Console Controller Comfort
February 17, 2009 by
Filed under Blog, Playstation, Wii, XBox
Having never been much of a computer gamer (I have always had a Mac so games have been pretty scarce) I have always been a console game player and have found the comfort of the controller very important. I’m sure many of us remember the first game controller we picked up ... for me it was a Nintendo NES controller. I used to get blisters on the inside of my palms after trying to finish Duck Tails or Super Mario 3 in a single session.
From there i moved onto the PlayStation and could not believe the level of comfort of the controller (I still believe that the original PlayStation controller was one of the most comfortable ever made). I used to play Gran Turismo in till my thumbs ached, then one day I was walking past the bargain bin at a game store and found a white Namco Negcon controller http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negcon. The Negcon in my opinion was one of the greatest controllers ever made - in the beginning it took a bit of getting used to, but after a few hours I was shaving the seconds off laps like crazy !
After that I moved onto the Dual shock which I found a little uncomfortable compared to the original controller. I remember trying to finish Ape Escape and not being able to move my thumbs for at least 3 days, I felt that the Dual shock design was a poor attempt from Sony’s side ergonomically, I couldn't wait for them to release a new and improved controller for the PlayStation 2, and you can imagine how disappointed I am now that the design hasn't changed since. When the press release came out from Sony with the “Boomerang” controller for the PlayStation 3 I was really excited because it looked really comfortable, but much to my dismay the controller received a poor public response and they went back to the terrible Dual shock design.
Then there is the Dreamcast controller which i find to be the most comfortable. Sega really did a good job with it’s design - I used to play Virtua Tennis for hours and I never used to get the aches and pains that I would get from using the other controllers.
I really loved my Dreamcast and to this day I still believe it is one of the best consoles ever made.
Out of the big 3 the Xbox 360 controller is by far the most comfortable and well designed for hours of gaming. The Wii remote is revolutionary, but try finishing Super Paper Mario in a single session and you get flashbacks of the original NES controller!
Here is a list of 5 of my favourite game controllers in descending order
- Dreamcast
- Negcon
- Xbox 360
- Original PlayStation
- Dualshock
What are yours ?
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For me both the Dreamcast and Xbox controllers are too ‘clunky’. I agree that the original PS controller was a great design but I don’t think the DualShock 3 is all that bad – especially compared to the original Sixaxis
I loved the Atari Joystick controller with one button, there was just something great about having something to wrap my hand around.
I find the dual shock quite comfortable but on another slightly separate subject I find the PSP extremely uncomfortable. Worst of all is the position of the sleep switch which I keen hitting inadvertently while trying to get my hand in a position where I can press the R1 and top buttons at the same time.
For me the Dualshock wins hands down, but that probably has to do with my small hands. The XboX controller is just way too big for me. The SNES controller was great too, with 2 buttons what could go wrong?
I liked the dual shock and the orignal playstation controllers very much, i really dont see a difference between the DS3 and 360 controllers, pretty uch same design , only different placed sticks and smoother curves on 36o side
I see you don’t mention the Intellivision controller. That in my opinion was the worse attempt at a video controller by any console developers.
I still enjoyed playing on it mind.
Another Dreamcast fanboy, sorry but Dreamcast isn’t a comfort controller:/
One of the worst, it’s big and bunky.
I would say the Gamecube has a comfort zone, but layout of the buttons are just retarded.
No way can Snes be one, sure the first time you hold it feels ok, then later you start to get cramps.
My list:
1: Xbox360 – The most comfortable controller i’ve ever used
2: Dreamcast – Was an amazing system
3: Gabecube – loved the simplicity, C buttons took some getting used to
4: Dual Shock – This controller has really dissapointed me with the PS3, they should’ve changed the design, the R buttons just aren’t there and the joystick needs to be where the digital pad is. They designed this controller for the PS2 which analogue as a second choice controlling scheme and it feels that way. I love my PS3 but playing motorstorm would be so much easier with a 360 controller.
My two favorite are the Gamecube controller and the 360 controller
Dual Shock 3 for me. But what about the ColecoVision controller And the Super Controller add on for games like Front Line and other ColecoVision sports (baseball, football). Now that was a controller (joystick, trackball, keypad, 4 buttons)!
@darthdad if you think the intellivision was bad I’m here to say that the Atari 5200 controller was the biggest nightmare of them all, the thing did not even center itself.
1. DualShock 3
2. Sixaxis
3. Original Playstation
4.Nothing
5.Nothing
i can’t even play using the other controls i cant imagine that especially the xbox and 360 they way to big…
How come I don’t see the Saturn controller in that picture?!
Anywho my favourite game controllers are:
1. Sega Saturn(Best D-pad ever made.)
2. Super Nintendo
3. Gamecube
4. Dreamcast
5. Dual Shock 3
1. Gamecube (NOT Wavebird)
2. Xbox 360
3. Dual Shock 2
4. Saturn (Japanese)
4. Super Nintendo
Am I the only person who’s never, ever had any problems with any controller? Seriously, I’ve always failed to see the point in these sort of lists, as every single controller I’ve ever picked up, I’ve liked.
Maybe my hands are ideal for gaming, I don’t know. But never have I ever had “pains” or “aches” from playing too much.
Since 25 years I’ve played all sorts of video games & I own quite some systems: NES, SNES, MASTER SYSTEM, MEGA DRIVE, SATURN, PS1, N64, DREAMCAST, GC, PS2, XBOX, XBOX360, PS3 & WII so I’m pretty sure you can’t call me a fanboy for one system or another
Here’s my list of great controllers:
XBOX360
DREAMCAST
PS1
DUAL SHOCK 3
DUAL SHCOK 2
My list of terrible controllers:
XBOX
N64
GC
NES
SNES
haha look @ the original xbox controller!
what an abomination!
anyone saying that controller is good must clearly get of the dope.
My favourite is definitely the Gamecube controller. Although the buttons weren’t layed out like the standard, but it was a great layout for the games on the ‘cube.
Next comes the 360 controller, which is nearly perfect for the games on that system.
Though I didn’t like the PSX/PS2 controllers that much (got many injuries playing PSX games), the PS2 controller is the perfect layout for the PES series. There was no better layout, and there still is no better layout for playing this serie (bring out a controller without those damn triggers!)…
(Waiting for the controller Sony is giving out for PES)
DD: please learn how to read before you act all retarted
My list of terrible controllers:
XBOX
Gamecube was the favourite for me, loved that thing. So comfy, although built for slightly smaller hands i’ll admit.
I quite liked the N64 controller worked perfect for Goldeneye and the SNES but my favoutite (with no bias
) has to be the Dual Shock 3.
I’ll always have a soft spot for the Mega Drive controller though as it was my first proper gaming sysytem.
The Xbox 360 Controller is the most ergonomic controller i have used.
I prefer it to the PS controller to be honest, but, if it had the PS3′s D-Pad then it would be amazing, as the Xbox d-pad is really quite bad.
The Original Xbox pad was horrendous and waaay too big, but the fixed that with a smaller one.
The PS3 pad is best for PES though