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Prior to this console generation, Sony was the undisputed king of console controllers. Then out of nowhere (at least, that’s how it seemed to me), the Xbox 360 controller took the throne. Personally, I don’t get it. I love the shape of the Dual Shock, prefer its more precise analog sticks, and hate the d-pad on the 360 controller. All that said, I understand why the Xbox 360 became so popular. It all started last console generation….
Shooters became prominent on consoles. Initially, shooter aficionados scoffed at the idea of playing with anything that wasn’t a mouse and keyboard. As consoles became more popular and PC gaming less popular, a lot of gamers begrudgingly lived out their World War II and space-marine fantasies on consoles. Eventually, the control schemes became better and more precise. A lot of shooter fans — especially Americans — preferred the larger Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers for shooting.
The Type-S controller for the original Xbox is also worth mentioning. The original Xbox controller was a giant piece of crap. The Type-S was much, much better — especially for shooters. The Xbox 360 pad is a nice evolution of the Type-S. Sony’s Dual Shock 3, on the other hand, isn’t much of a progression from the Dual Shock 2. Some, myself included, will argue that the company was right not to stray from an already excellent design. Others will say that Microsoft’s advancements give it an edge. I guess there’s something to be said about going to crap (original Xbox controller) to very good (Xbox 360 pad).
Anyway, I want to know which controller you prefer and why. Do you dig the small footprint and classic design of the Dual Shock 3? Or do you like the larger and more evolved Xbox 360 pad?
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well I guess metacritic is good for something. I can easily find lots of reviews for Dragon Age. overall the reception sounds amazing. I just need to decide on PC or 360 fast. there are so many good reasons to play this on the PC. but I do love the convenience of my couch and big screen tv. I'm sure I'm just going to stare at the two copies at best buy for awhile
@Shockwave: I'm leaving in about 20 minutes to pick up my copy! I preordered it for my 360 because my PC's so old it barely handles minesweeper. HA!
You win again Minesweeper… damn this podunk graphics card!
lol @ LarcenousLaugh…..
when i play minsweeper, i like to envision myself in the jeff daniels role from the movie speed…lots of concentration, lots of indecsion, lots of sweating
@nightshade – I think I'm going to do the same. in about a year when all the mods are in full force I might pick up the PC version and play through again. Bioware delivers replay value like Oreo does cookies
I preferred the Larger Less Evolved Xbox controller. The S-type controller is for girls with small hands. I am more used to the baby controller now, but when I heard they were discontinuing the Mantroller I went out and bought 3 more. Now it makes now difference since MS doesn't support that console anymore, Thanks again for the shaft MS.
Lately I don't really notice the controller since I only play my PS3 anymore (except L4D)
@SlickyFats – The Mantroller… rofl.
@minesweeper – I was one of the few I bet that never really figured that game out. Even on the easiest setting, I was more often then not setting myself up for disappointment and explosions then actually successfully sweeping for mines. If real mine sweeping were anything like this game, I would not be the guy to test the system for you.
@larcenous – Once I figured out what the numbers meant Minesweeper got a whole lot easier
Minesweeper is fun once you figure out what the numbers mean, how to use the flags, and the different mouse clicks.
I love the PS3 controller, it helps that it hasn't really changed since its inception. My only gripe is when I set the controller down, or accidentally bump it I inevitably hit either L2 or R2 and generally its when I am facing a wall and that button is linked to a grenade.
speaking of grenades
UNCHARTED 2 SPOILER ALERT
REPEAT
UNCHARTED 2 SPOILER ALERT
why does that dude blow himself up at the end of uncharted? the crazy dude just shot him and he tries to blow up the people who are going to kill the person who just shot him?
speaking of spoilers
i have intentionally not watched the spoiler video of mw2, if any of you ruin that for me, i will physically kill you
@Thunder – there are a couple of moments in the story that really take you out of the game to say "wait, what?" it's unfortunate because it's such an immersive game that it's a bummer when you get pulled out so abruptly. that part was a big one for me
@thundercracker
I'll dispose of the bodies when you're done. Just don't expect a cut when I sell them.
@Smartguy I prefer the sticks being on the same level. More importantly, I prefer the Dual Shock 3's precision.
@Thundercraker Winston.
@Ray
I am way imprecise with a DS3. Something about the sticks being right next to one another.
I'm on an even plain about the controller thing. I really have no preference. Lately, I've been trying to play Tomb Raider on my Mac with a mouse and keyboard… that, I'm not used to. Totally adds to the challenge.
@ Thundercracker
I'm actually still adjusting to Tomlin from Cowher. You guys never should have given up Mike Mularky.
@ RROD
Back me up about Mike Mularkey.
@smartguy. I'm with you on precision
@Smartguy The DS3 just has more precise analog controls. This has been measured. The Xbox 360 pad has a bigger dead zone — an area of movement where nothing registers.
@ RPad
Like a Christopher Walken Dead Zone, or an Anthony Michael Hall Dead Zone?
@N8R Ha! That's a tough one…both are fantastic entertainers for completely different reasons.
@rpad, maybe it's that precision that's throwing me off. many times in games like KZ2 or Uncharted I feel like the aiming can be overly sensitive to aiming. I'll sometimes pass the reticle by an enemy 2 or 3 times before I put the target on him.
I'm sure I could probably turn the sensitivity down on games though
@Ray
I believe you. It's my own deadzone when it comes to stick placement though.
@73 – "I feel like the Joystick** can be overly sensitive"
@Smartguy Yeah, I totally get that. I'm the opposite way. If the analog sticks aren't aligned, it throws me off. I've gotten better with it since the 360, but it took a lot of time.
@Shockwave562 Ha! You should be careful with the joystick jokes. For some reason, my Ric Flair story from yesterday got linked to a lot of American twink and European gay dating sites. I'm happy to get more readers, but I wasn't really expecting much play from the twink community.
@Rpad, lol, fair enough. I think we can do worse
@ R Pad
You say this AFTER you ask us to compare joysticks.
@N8R, lol
@N8R – well played sir. I think I am going to go ahead and hide my framed Asia poster.
@Shockwave562 I have to admit that I'm biased against twinks. One of my closest friends is a bear, so I have to side with those guys. It's like Autobots and Decepticons.
@N8R Gotcha!!!
@N8R
Mike Mularky is awesome. I'm afraid that we will lose him soon as he's being considered for head coaching jobs.
i don't know what a twink is outside of WoW context
@ RROD
That's why we lost him. He went to the Bills to be the Head Coach but didn't realize that the main problem with the Bills is the same problem with the 49ers, the Raiders, and the Rams… the front office is full of d-bags. They don't understand that a good dynasty takes time to build.
I still remember Mularky as Inspector Gadget.
@smartguy – I had to look it up on Urban Dictionary
@Smartguy I live in San Francisco for a long time. You need to know this, similar to how you need to know the Crips and Bloods in Los Angeles.
The fetish that goes completely over my head are the furries. People that believe they are animals. I met this one guy who thought he was a squirrel. He had a fake tail and nibbled his food. They even have conventions. My thoughts were:
1) This is just an elaborate excuse to poop on someone's floor.
2) I feel bad for the guy who thinks he's a sloth or a dung beetle.
3) Why do they all wear clothes? It makes no sense.
@N8R
Please tell me you are joking.
@ Smartguy
No joke… google them, they exist.
There was a convention in Pittsburgh during the fourth of July. The main fireworks at the point were flooded with them. Most of them think they are cats.
@N8R I know a few furries, including one that goes to the conventions. Hey, it takes different strokes to move the world.
@Nate
The furries episode of CSI is awesome.
People get off on some crazy stuff. I dont begrudge them it, just dont ask me to put on a $1500 rabbit costume and get all crazynuts on you.
@ R Pad
That "different strokes" comment can be taken completely out of context based on the subject matter.
@ Sandrock
I never watched CSI. I've only seen the real deal people. I'm more of a Law & Order person.
And… I am no expert on furries. They just crack me up.
@N8R
Wow. I wonder if that guy who altered his body to become a cat is a furry?
Which Law and Order? I like the original.
@ Smartguy
I haven't been able to get in to the original since the original cast departed (pardon the pun). SVU has always been my favorite out of all of them. That show is screwed up.
That dude was most definitely a furry.
I haven't liked it since Jerry Orbach left. I tried a year or two ago and the new ADA was crap. Show is dead to me.
Long live Netflix and Dexter.
Jerry Orbach died (hence the bad "departed" pun). It's truly not the same anymore.
SVU is still awesome though. Criminal Intent has the best actors of all of them but the stories are kinda boring to me.
I always Find my Ds3 controllers tend to stay in one piece more often than my 360 ones do. That and playing on the Ds3 Dpad when playing Street Fighter just owns.
DualShock 3(SIXAXIS) wins hands down.
The original Dual Analog PS1 controller shape is no contest the best controller design EVER. The DualShock, DualShock 2, SIXAXIS, and DualShock 3(SIXAXIS) are each slight refinements on damn near perfection.
Why the hell WOULD Sony change it?
Remember the boomerang? Sony considered change, but in the end they knew better.
Symmetrical layout, logical layout, comfortable layout, perfect spacing, easiest to remember button layout (Triangle, X, Square, Circle) instead of just more random letters.
The best analog sticks you could ask for.
Bluetoothy, rechargeable and motion sensing to boot.
ALL the XBOX controllers are crap in one way or another.
The first was just ridiculous. Massive, ugly, illogical. Who the hell thought black and white buttons were a good idea? And start and select not where they are supposed to be?
The smaller one was barely better. Marginally nicer to look at, maybe a little easier to hold. Layout, still crap.
The 360 controller not really any better looking than the small XBOX controller. Not really more comfortable. Black/white and start/select are back where they belong. Not rechargeable to start off with. Still taking ill-advised lessons from Dreamcast on where to put you analog stick.
Not surprisingly the XBOX controllers are getting more and more PlayStationish as they go and they're getting better the closer they get.
You know what had the worst controllers tho? The N64 and Gamecube. I mean seriously. WTF Nintendo? They invented the 2D version of the PlayStation controller with the SNES. Why not build from there instead going all kindergarten style?
Actually….I guess Sega might've had worse controllers, but speak no ill of the dead, right?
@leyke – that's filled with a lot of opinions that people disagree on. I always preferred letter assignments to random shapes. the triggers on my DS3 leave much to be desired and I accidentally hit them a lot. the overall shape of the controller doesn't conform well to the hands. Dpad rocks but I hardly use it. and the biggest offender is the Joystick placement. I didn't like it in 97 and I still don't like it now.