Gamepro hands on with the PS3 controller

[Zenien]

http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=79412

We recently had an opportunity to try out a near-final version of the PlayStation 3 controller. We were impressed by the subtle changes to the Dual Shock's winning design.
The analog sticks felt smoother and

The analog sticks felt smoother and "floated" more loosely than the sticks on the PS2 controller (images courtesy GameVideos.com)

Ever wonder what it's like to hold the PlayStation 3 controller in your own hands? Lucky us: we recently had that very opportunity while playing the latest version of the PS3 action-fest Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.

Our first impressions were good. The entire controller felt surprisingly light; possibly 25% lighter than the current PS2 controller. It's possible that this lighter feel is related to the lack of force-feedback "rumble" support, but that's unconfirmed.
The small red LEDs display wireless player information (top); conflicting reports regarding the center button (bottom)

The small red LEDs display wireless player information (top); conflicting reports regarding the center button (bottom)

The directional pad feels softer, more tactile, than the slightly stiffer pad on the PS2. But it gets better: the new analog sticks responded more smoothly to thumb input, and felt slightly "looser." We're guessing that these new analog sticks will make first-person shooters much more playable; they certainly worked well for Untold Legends.
Shot of the USB connector and LEDs (top); the USB attachment cable (bottom)

Shot of the USB connector and LEDs (top); the USB attachment cable (bottom)

The face buttons felt identical to those on the stock PS2, but the shoulder buttons have received a welcome tune-up. The L2 and R2 triggers are now oversized and "squishy," making them feel more like analog triggers. We actually preferred these redesigned L2 and R2 triggers to the slightly stiffer Xbox 360 triggers, but that will ultimately be a matter of personal preference.

We've heard mixed reports on the small PlayStation insignia that rests between the analog sticks. One source told us that the button worked as a "home" button for menu navigation, ala the Xbox 360. Sony Online Entertainment's Nicholas Beliaeff, the Director of Development fo r Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, told us the button was used to sync the wireless controller to the PS3. Either way, we can't confirm for the time being, as Sony hasn't clarified.

All in all, it was a surprisingly positive demonstration of a slight overhaul of one of the most popular gaming controllers in video game history. More updates soon!

 

[Mentok]

I still say the sticks should have a smaller concave surface like the X360.

Buttons sound well done.

 

[Avalanche]

I was mcuh amused by one of the angry responses to the article:

shut the **** up artsaber,the 360's controller is still considered by most to be the best controller ever made,and read the article you'll see that in THIER opinion felt slightly better than the 360's, based on thier personal preference,not your's,not mine,thiers. you have no relevence to your comment based on the fact you have never felt the controller,you havent even seen the final design, so,as i said before,shut the **** up and form your own opinion when the things actually in YOUR hands............i do think the controller looks great though.

Grrrrr. You go get 'em girl.

The 360 is still considered the best controller ever made. Is that an official statistic?

 

[Axid]

Yes.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I was mcuh amused by one of the angry responses to the article:



Grrrrr. You go get 'em girl.

The 360 is still considered the best controller ever made. Is that an official statistic?

I really like it. They basically fixed everything that I hated about the original Xbox controller

 

[Aiden]

I love the 360 controller but my favourite controller is the Gamecube's

 

[kytrigger]

I love the 360 controller but my favourite controller is the Gamecube's

The 360 and GC have good controllers, but the best controller ever was by far was the Power Glove....

 

[Addendum]

I really like it. They basically fixed everything that I hated about the original Xbox controller

Yup, it was called the Controller S

 

[Mr. Credible]

i dislike the xbox controller, the black and white buttons sucked ass, and i prefer the dualshock's face buttons... but the 360 controller is definately great, and possibly my favorite.

the ps3 controller does sound cool, though. i look forward to the new shoulder buttons.

 

[Zenien]

My complaints about the PS2 controller:

The anologue sticks could be more responsive.
The placement of the sticks makes it a bit awkward for FPS games.

The Xbox and Xbox 360 controller stick palcements work much better for FPS games.

But when it comes to the 360 controller I think that overall it's a total step back from the good things about the Xbox controller. It has worse shoulder buttons, cheap buttons, and they somehow managed to make the Dpad even worse when compared to the Xbox controller. SHape wise the 360 controller is really good, I'd say that it and the PS2 controller are very close in the same league.

The PS2 controller owns the 360 controller in every aspect except the anologue sticks (not too big of a deal) and the placement (a big deal for FPS).

Everything about the PS3 controller sounds like more improvements, but it's still going to have that 'FPS' defitiency versus any Xbox controller.

 

[Axid]

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

 

[Manny Calavera]

Worse "shoulder buttons"? That's ******ed, how exactly are you measuring the quality here? They are easy to reach and they work when you click them in, that's really all you need from a button Zenien, and I'm pretty sure the d-pad is exactly the same as the one on the s-controller, just elevated a bit for easier access.

 

[Trigger]

My complaints about the PS2 controller:

The anologue sticks could be more responsive.
The placement of the sticks makes it a bit awkward for FPS games.

The Xbox and Xbox 360 controller stick palcements work much better for FPS games.

But when it comes to the 360 controller I think that overall it's a total step back from the good things about the Xbox controller. It has worse shoulder buttons, cheap buttons, and they somehow managed to make the Dpad even worse when compared to the Xbox controller. SHape wise the 360 controller is really good, I'd say that it and the PS2 controller are very close in the same league.

The PS2 controller owns the 360 controller in every aspect except the anologue sticks (not too big of a deal) and the placement (a big deal for FPS).

Everything about the PS3 controller sounds like more improvements, but it's still going to have that 'FPS' defitiency versus any Xbox controller.

I agree, it also makes sense considering how big Halo has been for MS and the X-box.

 

[TheGrayGhost]

wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Don't worry, they're talking about the old, conventional controllers.

I think there's a good discussion to be had with console controllers. Of the three out right now, I like the GameCube's the most; it's comfortable and simple. I like the Xbox 360 controller the least; button placement is off to me and it feels very, very stiff in my hands.

 

[Extromaniac]

Worse "shoulder buttons"? That's ******ed, how exactly are you measuring the quality here? They are easy to reach and they work when you click them in, that's really all you need from a button Zenien, and I'm pretty sure the d-pad is exactly the same as the one on the s-controller, just elevated a bit for easier access.

Yes, let's just say Zen's trying any way she can to discredit the '360'.

And it was a failure.

 

[Zenien]

Yeah no. If Dentons logic was sound then any controller with the same layout of buttons would be exactly the same, clearly that's not th case, as the quality of the inputs themselves play a role. I know it's a hard concept for him to grasp just like the keyboard and mouse.

 

[Extromaniac]

Yeah no. If Dentons logic was sound then any controller with the same layout of buttons would be exactly the same, clearly that's not th case, as the quality of the inputs themselves play a role. I know it's a hard concept for him to grasp just like the keyboard and mouse.

The controller is basically the same, but you don't have to move your fingers off the shoulders because the black/white buttons are removed. The triggers are the same, the button layout is basically the same. What the hell are you whining about?

Just bask in your PS3 controller love and leave the '360' alone. For once. Damn.

 

[Topdawg]

It seems like they improved the controller, finally some good news.

 

[Manny Calavera]

Yeah no. If Dentons logic was sound then any controller with the same layout of buttons would be exactly the same, clearly that's not th case, as the quality of the inputs themselves play a role. I know it's a hard concept for him to grasp just like the keyboard and mouse.

The quality of the inputs? Give it up, my god, are you seriously this desperate for an attack on the 360 that you're using this? The A button responds when I press it, as do all the others, that's about all you can ask from the "quality of inputs" department of any controller Zenien.

 

[kytrigger]

The quality of the inputs? Give it up, my god, are you seriously this desperate for an attack on the 360 that you're using this? The A button responds when I press it, as do all the others, that's about all you can ask from the "quality of inputs" department of any controller Zenien.

Not really. Now I don't know if this is a problem with the 360 (i've only played it a couple of times and i didn't notice anything wrong) but I've had controller problems where you have to press the buttons (namely the shoulder buttons) in too far to get a desired response. It takes an extra half second, which would screw up things like combos in MK and other games, so there can be an input problem.

Although, I don't think any of these problems were with a first party controller and were all third party crap...

 

[Manny Calavera]

The A button responds when I press it, as do all the others, that's about all you can ask from the "quality of inputs" department of any controller

You can't open a post with "not really" and then basically agree with me.

 

[kytrigger]

You can't open a post with "not really" and then basically agree with me.

Actually, I can. I was stating how their can be problems with a controller even when you do get a response when hitting the buttons. The "not really" shows that while I don't think you are completely wrong, I don't agree with everything you said either.

 

[Manny Calavera]

And then everything you typed afterwards conflicted with that idea, since it did agree with everything I said. "I need to press a button in too far to get a response", ie "the button isn't responding when I press it", which goes into "the buttons respond when I press them, that's all I can ask from a controller". The end.