Having an intense gaming session rudely interrupted by a controller that runs out of battery power has brought frustration to many a PS3 owner. While an official controller charge cable comes with the console, it’s far too short, meaning that one has to stop playing in order to charge the controller. Consequently, PS3 owners have been craving a play and charge solution such as the one available to Xbox 360 owners. To this end, iMP have released their Play and Charge Cable. Plugging into the PS3’s USB ports, it’s designed to allow the PS3 controller to be charged while playing.

While this product will no doubt be a godsend for many PS3 owners, others may be left somewhat unimpressed. The cable is just a tad too short. I sit fairly close to my TV while playing, and I found the Play and Charge Cable to barely be long enough to still work comfortably. Owners of 37” or larger TVs tend to sit further away from the screen, and they will probably find the cable length to not quite measure up. Still, while longer length would have been great, the cable is far more functional than the official charge cable, and gamers who don’t mind temporarily moving closer to the console when having to charge their controllers will find the iMP Play and Charge to be an accessory worthy of their money. Furthermore, as the cable can be plugged into any USB device, most gamers should be able to find a workaround solution for the shorter length, if need be.

PSP owners on the other hand will probably love this cable, as it allows them to play while charging the system from any USB device, instead of having to sit close to a wall power socket in order to use the official charger. Furthermore, the Play and Charge Cable can also be used as a data transfer cable to connect the PSP to a PC or PS3, so PSP owners get to replace two existing cables with just one sleek-looking and affordable one. PSP owners are strongly advised to invest in one of these.

All in all, the iMP Play and Charge Cable is a good investment for both PSP and PS3 owners alike, and is a doubly good purchase if you own both systems. It is available at Incredible Connection, Kalahari.net, Take 2 for R99 (including VAT).

Thanks to MobileG for the review sample.