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[Littlegator]

Secretly, everyone who thinks it's perfect would like it more if it had longer handles.

 

[TRios Zen]

Sadly, if at least the size of the controller for the PS4 does not change, it will ensure the PS4 is the least played of the consoles I own. I've gamed on all three iterations of the Playstation, but it's like a love-hate relationship. I love some of the games, but any game that holds my attention for longer than an hour or so means my hands will be two cramped, hook-clawed deformities at the end of the session.

In short, the size is too small and any extended play absolutely kills my hands. Outside of the d-pad, I'd argue that the 360 design is superior in every way, but I'm willing to admit that my opinion may be colored by the fact that I use the 360 controller significantly more.

 

[Carl]

You say this as if there is nothing subjective about it.

But the fact is, people who are used to/like better the DS are more than likely playstation fans. And have been using the playstation controller forever.

People who are used to/like better the xbox 360 controller are more than likely xbox fans.

Why would sony try to appeal to the xbox gamers over their own fans?

Also the Playstation contoller shape is very iconic and a symbol of both Playstation and gaming as a whole. They'd be mad to change it.

 

[statham]

*bookmarks thread* can't wait to see what PS4 controller looks like.

 

[EatinOlives]

I've said it many times before, but I despise the button placement on both DS3 and the 360 controller. They remind of 2 button mice.

"Why do you need buttons under your thumb? Two is all you need!"

Move the fucking buttons so I don't have to contort my fingers or move my thumb when I have 3 other fingers not doing a goddamn thing. They want to play too.

I've thought about this a lot before and I do agree with you in terms of radically changing controller design. The first thing I'd do is put all the other fingers to work with buttons right on the natural resting position of each finger (that is, underneath the controller). Probably not EVERY finger, I'd leave the pinky fingers out of course, but adding four more buttons on the back would definitely go a long way to avoid things like Arkham City's terrible "combo buttons cause we have too much shit and we ran out of buttons already" thing.

Or that might be a fucking terrible idea. I really don't know because I've never tried a controller that had anything like that.

 

[tassletine]

The DS is better for arcade twitch gaming in my opinion. I love the xbox controller but it takes a bit more effort to use. The DS has a great loose feel to it but requires more precision.

To those who say the triggers are greasy, they're supposed to be. They way you hit the triggers is not by lifting your finger from R1 to R2 but by just slipping your finger downwards. Try it, they work very well indeed. They're designed both as buttons and triggers.

Gamecube controller beats both in my opinion though.

 

[Fess]

One thing I will give the controller though is durability.

Totally agree. I still have all my launch PS1, PS2 and PS3 controllers left and all of them works perfectly fine without even a slight hint of drop in quality. Seemingly unbreakable.

 

[halogamer]

I think they need to bring back the triggers from the DS2 and fix the analogue sticks. People that are complaining that it's too small probably aren't holding it right. You have to just let it "lay" on your hands and not grip it tightly.

 

[snap0212]

I love how people who are used to the ps3 controller always use that one dpad argument as if thats the only button that matters on the controller...

Fact of the matter is, the joystiqs are too loose and horribly placed (too close together) and it doesnt feel natural at all, the bumpers are also badly placed (i consistently have to move my hands to press them) and those 2 things alone make this controller far from perfect. For the number of the times ive actually used the dpad in the games i play compared to the joystiqs, ill take a bad dpad over loose badly placed sticks and badly placed bumpers that ultimately make it feel very unnatural and uncomfortable.

You people being used to it doesnt make it well designed. If they dont improve it, they can keep their ps4.

Love it when people try to sell their own personal opinions as facts.

 

[Sethos]

I have big hands and hate the controller with every bone in my body. The 360 controller size is perfect, it needs to be more along the lines of that at least in size. I loved the controller as a kid because I had my tiny hands that could wrap all the way around it, now I feel like I'm holding a pencil and holding it too tight - I just get tired in my hands using that controller. My purchase of console could actually rise and fall depending on controller.

 

[sphagnum]

Always hated the design of PlayStation controllers. They should bring back the boomerang or just emulate the 360 controller. Heck, Nintendo is doing it.

(Or they could copy the GameCube design...)

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

How can anyone call it perfect when its triggers are objectively terrible? Even developers use the R1/L1 buttons instead of the shitty L2/R2.

Developers use R1/L1 on PS3 because when you hold the controller correctly that's where your pointer fingers are aligned. You have to realign them to hit the triggers. On the 360 pad, your fingers are aligned with the triggers and you have to move them out of default position to hit the bumpers. If you're one of those people who puts fingers on all 4 shoulder buttons at all times, then this doesn't apply, I guess, but I don't see how you can do that without holding the controller in a really uncomfortable way.

Maybe it's just my hands that work this way, but I don't think so.

 

[dose]

Don't you think the fact that the codename for PS4 is Orbis means that the main controller will be similar to the Move controller, y'know, with an orb at the end of it?

 

[Gustav]

Don't you think the fact that the codename for PS4 is Orbis means that the main controller will be similar to the Move controller, y'know, with an orb at the end of it?

That's terrible.

 

[Frillen]

People who says it's perfect must have only ever played with a Dual Shock. Having this gen played pretty much 50/50 with the 360 controller and the DS3, there are things the 360 conttroller have that the DS3 should have. Better analog placement and better triggers being the most important things.

 

[CamHostage]

I find DualShock perfect and only want it to change if/when a better idea comes along, but I will say for the OP that I lament the death of 3rd Party controllers this generation. Not that 3rd Parties innovated as much as they should have, but I think console manufacturers would have done a lot of good to embrace alternate controller makers (rather than reject them) and steer them towards markets that they themselves didn't intend to produce product for.

Swapped controllers for left-handed gamers who might prefer buttons on the left, for example, could have been more prevalent today if this market had been cultivated (long live Lynx for lefties,) but Nintendo or Sony never made one. Or a XL-size DualShock (same layout but bigger) or a stick-and-Dpad swapped DualShock, Sony wouldn't have made money on it but a Logitech or MadCatz could have if they sold these specialty items with "official parts" in the buttons. Stuff like that would have made the controller market a lot more enticing in my opinion (I have like five different controllers for my PS1 because that was a decent time for control innovation, but I only have the one PS3 stick and I didn't even upgrade over SixAxis) but the console makers are instead going the opposite direction.

 

[QisTopTier]

I think the controller is overall is perfect, I have no issues using the analog sticks and I have no fucking clue how anyone could they are symmetrical if you want one stick moved them you want the other moved makes no sense to have one way the fuck on one side and the other at a different angle. Saying it's unnatural to have them EVEN and a mirror of each other ..... so are you saying everyone's right hand is fucked up or something because no one has issues with the right stick.

The sticks just need to be tightened up a bit and the back triggers need to not be so loose as well putting the controller down makes the damn things go off

 

[GlamFM]

It is an awful controller. I hope and think they will change it completely.

Funny thing is I really liked it before I got my hands on the 360 controller, now there is no going back.

 

[Sethos]

Don't you think the fact that the codename for PS4 is Orbis means that the main controller will be similar to the Move controller, y'know, with an orb at the end of it?

No? That'd be shooting themselves in the foot. No gamer wants some move based controller with a ball on the end when playing Call of Duty, not as a default included controller.

 

[Mindlog]

You say this as if there is nothing subjective about it.

But the fact is, people who are used to/like better the DS are more than likely playstation fans. And have been using the playstation controller forever.

People who are used to/like better the xbox 360 controller are more than likely xbox fans.

Why would sony try to appeal to the xbox gamers over their own fans?

I hope that someone out there has the initiative to put ergonomics above complacency. Sony at least tried with the Banana controller, but chickened out.

We've stuck with these bad compromise controllers for too long.

 

[Silly.Mikey]

Love it when people try to sell their own personal opinions as facts.

Well lets just see which controller Nintendo and Steam draw inspiration from then, the 360 one or ps3 one? Then well talk about facts.

What do you see? A dual shock design or type S design? Case closed.

 

[Woo-Fu]

The triggers are horrible. I can't even think up a practical defense for their design decisions there. "Every other trigger in the world curves the opposite way to help keep the finger on the trigger, let's reverse our so fingers slip off the trigger."

 

[Lucent]

It's perfect the way it is.

.

 

[Quake1028]

It's perfect the way it is.

First post nails....yada yada. /thread

 

[Orayn]

Love it when people try to sell their own personal opinions as facts.

DS3 lovers and haters are both doing a lot of this. I just think they should redesign the handles to be gripped instead of lightly suported - OnLive, Logitech, Nintendo and even Sony found perfectly good ways of doing it, but Sony feels like sticking to their weird undersized wings for whatever reason.

 

[Rebel Leader]

My only problem with the DS are the triggers but I love the DS I hope they dont change it much!

BOOM

 

[Supermanisdead]

I really hate the triggers and the dpad. Triggers that are not concave is just silly. Seemed like they just put it on to be different because there's no way its more comfortable.

It's weird to see people saying the PS3 dpad is the best. It's just 4 really hard buttons. It's better than the 360 one, but it doesn't touch the Nintendo one. I guess Sony is not allowed to use the plus-shaped dpad, but they should make it a bit less hard so I don't get blisters trying to play fighting games.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Always hated the design of PlayStation controllers. They should bring back the boomerang or just emulate the 360 controller. Heck, Nintendo is doing it.

(Or they could copy the GameCube design...)

Other than the fact that Sony once showed us pictures of a retarded boomerang, what reason does anyone have for WANTING that to be the controller? Are you just imagining it must be soooo comfortable and aerodynamic or what? It looks like ridiculous garbage to me.

As for the GC controller, I've never used it, but why is having such an abnormal button layout preferable to the simple symmetry of PS3/360 controllers (barring stick placement, obviously). When people yearn for the GC controller, are they focusing on features other than button layout?

 

[IllumiNate]

I agree. Heck, I want a universal controller. Xbox 360 controller with a better D-pad. That's all I really need. Even if Sony just offered a Dualshock with the left stick and d-pad reversed that would be better.

.

 

[Punchpudding]

My bet is they change the controller. Most games use the left stick to move and most people like the left stick to be where their thumb naturally falls. Outside of GAF I'm pretty sure this is what most market research will find though I'm open to evidence of the opposite. Iconic is one thing but you gotta give the customers what they want.

 

[Papercuts]

Yeah, I really hate the dualshock. The sticks are too slipperly, the triggers are awful, I don't like the placement of them, and the dpad is uncomfortable. Really hope they change it up.

 

[AgentChris]

Better R2/L2 and analog sticks that don't get loose; then that's it.

 

[Graphics Horse]

I've thought about this a lot before and I do agree with you in terms of radically changing controller design. The first thing I'd do is put all the other fingers to work with buttons right on the natural resting position of each finger (that is, underneath the controller). Probably not EVERY finger, I'd leave the pinky fingers out of course, but adding four more buttons on the back would definitely go a long way to avoid things like Arkham City's terrible "combo buttons cause we have too much shit and we ran out of buttons already" thing.

Or that might be a fucking terrible idea. I really don't know because I've never tried a controller that had anything like that.

There's definitely scope for at least one more pair of buttons under the grips of the controller. I think there's a Nintendo patent docment which had something like that.

 

[KalBalboa]

Well lets just see which controller Nintendo and Steam draw inspiration from then, the 360 one or ps3 one? Then well talk about facts.

What do you see? A dual shock design or type S design? Case closed.

First off, Nintendo isn't Sony.

Secondly, that controller doesn't look so hot.

Thirdly, the joysticks on that controller are akin to a DS3 in placement, not a 360 controller.

So, yeah.

 

[def sim]

Don't you think the fact that the codename for PS4 is Orbis means that the main controller will be similar to the Move controller, y'know, with an orb at the end of it?

maybe it's going to be a fushigi

 

[Silly.Mikey]

First off, Nintendo isn't Sony.

Secondly, that controller doesn't look so hot.

Thirdly, the joysticks on that controller are akin to a DS3 in placement, not a 360 controller.

So, yeah.

How is the placement like DS3? The whole debate is that they're too close together....reaching like crazy now.

 

[Sethos]

BOOM

A true testament to the sheer stupidity of the downward curving design.

 

[see5harp]

There's room for improvement with the triggers, but I hope they don't change the placement of the sticks. Having one stick higher than the other makes no sense to me.

I don't care either way. You get used to it and for games with a single analog stick, it is more comfortable. If they kept it identical I do hope they make the sticks concave.

 

[dose]

My bet is they change the controller. Most games use the left stick to move and most people like the left stick to be where their thumb naturally falls. Outside of GAF I'm pretty sure this is what most market research will find though I'm open to evidence of the opposite. Iconic is one thing but you gotta give the customers what they want.

Where is your evidence for 'outside of gaf' people wanting the stick moving? I for one think the stick positions are much better in a symmetrical positioning as they are now.

No? That'd be shooting themselves in the foot. No gamer wants some move based controller with a ball on the end when playing Call of Duty, not as a default included controller.

Ok, we'll see

 

[Mindlog]

I've thought about this a lot before and I do agree with you in terms of radically changing controller design. The first thing I'd do is put all the other fingers to work with buttons right on the natural resting position of each finger (that is, underneath the controller). Probably not EVERY finger, I'd leave the pinky fingers out of course, but adding four more buttons on the back would definitely go a long way to avoid things like Arkham City's terrible "combo buttons cause we have too much shit and we ran out of buttons already" thing.

Or that might be a fucking terrible idea. I really don't know because I've never tried a controller that had anything like that.

There have been two 'recent' attempts that I know of.

The hilariously mocked, Avenger.
Ben Heck's fake Halo 3 controller.

I chuckle every time 'hardcore' gamers mock 'casuals' and 'streamlining' then turn around and balk at any attempt to modernize controller design.

 

[EatinOlives]

Other than the fact that Sony once showed us pictures of a retarded boomerang, what reason does anyone have for WANTING that to be the controller? Are you just imagining it must be soooo comfortable and aerodynamic or what? It looks like ridiculous garbage to me.

Er, barely anyone had tried it when it was shown, and the people who did said it was comfortable. Sony backpedaled on that design only when people who had never held the controller bitched about it because it "looked retarded".

 

[ArachosiA 78]

The PS3 controller is so terrible that I only play PS3 games if they aren't available on other systems. The super loose analog sticks that are so close together that your thumbs bump into eachother and squishy triggers ruin it for me.

 

[QisTopTier]

How is the placement like DS3? The whole debate is that their too close together....

I don't get it, how are they too close together? Your fingers should never touch and the two sticks never touch if you press them towards each other....

 

[Orayn]

First off, Nintendo isn't Sony.

Secondly, that controller doesn't look so hot.

Thirdly, the joysticks on that controller are akin to a DS3 in placement, not a 360 controller.

So, yeah.

The argument against the DS3 is that the left analog isn't in the neutral position. People don't just want it to be asymmetrical.

 

[Jack_AG]

I like the analogs where they are - having my thumbs offset feels so friggin odd. The XBOX controller was designed during a time when it was analog + face buttons so it felt natural to have your hands resting accordingly. Using both analogs feels awkward.

I will say the DS needs to be larger and have a more ergonomic design. Also fuck triggers - why not just buttons again? 99.9% of games never use the analog resistance - they are always used for direct-input so why the fuck waste all that travel time to engage a direct-input button? Useless, IMO.

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

The whole bitching about stick placement thing is just mass hypnosis bullshit.

 

[Sethos]

Ok, we'll see

You actually believe they will do that ... lol.

 

[Jotamide]

What if the D-Pad and left analog were interchangeable? takemymoney.jpg

 

[Mysterious Stranger]

It's perfect the way it is.

Why change perfection?

 

[sca2511]

I think the PS3 controller is fine, just needs to change the analogs into something a bit more like the 360 conntroller, it's a bit too loose, and I'm not too fond of the triggers. Layout is fine the way it is.