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On march 23 sony anounced that they are throwing the boomarang away and coming up with a new controller. it is expected to be shown at e3 on may 6. i would like to know would you guys think the new one will look like and if it was a good idea or not.
It'll be an actual boomering, not just a controller shaped like one.
Anyways... I'm sure wii're in agreement that wii hated the first one, and it's not much of a suprise that Sony's changing it. At least someone listens to their fans around here.
A mate of a mate of some bloke on a forum says that the PS3 controller will officially be the best thing ever.
I don't know about you, but I'm convinced.
The Dualshock 2 was already perfect, I don't get why they need to change it. Its design is subtle and understated, but through symmetry and simplicity Sony had the best controller of last generation by far.
Cyc, I disagree. The Dualshock was good for when games were just moving from D-pad to analogue sticks, but now every game uses the joysticks, and the D-pad is used as just more buttons, if it's used at all. I'd like to see someone be the first to drop the old pad altogether and replace it with a hat switch or something.
I just find that it fits my hands, my interests and my play style perfectly. It's symmetrical and perfectly balanced, which makes it precise and technical. No one button totally dominates half the controller like the Gamecube. It's light and minimal, unlike the Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers which are enormous and unwieldy. It just feels right.
What happened to all that talk about the Xbox 360's controller being 'the controller God would use', as you put it? oo
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I just find that it fits my hands, my interests and my play style perfectly. It's symmetrical and perfectly balanced, which makes it precise and technical. No one button totally dominates half the controller like the Gamecube. It's light and minimal, unlike the Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers which are enormous and unwieldy. It just feels right.
wha?? 
I thought you said when God plays video games, he uses the 360 controller? What happened to that? o_O I wuvs my 360 controller... >_> Wish I could use it on more than my PC. I still like the PS2 controller quite a bit, but it's lost it's position as my "favorite controller EVAR" to the 360 gamepad. I thought it looked a little big before I used it, but it seems to melt into my hands perfectly. (and I don't have big hands or anything) Everything seems to be positioned nicely and in comfortable reach, and I love the analog triggers. It's just about perfect in my opinion.
As a somewhat pointless aside, the GameCube controller has been growing on me as well, as weird as it is, since it's fairly comfortable to hold and I like it's button layout better than the PS2's for certain games. Definitely could've been better though.
I still like the PS2 controller quite a bit as well, but I don't find it as comfortable as I used to. Especially if I've been using the 360 and GC controllers a lot, since I miss the analog triggers and the analog stick positioning feels a little awkward until I get used to it again.
EDIT: Oops, missed Ultra's post. Helps if I read the whole thread before responding, heh.
The gamecube controller would have been the best if it had click in anolog pads, a twin Z button and the Playstation Four Button layout.
Its definatly the most comfortable IMO.
The Dual Shock has a few problems. The Anolog Sticks are woolly and dont offer much resistance. The L stick needed to be where the D pad is. Thats it really.
The Boomerang is going to be redesigned. YAYNESS
The Dualshock's analog sticks are disgustingly springy and loose.
I really can't stand how small and anti-ergonomic the controller is, either.
What happened to all that talk about the Xbox 360's controller being 'the controller God would use', as you put it? oo
I find I don't really know how much I really like a controller until I stay up all night playing games on it. Obviously, I was not exactly given that liberty at the time. So I actually sat down with one at a friend's house recently and played 360 games all night and after a while I felt like they still could've been a lot more efficient with the design. Way too much empty space. Now don't get me wrong, it's still a great controller, and holding it is like putting my hands in a bowl of Jello, but in the end I still prefer the Dualshock. To this day, it is the only gamepad that has passed the "all-nighter" test.
Dreamcast controller rocks you all. *stoned* I had not heard of Sony abandoning the "boomerang". That's a smart move. Can't wait to see it. And May 6 E3...that's like a Saturday. o_o I thought E3 was like May 8-10.
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The Dualshock 2 was already perfect, I don't get why they need to change it. Its design is subtle and understated, but through symmetry and simplicity Sony had the best controller of last generation by far.
Amen brother!
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I'd like to see someone be the first to drop the old pad altogether and replace it with a hat switch or something.
No, no, no, and no again! there may be some out there who prefare using analogue sticks to buttons on everything, but I, and I'm sure a number of others too, simply cannot get used to joysticks! A pad without a D-pad would be like a plane without controls...unusable! Not to mention the "digianalogue" touch sensitive buttons of the Dual Shock 2, now THAT was innovation! The difference that made to my gaming life was completely incalculable!!!
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I just find that it fits my hands, my interests and my play style perfectly. It's symmetrical and perfectly balanced, which makes it precise and technical. No one button totally dominates half the controller like the Gamecube. It's light and minimal, unlike the Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers which are enormous and unwieldy. It just feels right.
Testify!
Personally I would have liked to see the boomerang...granted it looked wierd, but studying it's design, I can see how it could have fitted into the hand even better (if that's possible) than the dual shock 2, and I would have liked to have held one to see what it was like. To date, though, Sony have imho been far far in advance of everybody else in ergonomically designed game pads...they used almost exactly the same one from the Playstation way back in 91 all the way to present day...why? Because it worked! It was the most comfortable, easiest to use, best designed pad on the market, and personally I don't see why it should ever change from what it is now. I am, however, looking forward to seeing what Sony come up with...if they can do the Dual Shock 2, then an improvement on that will be sheer gaming bliss!!!
(Wraith the Echidna on an alt)
I really don't understand how people with normal-sized worship the Dualshock 2, especially when it's such an exercise in counter-intuitiveness.
But oh well, different strokes for different folks, I guess.
I actually read a review/preview recently that seemed to like the Boomerang... and it occurred to me that none of us have actually tried holding it.
It's just like the Wii controler... We can all complain and praise it... But until we've actually held it, it's all mute...
I like the 360's controller... It just feels..so right!
I agree with Cyc on the matter of the 360's controller; It's awesome in short bursts, but for long playing sessions it REALLY tends to wear on one's hands.
Personally I have yet to find a controller that I would say is "Perfect".
The PS1 controller I find to be the best controller for Fighting games as it's D-pad dominate design and balanced button layout make the complex and accruate button work most fighting games require a lot easier. I always found the Dual Analog sticks on the PS2's controller to be deadweight, but then again most of the PS1/2 games I own are perfectly playable with D-buttons.
When it comes to platformers, racers, puzzlers, and RPGs, I find that the gamecube's stick dominate design and unbalanced button layout more appropriate for these games usually simpler control scemes.
As far as shape goes, I think the shape used by most Dual Analog controllers(The one popularized by the PS1's pad) is best, and I find the GCN's controller has the size and fit for my hands.
What has me most interested about Wii is the apparent empathise on building the controller around the game, something that I think would be awesome if it doesn't up the price too much.
Though I was gonna try to improve on traditional designs I would:
Start with the GCN Controller as a base(My Favorite of existing controllers)
Add a second left shoulder button(common complaint regarding the GCN Pad)
Replace the D-pad with a Digital Stick(The feel of analog with the accuracy of Digital)
Use the SNES button Layout(The best balanced button sceme IMHO)
Add a pair of triggers to the underside(It would seem like a natural way of adding extra function without making it cumbersome. Plus it would be a completely natural way of shoting in FPS)
Make it in at least 3 standard sizes(Not everyone has the same sized hands. PS2=Small, GCN=Medium, X-Box=Large)
And if God or any other Omnipotent being were to play videogames, they'd probably use their omnipotence to controller their character like they would their own body.
For the record, I was pretty certain that consensus was that the Saturn controller was the best for fighters. Seriously, one VERY excellent D-Pad (several times better than that flimsy one on the PS1 pad, seriously, how far can you push that down?), and it even has the six-button layout right on it, for easy arcade-to-joypad layout. There's a reason why Capcom went out of their way to make a PS2 controller that was more or less just like it. Heck, even Sega made a Saturn controller for the PS2 (and PC, too).
Granted, it probably isn't as good for games that are NOT fighting games, or 3D games in general, but it's still a fine piece of workmanship.
Speaking of controllers, something that I would love to see tried that I don't think has been done yet (The controller for the W(ithout)i(nteligence) is kinda going there a little) is a split controller.
Basically, something like the DualShock2, but cut in half down the middle (between Start and Select buttons), with velcro straps around the outsides. Maybe have some locking mechanism in the middle so the halfs can be joined if you like, but the basic idea would be you strap the halfs of the controller into your hands with the velcro, and you can move both your hands independantly as you play, not have to keep your hands close together all the time. Personally I think that would make gameplay far more comfortable still than what it already is.
I was even going to try something of this sort with one of my old Playstation pads, but I haven't got around to it yet (Saw it in half with an angle grinder or something...so long as you had someone who knew electronics to sort the wiring, I think it could be patched up fine lol). I will do sometime though, unless one of the games companies beats me to it.
Actually, someone DID beat you to it.
I KNOW I remember seeing an old PS1 Pre-dualshock wireless controller that could be separated into three parts, leaving two teardrop-shaped controller parts and a hollow plastic part that was only used to connect the pieces into a regularly-shaped PS1 pad.
I don't remember who made it or what it was called at all, but give me 5 minutes and I can probably google something up.
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For the record, I was pretty certain that consensus was that the Saturn controller was the best for fighters.
I'll admit I've never held a Saturn controller. Is it anything like the Genesis 6-pad? Personally I've always found 6 buttons a little too much for the thumb to manipulate on it's own.
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I KNOW I remember seeing an old PS1 Pre-dualshock wireless controller that could be separated into three parts, leaving two teardrop-shaped controller parts and a hollow plastic part that was only used to connect the pieces into a regularly-shaped PS1 pad.
Woah, awesome! I'd be interested to see that if you could find any pics Wonder^^
Wraith
My opinion is that the 6 button pad was perfect for fighters. The controls (at least, of Street Fighter) have never progressed beyond "Light Punch, Medium Punch, Hard punch")
Having those three (and the kicks below) mapped out makes it easy to guess where it is, meaning when you want to Alpha-Move someone, you switch to A and X buttons for a 1-bar attack, B and Y for a 2-bar and so on.
I tend to hate fighting games, as a rule, but I'd never play a Street Fighter on the PS2. It's the best pad by far, but has no easy navigation system with games like that. Regular games, you know you've got X and O doing the main stuff, thanks to inconsistancies between East and West we've never had a pure choice on which is OK and which is cancel.
Dreamcast pad was ok for Street Fighter and Versus games too. Back buttons for hard, bottom line for light, top for medium.
Normally, I'd complain about the Playstation's place for the left Analogue, and while I still think it's best suited for where the D-Pad is, I haven't found it that awkward lately. And seeing as it is quite well fitted for games like Tekken, I have to bring up that Fighters a rather scarse in comparison to 3D action adventures, which are everywhere these days. For those games, the GC Pad is my favourite, all buttons are perfectly reachable, and the big main button is there for main actions.
Some time ago my brother worked at a company called Recaton near us, testing console pads and accessories before they were shipped out to stores, or something, and occasionally the company would allow him to buy some of the products directly from them, rather than the stores or anything. Anyway, this was way back when before the PS2 was brought out, and one day he came home with one of these pads for my Playstation, which they had been testing all week. I still have that pad to this day, and still use it once in a while, for one reason:
It is, officially, the best, most comfortable pad I have ever played with in my entire life!
If anybody has the chance to handle one of these at any point, just try it out for a few moments to see what I mean! Now this pad came out before analogue sticks (that's how old it is!) but it is the only one, in my view, that can beat the DualShock2 in ease of use and comfort, and if Sony were to do something along these lines but adjust it to incorperate analogue sticks, I would be in heaven...sheer heaven!!!
I say again, if you get a chance, try holding this pad for a moment. It has to be felt to be believed!
Anyone else out there got one of these?
Ewww I used one of those once, or something almost exactly like it, and IMO,
The six-button layout would have worked a lot better if
the two extra programmable buttons weren't so wonky and gross.
Also, the regular diamond buttons just feel... wrong, somehow.
Granted, I never played Street Fighter or anything on it,
and maybe if I had my opinion would be different, but it was just... ick when I used it (Again it could easily have been a similar pad and not that exact one, which would mean this whole schpiel was completely pointless =D)
Sorry to interrupt our fine discussion on random controllers, but the PS3 controller was unveiled not too long ago. Aaaaand...
...it's a PS2 controller.
...with motion-sensing technology.
Looks like Nintendo played their card too early; Sony's already managed to rip them off. And naturally, since all anyone cares about is the PlayStation, this'll mess up Nintendo real nice.
Oh, and the system costs $500 to $600. That actually might make it a turn-off.
ARGH YOU BEAT ME TO IT. I was just about to post those same things. 
I take too long to type this stuff. >_< (and people keep bugging me! argh! *throws bricks at random people*) I was watching the E3 video coverage from GameSpot's website, and laughed out loud when I saw it. And here I thought Nintendo was nuts for worrying about people stealing their idea. 
I also found it rather amusing that they mentioned more than once how it combines "innovative" motion detection technology with the industry standard controller design. Which was obviously intended to insult Nintendo's motion sensing TV remote.
This makes me worry slightly about the Xbox 360 now, since Nintendo is no longer the odd one out with their unusual idea. It's the only one with fully analog triggers now (which I love), but I doubt that'll be much of a selling point. Could also be bad for Nintendo like you said as well, since it's widely known that the Wii is a good deal less powerful, and no longer has the motion sensing thing exclusively. I still have no interest in flailing around with any controller, Sony, Nintendo, or otherwise, but I'd be a little more interested in the Sony one currently, since it'd have no problem working like the controllers I'm used to as well.
Nintendo (and Microsoft, to a lesser extent) will still at least have price and first party titles to go on, though. As you mentioned partly already, the details I saw said there will be two versions, one with a 20GB HDD for $499 and another with a 60GB HDD for $599. $100 seems a bit expensive for only 40GB more, and they both seem a bit pricey either way. Release dates are supposed to be Nov. 11th in Japan and Nov. 17th in the US.
*hides in a corner shivering nervously while clinging to an Xbox 360 controller*
Edit: You know what I find funny though? It is that Sony said it doesn't believe in gimmicks yet here they are putting motion sensing ability into the controller just so they can imitate Nintendo. That just sound soooo hypocritical to me.
You know I never was sure if I should believe the Nintendo fanboys at the Nsider Forum about Sony stealing ideas from Nintendo; now, I guess they were right. Usually, after I'm done with the MoFo, I go check the Nsider Forums to see if they're any topics worth my time; when I logged in, I saw what looked like many topics about this so I decided to forego looking at it and went back here.
Anyway, like one of the Mods said over there, Nintendo says they still have a few surprises up their collective sleeve so Sony may have not completely stolen the Wii's thunder. Also, Sony just now decided to have motion sensing, but Nintendo built their system all around the Wiimote's motion sensitivity so Sony's controller may fail at the most or not do as well at the least. Still Nintendo should now, if they weren't planning on doing it before, package the shell with the system along with the controller and nunchuck attachment.
Finally, if I am force to choose between PS3 and 360 (i.e., Next-Gen never coming to the Wii), then it looks like I will get a 360 as it appears it will be the cheaper of the two. So, I now have the choose between 360 and Wii.
That article seems to suggest that the PS3 controller only has tilt sensing ability, not actual motion sensing. But I thought for sure one of the demonstrations they did used more than just tilting to cause things to move on the screen. "Six degrees of freedom" or some such thing. I'm forgetting the exact details now though, maybe I'm mistaken...
EDIT: Yeah, from this article:
www.gamespot.com/news/6149470.html
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6:32: Ken Kutaragi takes the stage, and asks the crowd if they enjoyed the latest progress on Ps3 titles, which is met with some applause and cheers. Kutaragi then promises "one more big thing we have kept secret." He talks about the controller of the 1994 PlayStation controller's debut. He promises to enhance controllability to the next tier for the next generation. He then holds up the final PS3 controller. It's a silver DualShock with a little black button in the middle with the classic PlayStation logo. He asks Harrison to demonstrate what the controller can do. A demo trailer shows a crate, hopping around of its own accord. It breaks open and the PS3 controller is inside. He lifts the controller up, and the controller on the screen lifts up. With no external sensor required, he can move the controller in six degrees of movement.
Judging by that and what I saw in the video, it sounds like more than just tilt sensing technology.
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Judging by that and what I saw in the video, it sounds like more than just tilt sensing technology.
Here's IGN's comparison of the two controllers. Granted this is from the Wii section of the site, so please be prepared for some bias (although I didn't really see any).
That's what I was responding to actually (from Ultra's post). That article claims that the PS3 controller only has tilt sensing technology, when there seems to be more to it than that as far as I know.
Oops. Sorry about that Zero... I didn't read your post all the way...my bad.
No problem. And even if it does have full motion sensing ability, it still doesn't sound like it'll be able to do quite as much in that area as the Wii controller can (like the "point and click" precision).
As for the previously mentioned pricing details, I ran across a few more details about the price that were conveniently left out of the presentation. I was finding it odd that the only benefit to the $600 version was 40GB more HDD space. Well as it turns out, the $500 PS3 will have more downsides than just the 20GB hard drive. It'll apparently lack support for Memory Sticks, SD and Compact Flash cards, have no built-in Wi-Fi and will have the HDMI output removed, according to this article:
www.gamespot.com/news/6149552.html
So it basically works like the different Xbox 360 versions. You have the mediocre feature lacking version and the fully featured version for $100 more. Except that both are $200 more than their Xbox counterparts. Which is much more than I'm willing to pay for a game console. (even the 360 is more expensive than I'd want to pay for one right now)
Also from that article, the PS3 controller has no vibration function, interestingly enough. GameSpot has a hands-on with the controller here for more info:
www.gamespot.com/news/6149586.html
Interesting to note that I was wrong earlier, it does apparently have analog triggers. Spiffy.
EDIT: Another note on the PS3 controller, I noticed even Microsoft thinks Sony's motion sensing thing is kind of a rip-off, and sort of complimented Nintendo at the same time.
www.gamespot.com/e3/e3sto...id=6149641
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As for the PS3's new motion-sensitive controller? "We tried that five or six years ago with the Freestyle Pro," he said. "It worked well for a few games, but it wasn't a general purpose controller. It seems as though they were taking a page from Nintendo's book [in reference to the Wii's controller], but Nintendo is more innovative."
