The Evolution Of The PlayStation Controller

I love the PS controllers, only thing I dislike about the current design though are the L2 and R2 buttons, they could do with being more like triggers imo, just like the Gioteck Real Triggers that are sold to add to the PS3 controllers.

James:”Yes, I kept it to released controllers.”

tisk tisk, still missing the Dual Analog Controller, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_Analog_Controller

@52

Well its there now anyway

“1997 – Dual Analog: More Power to Your Thumbs

DualShock

Two years later, a pair of thumb sticks was added to the original controller and we’ve never looked back. The general design of the Dual Analog controller went on to become a games industry standard that is still in place to this day.”

Just got the PS Move and it has really impressive build quality, it’s much bigger than I was expecting and the ball doesn’t look as daft as I was expecting either!

I love the feel of the trigger button too – hopefully when Sony eventually do the DualShock 4 there’ll make the L2 and R2 buttons more like the Move’s trigger.

For those that don’t like the current L2/R2 buttons I highly recommend the Gioteck RealTriggers – they are only £3 and they will transform your controller! They are brilliant for Racing games and shooting games where L2/R2 is Aim/Fire, in fact they improve any game that require use of the L2/R2 buttons, they make it more comfortable to hold too IMO….

the PlayStation controller will always be the best design for years to come, it baffles me that some people say that the xbox 360 pad is better, the d pad on the xbox 360 pad is horrendous!

@55

I think the 360 pad is better, the PS3 is just bulky. However, I guess it is what you are used too. I never got into PS until PS2 and even then I rarely played on it as I tended to play more on PC (undoubtedly the best control system for RTS + FPS).

There is a new d pad on the new 360 pad but very few games use the d pad as far as I’m concerned

As an old duffer I have experienced everything from paddles through to the old C64 single button joysticks through to DS3.

But now I have to resort to being jealous of everyone else as my PS3 RLOD in the middle of a multiplayer Uncharted 2 session! I was even gonna buy a Move controller this weekend as well, DOH!

Sony. You should REALLY release a new, wider and thicker gamepad with better grip and better R2/L2 buttons. Also, the motion sensor is useless in DS/Sixaxis, especially now that theres PS Move. Other than that, DS3 is the best controller ever. And yeah, I have bought Gioteck Real Triggers for it, twice actually. Most people think that DS3 feels kinda small.

Some great nostalgia. Was Singstar and the other stuff really that succesful next to the Dual Shock?

The triggers on the PS3 controller bugs me. The L2 and R2 buttons are NOT slip free. My fingers keep slipping off because of the ugly convex curve. Sadly to fix this problem I place add-ons to help the grip. Don’t get me wrong here guys; but I honestly prefer the Xbox 360 controller. It fits me perfectly and my hand thinks its comfy!

BTW the Suxaxis is scrapped now huh?! Hmmmmm guess it was one of the most useless inventions created by Sony once again just like the UMD and PSP Go…. Hahahahahha Sony is a classic at failing so many stuff. Bahahahaha

cool

I loved the Dual Analog controller. It was bigger and felt better than the original controller. I wish there could be a DualShock 3 with similar dimensions to the Dual Analog.
I was disappointed that the boomerang design never made it to production. It looked a lot more ergonomic than the current design.

@49
i don’t know about others but GT5 prologue uses the pressure sensitve buttons if you (like me) use X to accelerate and [] to brake…

Got Move yesterday and i have a complain… you should warn people to do a harm up before the gaming session, because i didn’t and today my arm and shoulder hurts. damn you, very good table tennis game!

AMAZIN!!! XD

With move, is it really worth buying? I mean, I have a WII (I know, TRAITOR) and I didn’t get motion plus or whatever it’s called. Will move have a bigger effect on the PS3 then say, motion plus did on the WII?

>> And (pad) controllers are the only point where PS3 loses to XBOX

i hated the xbox controller. the position of the analogue sticks just didn’t work for me..

the only thing with the DS3 is that it doesn’t bounce off walls very well after a moment of game rage.

>> The triggers on the PS3 controller bugs me. The L2 and R2 buttons
>> are NOT slip free. My fingers keep slipping off because of the
>> ugly convex curve. Sadly to fix this problem I place add-ons to
>> help the grip

yeah, i use giotech triggers and also thumb grips for the analogue sticks, on both my controllers. though i still hate to play games which do not allow for a L1/R1 aim/fire scheme. it’s mostly why i didn’t rate bioshock that highly, the controller configuration was abysmal. personally, i didn’t find the 360 RT/LT to be any better than the R2/L2 though, and its position of the analogue sticks is just awkward..

You know you’re hardcore when you have owned atleast one set of all these controllers xD

was there ever a Red controller (Dualshock2) never saw those here.

@66

Cmon your on the PS3 blog. Your not gonna get not biased advice. However, if you already have a Wii I guess motion plus is the simplest of investments.

Unless you find a good deal I would wait until move gets cheaper (personal opinion).

RE: Burkatron81

Yeah i’ve noticed games use it, most recently and very obviously and noticeable Planet Minigolf the harder you press X the faster the power guage fills or you can press it gently for more precise control of the power. as james said in his reply to your post, most devs use it in subtle ways and ways that we now take for granted… but i can confirm 100% that all buttons apart from Start, Select, L3, R3 and the PS button feature pressure sensitivity

It’s interesting to think of how many control innovations have become game changers with the Playstation, and then consider how many have failed or fallen by the wayside.

Dual analogue sticks – win!
vibration – win!
wireless controllers – win!
mics – win!
Shoulder buttons – win!

but then…
pressure sensitive buttons – nobody uses them.
sixaxis – devs pretty much gave up on it
eyetoy/pseye – under-supported (though that may change now)

Also, I quite like the bulky weightiness of the 360 controller, and I’ve always wished that Sony would make an alternative option for those of us who want a bulkier, weightier dualshock, with a larger palm grip.

@71

Oh, I have a PS3, and prefer it to both my xbox and WII, and yes, I will take your word.

i liked this it reminded me of the good old days of playing on the psone on duke nukem or crash bandicuit or singing to 90′s songs on singstar with my friends and family and on the ps2 with the original metal gear solid series,now im battling out online on the ps3 with uncharted 2 or playing with my mates and relitives on little big planet. ive always been with playstation from the start and right up to now and will forever be with it and i hope move makes more memories thanx sony and playstation for the good times and still keeping us all entertained today.

best controller design EVER..hands down…

N64 controller was nice too

When I scan down the article, see the evolution and then see Move, I can’t help but think of the caption: “From Pwning Innovator to Tumoured Imitator”

Seriously, the Move Controller looks AWFUL. You have all these lovely sleek controllers, then thisthick hunk of plastic with a Dayglo dongle stuck on the end.

I still want a boomarang controller, Can’t you guys sell me the demo controller! :’(