IGN says the PS3 controller is poopsky

by Blake Snow { Oct 16th 2006 at 6:30PM }

IGN UK had a play test with near-final PS3 hardware last Friday and despite commending certain aspects of the system hardware, the game site wasn't impressed with the Sixaxis controller. From the hands-on: "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."

Team IGN was also critical of the newly-designed lower L and R shoulder triggers saying the buttons felt like they "belong on an early controller prototype" rather than the "near-final" model they played. With only 31 more days until PS3's American debut, don't expect a major controller redesign (if at all) in time for launch. If IGN UK was playing a dated Sixaxis, or if they tested localized European hardware that won't launch until 2007, fret not. Otherwise, Sony might have another problem on its launch hands.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Ash @ Oct 16th 2006 6:34PM

This is really gonna piss sony fans off
first post? yay

Narhan @ Oct 16th 2006 6:35PM

Ign.com, one young whippersnapper with a taste for solving mysteries...

Well it seems like a PS2 controller on steroids so I don't see how it could be so bad.

Tyler Mills @ Oct 16th 2006 6:36PM

Just like every other system released, people will get used to it if they end up buying it.

Sneak @ Oct 16th 2006 6:37PM

Sony controller feels cheap? Surely you jest.

AceMilo @ Oct 16th 2006 6:38PM

Well if ign is saying it, you know its 10x worse than they say since they are such obvious sony fanboys. If they say something made by sony sucks, its gotta be even worse.

sonofnone @ Oct 16th 2006 6:38PM

That kinda sucks, but it's not like this is crazy news anyway. People have been saying the new controller is cheap-feeling since E-3 and there wasn't really any hope of that being changed drastically before launch if they wanted to have any controllers available to box with PS3s.

Hopefully there will be a new and improved design released in the next year or two ala the Dual Shock 1 for the PS-One.

Galls @ Oct 16th 2006 6:38PM

As long as those analog sticks are right next to each other and the controller is designed for small japanese hands, the controller was destined to suck anyway.

Logitech controllers FTW!

Ash @ Oct 16th 2006 6:39PM

Just like every other system released, people will get used to it if they end up buying it.

I agree... but the thing is that I've never felt comfortable playing a shooting game with ps2 controller except GTA which has auto aiming
so i dont see how well resistance is gonna play with a controller not beging so comfy

Blackmoon @ Oct 16th 2006 6:41PM

It's like the same controller for the PS2 only lighter and with tilt. I think lighter is a good thing.

Tim @ Oct 16th 2006 6:45PM

Wow, people care what IGN thinks?

jarod @ Oct 16th 2006 6:46PM

i never liked dualshock, and i cant see how anyone can. honestly, even the jaguar controller felt better in my hands. i play my ps2 with a 3rd party controller. PS3 SUXAXIS FTL

icelandman @ Oct 16th 2006 6:48PM

Its now so close to launch, we have to take everything with a pound of sand, as the hype machines are in full swing. We have huge expectations, I need to see for myself. How about you?

~PEACE
-Icelandman

pete @ Oct 16th 2006 6:48PM

pete @ Oct 16th 2006 6:49PM

naw lighter is not always better, sure you dont want something thats going to weigh down your arms, but you want something that feels nice and sturdy and has a bit of weight to it, at least i do, oh and no vibration or wathever thats called duel shock or something setting, boo boo imho.

Rick @ Oct 16th 2006 6:50PM

Hmm.... maybe they could bring back the boomerang!

greg Weber @ Oct 16th 2006 6:53PM

Dual Shock sucked so this is no surprise.

Usedtabe @ Oct 16th 2006 6:53PM

Well, Dual Shock sucked(IMO), so it's no suprise the "SUXASSES" is lame. If they were going to copy the guide button and motion, why stop there? Why not copy a better controller as a whole, not its parts.

Joe A. @ Oct 16th 2006 6:57PM

Although I may not agree with IGN most times, I have to oblige this time. I, along with other press that got early access to E3, got to play with the PS3 controller and the people around me also concurred that it's hard to get used to the (lack of) weight of the controller and the discomfort it caused.

After being accustomed to the DualShock, the SIXAXIS feels like it's a step back to the original PS1 controller.

Now that they have the motion sensing, I wish they had stuck with the boomerang controller because I bet once this baby releases, some complaints will be about the classic controller design with new functionality, which doesn't always fly. New functionality should be tied to new design in order for customers to get easier accustomed to a new product. Look at the 360 Wireless and Wii controllers.

Brian @ Oct 16th 2006 6:58PM

#17,

The PSP had a home button before the 360 did, so if anyone copied anything it was MS.

But yeah, without rumble those things will be light as hell which will invariably suck. I do, however, like the PS controller layout except for FPSes but that's what PCs are for.

mykie @ Oct 16th 2006 7:07PM

@ #19,

Well if you want to get really persnickety about it, Windows Internet Explorer had a Home button long before any console did.

And PC keyboards have had a "Home" key on them for the last 30 years.

JUJUSTSHUTUP @ Oct 16th 2006 7:09PM

forget ign

Ash @ Oct 16th 2006 7:10PM

@ #19

try an FPS with an xbox or xbox 260 controller..
I dont think you will miss a keyboard and mouse so much

ShockWave @ Oct 16th 2006 7:10PM

Near Final my ass! , with only one month away for launch it should already be final or else customers will only get prototypes , who knows , maybe youre buying an used TGS 2006 overheated system repacked for retail.

Feanor @ Oct 16th 2006 7:12PM

At least he PS3 pad will have a decent D-pad, unlike the 360 pad.

Tom @ Oct 16th 2006 7:12PM

Needs more buttons. I want a total of 6 shoulder triggers, an 8-way d-pad, a third clickable analog stick positioned between two sets of Start and Select buttons, and Spade, Diamond, Club, and Heart buttons to complement the already popular X,O, Triangle and Square buttons... also it should have force feedback... and it should fly...

X @ Oct 16th 2006 7:16PM

R U SUCKERS STILL WAITING FOR THE P$3? WAKE UP LITTLE SHNOOZIE!

(Oh, SCDA hits the shelves in a few days ~ Yipee!)

joe smith @ Oct 16th 2006 7:17PM

I thought it was too light at E3 but assume dhtey would add mass to it. Nothing wrong with being light, but the E3 units felt like empty shells -- which made them feel cheap. There are a lot of products which have extra weight added jsut to counteract that feeling. Not saying it isn't a good controller -- although it sure could use rumble -- but I would have added a few ounces to give it back some of the heft they lost when they removed the motors.

MosquitoControl @ Oct 16th 2006 7:17PM

I've been saying this for a long while. The PS controller felt cheap and plasticky. The Dual Shock was just the same controller with analog buttons and two analog sticks stuck wherever they fit rather than where they belonged.

And this is more of the same.

Ergonomics have come a long, long way since 1994. It's time to update the damn controller. Most people disagree with me, but I'm convinced they're just so used to the PS controller. It's awful, it's pretty much just an SNES controller with wings.

The GC controller was much nicer (with a useless dpad, z-button, and the wrong kind of analog sticks), and the 360 controller is just insanely comfortable.

I can't imagine how nice it would have been for Sony to have improved upon something more akin to those two, rather than the SNES.

Zo� K. @ Oct 16th 2006 7:17PM

Goddamnit, Rick! You beat me to it!

Was I the only one who found the boomerang more fitting for this console? I mean, hell, at least it LOOKED new. With the new controller looking nigh identical to near every iteration before it, it's easier to spot its shortcomings.

Even though I don't plan on getting a PS3, I'd like to see Sony pull a Microsoft and release a better version of their standard controller months after launch. And if and when they do, let it be the boomerang.

Brian @ Oct 16th 2006 7:17PM

20, not trying to say Sony invented anything, just saying they're not really copying MS.

22, I have, the keyboard is just the greatest controller of all time and nothing will ever change it. Except for sports, racing, and fighting games the keyboard/mouse is the best controller possible simply due to its customizability and versatility.

Vaylen @ Oct 16th 2006 7:22PM

I've been using one and I actually really like how light it is.

Chris @ Oct 16th 2006 7:25PM

I could become excited about the PS3 but the controller is a real problem for me. I think the rumble feature is a must. It makes no sense for Sony to remove it.

canebi @ Oct 16th 2006 7:26PM

I've had my hands on the new controller and I can say that this is very dead on. I was really sad when I get my hands on the new controller. It's VERY light, it makes it feel really cheap... like it's just a piece of plastic. Although it just lacks the weight of the old controller and is made the same it's just very noticeable. Also, the R2 and the L2 buttons are pressure sensitive so they can be pressed further down and it feels really really weird in your hands when pressing them down. I think everyone will agree when you get your hands on it = (

I'm still gonna get one at launch though haha, maybe Logitech will help us out.

Ash @ Oct 16th 2006 7:26PM

@ # 22.
how can it be the best controller possible if its not the best for sports, racing and fighting games? arent those like 1/3 of the games?

Ash @ Oct 16th 2006 7:27PM

@ # 30 I mean... (typo)
how can it be the best controller possible if its not the best for sports, racing and fighting games? arent those like 1/3 of the games?

BB @ Oct 16th 2006 7:29PM

Yea, I read the PS3 Hands-On yesterday and I was surprised how much they disliked the controller. I mean, Sony had all of this time to research and develop a new controller, and it looks like they failed miserably!

bobby @ Oct 16th 2006 7:33PM

wow another ps3 bashing on joystick. it seems you idiots only know how to post negative news on sony , praise the kiddie wii and show some love for 360 .

Usedtabe @ Oct 16th 2006 7:35PM

Wow...Bobby's an idiot, as this was obviously another site's review. And "bashing" refers to making fun of something. If something is obviously wrong with a product, reporting it does not make it "bashing".

rockintom99 @ Oct 16th 2006 7:36PM

@MosquitoControl:

What are you talking about? The gamecube joystick is the *best* one on any controller, bar none (well, the C-Stick was crappy, but the main one was great).

@canebi:

Um, the only buttons *not* pressure senitive on the dualshock 2 are r3 and l3 (but they click too much to be pressure sensitive anyway). Even the D-Pad is.

ninja @ Oct 16th 2006 7:36PM

Game Control is what sold me on consoles, in the early days. I prefered the Nintendo over Sega due to poor response from the Sega systems and from lack of comfort. Sony had me from the start because the controller felt more natural from all the other systems and it had the same control response (or at least the feel) as Nintendo had for their hardware and software.

Now with these changes I have heard with the new PS3 controller; weight, balance of said weight, no shock/rumble, new L2 & R2 'trigger' buttons... I am actually concerned about the new system.

But, if I truly just hate Sony's own model, then I can choose from one of the other 10 manufactorers.

NintendoWarrior @ Oct 16th 2006 7:37PM

ROFLMFAO @ Sony!!!!!

SONY....YOU FAILED AT LIFE!!!!!!!

This controller looks outdated and Gimmicky....ROFL!!!!

it's also a perfect example of how Sony can't come up with anything original....ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!

Zo� K. @ Oct 16th 2006 7:38PM

I don't agree, either, Brian. The keyboard works wonders for a lot of games and genres, yes... but best game controller ever?

Number one, that's just your opinion. Kind of hard to make such a widespread declaration based around just your opinion.

Second, it's of MY opinion, that it is NOT the best all-around controller. In all honesty, I don't think I could single a specific controller out for that title. I think the SNES pad or the original Dual Shock, in my opinion, may come close, but... different games just work better with joysticks, keyboard and mouse, motion sensitive remotes, dance pads, guitars, headsets, pathetic six axis gyroscopic controllers, etc, etc.

To try and say that every game out there works great on a single control interface is absurd and bullheaded.

Ash @ Oct 16th 2006 7:42PM

@ 42
well put.. thats what I was trying to say
very well put

muppy @ Oct 16th 2006 7:43PM

"wow another ps3 bashing on joystick. it seems you idiots only know how to post negative news on sony , praise the kiddie wii and show some love for 360 ."

Only it's not them doing the bashing. It's the majority of the internet gaming community doing the bashing. They're only linking to it. :)

Fish @ Oct 16th 2006 7:59PM

I agree with the other guys who wanted the boomerang controller back.

Sony let their fanbase decide what was best for their console, and now complaints are coming in. See what happens when the PR department starts making R&D decisions?

You'd imagine that the people who designed the console would also know what was best for a controller.. but no.

Usedtabe @ Oct 16th 2006 8:00PM

@ #45

Sure...thats why they, along with 1up.com, have numerous positive things to say about the PS3. Even with the PS2, when games would come out for the Xbox and PS2, they would say that both were "almost identical", knowing the PS2 had crappy load times and shitty graphics (comparatively). So, I seriously doubt that Ign is paid by microsoft to say things about Sony that other posters have agreed with here themselves. Sometimes, especially last-gen, it seemed the other way around