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I got a PS3 remote for Christmas from my brother (very convenient for watching stuff on the PS3, the controller works fine but its not optimal for various reasons) - eight months later and its broken - the top directional button no longer works.

I expect higher build quality from Sony, but frankly this is just unacceptable considering how much the bloody thing costs and how it broke after 8 months of being used, literally, once a week, every Saturday.

You expect build quality from Sony? Why?

Stark wrote:You expect build quality from Sony? Why?

My experience with Sony generally is that their shit don't break that easy- especially when the price is like $40 - $50. I dunno, subjective belief.

Heh, reminds me of my experience with the PS3 Bluetooth headset... it's non-responsive unless I'm auto-pairing it, and that's only if I've got the USB mini-B cable plugged in through the top; doesn't help when it's plugged into the cradle, and once it's appeared, it 'refuses' to turn on/activate when I try to actually connect (i.e. get the PS3 to scan for the already-paired device).

I see a defective exchange (@ GameStop) in my future...

I had one of the PS2 remotes (superficially similar to the PS3 one) and it was fucking awful. Spongey keys that didn't fit the holes right, bizarre layout, poor sensitivity. The 360 one has a too-narrow beam (at least for lazy old me) but at least it works; sadly it's so limited button-wise you might as well use a controller.

In my case, the Square button on my DualShock 3 is starting to feel "spongey," less 'snap' (which in turn leads to concern over whether it'll retain pressure sensitivity), and unfortunately the PS3 controller's design means that even if you open it up, the board and those buttons are physically mated/stuck to the top half of the controller, not the bottom half (where no buttons would be), so unlike the R2 and L2 buttons you can't adjust the pad/contact.

Also noticed a similar problem with my Xbox 360 controller's X button, hence my reliance on the chatpad for typing.

If a game controller breaks after hard use, its to be expected, really. Nothing lasts forever and these things take lots of repeated button tapping abuse, especially if you play games like God of War (poor, poor O button).

I just use the PS3 controller for a remote. I don't see any need to spend an extra $40 or however much they want just for a few extra buttons to watch blurays.

Well I got it for Christmas, and its for convenience. Too many times I've been reclining on my gigantic-arse bean bag (LoveSac) and accidentally hit the damn controller, sending whatever movie I'm watching into retarded spasms because the analog sticks control whether you fast forward / rewind.

Vympel wrote:Well I got it for Christmas, and its for convenience. Too many times I've been reclining on my gigantic-arse bean bag (LoveSac) and accidentally hit the damn controller, sending whatever movie I'm watching into retarded spasms because the analog sticks control whether you fast forward / rewind.

I've done that a couple of times. I've learned to keep the controller well away once I start a movie.

Yeah, that's why its annoying - you keep it away, and if someone walks in / whoever you're watching it with wants to start talking about the movie / what's happening / their thoughts, you've gotta get out of your comfort zone to pause it.

(including losing a valuable few seconds of movie by waiting for the damn controller to power on again, who's going to let the battery drain whilst you're watching?)

Vympel wrote:If a game controller breaks after hard use, its to be expected, really. Nothing lasts forever and these things take lots of repeated button tapping abuse, especially if you play games like God of War (poor, poor O button).

Unless it's built by Nintendo. I swear Aliens will be digging up NES controllers 10,000 years into the future. Good ol' Nintendo and its military grade hardware.

Of the controllers i've used I think the best one I ever had was the first Xbox's S controller. Sensible button layout, comfortable, moderately durable. It's pretty sad that Sony is still using the PS1 controller to this day.

CaptHawkeye wrote:

Vympel wrote:If a game controller breaks after hard use, its to be expected, really. Nothing lasts forever and these things take lots of repeated button tapping abuse, especially if you play games like God of War (poor, poor O button).

Unless it's built by Nintendo. I swear Aliens will be digging up NES controllers 10,000 years into the future. Good ol' Nintendo and its military grade hardware.

Of the controllers i've used I think the best one I ever had was the first Xbox's S controller. Sensible button layout, comfortable, moderately durable. It's pretty sad that Sony is still using the PS1 controller to this day.

If you feel like spending $50, you can get a PS3 controller that's designed like a 360 one by a third party.

I love the Dual Shock controller design, they should never change it. The XBox controller is shit. This is all subjective, of course.

Stick is in the right place = shit?

It's not anyone's fault but Sony's that they still depreciate the left stick over the secondary d-pad. These are, of course, the guys that made two PSPs with only one stick, of course, so ergonomics isn't the strongpoint.

Stark wrote:Stick is in the right place = shit?

"Right place" is subjective. I hate using the XBox controllers (both of them). It feels un-natural to me. Liking a controller is learned behavior, not some default state of affairs imposed by the universe due to objective 'good'.

CaptHawkeye wrote:

Vympel wrote:If a game controller breaks after hard use, its to be expected, really. Nothing lasts forever and these things take lots of repeated button tapping abuse, especially if you play games like God of War (poor, poor O button).

Unless it's built by Nintendo. I swear Aliens will be digging up NES controllers 10,000 years into the future. Good ol' Nintendo and its military grade hardware.

Oh please, shall we talk about the L and R button issues on their handhelds. I can't even beat GTA: Chinatown Wars because a particular mission requires me to use the L button to lock on.

Vympel wrote:"Right place" is subjective. I hate using the XBox controllers (both of them). It feels un-natural to me. Liking a controller is learned behavior, not some default state of affairs imposed by the universe due to objective 'good'.

I used a PS1/2 controller for nearly a decade and hated the Xbox controller, but the 360 controller is pretty much the best out there. Over a PS1/2/3 controller it has a better size, placement so face buttons and left stick are under thumbs at rest, and far better trigger placement. Putting the thumbsticks together and low requires a low grip (difficult on tiny toybox PS1/2/3 controllers) or constrant thumb reaching.

If its 'learned', why did you stop 'learning'?

Because I don't own an X360. There's no opportunity for getting used to a new controller if you never use it. (Except when you're at a friend's place and it sucks because it doesn't feel like the one you're most comfortable with)

Did they ever stop doming the top of their thumbsticks so once the grip wears off they're slippery as hell?

Fucking Sony. After the Xbox controller sucked at least MS stole all the best ideas from the Dreamcast controller.

Stark wrote:Did they ever stop doming the top of their thumbsticks so once the grip wears off they're slippery as hell?

I've never had the grip wear off.

Speaking of shit breaking due to heavy use, my first-gen Logitech G5 mouse has started to die - the LMB is all fucked up now. Oh well, it had a good run of almost five years.

Probably will get a G9x now ...

The Dual Shock 3s are the same as the DualShock 2s when it comes to the analog sticks, they're still domed.

Stark wrote:Did they ever stop doming the top of their thumbsticks so once the grip wears off they're slippery as hell?

Fucking Sony. After the Xbox controller sucked at least MS stole all the best ideas from the Dreamcast controller.

Now the Dreamcast controller was pretty nice, although I mainly used it for Skies of Arcadia and Shenmue, so I don't know how it felt in some more frantic game genres.

The 360 is easier to hold and has 4 shoulders, but it has similar dpad/thumbstick/face button arrangement.