geekhack
geekhack Community => Input Devices => Topic started by: AvengeR on Thu, 31 March 2011, 11:47:37
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some time ago I posted in one of Paul Dietz's threads about analog keyboards, or in other words pressure sensitive, in which I said that technology was already available in some console controllers, for example xbox1 (not all buttons) and ps2 (face buttons only).
That lead to a discussion in which console controllers were going backwards since in the xbox360 there are only 2 analog buttons (triggers) but I wasn't sure about ps3 because I didn't own one, so I did recently.
After some testing here's a quick advice for him since he lurks this forum.
First of all the title goes in that order because I find the xbox360 controller to be much ergonomic than its ps3 counterpart, therefore it has the potential to be the "ultimate" controller. After hour long sessions of gt5 my hands kind of hurt, in the xbox than hasn't happened to me ever.
The best thing about the ps3 sixaxis controller is its build quality. Not only it looks and feels much better but also all of its buttons are pressure sensitive, even the cross. Also I really like how it doesn't need batteries or to buy a charger to use it wirelessly (it is inside the controller, while it has the exact same shape from a ps2 controller)
(will finish this post some time lol)
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Just gonna throw my 2 cents in here.
I personally think the XBox 360 controller is tons better than the PS3 one. I find the durability and build qualitu pretty good as well. Had the same wired (and also a wireless one for that matter) Since the 360 launched (2005) And they both still work flawlessly. Personally I have found the PS3 controllers to be a little to light and flimsy, but I haven't really used one in forever, so for all I know they might be better now.
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I'll take the Dreamcast analog stick + Gamecube triggers + PS3 face buttons in an Xbox1 "Duke" body.
Or this aesthetically-challenged contraption:
N-Control Avenger!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/02/03/n-control-finally-shipping-the-insane-avenger-xbox-360-controller-accessory/
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My only quip with the xbox360 controller is it's dpad. It's terrible for anything more complicated than weapon switching. The PS3's dpad is much better, which is approximately equivalent to Super Nintendo's dpad, which to me is the best dpad out there.
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I think the Xbox 360 controller is clearly better than the PS3 controller. Input devices is a personal preference thing, but still...
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I'll take the Dreamcast analog stick + Gamecube triggers + PS3 face buttons in an Xbox1 "Duke" body.
Or this aesthetically-challenged contraption:
N-Control Avenger!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/02/03/n-control-finally-shipping-the-insane-avenger-xbox-360-controller-accessory/
Gamecube triggers? Really? Those were the worst part of the controller imo.
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continuing with my first post.
There are more aspects in which ps3 controllers have much better build quality apart from the buttons, which not only are all of them analog (even the dpad) but also they feel better and are double printed as well.
The analog pads are way more reliable. That really shows when playing gt5 against forza3, and also in fighting games (last evo someone used it and made it to 4th place).
Also it just looks better, just like the console. Ps3 looks seem aimed to an adult audience which expects quality, whereas 360 doesn't.
the only aspect in which 360's materials are better is the triggers, as we all know.
The idea of this post is that hopefully next generation consoles have finally truly great controllers. Because of nostalgia everyone tends to forget how terrible were almost all controllers from previous generation consoles, and tend to miss how nowadays there's not a single "perfect" one. Also this is now the only place in internet which says all of ps3's controller buttons are pressure sensitive.
As I said the better one is ofc the 360 controller because it's just more ergonomic, but it feels cheap and it can't be used for any game taken "seriously" only because of it (fps, racing, fighting, etc.). On the other hand the ps3 controller achieved its peak, so with that same design it can't compete with a better built 360.
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I hate all controllers - I can never get accustomed to driving a game with a controller vs. keyboard/mouse. Maybe I'm just old. No, I'm probably just old.
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i'm pretty sure if we examine the 360 controller and the ps3 controller we can all agree that the 360 dpad is pretty horrible.
microsoft even has a new dpad revision out soon and razer has made it a point to note that their dpad (360 controller) is much better than the stock 360.
I personally favor the gamecube ergonomics more, that aside i like the placement of the 360 analog/dpad more than the regular ps3 controller but the ps3 controller overall feels better.
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As bad as the X360's D-Pad is, Microsoft has made worse. MUCH worse. Try hitting a cardinal direction on a SideWinder Freestyle Pro.
As for the DualShock 3, the only issues I have with it are the altered L2 and R2 (thankfully, there are attachments that make them curve forward like proper triggers) and how the twiddlysticks are a bit too far inward and close to each other. Ergonomics-wise, the X360 pads are far better, but they fail in having loose twiddlysticks (especially irritating if you play PC games with the things) and losing pressure sensitivity for face buttons compared to the original Xbox pads. (Meanwhile, the DualShock 3 has pressure sensitivity on EVERYTHING that isn't Select, Start, and Home. Yes, even the D-Pad.)
As for the merits of gamepads as a gaming interface, it depends on the game. Some games are built around gamepads and thus play best with them. Other games play best with KB+M. Still others need their own specialized peripherals, like a racing wheel or a flight stick and throttle, not to mention the appropriate pedals. (Bonus points if you add a TrackIR for head-tracking.)
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anybody know this track?
Goldfrapp - Strict Machine
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The only thing that Microsoft got right was the triggers. Everything else on the controller sucks, and the D-Pad is AWFUL. Ps3 controller needs xbox triggers, and that needs to be the standard controller, for EVERYTHING. That's just my two cents.
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Those help but the new ps3 controllers are rather smallish for adult hands and generally fell a little light to me - I like the ps2 version better - especially the one from logitech, but that does take 2 AA batteries. Do like the wireless rechargeable idea though and the option to use the cord when dead. I need to buy a new laser for mine though. got an old 60 gb launch model for a c-note that was freezing up and did a thermal grease change on it but it won't read any discs at all - oddly though, it looks like the dvd laser is done for rather than the blu-ray ... unless I reassembled incorrectly, which is entirely possible.
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I've never found the shape of the arm thingies on the playstation controller to be comfortable, I love the gamecube one, however.
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I find it rather shocking that anyone enjoys the 360 controller. Personally I've been cursed with big, beefy, oddly shaped hands that make mice hurt and most controllers hurt more. I admit I haven't picked up many 360 controllers since the system has nothing for me (well ok, one castlevania DLC game that has yet to hit PS3) but whenever I do the thing just feels so very off.
Playstation 1 more or less standardized the general controller shape as we know it today. Personally I'd much rather use a PS1/2/3 controller for fit alone. plus the buttons (D pad and face buttons) feel really akwardly placed for me. It could be that I am simply one of those people who places their fingers in odd positions but I find it strangely hard to comfortably position my thumb over the blue and green buttons like I have done since the SNES.
If I was going to give Microsoft any controller advice, it would be to copy the PS3 more like everyone else does, but still remain sneaky. move the Face buttons and Stick down a bit for easier extention right onto them and trim some size off of it.
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IDK I personally would take keyboard/mouse over any of the controllers out there, but I get sore hands from the Xbox controllers which I don't get from Playstation controllers so I gotta say I prefer the Playstation ones.
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I hate pressure sensitive buttons, there I said it.
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I hate pressure sensitive buttons, there I said it.
Gonna have to concur with you on that, too.
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Only beef I have with the xbox controller is the f**king dpad. Why must microsoft be so damn different? Makes playing mvc3 a pita.
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MGS series uses pressure sensitive buttons for a lot of stuff.
Then there are the other 99% of games out there that don't need them. In those games it makes the button almost useless since I was never really able to judge when the button was going to activate and forget about tapping one of those pressure sensitive triggers. I really loathe those damn buttons.
Only beef I have with the xbox controller is the f**king dpad. Why must microsoft be so damn different? Makes playing mvc3 a pita.
I've got to agree with you there the 360 d-pad is pretty crappy.
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There won't be a port. There hasn't been a good MGS game since the first one on the PS1 anyways.
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Yup, thats why Gamestop just bought Impulse and Gamefly just bought Direct 2 Drive. No one has faith in pc games. Keep telling yourself that.
That still doesn't change the fact that every MGS since the first one on PS1 has gotten progressively worse.
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How is PSN treating you? :boink:
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Does that make up for the credit card info of yours that sony gave away?
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Sony treats their customers better than Microsoft and Dell.
That is truth. Plus, its not Sony's fault that they got hacked, that could have been Steam, or Xbox Live.
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Ha! Sony got hacked AGAIN!
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... its not Sony's fault that they got hacked...
As an IT professional, I beg to differ. It IS Sony's fault that they got hacked. There is no excuse for not protecting your internet facing systems far better than Sony has a history of doing.
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I don't even know how to get the two free games - We can't find the ones we selected anywhere, nor are they available to select anymore.... Where do they go?
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That is truth. Plus, its not Sony's fault that they got hacked, that could have been Steam, or Xbox Live.
No, I'm pretty sure that using outdated, insecure software, and failing to encrypt your user's personal details constitutes as "being their fault".
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That is truth. Plus, its not Sony's fault that they got hacked, that could have been Steam, or Xbox Live.
Being hacked is accetable, losing CC info or more than username/password is not.
I don't know much about current day DBs, but I suppouse it's possible to separate personal information and info needed for system...
PC is not dying, the possible profit margin for publishers and devs is much higher, EA is starting Origin and others are on the digital-services too... No royalties to thieving shops or Microsoft/Nintendo/Sony...
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I think I'll settle for not having my details all over the internet.
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I got Infamous and wipeout. What? Ghostbuster movie is free too? I already watched that... any other movies free?
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The PS3 dualshock 3 is kind of trash if you think about the fact you can just buy PS2 controllers (which have far more durable triggers plus they are nice and clicky) for a fraction of the price. You can buy a PS2 to 360/PS3 controller adapter and use your PS2 controllers on both consoles. It still can vibrate with dual shock but I turn that **** off personally. To be perfectly honest as far as gaming pads they both suck and ever since I got a XFPS 5 I use my HHKB as a controller :P
Consider that the PS3 and 360s main buttons only real input functionality is via your thumbs while a keyboard utilizes more than 2 fingers.
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I'd like to throw in that the 360 buttons push into your fingers, whereas ps3 buttons are flat. also, the ps3 buttons lie on a horizontal axis, the 360 controller has them awkwardly curved, and if you mash down on a button hard, the "cusp" that the button is in will also punish you.