New Xbox 360 Controller: Big Leap Forward or Overpriced Hype?

ThatGamerPodcast.com takes a look at the new transforming d-pad Xbox 360 controller

[multipayer]

I'm pretty sure it's overpriced, but how in the hell else am I supposed to beat these warpzone levels in super meat boy with the current dpad(which only made it slightly easier than the analog)

[gigaware]

Cost exactly the same. Comes with a play and charge kit.

[multipayer]

There is something wrong with the system dropping in price all these years, and the controller staying the same price with a little change just now.

Besides, I want my controller to lose the bulge in the back aswell, why force us to buy a play and charge kit, I want a less bulky and more efficient 360 controller. Give us those analog tension adjusters the razor onza has or just allow them to create a wireless controller. Then I'd feel like I'm getting my moneys worth.

[ShinMaster]

Kinda bulky for me.
DualShocks fits best, even in my large hands.

Never had any complaints, even with all the other controllers from systems that came before the PS1 which were smaller.

OT: I don't think it's really overpriced. I just isn't a "big leap".

[militant07]

wth you mean by accelaration?!

[ElementX]

I like the hefty feel of the 360 controller. It feels solid and durable. I like the grips and find them more comfortable than my DS3 controller, not to mention actual triggers instead of bumper things that get pressed when you set the controller down.

[spiceonpsn]

how in the world did you manage to press L2 R2 when putting the DS3 controller down ? I have a ps3 for 2 years and the "bumper things" work just fine..I'm just putting that out there....

[vhero]

I think MS have done well this gen with controllers almost matching the dominance that is the Dualshock by Sony. Some may say it's better but the majority will still prefer DS as it really is THE perfect pad. But like I said MS have done really well this gen and whats wrong with making it a little better?? Even if it is just an another money making scheme by adding something that should have been there from the start (like wii-motion plus!)

[shoddy]

how can it be a leap forward?

[Karum]

This article is about the new 360 wireless controller with the updated D-Pad.

It is not about Kinect.

Taking a bubble for you just being either completely dumb, a troll or both.

[SkylineR]

All of the above.

shoddy reads headline - "ooh, time to bash "Kinetic".

[Terror_B]

Greatest controller ever made.

Sony should take a leaf of of EVERY OTHER COMPANIES book and evolve their controller, but we all know what the PS3 horde is like, they can never change, even for the better, they probably wouldnt welcome a change in design even of it improved it for them.

[Karum]

There's nothing wrong with the Dualshock controller.

The majority of 3rd party control pads that are even made for PC copy the design as it's that good. It's an iconic design which has been copied for good reason.

Yes, there's some room for improvement of course, like triggers in place of the R2/L2 buttons as that is one aspect of the 360 controller which is awesome.

The 360 controller is also very very comfortable, but so is the DS

[dragunrising]

I think the controller is a little pricey for those of us with no need for a play and charge kit. It would be nice if it was available as a stand alone. The only reason why they are bundling the controller is for those early adopters and the fact that it might be a limited run controller. These days, I only buy controllers (for any console) when they are on sale. Controllers this gen haven't dropped in price; its a tad bit disapointing.

[Karum]

Yeah it would be nice to have as a standalone, honestly wouldn't replace my current 360 controller though....just don't have the need to.

If I needed to buy another additional controller though.....maybe.

[Solid_Snakeps3]

DualShock 3: Sixaxis, built in battery, rumbles, comfortable.=55 euros
Xbox piece of shit controler= 65 euros.

[HornyHaggis]

fanboy = priceless

[siyrobbo]

built in batteries are ok until they start to lose their charge

[xAlmostPro]

I love the looks of it, but its not a big leap forward.. its kinda of dumb actually..

Removing the coloured buttons is/was just silly, i mean im pretty sure alot of xbox users are now familiar with the colours, and now in games what a grey button will appear? who knows.. The looks are better and so is the twisty d-pad thing but i belive this would have been better if this was the original..

And since everyone else is mentioning other controllers etc. Im with the DS3, im not gonna use big or small hands as an arguement because its dumb.. i have small hands but i can play on 360 fine, its just more filled out in between and at the backs..

But yeah its just my personal preference, im not keen on the 360 analogs andthe placement of them i prefer them side to side it just feels more natural. But i do prefer the texture of the 360 pad, and the R2/L2 on the DS3 are far to 'slippy' & sensitive, but i have the extra grips for those buttons.

[limewax]

Definately overpriced because this should been finished and bundled with the 360 slims.....Mine of which had a dodgy analog stick out of the box

[Gam3s4lif3]

hmm

[awiseman]

They remoeved averything that made the xbox controller iconic. At least the analog stix r still in the same place. -_- My review 1/5 and im sure most toehr xbox gamers would agree with me. And the d-pad wasnt even that much of an improvement. Its not like xbox players use it anyways...all we play is gears call of duty ans halo.. and the d-pad only needes for noob tubing :P

[militant07]

i thought its the same expect the d-pad update which you can still make it as old one.

[Troll_Police]

So if I want this controller I have to pay $65?! No thanks!

[OmarsAccount]

Its the exact same rate as the existing Xbox controller. It comes with a play and charge kit at the same price as the controller + playandcharge kit was before.
I mean, I guess MS only releasing it bundled with a play and charge kit is questionable, but the product itself is the same price.

[Relice]

play&charge kit sucks =\ i want my money back

[vhero]

Thats the thing ya see it's all about money no built in battery means lower development costs then if they push the charge kit on you with this it's win-win... For MS anyway.. Maybe for once they should stop thinking about products on a cash level and think about the fans and the cash will flow ask Sony it's there way and that's why even though they got off to a slow start they are starting to dominate once again around the world.

[Newtype]

Wow, still no built in battery.

[cmrbe]

But your are the controller....oh wait.

[AllroundGamer]

if you are the controller, then you have to stick those batteries in your... ;)

[HornyHaggis]

it's really not much of a big deal, plug and play charge kit has lasted me for 3 and a good bit years and I haven't even needed to replace it, all costing me in total.. £12

[Relice]

It is overpriced hype.
Xbox controller is more comfortable than DS3, but analog sticks and d-pad are much better on Dualshock.

[MajestieBeast]

why cant i just turn in my old 360 controller and get a new 1 for 30 euro that seems fair to me. But a controller at the price of a game is just overkill i only spend that much money when i buy a gaming mouse and KB.

[BYE]

It comes in the US tomorrow and Europe february? What a joke. And they still wonder why they're doing bad here...lol

[vhero]

Yeah I doubt they wonder anymore it's more like a sit in your own yard and work on it 70% and spread the 30% out amongst those who don't care as much. To be fair concentrating on US has what's kept MS up this gen and fighting really well.

[256bit]

the DS3 is only like $55 bucks and it has a RUMBLE,BUILT IN BATTERY and SIXAXIS. this new 360 controler is a rip off. why cant the DPAD just be a cross like the DREAMCAST controller was. why add the outer stuff around the cross? this pretty much feels like it has 3 analog sticks.

[REALgamer]

I can't find the source, but I have read about Nintendo having some sort of ownership (patent?) of the exact '+' shaped d-pad, hence the gaps in the PlayStation one to provide just enough of a difference.

Microsoft then needed to find one for themselves with enough of a variation, so they ended up with the circle using the raised cross. With this controller it still maintains its difference but by having the d-pad raised up more it pretty much functions like the Nintendo '+' d-pad.

And by the way, this controller comes with removable rechargeable battery (so it can be replaced once it eventually dies), rumble and everything the DS3 has except sixaxis (which in all honesty is barely used), with the added comfort of the 360 controller. I don't think many people will argue the 360 controller does feel great in the hand.

[Call_me_Ishmael]

not a buy for me,im just waiting on the razer onzas

http://www2.razerzone.com/o...

[256bit]

that dpad..now thats what iam talking about.

[StoneyYoshi]

i really dont understand why the controller is so expensive. 65 bucks for a battery and a cable to charge it? why not just build the battery into the controller? i guess that would make too much sense since every device for the xbox doesnt have a built in power source. the kinect even has a power brick, its pretty funny. its not that challenging to create a built in power source. it would probably overheat the 360 if they did that so nvm on that. im not trolling, im just putting out my opinion and facts.

[REALgamer]

Ummm...Kinect can be powered by the 360 S models. Obviously the original 360s can't power it since Kinect was not around at that time.

The advantage of removable rechargable battery packs is that they can be swapped during play instead of having to always plug the controller back in on a short cord. Also, once the battery eventually loses charge over its lifespan you can replace the battery pack instead of being confined to having to play with the cable. It's similar to the issue of most original Pokemon red / blue / yellow cartridges having their internal battery die so it can't keep track of time anymore.

Please don't make statements that make yourself look silly / fanboyish.

[StoneyYoshi]

if you charge the controllers properly they dont go bad so quickly. ive been using the same DS3 controller since 2007 and it still lasts just as long as it did since day one. batterys go bad due to overcharging them wich happens when you keep it charging when the battery is full. wich wont happen on the DS3 controller due to the controller quitting its charging process once it is done charging. i dont understand how i am making myself look silly. i know what i am talking about. and if u ever do need to change the battery in the DS3 controller, it is so simple, its not expensive to buy a battery for it and it takes 3 minutes to do. the ps3 manual even tells you how to do it.

[bumnut]

I hope games can detect the new controller and change the on screen prompts for button presses to the new colours.

[NDArkie89]

Sorry but, no. There is no software to install so there is nothing for a game to detect that is different from the standard controller. Fortunately for those concerned with the button color change, I believe it will only be on this initial, special edition run. Future controllers will revert back to the original button colors.

[R_aVe_N]

The play and charge thing is way out dated if you ask me. If they were going to remake the controller they would of put in a rechargeable battery INSIDE the controller. It makes no since to do it exactly the same. For what it is I think it is over priced just like all controllers really. System prices drop, but those pesky controller prices never change. You might as well keep the ones you got they did not improve it that much. Save your money for games unless you just need a new controller.

[00000000000000000001]

The DS2 built in battery sucks, when it needs recharged you end up with a wired controller. Just like MS plug and play. The removable rechargable battery is your best choice, that way there never a need to have your controller wired, period.

[R_aVe_N]

I disagree with you there I have never had to plug my controller in to play. The battery lasts at least 16 hours straight. I plug it in on a dock when I am done it charges in about 1 hour. Game smarter not harder...

[Dark_king]

First its the DS3.Second there are portable chargers that go right on the controller.Third the battery has a long life like the guy above said 16 hours,with 1-2 hours charge time.It would take you longer to change batteries then me to grab the charger.And mind you the charger actually gives me another 16 hours of play time and charges in two.

[ROWD]

I may need to pick this up. My current controller is a bit overworked.