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[monkeymagic]

Seems this is the closest we'll get to a 'hands on' of the PS3 controller for the time being and was wondering if the following gushing reviews were really accurate.

Obviously comments relating to the d-pad won't be relevant but other than that sounds promising if all of the below is true.

http://www.game-assault.com/reviews/alpsreview.shtml

The basic idea behind the Alps Interactive gamepad was to create a controller so comfortable and fine-tuned, you'd forget about it and fully concentrate on the game. To say that they succeeded would be an understatement. The odd design and size of the controller may turn you off at first, but, after using it, you'll change your mind.

Design 9.5 It looks as though they threw every preconceived design of a normal controller out the window and started from scratch. What they ended up with is a little piece of brilliance.

Quality 9.5 This is a solid controller that's manufactured very well.

Comfort 10 There has never been a controller that even comes close to the comfort of the Alps Interactive.

Diversity/Playability 7.5 Some games may benefit from analog control, or special functions, but anything the standard Sony gamepad can do, the Alps Interactive can do better.

Overall 9.5 With the wave of dual analog controllers that will hit soon, this may not be your best choice for a new controller. However, as far as digital controllers go, the Alps Interactive gamepad is one of the best on the market.

and

http://www.vidgames.com/ps/hardware/alpspad.html

Hands down the best feel of any controller out there! Coolest design, too! Super smooth directional pad and a great rubber grip makes it a breeze to use. If you have great hands, look no further, this controller is for you. Perfect? Not quite, the directional pad is so smooth it is sometimes a bit tricky to pull off diagonals. Oh well, practice makes perfect.

 

[Martini]

i remember almost getting this. the dpad is what turned me away

 

[ManaByte]

Yea the D-pad was bad. But the controller was pretty comfortable to hold because of the rubber grips. I still have one somehwere.

 

[svenuce]

The Dpad was the best thing about it. It was 'squishy' and allowed for some nice touch and it was easy to hit diagonals with. It was the tear shaped buttons that didn't feel right. They were too close together and the top of the tears always got in the way of other buttons.

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

I remember playing with one of these when they first came out and hating it. I worked at a Software Etc. at the time. My gripe was with the buttons mainly, and it just didn't feel natural. The entire outer skin was made of a spongy rubbery matierial, if I remember.

Does anyone remember the Sony 1-Handed controller? It was ostensibly for RPGs, although I guess it would probably make more sense now with Rumble Roses and DoA Volleyball.

 

[Shogmaster]

I hated this pad because it was so honkin' big. My hands didn't know where to grab because there was so much to grab. It would be totally different experience with the PS3 pad because it's so much smaller.