It actually exists! An Xbox 360 controller with symmetrical analog sticks

[migo]

What 'sad state' are you talking about?
The 360 controller works perfectly fine the way it is.

The sad state of pretty much all 360 controllers being clones of the official ones. There's no variation, except for occasionally a non craptastic D-Pad that's still poorly placed.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Ewww

Why would you buy that?

The whole point of the Xbox controllers is that it's not like a PS3's.

I wish I could plug my 360 controller into my PS3 and get rid of their farty little things.

That's my one complaint with sony... Make a controller for the bigger handed chap

You forget that the PS3 is made for Japan. They aren't quite as large handed as some people... like this big dumb polack for instance. But I agree, and the Duke is one of my favorite controllers simply because it fit in my big ham hands.

 

[migo]

Thank god! I'll take 10! I'm so sick of the retarded design of the 360 controller. Sure they wanted to do something to differentiate from the playstation controller, but there is a reason all PS controllers have been symmetrical. Just like there is a reason we don't build houses out of bread..

Sadly, with only 2 USB ports (3 if you want to reach around behind), it's not even possible to fully populate a 360 with these controllers. I'm happy enough with just one for me an let the others use the regular ones, but I've already had to buy a separate controller (with just a D-Pad and face buttons) just to be able to play certain games. I've never had that concern with any of my PS controllers, as they work fine for anything other than fighting games (requiring an arcade stick) and FPS games (requiring a mouse).

 

[TheTim]

I cant stand symmetrical analog sticks, it makes my right thumb cramp after a while.

 

[Snake Plissken]

I'm happy though, my left wrist is starting to really hurt from dealing with the 360 pads, and it's nice to finally find a controller that solves the issue.

I hate to be the first to tell you, but if your wrist hurts because of the controller, it ISN'T THE CONTROLLERS FAULT. You should probably put it down for a day or two and go outside or something.

Also, is it really THAT DIFFICULT to become accustomed to different styles of controllers? It isn't rocket science...

 

[Frontastic]

Aww no. I love the 360 controller, it just feels...right. I find it quite hard to play PS2 these days. Too compact.

 

[migo]

Gotta say I think you're in a minority on this one buddy.

I don't think so, it's just coming from the original Xbox controller that was almost universally hated, people are willing to settle for anything that's slightly better with the 360. Hell, even Nintendo went for a DualShock layout with their classic controller.

I've used the 360 pad for long periods of time without feeling any sort of cramp or tingling associated with bad ergonomics. It fits perfectly and works perfectly.

With certain games it works all right, so if you're only playing those games it's not a problem, but if you have any breadth to your game library it will be. It's not always the same problem for people either, Lasse from TechnoBuffalo mentioned his middle finger going numb because of bad 360 controller ergonomics.

The controller itself looks pretty good though. And if you can still use it as normal then I suppose it meets both peoples needs. So you know, to each there own.

Yeah, it is a pretty brilliant solution. With Snoopy Flying Ace I actually like the 360 controller, so it's nice being able to switch it for the one game it really works for.

On the other hand I've never seen a good third party PS3 controller that doesn't look like it was made out of the same quality plastic as a McDonalds toy. Or I'd have bought it. I constantly have to stop playing the PS3 because their god awful controller has made my hands cramp up or the goddamned headset is making my ear feel like it's being fucked by a robot.

Bad times!

I've not looked much at 3rd party PS3 controllers, but for PS2 I've found a number of good quality 3rd party ones, and I see no reason why that wouldn't carry over to the 3. Not to mention, the PS3 supports standard USB controllers, so the PlaySega pad works fine with it, and you can hook up a keyboard and mouse to the PS3 in UT3 to actually get a worthwhile console FPS experience.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Ewww

Why would you buy that?

The whole point of the Xbox controllers is that it's not like a PS3's.

I wish I could plug my 360 controller into my PS3 and get rid of their farty little things.

That's my one complaint with sony... Make a controller for the bigger handed chap

You forget that the PS3 is made for Japan. They aren't quite as large handed as some people... like this big dumb polack for instance. But I agree, and the Duke is one of my favorite controllers simply because it fit in my big ham hands.

But they sell to eveyone. All across the world. Surely this is a complaint they've come across a fair few times. I'd pay decent money for a good quality PS3 controller that was remotely like the 360's.

I totally agree. One of my big problems with Sony is the fact that I can't use their controllers for crap because of how small they are. Ever since the PS1 people have been clamoring for a slightly bigger controller, but it's apparent they don't think it's an important issue because it's barely changed size-wise over the years.

I may have my beefs with Microsoft, but they know how to listen to their consumers and pull an unpopular product and replace it with something more along the lines of what people want. The Duke was great for people like me, but a nightmare for anybody with tiny hands. And the 360 controller, outside of the D-pad, is pretty darn good.

 

[migo]

I'm happy though, my left wrist is starting to really hurt from dealing with the 360 pads, and it's nice to finally find a controller that solves the issue.

I hate to be the first to tell you, but if your wrist hurts because of the controller, it ISN'T THE CONTROLLERS FAULT. You should probably put it down for a day or two and go outside or something.

Also, is it really THAT DIFFICULT to become accustomed to different styles of controllers? It isn't rocket science...

It is the controller's fault. It's bad ergonomics. Any point you want the neutral point of the control stick to be in the neutral point of your joint's range of motion. The right analog stick (or both with the DualShock) has this, where regardless of the direction you move you're not going any more to an extreme for the range of motion. With the left stick, you're already close to the extremes for your thumb if you have the stick at neutral, and it's even moreso when you press up or left, whereas pressing right or down on it, you're actually moving towards the neutral position.

 

[Tearopenthelives]

As many here I prefer the Xbox layout quite alot, the higher alignment of the left stick make it easier to use in conjunction with the triggers I find, also the key problem for me with PS contorllers is that they are convex making them harder to grip especially when worn down to the plastic bone

However slight concave indent of the 360 sticks means that while the do make your thumbs itch when brand new, the are easy to grip for almost thier entire life.

 

[Grey_Focks]

uhm....pass. back in the ps2 days my hands would cramp up constantly from the small controller with it's symmetrical sticks. Actually a pretty big reason why I never bought a PS3. 360's controller has just been great to me, and other than the d-pad complaints, which don't really factor in for me as I don't play fighting games, it really has just been all around an amazing controller.

EDIT- Wait a tic, why in god's name would anyone endorse a Mad Catz controller!?!? Are you insane in the membrane?

 

[spartan231490]

Ewww

Why would you buy that?

The whole point of the Xbox controllers is that it's not like a PS3's.

I wish I could plug my 360 controller into my PS3 and get rid of their farty little things.

That's my one complaint with sony... Make a controller for the bigger handed chap

This guy knows what he is talking about. xbox 360 controllers are the most comfortable controllers ive ever seen, and ive been a gamer sinse the NES(still have one actually, is that duck hunt calling my name?)lol

 

[viranimus]

I am with most people here. I feel like the 360 controller is perhaps the best design Ive seen in a long while. Id say dating back to the snes controller.

Really not fond of the Sonys symetrical design. Yes I have bigger hands, so for me, I end up having to pull my thumb in, thus somewhat limiting mobility. I also find the Dpad is harder to use on sony controllers, because it just feels too far out of the way. But I do agree the 360s dpad needs work.. its entirely too rigid and stiff.

That was until I found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16879995094&cm_re=dreamgear_shadow-_-79-995-094-_-Product

Its performance surprised me as I was expecting something rather MadCatz-y.(yes there is a model for Wii too)

But I do absolutely agree it is a sad state of affairs that options from 3rd parties are limited. I should have several options for a controller that fits my play style, not just one.

 

[etherlance]

Truthfully I never really had any trouble with the controller the way it is though I do accept that there people who play better with a differant controller setup.

 

[Snake Plissken]

I'm happy though, my left wrist is starting to really hurt from dealing with the 360 pads, and it's nice to finally find a controller that solves the issue.

I hate to be the first to tell you, but if your wrist hurts because of the controller, it ISN'T THE CONTROLLERS FAULT. You should probably put it down for a day or two and go outside or something.

Also, is it really THAT DIFFICULT to become accustomed to different styles of controllers? It isn't rocket science...

It is the controller's fault. It's bad ergonomics. Any point you want the neutral point of the control stick to be in the neutral point of your joint's range of motion. The right analog stick (or both with the DualShock) has this, where regardless of the direction you move you're not going any more to an extreme for the range of motion. With the left stick, you're already close to the extremes for your thumb if you have the stick at neutral, and it's even moreso when you press up or left, whereas pressing right or down on it, you're actually moving towards the neutral position.

Dude...no. If the controller is causing you pain, it is not the controllers fault. Period. Ever. Unless it's covered in syringes and broken glass.

Let's say you walk up a flight of stairs...ten flights of stairs. Would you complain that it was the stairs fault for being poorly designed?

The point I was trying to make is that if you hand hurts because of the controller, you need to DO SOMETHING ELSE. I've been playing guitar for over ten years and my hand has NEVER, EVER, EVER begun to hurt due to playing too much. Hell, my girlfriend has arthritis and has never complained, even after 12 hours of playing. Find some way to strengthen your hand, fingers, and joints.