Behold, the Playstation 360 controller!

[Tyrant]

Benjamin Heckendorn, the man behind the Xbox 360 laptop, Wii Laptop, and one handed 360 controller is at it again! This time (http://benheck.com/04-14-2007/ps360-controller/#more-267), he has been commissioned to place the guts of a Playstation 3 SIXAXIS into a 360 controller for someone who may very well have become fed up with Sony's insistence on staying with their arguably tried and true controller. There's a video linked on the site which shows it in action as well.

[oldschooldimo]

this man is brilliant!

[Wolvie]

Sweet, now if only Sony would do an actual redesign of their controller. I mean come on, the PS3 is a slick looking unit, why can't we get a slick looking controller?

[Johan]

Wow...he has definite patience, skill, and talent.

[Wolvie]

No shit, the guy is a tech god. I bow before him.

[Grimmjow]

nice but why change something that is perfect? WHO KNOWS! PEOPLE DO CRAZY THINGS!

[Wolvie]

nice but why change something that is perfect? WHO KNOWS! PEOPLE DO CRAZY THINGS!

The duel shock design perfect? Hardly. Thats like saying the S-type controller was perfect. There's ALWAYS room for improvement.

[H1PO]

this man is a geinous....

I wonder if the controller is any heavier than the SIXAXIS. thats where most of my hate is for the damn thing. I just feel like...I dunno. but its unnatural.

[Grimmjow]

The duel shock design perfect? Hardly. Thats like saying the S-type controller was perfect. There's ALWAYS room for improvement.

No, that's not like saying the S-type controller was perfect, IMO the Dual Shock desgin is perfect to me, I play alot of fighters so its right for me. What do you think is a perfect controller?

[Johan]

What do you think is a perfect controller?

I don't think there is a perfect controller, but the 360 controller is awfully close for me. The ONLY negative is, as evidenced at the link in this thread as well (he mentions it), the borked d-pad.

Otherwise, it's an amazing controller. I haven't used the PS3 controller, however. Haven't held one, either.

[Grimmjow]

I don't think there is a perfect controller, but the 360 controller is awfully close for me. The ONLY negative is, as evidenced at the link in this thread as well (he mentions it), the borked d-pad.

Otherwise, it's an amazing controller. I haven't used the PS3 controller, however. Haven't held one, either.

See, everyone has there own opinion. which is fine and dandy. I have to say my favorite phrase.........."Different strokes Different folks" :D

[Tyrant]

No, that's not like saying the S-type controller was perfect, IMO the Dual Shock desgin is perfect to me, I play alot of *pushes "3D" into your post* fighters so its right for me.

I find it awful for fighting games in general, but I guess it could be kind of ok for 3d fighters.

[Torgo]

Oooo, now that person gets a shittier d-pad. Sweet.

Ben Heck is the Man though.

[fitbabits]

Wake me up when the 'official' Wii60 controller is unveiled. Until then, all this nonsense is just that - nonsense.

Addendum - I'm of the opinion that the Xbox 360 pad (and the Xbox Controller S before it) is the best gaming pad out there. The SIXAXIS, on the other hand, is absolute pish - several steps below that of the PS2's Dual Analog pad).

[Gorvi]

Meh, I like the Dual Shock/SIXAXIS design just fine the way it is, just add rumble back into the damn things. I'll never understand the whiny bitching from all the XBOX/360 fanboys about the controller, the one for the 360 is great as well. I guess some people can't be happy having something good themselves, they have to bash the other guys shit too.

[fitbabits]

Meh, I like the Dual Shock/SIXAXIS design just fine the way it is, just add rumble back into the damn things. I'll never understand the whiny bitching from all the XBOX/360 fanboys about the controller, the one for the 360 is great as well. I guess some people can't be happy having something good themselves, they have to bash the other guys shit too.
No, that's not it at all. I've often professed my distaste over the Dual Analog design, specifically as it relates to the placement of the dual analog sticks. I get cramp all the damn time when I play my PS2. My statement has no bearing on what's good or not, it's merely a personal preference based on my own use.

Oh, and I guess some people can't really separate the difference between personal preference and console bashing. That's kinda telling.

[Gpig]

I have a 360 controller for my pc (I'll probably get a 360 in the fall when the smaller chip comes out), and I'd say it's probably my favorite controller for 3D consoles.

I just got a ps2 half a year ago, and my complaint is that when I play rez or games like that where I have to hold down a button the whole time my hand starts to cramp after about 30 seconds and so in rez I have to take my hand between every one of the 10 sections of a level. Other than that, I'd say the controller is nice. It just seems that it's a little too small I guess (although for some reason I don't have a problem with gameboys? how the hell?) I haven't played a game like that using a 360 controller though so who knows. Maybe the gamecube is the only controller that I can play Ikaruga with.

[Gorvi]

No, that's not it at all. I've often professed my distaste over the Dual Analog design, specifically as it relates to the placement of the dual analog sticks. I get cramp all the damn time when I play my PS2. My statement has no bearing on what's good or not, it's merely a personal preference based on my own use.
I didn't mean that as an attack on you specifically, just a general frustration with the attitude of "I like mine, therefore the other guy's sucks" mentality that we get around here a lot. I've never had a problem with the DS/SIXAXIS design, I've always been very comfortable with it, but I still love the way the 360 controllers feel (worlds better than either design for the original XBOX). It just bugs me that some people feel they need to justify liking one thing by putting another down.

[fitbabits]

I didn't mean that as an attack on you specifically, just a general frustration with the attitude of "I like mine, therefore the other guy's sucks" mentality that we get around here a lot. I've never had a problem with the DS/SIXAXIS design, I've always been very comfortable with it, but I still love the way the 360 controllers feel (worlds better than either design for the original XBOX). It just bugs me that some people feel they need to justify liking one thing by putting another down.
I was comparing them.

[bapenguin]

wait, does this have 360 style analog? As in, actual tension on teh analog sticks instead of loosey crap? That would make me VERY happy. I'm having a hell of a time playing Resistance with the 6-axis for this exactly reason. The analog on the PS3 controller is just meh.

[fitbabits]

wait, does this have 360 style analog? As in, actual tension on teh analog sticks instead of loosey crap? That would make me VERY happy. I'm having a hell of a time playing Resistance with the 6-axis for this exactly reason. The analog on the PS3 controller is just meh.
Cue Gorvi defending the SIXAXIS pad. You've been warned. :p

Besides, the SIXAXIS was not designed to play first-person-shooters.

[Tyrant]

wait, does this have 360 style analog? As in, actual tension on teh analog sticks instead of loosey crap? That would make me VERY happy. I'm having a hell of a time playing Resistance with the 6-axis for this exactly reason. The analog on the PS3 controller is just meh.

Yup, the analog stick mechanism hasn't been replaced.

[51|RandoM]

That is a lot of work to go to, just to have the worst d-pad in modern gaming. He should of rotated it about 45 degrees clockwise at the very least.

He did get the hollow buttons for the sticks and the triggers though, things the 360 controller does much better than the sixaxis.

My sixaxis sticks have almost as much resistance as 360 sticks, but the rounded tops of the sticks prevent you from working with it.

[KingGorilla]

http://files.myopera.com/mousematt/blog/madness.jpg

[bapenguin]

My sixaxis sticks have almost as much resistance as 360 sticks, but the rounded tops of the sticks prevent you from working with it.

Really? I'm gonna have to try to find another sixaxis pad and compare then, mine are REALLY floaty.

[fitbabits]

Really? I'm gonna have to try to find another sixaxis pad and compare then, mine are REALLY floaty.
Every SIXAXIS pad I've tried has been floaty. Kinda stirring air in a cup.

[Royal Fool]

The PS3 analog sticks look and feel very similar, but they still handle a bit differently from the old PS2 ones.

[51|RandoM]

Really? I'm gonna have to try to find another sixaxis pad and compare then, mine are REALLY floaty.

I don't know what you mean by floaty, but I don't feel any significant difference in snap to center or resistance to input when comparing my 360 controllers to my ps3 controllers.

It could be that the 360 controllers have almost a year of wear and tear on them while the ps3 controllers are pretty much new.

I've worn off the rubber coating on the top half of the left stick on my primary 360 controller. Those little bumps at 12, 3, 6, and 9? Haven't seen those in a long time. :)

[bapenguin]

I don't know what you mean by floaty, but I don't feel any significant difference in snap to center or resistance to input when comparing my 360 controllers to my ps3 controllers.

It could be that the 360 controllers have almost a year of wear and tear on them while the ps3 controllers are pretty much new.

I've worn off the rubber coating on the top half of the left stick on my primary 360 controller. Those little bumps at 12, 3, 6, and 9? Haven't seen those in a long time. :)

Mine are well over a year old as well. And there's still quite a bit of resistance left in them. By floaty I mean, as you push against it, it's very slippery and quick to get it to the outter edge. Where as the 360, you can almost feel it pushing against a bit before you get there.

[51|RandoM]

Mine are well over a year old as well. And there's still quite a bit of resistance left in them. By floaty I mean, as you push against it, it's very slippery and quick to get it to the outter edge. Where as the 360, you can almost feel it pushing against a bit before you get there.

I think that is mostly a side effect of convex vs. concave, not how stiff the sticks are. There definitely isn't variable resistance in my 360 sticks. The surface on the ps3 sticks doesn't make up for the convex shape. Whereas with the concave shape of the 360 stick, you don't even need a grippy surface.

[Sonic Wang]

SIXAXIS sucks. The analogue sticks have too much resistance in the neutral position and none right after moving it out, that and the position of the sticks makes FPS games a pain in the arse to play. The analogue triggers also have similar problems. Too much resistance in the neutral position, none after being pressed. Also the shape of the triggers and sticks mean if you're fingers are slightly sweaty, they're likely to slip off. And finally, of course, the shape of the whole thing. I've always despised the dual shock design. The position of R1 and L1, and idiot devs always giving them primary functions, means a lot of cramps.

The 360 controller is the best i've used. Only problems are the shit house dpad, the worst in the history of gaming, however since most games i play nowadays only use it for selection or something, it's not that big a deal. Second issue is the RB and LB buttons. They feel really flimsy and feel like they'll break if used too hard or too much. They probably wont, but it feels like it. I guess another small gripe, not too big an issue, would be the start button being a bit too close to X. I preferred the select and start button positions of the s-controller.

[Heretic Machine]

Addendum - I'm of the opinion that the Xbox 360 pad is the best gaming pad out there.

Agreed, it is the most comfortable, solid, and all around well designed controller that I have ever used.

[GeekesS]

Am I the only one the link isn't working for? I get a 403 Forbidden.

[Shodan2020]

Agreed, it is the most comfortable, solid, and all around well designed controller that I have ever used.

I agree as well, except for the shitt d-pad. I can't remember how many times I cast the wrong spell in Oblivion because I didn't press the d-pad hard enough on diags.

[Tyrant]

Am I the only one the link isn't working for? I get a 403 Forbidden.

It looks like the site is down at the moment, as I'm getting the 403 error as well.

[Torgo]

Addendum - I'm of the opinion that the Xbox 360 pad (and the Xbox Controller S before it) is the best gaming pad out there. The SIXAXIS, on the other hand, is absolute pish - several steps below that of the PS2's Dual Analog pad).

Are you serious?!?! The D-Pad on the 360 controller is absolute shit, even when compared to the SNES, Saturn, PS1 etc pads. Seriously. the D-Pad on the 360 controller is almost as bad as the d0pad on the 3DO controller. The controller itself may be good, but the d-pad is horrendous.

[Virtuoso]

I love the 360 controller, but I would love it if it were a bit heavier, just a tad. I guess that its kind of a weird complaint considering all the hubbub about the weight of the SIXAXIS.

[Virtuoso]

Are you serious?!?! The D-Pad on the 360 controller is absolute shit, even when compared to the SNES, Saturn, PS1 etc pads. Seriously. the D-Pad on the 360 controller is almost as bad as the d0pad on the 3DO controller. The controller itself may be good, but the d-pad is horrendous.


I think he was making the point that the controller was the best available, not "perfect" by any means.

[ONI5]

Are you serious?!?! The D-Pad on the 360 controller is absolute shit, even when compared to the SNES, Saturn, PS1 etc pads. Seriously. the D-Pad on the 360 controller is almost as bad as the d0pad on the 3DO controller. The controller itself may be good, but the d-pad is horrendous.
Actually the PS1 and PS2 still have the worst D-Pads. The 360 D-pad is better than those but not as good as the original XBOX D-pad. None compare to the godly 6-button Genesis or 2nd model Saturn Pad. But if you've played with the Hori pad for the 360 then you don't have that problem. Too bad they can't make a wireless Hori Pad.

[fitbabits]

Are you serious?!?! The D-Pad on the 360 controller is absolute shit, even when compared to the SNES, Saturn, PS1 etc pads. Seriously. the D-Pad on the 360 controller is almost as bad as the d0pad on the 3DO controller. The controller itself may be good, but the d-pad is horrendous.
Hi. Obviously I'm serious or else I wouldn't have mentioned it. It's the best out there, but it's by no means perfect. Besides, it's personal preference.

[dac5]

link broken?

[Citizen Erased]

No, that's not it at all. I've often professed my distaste over the Dual Analog design, specifically as it relates to the placement of the dual analog sticks. I get cramp all the damn time when I play my PS2. My statement has no bearing on what's good or not, it's merely a personal preference based on my own use.

Oh, and I guess some people can't really separate the difference between personal preference and console bashing. That's kinda telling.

QFT

This was one of my biggest disappointments with the ps3. I prefer the 'stick under your thumb' design on the xbox and gamecube controllers as I find that it is a much more natural position for your thumb to lie for extended gaming sessions. You'd think that Sony, with their huge r&d budget, could come up with something at least a little more ergonomic than a lighter ps2 pad. Maybe it was a bit of a 'screw you' to all the people who gave them grief about the batarang design.

That said, I can understand why G35TwinTurbo prefers the ps2/3 design, as I agree that it is superior for fighting games (probably one of the only applications where it is superior IMO).

[hainrs]

I don't think there is a perfect controller

Copout, BS statement. The PS line of controllers are the best (not arguably the best, the best) controllers made. They will never be topped. If Sony were to scrap it for something else (which they tried and got ass-kicked for), they'd get ass-kicked.

[51|RandoM]

QFT

This was one of my biggest disappointments with the ps3. I prefer the 'stick under your thumb' design on the xbox and gamecube controllers as I find that it is a much more natural position for your thumb to lie for extended gaming sessions.

the sticks are "under your thumbs" with a dualshock/sixaxis. If they aren't, try moving your thumb until they are. :p

Your argument just doesn't make sense when you consider the 360 controller doesn't have bilateral symmetry in terms of stick placement. If one of those stick is in some magic "under the thumb" spot, the other one obviously isn't.

The stick placement on the sixaxis is fine, the shape/surface of the sticks is not. The other mistake is the curved triggers, curved the wrong way.

The main reason the 360 pad is more comfortable for me, especially over long gaming sessions is almost entirely a factor of size. It is almost an inch longer from front to back, which makes for a much more comfortable grip in my hands.

[Sonic Wang]

Copout, BS statement. The PS line of controllers are the best (not arguably the best, the best) controllers made. They will never be topped. If Sony were to scrap it for something else (which they tried and got ass-kicked for), they'd get ass-kicked.

ooooo. Couldn't be more wrong. I mean from a scale of 1-10 of wrongness, this definitely goes to 11.

[Heretic Machine]

the sticks are "under your thumbs" with a dualshock/sixaxis. If they aren't, try moving your thumb until they are. :p

Your argument just doesn't make sense when you consider the 360 controller doesn't have bilateral symmetry in terms of stick placement. If one of those stick is in some magic "under the thumb" spot, the other one obviously isn't.

Your right thumb, typically, isn't on the right stick. It is on the button pad. Which is in the same position as the left stick on the other side. This is why the 360/Gamecube design is superior, the natural place where you have always put your thumbs for primary movement and action controls have the primary movement and action controls there. On the PS controllers, the primary movement control is basically where the widely unused d-pad is on the 360 and Gamecube, an unnatural place for your left thumb to go. The d-pad, which isn't used as often, is given the prime left position. Why? Because they haven't really redesigned the controller since before analog sticks were standard.