The
other month we let our readers loose on the task of redesigning the Nintendo DS,
resulting in a few entries that could quite possibly inspire Nintendo's rumored official redesign. Based on the
popularity of our previous redesign contest, we've decided to carry out another redesign competition. This time we're
asking you, our readers, to redesign the PlayStation 3's controversial "boomerang" controller. We're also
going to offer a little extra incentive: a copy of X3: The
Reunion for the PC goes to our favorite entry.The web has been buzzing with rumors that the PS3 controller is not the final design, which have been amplified due to the fact that the controller wasn't included in the PS3 display booth at CES '06. Whilst this isn't definite proof that the controller won't be taking its influence from a certain Australian toy, it makes it a perfect candidate for a redesign contest.
To enter:
Send your entry to: joystiq.redesign [at symbol] googlemail.com
With the subject line: PS3 Controller Redesign
By: Sunday 22nd 2:00PM EST
All entries must feature the creator's name somewhere inside the image as proof that the redesign is their own creation. A description of the redesign's influences (or lack thereof) is desired. We'll host and post the winning redesign as well our favorite runners up. Good luck and happy photoshopping! If you're stumped for ideas, check out Nico's spoof PS3 controller after the jump.
[Thanks go to Nico for inspiring this contest]













(Page 1) Reader Comments
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http://www.argos.co.uk/wcsstore/argos/images/5676556A62UC114199M.jpg
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http://www.forz.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/boomerangdebunked.gif
"As natural as holding a steering wheel"
Probably it will incorporate something similar to that of nintendo's gyroscopic features that'll let you actually steer it like a wheel.
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Also, I think i'm going to enter this competition. Does it matter if I draw it on paper?
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http://www.logitech.com/lang/images/0/3491.gif
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I don't know..I just feel the Dualshock is a little dated...
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and just for the fanboys information the ps2 controller was far from perfect.
"Playstation thumb, she explained in the piece, was a repetitive strain injury (RSI) resulting from continuous playing "for many hours" and could manifest as pain in the thumbs and blisters on the tips of the thumbs.
Other associated symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, numbness and tingling of the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, back or neck," http://new.mweb.co.za/news/news_story.jsp?content=136112
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don't believe me? why are ipods more popular when something from a lot of other manufacturers are more ergonomic?
what would be better? something smoother, shinier, elegant and aesthetically pleasing.
and, as for the steering wheel thing, who on earth holds their steering wheel at 10 and 2 for a few hours at a time? comfortable, my ass. personally, i'm a hand-on-topper when it comes to driving.
heh. and! raise your hand if you don't set your controller in your lap. how you you like the "batarang prongs" stabbing you in the thighs while you're duking it out in soul calibur? especially with a rumble pack. talk about force feedback!
no. the controller is stupid. and it needs to be redesigned.
m3mnoch.
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I'd say make L2 and R2 triggers, keep the pressure sensitive buttons and remove the silly Analog button. I also think it should have a shiny coating to it, like the iPod. I know that makes it prone to scratching, but it looks awesome.
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http://www.infuzemag.com/gallery/albums/xbox360/xbox360_controller2.sized.jpg
lol
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http://www.infuzemag.com/gallery/albums/xbox360/xbox360_controller2.sized.jpg
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http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4383/ps3mockup11cd.jpg
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4306/ps3mockup27gd.jpg
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this: http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/8645/ps324ri.jpg
or this: http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/7720/ps316kw.jpg
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they can do that, you know. "crap. they're talking about how the controller's not out there! quick! grab one and stick it in!"
or, it could have just been a case of bungled tradeshow logistics.
god knows that's a nightmare. someone forgot to put the controller back in the box. "bob" was supposed to bring it in his carry on. they sent the main unit to the convention center and the controller to their hotel. all kinds of crap like that happens consistently.
it's especially exaggerated when you are shipping overseas.
wasn't it napoleon who said something like "never chalk up to conspiracy what can be explained by stupidity?" (my appologies to mr. bonaparte on trashing the quote, i'm sure.)
m3mnoch.
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I say we bring back the N64 fork! Come on! Who's with me!?
Also, keep in mind guys, the PSP can/will act as wirelessly connected PS3 controller. Idk, about you guys but I'll be playing the ps3 with my keyboard/mouse.
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Call me crazy.
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My console chronology is as follows: SMD >> N64 >> NGC >> NDS >> PS2. You can make fun of nintendo's big green "win" button as much as you like, but when I moved from NGC to PS2 I immediately discovered how meaningless and illogical those four symbol buttons are. The positive and negative meanings of those bottuns vary from game to game, something that I had never experienced before I got the PS2.
Actually, keep the symbols, just change the buttons to have more ingrained meaning and ensure that all developers stick to those meanings.
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"i hate to admit, but, it's not perfect as it is. if it was, no one would make fun of it. controller design is just like any other industrial design. it needs to be both ergonomic AND visually appealing. "
Well, as proven in the link I gave above, it is ergonomic. Then again, nobody has held it, so nobody can really accuse it of being either or the other. I'd say it is very visually appealing, but people have gotten used to the idea that it is not comfortable and therefore say it is neither ergonomic nor visually appealing. I'd say the PS3 as a whole (with its controller) is as visually appealing as a PSP: Sexy.
"what would be better? something smoother, shinier, elegant and aesthetically pleasing."
I don't think it can get any "smoother" and "shinier" than this. Seriously, I think most people say it is not "aesthetically pleasing" because psychologically, they've become used to the idea that it is not comfortable.
"heh. and! raise your hand if you don't set your controller in your lap. how you you like the "batarang prongs" stabbing you in the thighs while you're duking it out in soul calibur? especially with a rumble pack. talk about force feedback!"
Dude, this controller can perfectly sit in your leg with its smooth curves, as opposed to the original sharp edged Dual Shock.
I don't think it can get much better. The only things I would add would be extra functionality (like gyroscopic features, extra buttons, analogue buttons, etcetera), *not* a shape redesign. It kind of reminds me of the N64 controller actually, which could have been perfected to become the best controller ever.
I hope the Revolution controller ends up making the present interface useless.
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Not kidding.
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As for the 360 control, I like the look, it looks much more comfortable than there last shimozzle, but I still don't like there face button set-up & the un-even anologue sticks.
Otherwise Sony should just make a very slightly bigger version of the DS with the added features above.
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/Einhanderkiller/Graphics/January15.png
Heh.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/Einhanderkiller/360controllerofthefuture.png
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/Einhanderkiller/Graphics/January15.png
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As I said above, the N64 fork was excellent, just needed perfection, and the PS3 controller with two more buttons (A and B perhaps? Or green and red? You know, for intuitiveness) would have done the trick.
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http://img2.kult-mag.com/photos/00/00/31/41/ME0000314164_2.jpg
Put two analog thumbsticks in the middle and make some corrections for the buttons and you almost have the PS3 controller. After owning this controller for some time I can tell you that Sony will made a big mistake if it release the PS3 with this kind of controller shape.
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are you serious? i dont even know what to say to that apart from its the most stupid comment ive ever read
they need to give up on the d-pad being the main control for the controller. i say, ripoff the 360s because its so good. but then again, dont because i want people to see the light and buy xboxes.
maybe not so much as do away with the symbols, but make the buttons colours like the 360s, cubes. shouting at my dad "press red" is alot easier for him and other new poeple to gaming to find than "press square"
and number 28 - "As for the 360 control, I like the look, it looks much more comfortable than there last shimozzle, but I still don't like there face button set-up & the un-even anologue sticks. " you havent even tried it
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As I said above, the N64 fork was excellent, just needed perfection, and the PS3 controller with two more buttons (A and B perhaps? Or green and red? You know, for intuitiveness) would have done the trick".
I do not usually disagree with people with disabilities, as I don't like picking on retards with this many problems. But comon, the N64 controller.......ahahahahahahahah, not only was it uncomfortable for every game (except goldeneye), it was made from the cheapest looking, tonka toy plastic I've seen, the anologue stick always got full of crap & loosened up after little use, the face button layout & feel was terreble, it only had a single anologue stick, it was a crap shape & the list goes on, fangirl, retard. If you had listed the snes controller as your favourite, I would not have lost even more respect for your retarded @rse.
You show how little you know about gaming by listing this controller as a fave, you show how dumb you are, by not reading my posts properly to say I'm a fanboy...... I am more a spam wh0re than a fanboy, but you my little retard friend......are both.
Back to the point...keep all the usual DS buttons & add 2 more to the face & 2 anologue triggers underneath.... keep as far away from the design of any of nintendo's recent controllers, as they are only good for 2-3 games (which is about how many get released on there machines). I would rather Sony basically copy the 360 controller go anywhere near that latest nintendo thing.
Bring on the boomerang, at worst I can throw it at retards like bd's head as he pedals past on his special needs tri-cyle, drooling, wearing his soiled underpants & mumbling spastic talk to himself.
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http://www.ostravainfo.cz/images_suvenyry/boomerang.jpg
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http://tecfa.unige.ch/~nova/img/monkey_game.png
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The ergonomics do not coordinate at ALL with the shape of the human hand and the position you are to move your fingers in.
I also feel like I could break the Dualshock just by squeezing it too hard. It just doesn't have the integrity that Xbox and Gamecube controllers have. The plastic seems too thin and brittle. I don't think I could break an Xbox controller if I wanted too...
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The 360 wireless capabilities are awesome. The guide button and ring of light on the 360 is very creative, and sony needs to do something similar so you can see what controller you are and when the battery is going dead.
Sony needs to move the left analog stick where the D-pad is and throw in some analog triggers. Triggers are very important for some games, like racing games. Also, a six button face would be nice too, just like the Genesis 6 button or Sega Saturn controller.
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All Nintendo's controllers since have sucked, ya nintendo fanboy retard. You ninbendo fanboys are the worst, most bitter of anyone. I was a nintendo fan when I was 10-16, but since others arrived on the scene, nintendo & all its fanboys have relied on gimmicky, crappy games & peripherals that they say are revolutionary, & all they do is crap on about how Sony & MS have ruined this industry.
Wake up dreamer, I own all 3 consoles, I have a favourite out of the 3, based on my opinion & facts. Just becasue I openly show favouratism towards the one tats best for me, does not make me a fanboy. If you read my comments, you would see I admittted to basically hating the new controller, although I have changed my opinions in some way on that, I still have reservations.
Nintendo have to start doing what they used to do & getting with the program. The snes had excellent graphics & an avalanche of 1st party & 3rd party games. They catered to everyone with choice, instead of just relying on mario, nintendogs, link & other niche games. I'm not saying these games are bad, I'm just saying Sony & MS cater to a more diverse, less age & mentally challenged market.
So pissoff & play smash bros on your B/W rank arena tele you slightly annoyed little retard.
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Great idea, more buttons to do more trivial features in games. That will only decrease the learning curve, right?
Sounds fucking ridiculous if you ask me. Simple is good.
Does anyone know why Super Mario Bros. 3 is so freaking awesome? It's because it's so freaking simple to learn. B is run, A is jump. Use the d-pad to navigate and your good.
Yet at the same time it can take a lifetime to fully master. This is what all games should be like.
I don't my game to be bloated with shit that I don't want. Simple is sweet, got it? I don't want some multi-layered plotline or an intricate controlling combo system or any stupid unneccesary shit.. I wanna play a freaking game.
Some people just can't grasp the importance of simplicity. It's pure.
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It's funny, since the Xbox controller and S-Pad controller are almost a direct rip-off of the Gamecube's, right down to the shoulder triggers.
Of course, there is some button disporportion on the button pad, but that's about it.
Wow, Microsoft ripping off another company, nothing new there.
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