Critical Gamer: Gioteck’s FPS controller for PS3: HF-1 hardware review

Critical Gamer writes: As anybody who owns all three machines knows, Sony’s PS3 DualShock – while a perfectly good joypad – is a few small steps behind the Xbox 360 and Wii controllers in terms of precision. This is only really noticeable when playing FPS games, and as such, various companies offer FPS-specific alternatives. Joe’s already given you the lowdown on the Eagle Eye mouse & keyboard adapter; who’s next?

Wave coyly in greeting at Gioteck’s HF-1 controller for PS3.

[BryanBegins]

I love how the guy in this review is always saying that EVERYBODY knows and admits the 360 controller is superior (and even the Wii controller... lol).

I happen to prefer the dualshock. Yes the L2/R2 triggers are much better on the 360 controller, but everything else is better on the dualshock if you ask me.

In any case, it's a matter of preference. Stop stating this as a fact. Especially regarding precision!

[hellzsupernova]

agree i found the DS3 sticks to more sensitive and accurate as well especially on fifa like it would take a split second longer for the character to react on the 360 compared to the ps3.

i like the 360 controller for its grips? like my hadns feel more comfortable and i prefer the triggers. the stick setup does not bother me the DS3 has better arrows buttons and face buttons and shoulder buttons

on topic could this finally be a good controller from a thrid party

[FailOverFail]

Well you saved me a new post. I do like the 360's triggers, but when it comes to controller comfort, I'll always prefer the Dualshock. I've been using it since PSOne and I've never had a single problem.

As for his Joystick comments; I call bull. I've ALWAYS found the 360's joysticks to be much less responsive and less accurate. And this has been a problem for me since the first time I played an Xbox360 when I upgraded from the PS2.

As for every other button, I think the Dualshock hasn't changed in all these years for a reason. Everything works and it works incredibly well. Although better triggers wouldn't hurt.

[r1sh12]

yea im the same..I dont mind either of the controllers but the MS could have fixed the battery pack in the new controller they put out (with the fixed D pad).
The ps3 controller triggers need to be better, but I find the analog sticks too easy to move, I prefer some resistance like the 360 controllers have.
All in all I can play games with either controller,
on topic - this controller looks to be the best of both worlds, but its got some stupid D pad...
The standard PS3 Dpad is very good, why change so much from it? Im not fond of the keep it wired problem.
might give it a try

[talltony]

This controller sucks. All you have to look at is the user reviews, they never lie.

[citan]

"As anybody who owns all three machines knows, Sony’s PS3 DualShock – while a perfectly good joypad – is a few small steps behind the Xbox 360 and Wii controllers in terms of precision."

That's the funniest thing I read today. People are so deep in their delusions.

[mastiffchild]

I know. Controller preference is a very personal thing and to mak this out as fact is a bit silly.

OT-I feel I will fall into the same boat I do with the 60 pad with this one and the way it's sticks are placed. They are the same way as the 360 p[ad which always felt too righty centric and as a lefty I'd love to try one with the sticks in a mirror image if you would. For 360 gamers unused to or who find the DS not to their taste, though, this could be a decent answer.

[Solans Scott]

I think I will stick to Sony's controller. The only third party gamepad I would use as an alternative is Logitech's. The others I have tested were not reliable at all.

[chazjamie]

i was actually interested in this controller until they mentioned the battery lie span. I am done with batteries.

[FailOverFail]

That's one thing I noticed too. If I didn't read all the way till the end I never would have known either. No built-in Lithium Ion battery, no buy.

I don't want to be spending more money just to keep my controller in working order.

[byeGollum]

I don't think any pad is "better"// they are just different and its a matter of preference

[fredfenster]

What moron would disagree with you on this lol.

[pompeymassive]

Right so no dual shock, erm?? U need to use batteries, erm?
Plus well actually thats enough for me too think erm NO THANKS!!! Ill stick with my Dualshock thats a few small steps behind the Xbox 360 and Wii controllers in terms of precision. PPFFFFFFFFFFTT!! This guy who wrote this is a joke!!

[Dorwrath]

At least when my rechargeable battery dies and can change it for a new one $9.99 compared to the $54.95 for a new controller.

[Tru_Blu]

Dor please tell me that was sarcasm.

[theonlylolking]

"As anybody who owns all three machines knows, Sony’s PS3 DualShock – while a perfectly good joypad – is a few small steps behind the Xbox 360 and Wii controllers in terms of precision. This is only really noticeable when playing FPS games, and as such, various companies offer FPS-specific alternatives."

Weird because I own all three and my accuracy on 360 with FPS freeks is 1% under my PS3's accuracy in the same games without FPS freeks. I can understand the shape of the controller being better but accuracy being better? Nope. The radius that you can move the analog stick is smaller than on PS3 and the analog sticks are closer to the pad itself so you do not get as much accuracy.

[Droid Control]

I love the 360 controller. The worse thing about the PS3 for me is the 3 generation old pad.

I need offest analogue sticks and non slippery triggers.
I would pick one of these up, but batteries? NO!

[supremacy]

The fact this controller uses anything but recharable batteries is a major down fall, also add the fact it lacks 6axis because unlike the guy who reviewd this controller I happen to like and play killzone.

Another thing that made look away was the fact it has all this lag issues, and the reviewer says itsbecause its blutooth.

The dualshock 3 does blutooth and it doesnt seem to share these apperant issues.

They need to address these things before I condsider buying one of these. Besides I love my regular dualshock 3 controller, simply put it feels natural to me. Maybe its because ive been pratically using this same design for over a decade now. But whatever the case I am comfortable with my dualshock 3 controllers.

For now ill pass on this controller until the current issues are addressed.

[Jim Crikey]

I think the point about the bluetooth problems is that it's not an official Sony controller. Some stopped working altogether after update 3.5.

[Emilio_Estevez]

My super knock off from Korea with a usb to connect to the ps3 still works :)
I got lucky, it's too obscure.

[Dorwrath]

I own all three consoles and from personal experience I find the 360 more comfortable to use than the DS3.

I feel hunched over the tiny PS3 controller, to me the Playstation controllers were made for kids and people with small hands and I find it uncomfortable compared to the larger 360 or alternative PS3 controllers.

The placement of the sticks doesn't help either. In certain situations your thumbs can hit. The trigger buttons are crap, made the wrong way.

It's the primary choice for me when choosing what console I choose when buying a multi-plat game.

[Baka-akaB]

it's a fair opinion , i just feel otherwise .

I dont like the design of the 360 pad and find it's placement less confortable .

So ok the analog maybe arguably be better , but it's hardly a night and day difference . To the point some might actually prefer the ps3's .
And most shooter dont use the triggers to shoot , at least by default .

Whatever difference there are , can be fixed for both pads , while keeping their own original designs .

Hell if anything , to end that nonsense , both sony and ms , should simply produce swappable parts to inverts the left stick and d-pad positions , for their next pads . If saitek can don it for meh pads , so can easily both giants .

[Dorwrath]

Well the stick placement is big for me. Have large hands due to lots of manual labor when I was younger. Being off set like they are on the 360 or other PS3 controllers make it more comfortable.

I'm sure if I had smaller hands I'd find the DS2/3 far more comfortable, but as it is I find it not a good controller for my personal use.

It's just a personal preference.

[Mondayding]

@Dorwrath - you have large hands due to manual labour when younger? Er, you sure about that? Fingers don't have muscles, they're controlled completely by your tendons in your forearms. Nothing to do with this post, but if people are jumping on non-truths, thought I'd get in on the act. :)

[iceman06]

@Mondayding....
Actually, the thumb and the little finger DO have muscles (thenar and hypothenar). Also, there are small muscles in between the bones of the fingers. However, you are completely correct that they are controlled by the tendons of the larger muscle groups in the forearms.
Not trying to be a d!ck...just for clarification. Good points though!!!

[CherryLu-Chan]

What's better than both .. the Dualshock 2.

I picked up Chronicles Of Riddick very cheaply last week and was rather dismayed to find that the L2/R2 controls of the 360 demo hadn't been switched to L1/R1 for the PS3 as they usually are.

So I dug out my Dualshock 2 and the little dongle I bought from Game for £2.99 after Christmas to plug into my PS3. Problem solved as far as the game was concerned.

Later that week I bought Arkham Asylum and midway through a game the DS3 ran out of juice. So .. DS2 plugged in and .. it felt better.

So, an alternate through for those out there looking for something beyond the DS3 - and a ton better for the likes of FPS/action games in general on PS3.

Oh and for those who are loving the DS3 - do get some of those clip on triggers for L2/R2 and some of the grippier thumb sheath things whilst you're at it. Definitely makes it a better pad to play with.

^-^

[Jdoki]

Yeah I got some of those clip on L2 / R2 trigger covers. Made a world of difference to most games - especially arcade driving.

I do remove the L2 cover for Killzone though. Find it's comfier for some reason.

[VenGencE999]

"Triggers for L2 and R2? A ‘flip switch’ that gives you the option of swapping the L1 & R1 functions with those of L2 & R2 (thereby making the triggers the default fire & aim buttons for most games)?"

This is the main reason why I used to buy most of my shooters for my 360, most PS3 devs like to use L1 and R1 as the default triggers and it really affects my shooting.

Freek triggers on L2 and R2 make all the difference and I wish more devs that port their games to the PS3 would give gamers the option to switch out triggers as I feel like a fool paying for live just to play a few shooters online.

[Emilio_Estevez]

No thanks. The joystick is in the wrong place and it requires batteries.

[Jdoki]

"As anybody who owns all three machines knows, Sony’s PS3 DualShock – while a perfectly good joypad – is a few small steps behind the Xbox 360 and Wii controllers in terms of precision"

lolwut?

Have used more controllers than I care to remember over the years, and can safely say that it is not a fact that the DS3 is 'a few small steps behind' compared to 360 or Wii controllers.

None of the main controllers are perfect - there are things I dislike about the DS3 (L2/R2 triggers), and the 360 controller (face buttons, asymmetrical thumb sticks, D-Pad), and the Wii classic controller (horrible analogue sticks, uncomfortable)

[Tuxedo_Mask]

If you own all three systems and prefer the 360 controller then why would you need a 360-like controller for your PS3? Why don't you just play your 360?

I prefer the DS over the Xbox controllers, the analog sticks are easily accessible and the layout of the other buttons allows for a quick response and better control.

The Xbox360 controller isn't terrible, and it's definitely a step up from the Xbox controller, which was an improvement over the giant original Xbox controller, but if the PlayStation controller in its general form has lasted this long it must be pretty good despite its detractors.