Console controller comfort

An article on the differing ergonomics and comfort level of games controllers since the NES pad to the present day

[GrieverSoul]

Even though i feel confortable with the Dualshock 3, the X360 pad is really awesome. I like the way it fuses with your hand. The Dreamcast wasnt so great or my hand was just too small back then, I dunno.

The Mega Drive controller (croissant anyone?)! Ah... the memoriers

[Bob Dole]

But wat about teh Nintendo Powah' Glove!???

[christian hour]

I'm in the same boat as you regarding the dualshock 3 versus the 360 pad. It just rests in your hands and you barely notice it. My hands hurt after playing on a ps3 for a while. And I have to take breaks between games on ps3 so i can have a smoke, depending on what buttons it needs me to press. On the 360 i can smok and play. Its a good match. Its such a small trivial thing, but it really is a deal breaker for me :P My ps3 doesnt get as much play time because of that. Especially since I tend to get high while i play... I'm a disgrace :P haha

[Bob Dole]

What's disgraceful about getting high and playing??? Bob Dole does it all the time... but he can't play most games at 100% while smoking... especially Gran Turismo. Only time you can take a hit is when you're on a straight-away.

[christian hour]

Bob Dole is my kinda guy!

[SaiyanFury]

I started on the Atari joystick, then moved to the SEGA Master System gamepad as well as the NES's. Moved up to the Genesis controller and SNES. Then went to the PS controller and eventually got the DualShock. To this day, even from when I was a teenager, the DS3 is still the most comfortable pad I use. I have the 360 controller, but it just doesn't have the same feel. Good controller, just different shape than I'm accustomed to. Haha, it brings back memories seeing that old swivel Namco NegCon controller for the original PS.

[titntin]

I must be in minority because I hear that opinion expressed a lot.

Despite having large hands, I find extended play with a 360 controller gives me hand cramps and pain. My wife also complains of hand pains with the 360 and hardly ever uses the machine anymore because of the controller. I carry on of course, but I always suffer after extended periods of use.
Both of us can use the PS3 pad for many long hours without any discomfort, so ergonomically its by far the superior pad in this house.

A special mention must go out to the 360's dpad - which is absolutely the very worst d pad we have ever seen. Playing Street Fighter 4 on it recently showed me just how bad it is. It may be sacrillage, but I have to use the analogue stick for that game despite its imprecisness for this type of game, as the dpad is simply unusable. I'll have to get this title on PS3 - its unplayable on 360 as a result of the pad!

Now if only the analogue sticks on the PS3 pad had the better dead zone like the 360's.... I guess we can't have everything!

[HowarthsNJ]

The stocks balance on the middle, ring and pinky fingers. The index fingers control the bumpers and the thumbs cover the sticks, d-pad and face buttons.

It's not meant to be pressed into the palms unless you have very small hands and short fingers.

I can see where a palm hold might cause cramps.

[Jinxstar]

DS3 for fighters. otherwise user pref.

Call me crazy but i likes the 64 controller...

[I love video games]

360 and ps3 controllers are good but since ive been with playstation since the great 1 i gotta give it up for the playstation. but on a side note the psp sucks for comfort they should have made it like the controller and not sold the dumb add on, and thats why i dont have a psp anymore

[paul-p1988]

Both the original and the DualShock versions of the Playstation controls are the best, i play my mates 360 every now and again and it just doesnt feel right. The shoulder buttons are much better on the PS3, and the analog sticks are where they should be. The thing i actually love the most about the DS3 though is that you can still use it like the original PS1 control, just move your hands away from the analog sticks and use teh D-pad instead for some Tekken goodness :)

I did love the N64 control aswell though, many a time playing Goldeneye without getting hand cramp :)

[2 cents]

I must admit the 360 controller it is the most confortable but is not the best quality hardware.

[DelbertGrady]

The controller is of very high quality, the console not so much.

[edgeofblade]

Certainly could use a better directional pad. I took it into my own hands to fix that problem, and I'm glad I did. XCM makes some controller cases at Extreme-Mods.com that have the new d-pad built in... and for some very light soldering, you can make it light up the face buttons too.

[C_SoL]

....and the directional buttons r a lot better. Though I think the 360 controller is the most comfortable to use.

I wish the Sony would have released the boomerang. I really wanna try it out.

[Eiffel]

You all got disagrees for stating a personal opinion. Some sad individuals out there seem to be stalking these articles while not providing a point to their disagree.

I prefer the 360 controller, it sits in my hands relaxed. I still do enjoy and remember using the PS1 controller. Great for 2D fighting games.

I played my 360 so much I picked up a Gamecube controller and my god was it light.

[christian hour]

All i need is some attachment that holds your joint or cigarette for you while you play. Its pretty hard to hold one and play on a ps3, on 360 however I find it easier. I think it's because the play station joypads require you to grip them too much (they really werent designed for our big non-japanese hands).

But this list is pretty accurate, although having never played a dreamcast i can't say for sure how good the joypad feels. So the 360 wouldve ranked higher on my list.

Third on my list would probably have been the original playstation analogue controller. You know, the first one with dual analogue sticks, that was supposed to have rumble built in too but was taken out at the last minute or something, so when me and my brother bought one we were very disappointed to see there was no rumble in it at all :P

Sometime later the dualshock came out, but it wasnt as comfortable as the original analogue. Anyone else ever use that thing?!

[Voiceofreason]

That is one of the good things about some Wii games. One hand for the blunt the other to work the controller. Doesnt work for them all but House of the dead while smoking works just fine for me.

[christian hour]

Yeah thats always good, just try not to play anything on the wii that requires too much effort :P Otherwise you'll just give up before you even start

[SpoonyRedMage]

The 360 is indeed comfortable and I have to agree that the Dreamcast is one of the most comfortable, I also really like the SNES and Megadrive controllers.

The gamecube controller isn't too bad in my opinion, I'd like it a little bigger though and the buttons more evenly sized.

The Wiimote's alright too but I'd much prefer to use a GCN pad. Although a SNES style pad would be best.

EDIT: The classic's close but not the same.

[SAiOSiN]

i like the 360 controller a lot, but i prefer my ds3 because of the stick layout. both controllers have their pluses and minuses.

[Keowrath]

I'm not sure you can actually do a review of controller comfort. It's been shown time and time again that (besides the rampant fanboys) everyone finds comfort in different ways with the controllers on the different systems.

I had a friend come round the other day and play streetfighter 2 HD on the PS3, She's a pretty competent Blanka player. After about 3 fights she was complaining her hands hurt but mine were fine (granted she's out of practice but so am I) She owns both a 360 and a PS3 but it's apparant she much rather prefers the 360 but also the controller, I however much rather prefer the comfort of the DS3, sure, I've been using Playstation pads since the Japanese original (was slightly smaller than the US and UK models) and I've been using them a lot.

I can use a 360 with little problems but given the choice I would use the DS3.

It's personal preference, people have different sized and shaped hands. No one is right and no one is wrong. Play with the controller you feel most comfortable with (There's enough adapters and so on to allow different console pads to be played on different machines.

[MicroSony]

Totally agreed,

i have really small hand for my size and age. The 360 controller give me cramp after 20 min of gaming. I prefer to use my PS3 controller, but its all about personal preference.

[villevalorox]

I love the 360 controller. only thing i do not like is the d-pad. and It does not work well with all games. Ever try mirrors edge with the 360 controller? I could not play it. Other than that I like it. I like my ps3 one aswell. I just wish it would full your hands more.

[REALgamer]

When did you ever need to touch the d-pad in Mirror's Edge?

It was just the thumbsticks, triggers and bumpers...

[villevalorox]

Never. It's the shoulder buttons that I cant play with morrors edge. I think its terrible.

[DelbertGrady]

I have man sized hands and I love the Dreamcast controller, but everytime I dust of my Dreamcast nowadays it takes a while to get used to the single analogue stick.

In this gen I'd pick the 360 controller hands down. It sits comfortably in your hands, has the best buttons and triggers and also has the most ergonomic analogues sticks. Since they are curved inwards they keep your thumb in place and make for better precision. The sticks on the DualShock3 makes your thumb slip much easier since it's curved outwards, and the triggers just feel weird.

btw NegCon ftw!

[power of Green]

The 360 pad does not have any awkwardness regardless of game type.

[PirateThom]

If you believe that, then that's what you believe. Don't let anyone tell you other wise. :)

[DelbertGrady]

Imo it's not suited for 2D games or any games that rely heavily on the d-pad.

[table]

I think everyone would agree on. The original xbox controller was a brick made for swarchenegger to play games on.

[Scaramunga]

I'd have to say the 360 controller is the most comfortable this generation, but I am a little more precise with the ps3 controller. I hated the playstation controller for the longest time until I got my hands on COD4, then it grew on me pretty quickly.

[table]

I think alot of people feel the same way about the precision of the DS3 and the comfort of the 360 controller. if only they could combine the 2 to make some sort of super controller.

[TheBand1t]

I prefer the DualShock, though I can passably get by with the 360 if I'm at a friend's house. DualShock just feels more comfortable to me.

[Gun_Senshi]

I can never ever understand how people find X360 controller comfortable. It hurts my hands. The Anagloue placement is just unnatural and wrong and to top that the huge battery at bottom you are unable to play unused fingers properly. I also liked GameCube Controller.

[saphiron]

I loved the Dreamcast controller, but the d-pad was bad dough. Now i prefer the 360 controller in most games.. but the Dualshock 3 has a superb d-pad :)

[jimsondanet]

i dislike the concave design to the 360 joysticks and yea, the d-pad...
the bumper an trigger configurations arent very friendly towards each other (i couldnt imagine playing enter the matrix on it)

[Karum]

I feel comfortable using both the 360 and PS3 pads, the only "controller" that becomes uncomfortable for a while for me is my PSP, I know that isn't really in there but it's the only thing that hurts my hands after a while.

[Dual Shock 3]

As far as for me I like the DS3, I've always loved myself, sometimes a little too much

[rko_kero]

I would have never suspected that.

[MrJack]

They feel good, fit in your hand well, and have an excellent and simple layout, i have used the 360 controller, and whilst it is comfortable, its layout just feels wrong, no matter how much I play it.

[dalibor]

I just don't like where the anologs are placed & the buttons for L1 R1 that they used on the 360 controller but has that stopped me from gaming on a 360 system hell no! One fuss I have with the Ds3 is that the triggers could have been better in my opinion, if the Ds3 was extended another couple of cm(the part where the ps button is located) it would fit/feel even better.

[dalibor]

Some people have preferences to their controllers, personally I don't mind it much, give me an hour & I will get comfortable with it. People have to remember that you can buy other 3rd company controllers for whichever console you get, I hate it when someone says this console is better because of the controller provided when in fact 3rd party controllers exist. One other thing if you can game for 6hours straight with the Nes controller than you know your a gamer because that controller was like holding a brick really haha, sure made you better at arm wrestling.

[Voiceofreason]

I have no preference. I dont think most people would unless they also have a console of preference. Notice most Sony fans pick PS3 controller and most 360 fans pick MS controller. I just think it all comes down to which controller you use most often. I use Mouse Keyboard most often and that is probably why I have no preference for console controllers. As long as it works I dont care if it is DS3, MS or Atari Jaguar.

[40cal]

I loved the N64 pad, and still prefer the Playstation pad over all.

[mt]

but i still love Dualshock

[greenmeanie]

Out of all the controllers in the world the best one IMO is the xbox 360 controller as far as comfort goes! It is great. The only problem I have with it is the d-pad sucks, but most of the games I play that actually require the dpad I play on wii and that d pad works perfect

[NateNater]

All of the controllers out there now are comfortable in their own way. It really depends on what type of person you are, the type of games you play, and the size of your hands. In my opinion, the most comfortable controller ever was the the Nintendo Game Cube remote. That thing could fit perfectly into anyones hands and the button mapping suited it well.

[farhsa2008]

you just cant beat the dualshock design, its so good that sony have left it basically untouched for over 10 years.

[NJShadow]

My favorite would have to be the Genesis controller. =) SO comfortable, yet so easy to use. Loved it. =)

[REALgamer]

I find the 360 controller to be by far the most comfortable. It's also a lot more stable in your hands - try holding it with just your left hand and you can still us the stick fine. Try holding a DualShock 3 with your left hand and you can't grip it properly without both hands.

I alos prefer the thumbstick positions. The most common main control in games is the left thumbstick, so why on the dualshock is the d-pad in the natural resting position of your thumb? Similarly why are the triggers convex with that weird spngy feeling when pressing them in? It's hard to keep a hold of them so most FPS use the regular R1 button instead of the actual triggers (and triggers = guns usually?).

The d-pad on the 360 controller isn't very good, but that's the only issue I have with it. It seems more like the dualshock is designed simply as a convenient pad to put the buttons and controls on, while the 360 one was more molded to your hands.

And winner of the most random major controller is the N64 - 3 sticks? Didn't Nintendo think we'd be able to actually move our thumb between a D-pad and thumbstick so instead they decided each needed it's own holding stick? It was pretty comfortable though, just random.

[Mr Tretton]

Still prefer the Dualshock 3, although the triggers are outdated of course, after putting Real Triggers on them, it's smooth gravy.

So with the DS3, if Sony were to tweak it, it just needs the Real Triggers, and could still be a little 'stronger'. It still feels a bit light and not solid. You can hear the plastic crunch if you twist it. That's the only thing I liked other than the triggers on the 360, is that the 360 controller feels more sturdy. Other than those things I don't care for the 360 controller as much.

As far as the controllers of olde, it's too long to remember and I don't have old systems anymore

[mandf]

Best--- Super Nintendo Worst--- Arcadia 2001

[Jrome]

I have no problem with the ps3 controller at all, infact I like the joysticks when playing FPS. The only problem I have with the 360 controller are the buttons, I wish they were more squishy and less clicky like the ps3 L1 and R2. Other than that, both controllers are great...oh yeh and the 360 D-Pad. But they are great controllers.

[ARog34]

...the Dualshock defined the perfect control scheme.

I'm just happy to see Rumble back, *sigh*, it made all the difference against the lightweight SIXAXIS...

For oldies, I couldn't stop lovin the N64 controller... never did try it with the rumble pack, but I do miss the FPSs- Perfect Dark and GoldenEye with the cool N64 shuttle controller!

[Lombax]

Why has the basic shape for the Dual Shock never changed? Because it is to close to controller perfection for our mortal minds to improve upon.

The 360 controller comes in at #2 because, while it is comfortable, you have to grip it with your full hand causing sweaty palm syndrome.

The Game Cube comes in at #3 because it felt like it was designed for the contours of the palm of your hand, just too bad they designed it for a 10 year olds hand. I think if released a larger version it would be the controller to rival the Dual Shock.

Oh, and lol at the Jaguar controller.

[darkdoom3000]

Dualshock 3 for me. just personal prefrence. had a Ps1 and PS2 and now a PS3. any other controller feels alien like.

though the 360 controller feels good too. but I keep on thinking X is the lowest face button (like DS3)

[JOEdANGEL]

Despite the awkward design of the DC controller it really was quite comfortable. As for now I find the 360 pad a bit better than the PS3 one, but mostly because of the stick arrangement.

[KrazyFace]

I use the DS3 almost all the time but have to say, the first time I thought "this feels so comfy" was way back on the N64. The main stick being central to me and the Z-trigger just felt so right. I have double jointed thumbs though and use this as an advantage when I feel my thumb sliding with the DS3! By which I mean, if the DS3's sticks were a little concaved I wouldn't have any problems.