Early Prototype Playstation 3 Controller (Kata Beta 2)

Device Name : Kata Beta 2
Manufacturer : Sony/Alps
Subsidiary : SCE Internal Manufacturing
Release State : Unreleased
Device Type : Engineering Sample / Prototype
Rarity : 6 – Unique

This controller was an early concept for what would later become the Sony Playstation 3’s Sixaxis/Dualshock 3 controllers respectively. A rather large number of differences can be seen with this device when compared to its final retail counterparts.

Visual Differences Include
– Glossy Finish VS Matte.
– Player LEDs arranged in a square around the mini USB port, includes a clear plastic shield over the opening for the LEDs.
– Early PS Home button, clear with red LED underneath it.
– L2 / R2 Buttons are analog as opposed to triggers.
– Start / Select buttons are prototype silicone material.
– Lacks the pinhole and switch on the back for resetting.
– Label on the front reads Gセンサー搭載 Stick動作せず roughly translated it reads “Powered by the G Sensor, without moving the stick”.
while the label on the back reads 0604KATA2

Internal Differences Include
– Prototype rumble motors “Pre Immersion Lawsuit Settlement”.
– Prototype battery pack.
– Toshiba MCU is on top side of the board (in all the other models is at bottom).
– The main board was designed without gyroscope or accelerometer sensors, it has a “daughter board” stacked on top manufactured by HDK (the first 2 letters of the “HDK” brand are partially visible etched in copper on this board)
This daughter board includes the accelerometer HDK HAAM 325B.
It outputs 3 signals on the hand soldered 3 white wires soldered to the TOSHIBA controller to retrieve the axis data. The other hand soldered component uses 3 wires (black = ground, red = live, and yellow soldered to TP26) Murata ENC-03R Gyroscope Sensor.
Both components were later integrated in the circuit board of the sixaxis controllers.
– Internally the Gyroscopic sensor for Sixaxis controllers is wired onto the board and is very early.