PS3 Controller Flimsy, Wii Controller Fun 222
With the advent of new input styles in the PS3 and Wii, many gamers are wondering what it will be like to actually play with the new controllers. Via Aeropause, an article on IGN says that the SIXAXIS controller is flimsy and poorly designed. Meanwhile, via Joystiq, an article on British site Entertainmentwise reports that the Wii isn't physically exhausting at all, as some people feared. After two hours of playtime, in fact, they loved the experience. From the article: "Some gamers have shown concern that the activity level required to play Wii games, especially the sporty titles, may be too high. There are concerns that you have to stand for long periods of time and use body actions such as swinging your arm above your head or at the side of your body. After playing non stop for two hours, did this happen to me? No. I'm not exactly Wonder woman in terms of fitness and I can assure you, as a regular player there was enough action to warrant perhaps making sure one has access to a tap before playing (you're going to want a drink if you play for as long as we did!) and possibly ensuring plenty of moving around space in your living room. The key to the Wii control is that even the most active title on the launch line up, Wii Sports, doesn't require you to make large body motions unless you want to."
Re:Slashdot/Zonk bias? (Score:2, Informative)
Useless without pics (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.engadget.com/media/2006/05/ps3-control
Correct me if this is out of date, it looks like it's from May. Same style/feel of the PS2 dual shock.
Zonk Articles Flimsy, Actual Journalism Fun (Score:0, Informative)
More worrying still, the newly-designed lower L and R shoulder triggers feel more like they belong on an early controller prototype than the near-final model.
It is an early controller prototype. The PS3 they have won't even play DVDs. But don't let that stop a nice Sony bash Zonk, after all its all you've got going on in games.slashdot.
I'd edit him out of my visible list but then the games section would be empty. Probably worthwhile anyhow.
Re:Looks like Nintendo fans are getting desperate (Score:3, Informative)
Nintendo wasn't even present TGS.
Re:Bring out the 'zonked' tag - never said "flimsy (Score:5, Informative)
FTFA:
"Personally, we can't help but feel that the SIXAXIS (as it's now known) has been sadly neglected when viewed alongside the rest of the PS3. Compared to Microsoft's uber-comfortable Xbox 360 pad, the SIXAXIS feels cheap, plasticky, uncomfortable and disconcertingly light - almost as if it's going to fly out of your hands during those more extreme gaming moments.
More worrying still, the newly-designed lower L and R shoulder triggers feel more like they belong on an early controller prototype than the near-final model. Replicating the 360 pad, rather than being simple shoulder-mounted buttons, the triggers are now hinged horizontally along the controller, with pressure forcing them inward along the bottom - like triggers then, really. Trouble is, they're placed almost unnaturally low meaning we found ourselves operating them by jamming our fingers in between the hinges to apply pressure, rather than using the buttons themselves. What's more, the triggers are convex, with no grooves to keep your fingers in place - an issue further compounded by their smooth finish, offering no resistance against your finger tips. Invariably we found our digits slipping off with the triggers snapping back to their default position. Bah. Of course, the PS2's Dual Shock pad wasn't without its faults either but we still learned to live with it. It's just a shame that Sony hasn't used its resources to bring its controller up to next-gen standards along with its cutting-edge hardware."
Wii controller not as good as the hype either (Score:3, Informative)
Reading this little review [2old2play.com] of the Wii and its games shows that the Wiimote isn't without fault either, especially when it comes to games that only got adopted to the Wii and not written from scratch and yes, that includes Zelda.
It however doesn't stop with this, its not just a problem with badly adopted games (very bad sign for multi-platform titles and thus third party support), but there is also another "problem" with the Wiimote that seems to have been largly unnoticed. Unlike early rumors have indicated the Wiimote isn't a true 3D device that can detect its position in space, instead it can only detect relative motion and tilt, just like the PS3 controller, the only different is that the Wiimote has a lightgun-like sensor that allows aiming at the TV/sensorbar. This pretty much destroys a lot of game ideas, like for example everyones favorite, the realistic sword fighting. Sure, there can still be sword games, but it won't be a 1:1 mapping from Wiimote to sword. Red Steel for example is even after the cleanup limited to basically 8 predefined sword moves.
That of course doesn't mean that the Wii will be a bad console, but after all the hype some people should better adjust their expectations to reality or they will have to deal with a huge disapointment.
Re:Good Title (Score:4, Informative)
It's fun if the games themselves are fun. That's not really entirely up to Sony.
What is up to Sony are things like the touch-sensitive power and eject buttons.
I will say that I played some Minna no Golf and some Gran Turismo on the PS3's Sony has set up in Ginza last week, and I was pretty blown away by the system. No, those two games aren't anything we haven't seen before (though they've never looked that good). But the system looked and felt extremely polished, and if these are first-gen games, then I can't wait to see what's coming down the road.
I left with the distinct impression that a lot of people bashing the PS3 simply don't know what the hell they're talking about. Maybe there aren't any games you like yet, but the PS3 itself is an extremely well-designed system that exists now, you can play it now, and that seems like it's got room to spare in the power department. That's pretty much all Sony can do.
As for the controller, it's very light. Otherwise, it feels just like the Dual Shock, a controller that even just a few years ago a lot of people were saying was the best game controller ever designed. I never really felt that way myself, but I never disliked the controller either... still, I don't get how you go from loving the Dual Shock to hating the Sixaxis. It's the same controller, just minus a few ounces. And that weight savings comes completely from the motors being removed; it's not like the plastic itself is even any different.
Let me just reiterate - the PS3 exists and is sitting there waiting to be played in Tokyo. So there's really no reason for any of these myths to be flying around at this point. If you can't play the system for yourself (I'm looking at you, Zonk), just listen to the people that have.
I liked the PS3 Controller (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Zonk is reporting the news (Score:3, Informative)
I expect that vast majority have expected the PS3 controller to behave virtually identically to the PS2 controller. About the only reported differences to the layout are the more trigger like L/R buttons, wider range & precision on the analogue controller and a Sony button instead of the analog button. The Sony button probably takes you back to the system menu.
The lack of rumble is the most peculiar change. I know they had a lawsuit, but it would have been cool to stick some kind of speaker into the controller much like the Wii remote for other kinds of effects.