Video: A quick fling with the Batarang controller

by Richard Mitchell on Jun 9th 2011 6:25PM

We received a hands-on tour with the latest products from Power A today. You'll hear about those soon enough, but there is one peripheral that will not wait. Lurking in the shadows, its LED lights illuminating the night, was the official Batman: Arkham City batarang controller.

Power A's John Moore was sure to let me know that these were not the final models, adding that the LEDs will be much brighter and more uniform in the final build. That said, even these hand-tooled builds have some pretty neat features. Check it out after the break.

Tags: Batman-Arkham-Asylum-2, Batman-Arkham-City, e3-2011, microsoft, playstation, power-a, ps3, xbox

Reader Comments (52)

Wedding ring? ... Aw :

@Gaddes
Was that a "disappointed that he's taken" Aw?

Fix the joystiq location on the PS3 controller and I might be tempted to get one.

@Quayle
That IS fixed! Finally I can play FPS games without being annoyed!

Xbox layout on PS3 controller = FAIL!!!

@(Unverified)

Agreed.

If I wanted to use an inferior stick/d-pad setup, I'd use a 360 controller. =P

@(Unverified)
Oh man. I much prefer the 360 layout. If it had the regular dualshock layout I wouldn't even consider buying one, but now I want one.

@(Unverified)
It's not that I prefer one over the other, but I just want my PS3 to feel like a PS3 and my 360 to feel like a 360. The fact that they are each unique is part of the experience for me.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Alot of people like the 360 controller. The triggers work better for FPS shooting, whereas the PS3 controller triggers are better for throwing grenades. It's simply b/c of the way that it is shaped that the 360 controller triggers lend themselves to that.

That said, I don't feel like I can aim as accurately with the 360 controller, and I hate the left thumbstick with a passion. Extended play sessions on the 360 make my left thumb sore.

In the end, it's about preference, and this sort of thing is perfect for my friend, who loves the ps3 except for its controller.

@(Unverified)

The stick layout is really a minor issue either way. The important parts about this controller is the size and the triggers. Unless it's a complete piece of junk like most 3rd party controllers then I'm getting it for sure.

Please Sony, could we please have an adult size controller next gen?

@kentuckyfried

I think at this point hes just trolling to get a rouse out of people, don't feed the troll!

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean that its inferior in any way.

Games are games. If I like the layout of a controller better, I'm getting it. I can't say I've ever sat down and been like "oh man, this game is so much better thanks to the unique feel of the PS3 controller" compared to any 360 game I've played.

Overall I feel the 360 controller is more comfortable. The main sucky point is the dpad. Replace that and I'd be happy using it on anything.

@WonderWeazel
I once tried out a 360 controller at Best Buy and by Jove, it was the worst experience in my life...

@metamorphic
Man, you must lead a pretty charmed life!

Dongle? No thanks, my ps3 usb ports are too few for that.

As soon as I saw it, I thought "fling it"

I imagined the old ps3 banana controller for some reason

@PSN StaticShock
I still wish they made that. My biggest problem with the dualshock is that it doesn't provide enough grib. The boomerang was ugly, but it looked like one of the most comfortable controllers ever.

Wait, why does the ps3 controller use a dongle for wireless, but the 360 one doesn't?

@Piccozza The 360 one's wired.

@Piccozza
Only the Microsoft OEM controller is allowed to be wireless. All offbrand controllers are wired.

@FiXxXeRJL
i thought they could license the wireless tech from microsoft?

@Piccozza It seems third-party ones never seem to get bluetooth implemented or something. At least, that appears to be the case here, and was the case with the Black Ops controller, as well as the Guitar Hero instruments.

OMG, look at that D-PAD!!!!!!!

@TheShaper

Yeah....looks terrible doesn't it??

@TheShaper I'm with you. I don't care if they stick 20 wires on that thing. I'm getting it. This is the best news to come out of E3

No wireless of xbox 360? LOL!

@isotrex

Why would you even buy a 3rd party xbox controller anyway? The only real problem is with the dpad and they fixed that.

@Uberdave making the d-pad suck slightly less =/= fixing it

@The Mysterious Wanker X It's kind of tough to make a good d-pad when all the good designs were patented 20 years ago. I guess they could license Sega's d-pad from the Genesis 6 button controller. I doubt that would cost much and Sega could sure use the extra cash.

That thing is revolting.

I hope the FedEx guy delivers it in the Batmobile.

If only the 360 version was wireless I'd be getting it.. I love anything batman, but my current system makes wired controllers impossible :(

Mmmmmm a nice PS3 Controller that actually works...

Because its an Xbox Controller!

Thumbsticks in the right places, and real triggers!

Now Ill be able to finish Killzone comfortably.

Not quite what I call "Batmanish". I mean, did he walk around with LEDs in his cape?

"Joker, prepare to be DAZZLED!!!!!!!!!"

@CaptainProtonX

I agree, LEDs are just distracting and annoying. The 360's constant blinking when the controller is low is enough for me to plug it in with seconds.

@Ignatius
ugh tell me about it, and whats messed up is when it starts blinking its only half way dead. i play with it blinking for HOURS.

@monkeyontherun4
You guys actually notice that? I have never found it distracting, Infact, I never even notice its doing it unless I look at the controller!

@Ignatius PS3's does this while charging too. It's not quite as bad since it's on the top of the controller, but it's noticeable at a lot of angles... at least the way I hold it. Maybe it doesn't bother anyone else.

But this "feature" on the 360 controller is obnoxious.

Honestly I'm tired of LED lighting in general. I guess on the 360 it's OK since it makes it obvious which controller is which player... but beyond that, I don't know. Every other computer part I have seems to have this stuff installed on it. Other than keyboards I couldn't care less.

omg a manufacturer finally realized the xbox is the superior controller

-or-

omg they broke the much more awesome ps3 controller

/stupidity

@Noksukow My problem with the power a wasn't the dead zones, but in some games the right analog stick moved really slowly to the left but really quickly going right.

I heard it comes with a searchlight for when you want to show off your controller to friends... or alert Batman.

I wish Sega would re release the saturn controller for the xbox and ps3. I bought one of the china made bootlegs on ebay the ones that said sega on them before they started selling the even cheaper retrolink ones. They do work great on the ps3 but you have to be carefull or the d pad will break. And one I bought had a bad pcb. I couldn't hit down and a at the same time.

Those don't look like Batarangs at all.

I was hoping this was some kind of controller you could safely throw.

im not a big fan of the concave sticks, it works for the 360 controller fine and the placement of the left stick doesn't really bother me, a real gamer should be able to adapt easily to both controllers.

Looks almost as bad as the the "new" controller Xbox unveiled a few months back, might've been a year, dunno. I like the way the normal controllers look and feel the best. I've tried my hand at a few of the third party ones and they just don't do it for me.

fnally a pad that i could use on the ps3.

I hate the lay out of ps pads, have done since ps1.
Awful pad.

The layout of the 360 pad, but with the ps3's d-pad?

*tears of joy*

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Batman: Arkham City

Video: A quick fling with the Batarang controller

Reader Comments (52)

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:29PM Gaddes said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:19PM pigon toucher said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:29PM Quayle said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 12:04AM theSkillfull1 said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:29PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:34PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:58PM CaramelZappa said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:12PM making11s said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:19PM kentuckyfried said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 8:26PM thesage42 said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 8:51PM philmcfail said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 10:59PM WonderWeazel said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 12:19AM Softserve said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 2:51AM metamorphic said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 8:14AM trickyd said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:32PM kevin949 said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:33PM Miranda Lawson said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:39PM PSN StaticShock said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 3:21AM CaramelZappa said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:48PM Piccozza said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:57PM Zorque said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 8:23PM FiXxXeRJL said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 9:26PM monkeyontherun4 said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 9:51AM TCJJ said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:51PM TheShaper said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:57PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 9:48PM The Mysterious Wanker X said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 6:58PM isotrex said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:55PM Uberdave said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 9:49PM The Mysterious Wanker X said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 10:47AM AirIntake said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:04PM TheConstruct said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:10PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:35PM Dreda said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 7:40PM DarrylKensley said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 8:13PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 8:54PM Ignatius said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 9:27PM monkeyontherun4 said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 10:33PM killer rin said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 12:22AM Softserve said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 8:46PM Deone said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 11:02PM WonderWeazel said

Posted: Jun 9th 2011 11:51PM The Only Girl said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 12:15AM hydro5135 said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 12:38AM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 2:26AM Poindexter Buckley said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 3:49AM The2ndofThe7th said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 6:05AM platinumrug said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 7:30AM STEMW3 said

Posted: Jun 10th 2011 7:47AM Istari Spartan said

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