Joystiq readers redesign the PS3 controller

It's not always all fun and games for our pals over at Joystiq, sometimes they've got to, um, draw stuff -- in this case they've run a contest to one up the Sony design team and create a PS3 controller to be proud of. Looks like some pretty good ideas came through, though Einhandkiller decided not to mess with perfection... and just spraypainted his Xbox 360 controller and called it good.

[Dan Choi @ Jan 26th 2006 8:06AM]

Heh, nice... but I believe it's Einhanderkiller, not Einhandkiller. (Don't worry, the same thing happened on the original Joystiq post. =)

[Version 1.0 @ Jan 26th 2006 9:10AM]

I dont like way they switched the arrows and analogue sticks on the Xbox, I prefer the PlayStation's way of having both analogue sticks down.

[phase eight @ Jan 26th 2006 9:20AM]

I don't get the point of an analog d-pad. I've always felt the point of a d-pad is super-responsive and accurate 2d control. I know 2d control is less common, but it's still around, and why not leave analog control to the stick? psx/ps2 and nintendo d-pads have it right.

[Jes @ Jan 26th 2006 9:27AM]

The original PS2 controller is IMO the best non-joystick controller that exists today. The buttons are all logically placed, easy to push. The feel of the joystick is nice. It seems to fit practically any size hands (personally, I wish it were a little bigger, but it is fine). The digital buttons can be used in an analog way, and the analog sticks work nicely. Anybody else agree?

[ProZach @ Jan 26th 2006 9:36AM]

I'd really like to see a console replace one of the analog sticks with a track ball.

This would not only make FPSs much easier to aim but also open up the world of RTSs to the console market.

[cuby @ Jan 26th 2006 11:08AM]

anyone who actually believes that the ball-design would work needs to just sit and think for a moment. the entire reason most controllers are thin enough to "grip" all the way around, is because when you apply pressure to buttons and the d-pad, you have natural leverage against the underside of the controller.

try playing a fighting game with a ball design, and you will find yourself almost totally incapable of playing, because instead of using your other eight fingers as leverage, your thumbs have to press down using the force of the entire arms, which would place incredible strain on the wrists, elbows and shoulders. instead of a "squeezing" action, it would be as though your thumbs are trying to push away from the ball.

lastly, try holding your hand out, completely relaxed. you'll notice that your fingers naturally curl inwards a bit. standard controllers (and the original dual-shock particularly) take advantage of this natural resting position of the hand. gripping a ball, however, demands that the fingers and hand and arms work constantly in an extended, tensed position.

it's cute and it's clever, but it would be downright dangerous for people to use. thankfully, it would be so uncomfortable and unplayable, that no one would bear to use it for more than 5 minutes.

and that's the twooth.

[finefine @ Jan 26th 2006 11:11AM]

RTS & shooters with the rev-controller should work quite well...

much better then a trackball imho.

But if we're talking about options for Sony and MS, then I'd say they should let people plug in Optical Mice.

The traditional console controller is crap for Shooters. Watch an expert Halo player kick-ass and then watch an expert Quake:Arena player kick-ass and then tell me which control scheme is better suited...

[hussein rawat @ Jan 26th 2006 11:15AM]

Right on the subject of controller design, the first thing that people have to remember is that a controller should feel like an extension of your arm. Take for example, the Controller S, that is a very well designed controller bar the black and white buttons. God knows why Microsoft adopted the button configuration in the first place. To me the 360 controller is and i have held it, nigh on perfect. Ergonomics are important. Now onto the next point, Nintendo with their analogue sticks have one really cool thing going for them, the thumbsticks have a ratchet mechanism wherebyin games like super monkey ball when your want to move the level 45 degrees, because of the ratchet/clicking mechanism, you can accurately perform that. The dreamcast also had that feature as well but they messed up with the texture of their sticks. If anyone remembers that the PSone had some super tacky material on the thumbsticks. and why do sony insist on making the thumbsticks convex instead on concave so the thumbs have a place to sit and the more pressure that is exerted the more, the better the chances are that they would not slip off. Personally, I find the ps2 controller good but the microsoft one (360 model) seems to be sweet. Just a final note i wish that somene would make a controller in full carbon fibre, now that would be so sweet!

[jeff @ Jan 26th 2006 12:06PM]

the Gamecube controller is designed the best, and most logically, hands down. even novices memorize where the buttons are (as opposed to "hit the what? clear??" or "why is the square at the bottom instead of the top?") within a few days.

Both the x-box and the PSX/2 are just bulked up beefed up versions of the SNES controller and add little to no innovation.

[asshole @ Jan 26th 2006 1:20PM]

Sorry Charlie. You ripped off the Xbox controller.

Lame.

[rich @ Jan 26th 2006 1:34PM]

you guys are all nuts. The best controller is the Paddle from the original Atari 2600. Can't improve on perfection - so stop trying.

[Zeus @ Jan 26th 2006 3:08PM]

I like my 360 controller the best so far. When I brought it back home for Christmas and my friends came over to play on it the first thing they all said was something like "Damn, this controller feels perfect!" (These are my first wireless controllers too, I love it.) I'm not an Xbox fanboy or anything, I've already scratched the crap out of my PD:Zero disk and crashed the box a few times to (all in 4 player PD:Zero too) so there are things they could definitely improve upon. (Not to mention I had to buy it from a craigslist scalper to even get one...)

I do wish that the 'trigger' buttons had a bit more resistance, that and my left trigger button on my 'primary' controller has developed a slight squeak. Anyways, when I feel it in my hands it's just comfortable.

Please Sony don't make me use a boomerang... >.

[ulyanov @ Jan 26th 2006 4:34PM]

i dont know what the big deal is with the boomerang? i mean, sure it may look surprisingly like a curved vibrator (hey, some of the girls [and guys?] in the crowd might like that) but in any case, i dont think it should be dismissed, i foresee it having more potential than the 360 controller which really, well theres nothing too special about it

[mfkiller @ Mar 22nd 2006 7:44PM]

Seriously. ps/ps2/psetc controllers are the best--most practical and most comfortable to use for extended periods.... xbox controllers are good too, but the tried and true ps controllers were always the best.

[Timerider @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:19PM]

Yeah, I have to agree with jeff. The Gamecube controller is the best, most ergonomically designed controller ever. You just memorize it almost instantly and fits your hands perfectly, like it's part you. Everything is laid out just right. And yeah, The xbox and ps2 controllers are just copies of the SNES controller. Sony is the worst at designing controllers, there all squarey and a NES controller would work better.

[teh anti-fanbow @ Mar 24th 2006 7:42AM]

ladies, those of u sitting there saying that the playstation controller is the most logicially designed haver seriously never player a FPS, the only logical thing about the way its set out is that its consistant with previous designs and so all u playstation fans are used to it, the xbox (360 and S) controler, with the strange and alien postition of the right analog stick are awsome for FPS, but cant really match for sports/hack 'n'slash type games that playstation is renowned for, the most balanced controller is the gamecube, as perfect as the 360 controller may seem, it can still be cumbersome! the psx/2 controller doesnt even deserve mention and when the nintendo 'revoloution' is released, we will quite possibly know the meaning of the perfect controller

[sphyco @ Mar 28th 2006 12:56AM]

All I have to say is the Playstation controllers have always been the best. X-Box messed up by switching the analog. I'm not even going to address the black and white buttons. And Nintendo just feels awkward, not to mention I liked maybe one game on Nintendo that isn't on PS2, so there's not much for me there. X-Box 360 smartly ripped off the original Playstation design though. They basically bulked up a PS2 controller and put an X on it. But they still didn't get the analog right. If PS3 keeps with its design and beefs up a PS2 controller and leaves the Playstation symbol, they should still be the best out there.

[kozark @ Mar 29th 2006 7:26PM]

What most people dont realize is how alike the gamecube and ps3 controller are. If you put them side by side they have the same basic half circle shape except the gamecube controller put their C-stick and D-pad below their other buttons, and they're a little bigger. Ps3 did the same thing with their analog sticks but just a little better. I like the ps3 controller but if they change it then so be it thats cool, but i'm hopeing that people dont complain so much and we end up with the same design we've had for the past 10 years. Different is good we need a change. And i understand why they're scraping it, to keep their fans happy but most people talking about the controller havent even held it. I do care about looks a little bit but as long as it feels good to hold and has a natural feeling, which it looks like it does, then i'm fine, but sometimes you have to give up looks for comfort, and i'm pretty sure they thought about that while designing the controller. They're not going to give us a piece of crap, But like i said if they redesign, then thats awesome, maybe the next desing will blow everything else away.