't want to be bothered with buying and changing batteries all the time.

Because Joigga makes useless threads.

[LZ_Reborn]

Because Joigga makes useless threads.

Hahaha!! good one!!! :D

[trilidar]

It's clear you no nothing of the PS3 sixaxis battery do you even own a PS3 ? .. first the battery has a very long life span basically it's the same as a cell phone battery, secondly you can play as you charge via the USB ports so if the RB controllers are done this way just get a longer USB cable or an extender cable which is very cheap plug in an play the game as it charges once done unplug and go wireless.. the way to go is clearly for the battery to be built in you don't need to waste money on new batteries or time changing them.. and as i said you can play as it charges no time lost at all.

Yes, I do own a PS3. Actually stood in line to get one. You?

The 'long life' of the battery isn't as long as you think. I know from experience since I typically play 6-8h at a shot. But since you more than likely play for 30m or less, I don't expect you to understand what the rest of the big kids are talking about.

Secondly that might work just fine for you and your ghetto gaming setup, but my play area is a DLP front projector on a 10ft screen. Because all of my equipment is behind me (in a closet) at 15ft, that's not exactly very useful.

And if it's just too much money to drop $10 on rechargeable batteries, then perhaps you should spare yourself the trauma of ordering a $200+ game bundle.

tril

[jq71586]

Yes, I do own a PS3. Actually stood in line to get one. You?

The 'long life' of the battery isn't as long as you think. I know from experience since I typically play 6-8h at a shot. But since you more than likely play for 30m or less, I don't expect you to understand what the rest of the big kids are talking about.

Secondly that might work just fine for you and your ghetto gaming setup, but my play area is a DLP front projector on a 10ft screen. Because all of my equipment is behind me (in a closet) at 15ft, that's not exactly very useful.

And if it's just too much money to drop $10 on rechargeable batteries, then perhaps you should spare yourself the trauma of ordering a $200+ game bundle.

tril

Ok, before this gets out of hand lets use numbers here.

The batteries in a PS3 controller get 30 hours of use per full charge. -stated by Sony

These batteries have about 1000 charges in them before the battery dies, give or take a few.

1000x30 = 30,000 hours of gameplay. Even if you never shut off your controller EVER, you would have enough battery life for almost 3 and a half years. Now the normal person sleeps and works for about 2/3 of a day (if you have a job or school could fit in there as well.) Which means that a battery in the controller should be good for just over 10 years if you played it every day for 8 hours.

I think that sounds pretty reasonable for the average gamer. And instead of fiddling with batteries I would rather get a new PS3 controller if it ever died for as low as 35 dollars I've seen it.

[trilidar]

Ok, before this gets out of hand lets use numbers here.

The batteries in a PS3 controller get 30 hours of use per full charge. -stated by Sony

These batteries have about 1000 charges in them before the battery dies, give or take a few.

1000x30 = 30,000 hours of gameplay. Even if you never shut off your controller EVER, you would have enough battery life for almost 3 and a half years. Now the normal person sleeps and works for about 2/3 of a day (if you have a job or school could fit in there as well.) Which means that a battery in the controller should be good for just over 10 years if you played it every day for 8 hours.

I think that sounds pretty reasonable for the average gamer. And instead of fiddling with batteries I would rather get a new PS3 controller if it ever died for as low as 35 dollars I've seen it.

Not going to argue with you, but let me know how that works out for you.

Sony's numbers are worthless. They're hypothetical, pie-in-the-sky lab values that have no real-world basis. It's like relying on auto manufacturers for MPG ratings.

[Pandacon]

I'm hoping for being able to use AA batteries, I got way too many wires as it is, I dont need two more for my strats.

And I also have a projector setup, so the wires are rather inconvenient. Though I'll have to get a couple usb extender cords for the mic and drums.

[toefer]

Yes, I do own a PS3. Actually stood in line to get one. You?

The 'long life' of the battery isn't as long as you think. I know from experience since I typically play 6-8h at a shot. But since you more than likely play for 30m or less, I don't expect you to understand what the rest of the big kids are talking about.

Secondly that might work just fine for you and your ghetto gaming setup, but my play area is a DLP front projector on a 10ft screen. Because all of my equipment is behind me (in a closet) at 15ft, that's not exactly very useful.

And if it's just too much money to drop $10 on rechargeable batteries, then perhaps you should spare yourself the trauma of ordering a $200+ game bundle.

tril


This seems to be getting out of hand. Somebody criticizes someone for wanting replaceable batteries, so that person responds with, essentially, "I waited in line at launch", "I play for 6-8 hours straight", and "I have a bigger TV than you". Excuse me while I bow to your superiority. You are a gaming god.

But then there's us common folk.

I probably fall on the side of the majority. I have a "small" TV (40" LCD), and my PS3 is set up next to it (not in a closet 15 ft in the air). I definitely prefer a rechargeable guitar. Not only does it prevent me from having to make sure I always have batteries on hand, but it also will sadden the 360 people. Some of them are justifying the wired 360 guitar by saying it's "more authentic", but with a rechargeable guitar, I can get the best of both worlds.

All in all, this is a rather pointless argument. As long as the controller works, I don't care that much how its powered.

[Trantzz]

It's clear you no nothing of the PS3 sixaxis battery do you even own a PS3 ? .. first the battery has a very long life span basically it's the same as a cell phone battery, secondly you can play as you charge via the USB ports so if the RB controllers are done this way just get a longer USB cable or an extender cable which is very cheap plug in an play the game as it charges once done unplug and go wireless.. the way to go is clearly for the battery to be built in you don't need to waste money on new batteries or time changing them.. and as i said you can play as it charges no time lost at all.

Of course he dosn't own a PS/3...not many do...

Seriously though, I would be in favor of AA's as well. I just bought a 16 pack of rechargeable batteries PLUS charger at Sam's for $19.99.

[espher]

I'd prefer rechargable AAs, if only because I already have a ton of them for my Wiimotes, Wavebirds, remote controls, MP3 players, and 360 controllers. ;)

[AVC808]

i have rechargable AAs too, but id rather have the six axis style with the option to go wireless or wired in case the wireless doesn't perform as well as we'd like.

i play 6-8 hour sessions of ncaa and my controllers last just fine without going dead. ive had a few 3-4 hour online resistance sessions as well. i can usually go three or four sessions before swapping them out. cant say the same for my bluetooth headset though.

i thought these batteries in the six axis didn't have "memory" but maybe it's possible they do and trilidar screwed up the batteries by charging them before they were fully drained?

[trilidar]

I'd prefer rechargable AAs, if only because I already have a ton of them for my Wiimotes, Wavebirds, remote controls, MP3 players, and 360 controllers. ;)

My sentiments exactly. All I've been trying to say is I don't see what the big problem is with buying $10 worth or rechargeables, since you've already spent over $200 for the game. However, some didn't feel happy with my answer and blasted my response.

Granted I probably should've phrased my answer a little better, but I'm not the one who started down this road.

tril

[Kirksplosion]

<A HREF ="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/824477/6_volt_battery_hack_youll_be_amazed/">Answer </a>

Problem solved. Next.

[Tendoza]

<A HREF ="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/824477/6_volt_battery_hack_youll_be_amazed/">Answer </a>

Problem solved. Next.
That's cool. I'll have to try that sometime.

[LZ_Reborn]

<A HREF ="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/824477/6_volt_battery_hack_youll_be_amazed/">Answer </a>

Problem solved. Next.

Have you ever tried that? Seems kind of impossible to fit 32 AA bateries inside that 6V battery, something is screwy with that video I can't put my finger on it.... I will have to look into that.

[JimNasium]

Have you ever tried that? Seems kind of impossible to fit 32 AA bateries inside that 6V battery, something is screwy with that video I can't put my finger on it.... I will have to look into that.

Really when you open it up you get sprayed in the face with battery acid. Hilarity ensues

[LZ_Reborn]

Really when you open it up you get sprayed in the face with battery acid. Hilarity ensues

I'll be sure and post a video of that.. haha!! that is if I can find my way to my pc after the acid has completly burned my retinas :p

[Kirksplosion]

Apparently it depends on the brand. Some have the 32 AAs, while some have 4 long D batteries.That's what people are reporting, anyway.

[PinkFloyd]

I'm hoping for built-in batteries. Here's why:

1) The play time on the sixaxis batteries is so long it's near INSANE

2) The charge time of the batteries is so short it's well beyond insanity and into the twilight zone of reality

3) When my battery dies mid-song, I'd rather just plug in the USB-cable and charge it while I play, than open the battery-compartment, replace the batteries, close the compartment, place the empty batteries in the charger, OMG where did I leave the charger, owh there it is, owh no it's not, ah finally found it, now what was I doing again, owh yeah Rock Band, what song again?

Catch my drift?

[trilidar]

Looks like it's AA's for the win:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=845509&native_or_pdf=pdf

PS3 RB guitar owner's manual.

tril

[Terranova]

Looks like it's AA's for the win:

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=845509&native_or_pdf=pdf

PS3 RB guitar owner's manual.

tril

Yep it looks that way, the GH III les paul uses the same setup... i sure hope HMX release a wired version for us PS3 owners i much prefer that than this.

[i5hawn]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/1437779569_6a02ca6170_o.jpg

[Kirksplosion]

Dang, that's a lot of screwing, flipping, remembering, connecting, pressing, and attaching.

[jq71586]

Dang, that's a lot of screwing, flipping, remembering, connecting, pressing, and attaching.

That sounds like a night of mine in the bedroom. :D

[AVC808]

i must say im pretty disappointed by the design. i hate having to get screwdrivers just to change batteries. i honestly thought they would be able to use the same method for play/charge as the six axis but i guess they couldnt figure out bluetooth and are going with a regular infrared wireless system.

that is pretty cool you managed to find that manual filing. i know since it's wireless they do need to file with the FCC, but i didnt realize that was publicly accessible online.

[TheRocker]

I am so angry at this.. why does the Ps3 need that Usb Thingamagig.. Why!? I can understand Batteries i mean you can't expect everything to be to your liking but What the F... Not cool..

[Bakkster]

i must say im pretty disappointed by the design. i hate having to get screwdrivers just to change batteries. i honestly thought they would be able to use the same method for play/charge as the six axis but i guess they couldnt figure out bluetooth and are going with a regular infrared wireless system.

1) Play-and-charge has NOTHING to do with BlueTooth. It's totally separate hardware for turning the controller into a USB controller, and it totally bypasses all of the wireless stuff.
2) I can guarantee the choice to not use the PS3 internal BT was not because they "couldn't figure it out". BlueTooth is soooooo easy (I've developed for it myself), that wouldn't be the deciding factor. It was either a) too expensive b) not appropriate to the controller c) not allowed by Sony.
3) Where did you get infrared from? Seriously. This is 2.4GHz. That's radio. IR is light. HUGE difference. 2.4GHz is basically every new wireless product nowadays. IR is your remote control, or Game Boy Color...

Speaking of which I once heard a Best Buy employee tell a customer that the 360 wireless controllers were IR. I was standing right behind the guy and bust out laughing. Even funnier is that I was waiting to talk to him because he was the Manager of the games department. Shows you why I don't go to Best Buy if I can help it...

[PinkFloyd]

thank god they didn't go with Bluetooth. Sony is having major issues getting the Singstar mics to work with BT.

[AVC808]

1) Play-and-charge has NOTHING to do with BlueTooth. It's totally separate hardware for turning the controller into a USB controller, and it totally bypasses all of the wireless stuff.
2) I can guarantee the choice to not use the PS3 internal BT was not because they "couldn't figure it out". BlueTooth is soooooo easy (I've developed for it myself), that wouldn't be the deciding factor. It was either a) too expensive b) not appropriate to the controller c) not allowed by Sony.
3) Where did you get infrared from? Seriously. This is 2.4GHz. That's radio. IR is light. HUGE difference. 2.4GHz is basically every new wireless product nowadays. IR is your remote control, or Game Boy Color...

Speaking of which I once heard a Best Buy employee tell a customer that the 360 wireless controllers were IR. I was standing right behind the guy and bust out laughing. Even funnier is that I was waiting to talk to him because he was the Manager of the games department. Shows you why I don't go to Best Buy if I can help it...

my mistake. im no expert at this stuff. still doesnt change the fact that it's not doing the main thing i wanted to see, which is interchange between wired and wireless, and recharge while playing.

i automatically assumed IR, cuz of the dongle...and the whole deal with not being able to pair a universal remote with the ps3 for bluray playback because no universal remote uses bluetooth.

[exoscoriae]

It's clear you no nothing of the PS3 sixaxis battery do you even own a PS3 ? .. first the battery has a very long life span basically it's the same as a cell phone battery, secondly you can play as you charge via the USB ports so if the RB controllers are done this way just get a longer USB cable or an extender cable which is very cheap plug in an play the game as it charges once done unplug and go wireless.. the way to go is clearly for the battery to be built in you don't need to waste money on new batteries or time changing them.. and as i said you can play as it charges no time lost at all.

Then it is clear you don't know much about batteries in general.

All batteries eventually die. Cell phone batteries have a lifespan of only a few years. My RAZR batteries only last about 8-9 months before they can only hold a charge for a few hours. That is the nature of rechargeable batteries.

Playing with the usb cable plugged in defeats the point of it being wireless, but yes - it is an alternative.

Ultimately though, some people (such as myself) buy these games with the expectation of playing them in the future as well. I have an entire room dedicated to old systems, all setup and running. I don't want to have to dissect my controllers in 5 or 10 years just to find the battery and then hunt down a replacement. That whole scenario can easily be avoided by simply using double A's which are universal and replaceable.

I have old RC tracks from the 60's that use D batteries, and guess what - I can still use them. The same can't be said for other proprietary power systems that have been used over the years.

[exoscoriae]

I am so angry at this.. why does the Ps3 need that Usb Thingamagig.. Why!? I can understand Batteries i mean you can't expect everything to be to your liking but What the F... Not cool..

Your acting like it is going to demand food and shelter from you once you bring it home. It's just a bloody dongle, get over it. If that makes you so angry I'd hate to see how you respond when the light turns red or McDonalds forgets to put cheese on your burger.

[Terranova]

Then it is clear you don't know much about batteries in general.

All batteries eventually die. Cell phone batteries have a lifespan of only a few years. My RAZR batteries only last about 8-9 months before they can only hold a charge for a few hours. That is the nature of rechargeable batteries.

Playing with the usb cable plugged in defeats the point of it being wireless, but yes - it is an alternative.

Ultimately though, some people (such as myself) buy these games with the expectation of playing them in the future as well. I have an entire room dedicated to old systems, all setup and running. I don't want to have to dissect my controllers in 5 or 10 years just to find the battery and then hunt down a replacement. That whole scenario can easily be avoided by simply using double A's which are universal and replaceable.

I have old RC tracks from the 60's that use D batteries, and guess what - I can still use them. The same can't be said for other proprietary power systems that have been used over the years.

Fair point but just because your cell phones battery can't hold a charge doesn't mean that others can't i have had one last close to 4 years now and it still holds a charge very well.. the Sixaxis battery is the same way i hardly need charge it i'm not playing for hours on end every day and if I do need to charge it it's just a case of plugging in the USB cord which takes a few seconds ..

imo it beats looking for a screw driver to open up the compartment, looking for batteries if i have any spare and everything else associated with this type of setup. but hey every one has their preferred methods

[Bakkster]

Fair point but just because your cell phones battery can't hold a charge doesn't mean that others can't i have had one last close to 4 years now and it still holds a charge very well.. the Sixaxis battery is the same way i hardly need charge it i'm not playing for hours on end every day and if I do need to charge it it's just a case of plugging in the USB cord which takes a few seconds ..

imo it beats looking for a screw driver to open up the compartment, looking for batteries if i have any spare and everything else associated with this type of setup. but hey every one has their preferred methods

Ah, but battery life is determined by charge cycles, not time. So cellphone batteries usually die pretty quickly because they are usually recharged daily.

But there are other things that can go wrong with internal batteries, and it does put a finite lifespan on the device, as well as lock you into that company's batteries.

[Terranova]

Ah, but battery life is determined by charge cycles, not time. So cellphone batteries usually die pretty quickly because they are usually recharged daily.

But there are other things that can go wrong with internal batteries, and it does put a finite lifespan on the device, as well as lock you into that company's batteries.

Ok i see now.. there are good and bad points for both methods i guess, I just have better experiences with internal batteries so that's why i prefer that way, as i said everyone has their preferred methods.

[exoscoriae]

in the short term, internal batteries are great - but I fully expect to be able to use my equipment in 30 years when this crap sells for stupid amounts of money on 'future ebay'.

I don't want to be searching for a hack guide on how to wire up my guitar to a car battery simply because some genius today decided that a proprietary internal battery was hot stuff.

[trilidar]

in the short term, internal batteries are great - but I fully expect to be able to use my equipment in 30 years when this crap sells for stupid amounts of money on 'future ebay'.

I don't want to be searching for a hack guide on how to wire up my guitar to a car battery simply because some genius today decided that a proprietary internal battery was hot stuff.

Agree 100%. Another thing people tend to forget is that Lithium-Polymer batteries have a finite shelf-life. Once they're manufactured, even if you don't use them, they're on borrowed time. I believe it's something like 4y, less if used.

Go here: http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm for more info about battery tech.

I, for one, am glad the controllers use good 'ole standard AA batteries. They're cheap, plentiful and universally available. Plus, $10 will buy you a fistful of rechargables.

tril