The Video Game Revue

Controller Showdown: Conclusion

It's about time I wrapped up my comparison between the Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers.

Form Factor

An important element of console controllers is their shape. For example, the corners of the NES controller had a tendency to dig into one's hands when tightly gripped--a problem which the SNES controller design effectively countered. The Playstation controller introduced "handles" that rest in the palms of one's hands, making the controller easier to grip overall. Gamers have been reaping the benefits of these advances for over a decade now.

Neither the PS3 nor the Xbox 360 controllers do anything radically new in terms of form factor. The Xbox 360 controllers have wider handles than the original Xbox controllers, which makes them more similar in shape to the Playstation controller design. The X360 controllers feel bulkier, but not terribly so.

When I hold the PS3 controllers, my pinky and ring fingers naturally wrap around the handles and provide a sturdy grip. These fingers to the same on the Xbox 360 controllers but seem to have to work a little harder to maintain a solid grip. This is one detail that contributes to overall hand stress when playing the X360.

Pad Buttons

Although I do not find myself noticing it while playing, the pad buttons on the X360 and PS3 controllers are quite different. The X360 buttons have a distinctive "pop" while the PS3 pad buttons feel mushy by comparison. The result is that the X360 pad buttons give a satisfying tactile feedback at the expense of being more work to press.

I tend to forget that the X360 pad buttons have some analog range to them. Most games treat them as pushed or not and turn to the trigger buttons when something requires a range of input (eg. acceleration in a racing game). The PS3 buttons, however, have a more definite feel of analog range. It's easier to consistently perform a soft push versus a hard push on the PS3 pad buttons than on the X360 pad buttons, largely because the X360 pad buttons have the initial resistance of that "pop". Not many games actually use this functionality, but there are some notable exceptions such as Metal Gear Solid 4.

It's worth noting here that between themselves, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft have managed to nearly maximize the amount of confusion generated over their pad button naming schemes. Between the SNES, classic Playstation, and Xbox controller designs, each one manages to put the X button in a different place. The SNES and Xbox "A,B,X,Y" button layouts are mirror images of each other, where on the Nintendo designs the A button goes on the right-hand side while being on the left-hand side of the Xbox 360 controller. Sony does it's own thing with square, circle, and triangle buttons, which takes some getting used to, but over a decade of Parappa the Rapper doesn't leave one with much excuse for not knowing them.

Conclusion

I don't usually notice much difference between the Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers while actually playing a game. The trigger buttons and analog sticks feel different, but my fingers naturally find the position of everything. Generally speaking, I would say that it's a close race between the PS3 and X360 controllers in that they are both excellent designs.

If pressed to pick a winner, I would have to give marginal judgment in favor of the PS3 controllers. The most obvious failing in the Xbox 360 design is the crappy d-pad, but another problem is that the X360 controller seems to contribute to hand fatigue. Sometimes my wrists and/or fingers bother me after exhaustive gaming bouts, and these symptoms are noticeably worse on the Xbox 360 than on the PS3. This problem is created by a combination of form factor, corners on the trigger buttons, stiff analog sticks, and weight.

However, a major point in the X360 controller's favor is that the convex design of the trigger buttons is superior. My right index finger is strained while playing games that make heavy use of the R1 button on the PS3, including racing games and FPSes. This difference is nearly enough to make it a draw between the Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers, but after much soul-searching, it is my conclusion that the PS3 controller is slightly superior, although both designs leave further room for improvement.

posted by Parappa @ 7:58 PM