A discussion of different controllers *spinoff

[Arwin]

I think the difference between PS3 and 360 here is understandable, as on the PS3 just about every button (including, ironically, the d-pad) is analog, though they have a software setting to behave as digital. Hence all buttons have some travel. On the 360, the 'R1' button hardly has any travel. With the PS3 R2 button being a little too low compared to how you hold the controller, it's not as comfortable to use, at least for me. Should they ever do a redesign, I think there is some room for improvement in that department (the R2 button also sticks out too much, when you set the controller down or lean it on something it's too easily pressed)

So yes, it's typically the R1 button on the PS3. At least in the games that I've played, Resistance, Warhawk and Uncharted.

 

[Mobius1aic]

Well there is also the concavity of the R2 and L2 triggers to take into account. When I used them, my finger just wants to slip out instead of staying in place, hence it's very uncomfortable for me to use. My fingers have grown uncomfortable to using the R1 and L1 triggers as I've gotten older and my hands bigger. I can't help but feel that the 360 controller is completely superior for FPSs, however, I much greatly prefer the Dual shock series for racing, flight games, and pretty much everything else, the analog sticks feel less twitchy and more stable which is a must for non FPSs, that are best with a more 'twitchy' analog stick. And of course you can't beat a mouse for FPS aiming so I'd like to see more KB and mouse support in PS3 games.

 

[D3B]

I think PS3's controller is best for most games.

Like in a fps, PS3's L1 setup has your midddle finger's always free to do somthing like throw a grenade or crouch, for 360 your must move your index finger to hit the bumpers.

 

[L. Scofield]

I think PS3's controller is best for most games.

Like in a fps, PS3's L1 setup has your midddle finger's always free to do somthing like throw a grenade or crouch, for 360 your must move your index finger to hit the bumpers.

? Why don't you simply put your middle fingers on the triggers and the index on the bumpers?

 

[Mobius1aic]

? Why don't you simply put your middle fingers on the triggers and the index on the bumpers?

It's extremely uncomfortable to use the bumpers on the Xbox 360 controller. I actually use the inside of my index finger close to where the larger finger bone attaches to the palm as it rests slightly on the bumpers when I'm on the triggers instead of dragging my whole finger up on the bumper. It's not difficult resting your index fingers on the bumpers with middle fingers on the triggers though, but firing with your middle finger is very weird unto itself. I think a secondary trigger/button under the main one on the controller would be an interesting idea, as it would be more comfortable, plus you wouldn't have to worry about taking your index finger off the main triggers that are so vital to so many 360 games.

 

[Scott_Arm]

And of course you can't beat a mouse for FPS aiming so I'd like to see more KB and mouse support in PS3 games.

My friend has some wacky mouse controller for his PS3 that works with all the games, I guess. I think it's cheating if you use it online.


Oh, and I think they should have switched the position of the d-pad and left analog stick on the PS3 controller.

 

[Cheezdoodles]

My friend has some wacky mouse controller for his PS3 that works with all the games, I guess. I think it's cheating if you use it online.


Oh, and I think they should have switched the position of the d-pad and left analog stick on the PS3 controller.

Me to, as i use analog 90% of the time

 

[Daozang]

The trigger button on the ps3 is too sensitive for a fire button... The R1 is a much better choice.
On the 360 the trigger buttons are the only choice. It's so natural!

 

[DJ12]

Oh, and I think they should have switched the position of the d-pad and left analog stick on the PS3 controller.

And I don't.

It's great the way it is, I prefer it far more than the 360s controller.

 

[deepbrown]

And I don't.

It's great the way it is, I prefer it far more than the 360s controller.

Symmetrical and made for littler hands. Xbx controller made for big hands.

 

[SonComet]

On the PS3 the R1/L1 buttons are the only logical choice for firing in an fps. Just like the triggers are the only logical choice for firing on the 360.

The 360 controller has a better shape to it. The controllers both fit my hands fine (I'm 6'1" with I would guess pretty average sized hands for my height), but the 360 controller just has a better shape that to that gives it a slight edge in comfort. Neither controller hurts my hands after long hours of play. Also, the 360 controller has far superior triggers. But, the Dualshock 3 has much better buttons, better analog sticks, and is 95% as comfortable to me. Overall, I think I favor the DS3. This is sort of like the GCN and DS2 controllers for me. I preferred the shape of the GCN controller, but overall I felt the DS2 was better for the same reasons. Though it's a much closer race for me this time.

 

[Daozang]

I don't think I could play DMC4 on the 360 because of the controler... It would be so unnnatural!
Then again Halo with the sixaxis (and it's analog stick sensitivity) would be unnatural too...

 

[rekator]

For me and my wife the 360's controler is more hand friendly than the dualshock, when we had a PS2 we bought Thrustmaster controler. Dualshock give us some hand's pain due to is form, really to small, made for very littles hands.
And position of the sticks on the 360's controler is at our tastes very good for all types of games.
Actually, our order of preference of game controler is : 360, xbox, gamecube, dualshock.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Oh, and I think they should have switched the position of the d-pad and left analog stick on the PS3 controller.

I prefer the symmetry. Using both analogue sticks is pretty common, either for movement and camera in FPS, or movement and shoot in 2D shooters, etc. and the asymmetric layout of the XB controller feels weird with the same thumb control being handled by the thumbs in different positions. Having both thumbsticks high in the XB left stick position and the buttons low doesn't feel like it'd work, but then I am just so used to the current positions they may in part be why.

 

[archangelmorph]

I don't think I could play DMC4 on the 360 because of the controler... It would be so unnnatural!
Then again Halo with the sixaxis (and it's analog stick sensitivity) would be unnatural too...

These kinds of comments are quite funny..

My advice would be to try it before you make such a statement.. The human body is incredibly good at adapting its tactile control forms to suit what ever extension device is being handled..

Don't underestimate it..

 

[Daozang]

Yeah, you are right, of course. But in the case of Halo, for example, the game was specificaly designed with the 360 controler in mind. IMO it would be a very different game if it was designed on the sixaxis.
Every shooter that is exclusive to the ps3 (Uncharted, Resistance) have a lot in common when it comes to the analogue stick sensitivity. And they have nothing in common with Halo.

As for DMC, I've played all of them on a PS controller and that's why it could feel unnatural for me

 

[Hazuki Ryu]

I think ps3 controler feels kind of outdated now, the shape has been so similar since the first playstation, maybe sony disigners think they found a near perfect formula there, but i dont think they did back in playstation time analog sticks aside the saturn controler was quite better specially on the d-pad, then in 1999 when dreamcast was released it came with a very nice controler the triggers were very nice the buttons though it was nowhere near perfect either the d-pad was average at the best.

When MS released xbox I really liked the big controler, not that my hands are very big but it just felt right (again the d-pad wasn't very good), the small controler they made after that one was ok but not so good in my opinion, the xbox 360 controler really hit the spot for me at least as far as button layout goes, theres always improvements to be made ofcourse.

The ps3 controler to me just feels very similar to dual shock 2 L2 button and R2 are now better but still nowhere near xbox 360 ones I prefer the ps3 D-pad too for fighting games anything else ill take the 360 controler over it.

 

[mrcorbo]

It's extremely uncomfortable to use the bumpers on the Xbox 360 controller.

I don't know if I'd go that far, but it is awkward. In general, the PS2/PS3 controller gets the nod when it comes to the D-pad and the 360 clearly has better triggers. Any other preferences I may have are probably directly related to me having a lot more time logged on XBOX controllers. I.E. I really don't like the analog stick placement on the DS2 and 3 yet this never bothered me when I was primarily using a DS1 with my PS1.

To address the awkwardness of having the 4 buttons on the top of the controller (L1,L2,R1,R2 - which I never really liked on any of the PS controllers either) I'd like it if they stole one of the design features of this Thrustmaster PC controller.

As you can see, in addition to the 4 buttons at the top there are 2 more behind the controller directly behind where the analog sticks are positioned on the front (the front of this controller has a very similar layout to a PS controller). When you're holding the controller, your middle fingers rest comfortably in this position over these buttons. What I would like to see is a controller layout that moves the R1 and L1 buttons to this postion and just has one set of trigger buttons at the top.

 

[RobertR1]

The PS3 has a great Dpad. Everthing else the 360 controller does better.

 

[PARANOiA]

How much has the Playstation 3 dpad changed since the PS1? That Dpad was god-awful, especially when trying to get unique presses at the diagonals. I remember the magazine-wars (the ye-olden day version of the modern console wars) complaining very loudly about the step backwards that was from the solid dpads on the SNES and MD/Genesis controllers.

It's funny how it's 3 gens later and we're still complaining about various Dpad implementations.