A fellow PS3 owner handed me something tonight that, at first blush, looked like a beefed-up version of the USB adapter I already use with my PS3 to use my PS2 Dual Shock 2 controller. This new dongle was different in a few important ways.

1. It’s made by Pelican and has a 5-year warranty. Pelican will replace or repair your console if a Pelican product damages it.
2. It has a “PS Home” button on it and four red LEDs to indicate controller number.
3. “Guitar Hero(tm) 1 and 2 Ready: Plug in your favorite guitar and rock out to Guitar Hero 1 and 2 on your PS3.”
4. It doesn’t support rumble.

This is apparently a brand new accessory, having been delayed a couple of times, and during our tests on his PS3 we were only able to show that the PS Home button works and that the LEDs designating controller numbers are accurate. It also seems to treat the Analog button on the Dual Shock 2 as a sort of Home button as well: if you hold it down it pops up the menu.

The red LEDs are important, because it along with the PS Home button basically lets the controller join as a second, third, or further player, something my run-of-the-mill USB adapter doesn’t let you do. Either you’re the only controller or you can’t use it. This is a nice upgrade.

But neither of us has Guitar Hero and a guitar to test it with, so keep your eyes open for another enterprising user to put it to the test. If you want one, look for PL6338.