Controller life expectancy

[Bloedhoest]

What is the average 'age' of your controller before it gives up?
(this excludes Wii controllers flung through the room).
My 360 controller got wonky after 3 years service with an average of 12 hours gaming per week.
The LT squeaked, the left anolog stick had a mind of it's own (rather annoying when in cover)and the A button didn't work now and then.

Play hours factor in and also if you have very sweaty hands or not.
But are the PS3 controllers better built, quality wise not ergonomically, than the 360's? Or is there no difference whatsoever.

 

[rileyrulesu]

Forever? I've never had to replace a controller that I didn't do something to break.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

My PS2 controllers are still working to this day. As are the Gamecube and N64.

All have lived since I got the system.

Are the PS3 controllers better built, quality wise not ergonomically, than the 360's? Or is there no difference whatsoever.

Yes, they can last years unless thay are physically abused. I accidentally flung my PS3 controller across the room into a corner of the wall, and it still works fine. It now has a badass battle scar.

 

[kidd25]

Forever? I've never had to replace a controller that I didn't do something to break.

yeah i've had two controllers and the first one i still use, they are both perfect in working condition.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

eh it depends on your use

n64 controller + mario party on hard mode?

you might as well have a warranty on that thing, it is going to be on fire within a couple days

my 360 controller has lasted since i first got the 360 at launch..and the only reason why my ps2 controllers broke was because the joysticks got clicked so many times the l3/r3 stopped working.

 

[demoman_chaos]

I had a PS1 controller last up until I lost it a few years ago. It worked better than any PS2 controller I ever had.

A friend o' mine has an NES and the controllers are still working great, as is his SNES ones.

 

[VaudevillianVeteran]

All of my last gen controllers are still in working order after a decade, however my 360 thumbsticks are a little crooked already.

 

[tippy2k2]

The little nubby specks on my 360 controller wear out really quickly and for some reason, it bugs the hell out of me not having them. I replace the controller about once every 2 years because of this. Any other system, I never really needed to replace the controllers.

 

[theonecookie]

To be fair all my controllers are working and i think iv only been through one ps2 controller

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

Forever? I've never had to replace a controller that I didn't do something to break.

Yup. I still have original NES and SNES controllers that work perfectly, N64 controllers that survived dozens of hours of Mario Party, and a variety of other things. One of my GC controllers that I used a lot has an analog stick that's slightly looser than the rest, but it still works fine. The 360 controller I use with my PC is in good shape, even after taking it apart and reassembling it. I have keyboards and mice that still work after 20 years. Hell, the keyboard and joysticks from my VIC-20 are still in working order. Other than a couple things that someone spilled a drink on or that had the plug forced into the socket and broke a pin off, everything's basically fine.

 

[Tiger Sora]

I've never had to replace a controller. I don't smash them up. I take care of them.
One time I fell through a stool trying to reach something up high and crushed in the L2 button on my PS1 but with a knife and some surgery I was able to get the button dislodged with minimal loss of plastic.

 

[Bloedhoest]

The thumb sticks of my Xbox controller have the same problem. The controller of my Megadrive is still in pretty good nick, also the ones from my Odyssey 2100.

I guess they all work in the end, more or less.

 

[Arionis]

I have 360 controller's that have been hurled, kicked, punched, slapped, used as a projectile weapon, and chewed.

They work fine.

I also have brand new controllers that were packed up to and from destinations, in a backpack, for five minutes of walking, that stopped working right for various reasons.

So.....dunno.

Though, would love to have an original concept PS3 controller for throwing.

 

[satanslawer123]

pretty darn well one of my three ps1 controllers is still alive and kicking. and my last ps2 controller has lasted 6 years even with the abuse that has been dished out on it.

 

[FreakSheet]

All my controllers still work, although the rubber pad on the analog stick on my wavebird wore off, exposing hard plastic.

 

[GundamSentinel]

I've never had a controller give up. I don't know what people do with them to break them. I can't even dent mine.

 

[Vet2501]

I've never had to replace a controller. This is despite some pretty heavy use when I was younger (ie before going to uni) and my wee brother who has ridiculously sweaty hands.

 

[The Cap]

i had one xbox 360 wireless controller that got a fucked up analog stick (and for some reason microsoft decided to screw their controllers together with funny allen keys with holes in the middle which i dont own to fix it) that got an unlucky hit on my bed whilst thrown (first time it was thrown too!) and is now useless after about 2 months tops of use

not cool

 

[Bloedhoest]

i had one xbox 360 wireless controller that got a fucked up analog stick (and for some reason microsoft decided to screw their controllers together with funny allen keys with holes in the middle which i dont own to fix it) that got an unlucky hit on my bed whilst thrown (first time it was thrown too!) and is now useless after about 2 months tops of use

not cool

Those screws are called Torx. The pin in the middle is there so no one can open it, unless you have the right tool.

Most hardware stores sell them by the way, the Torx key with a hole in it.

 

[Zenichi]

my ps1 controllers (had 3) lasted for probably around 1-2 years a piece, i did abuse them in every way imaginable including jumping on them, using them as a football, throwing them in fits of rage at some point in each controllers lifespan.

actually my first ps1 controller probably took the most punishment..and in the end it wasnt even the physical abuse that got to it, sure it lost a lot of its casing but it was the spilled coke that finally destroyed it

1 xbox controller just stopped working (i didnt abuse it ! i swear) after around 2-3 years

the analog sticks from my 2 other xbox controllers are very wonky (the other one steers to the left in neutral position and the other doesn't want to go up+right) and the ABXY are kinda stiff otherwise works still (had em for about 6-7 years now)

1 xbox360 controller (corded) doesn't work on my xbox360, nor my pc but funnily enough it works on my mothers pc (lasted about 2 years before it started this very selective working behaviour)

1 afterglow xbox360 controller has a bit wonky left analog stick. i might grip my controllers a tad too hard for nearly all of em start showing some wonkyness in the sticks at some point (i've had this one only for a year or so)