Sony Computer Entertainment has unveiled a revised version of the prototype PlayStation 3 controller shown at last year's E3.

The final version continues the PlayStation controller's history of borrowing functionality from Nintendo, something Nintendo itself had been keen to avoid in the next generation by delaying its own controller unveiling.

However, Sony always maintained the 'boomerang' controller shown at E3 2005 was not the final design, giving it time to wait until is competitors had shown their hands.

The original PlayStation controller, designed during its collaboration with Nintendo for the Play Station project, was updated from its Super Nintendo-based design to add analogue thumb sticks and a vibration device when Nintendo unveiled the N64 controller and the Rumble Pak with its game Lylat Wars. Sony's first-to-market PlayStation 2 continued the design while adding pressure-sensitive buttons.

Now the wireless PlayStation 3 controller will incorporate six-axis motion sensing technology, an acknowledgement of the strength of Nintendo's Wii controller functionality.

Pursuant to the introduction of this new six-axis sensing system, the vibration feature will be removed from the new PS3 controller as vibration itself interferes with information detected by the sensor.

The shape of L2/R2 buttons located on the top of the controller has also been enlarged with increased depth in stroke for more subtle control in games. At the same time, the tilting angle of the thumbsticks has been slightly broadened to enable more delicate and more dynamic manipulation. Along with these improvements, precision of information detection from the L2/R2 buttons and analogue thumbsticks has been increased from 8- to 10-bit.

All input information will be transferred to the PS3 system through Bluetooth wireless technology. By using a USB cable, the PS3 controller can also be swapped seamlessly from wireless to wired, and can be charged automatically. The cable can be attached and detached at any time.