Rumors were false: The Boomrang is here to stay.

Sony denied the rumors that a redesigned PS3 controller would be unveiled at this CES.
They will stick With The "Batarang" controller. I know no one tried it yet, and we shouldn't have prejudices about it, but the thing look unconfortable, to say the least.

http://www.ps3today.com/Blogs/News/hqs/blr_941.aspx

 

So... Whenever you get pissed at a game and throw the controller, it will fly back and hit you and poke your eye out. Man, first Sony does the DRM trojan where they hack your PC, and now the want to hurt you. Goerge Orwell's "1984" is coming to life!!

 

Cmon, sony would not release a controller that is uncomfortable, they made one of the most universal controllers ever with the dual shock, I can't believe they would mess it up. From what I hear the ps3 controller is a touch smaller than you would imagine so would probably be quite snug. It does look quite odd, but that is only because it is rather an original design. I'm trying to be positive.

OT, the 360 controller is nice... played it today and was nicely surprised. Though the shoulder buttons are a little oddly spaced. Very light as well, but I digress.

 

For me, the big problem with that controller is the way that curve with push out the heel of your hand...making it really awkward to reach the dual analogs. I'm willing to try anything once...but I imagine its going to feel like Saturn M1 controller in my hands.

 

The dualshock design isn't incredible either, but that's just me.

some people at e3 also noticed that the analog sticks on the boomrang where smaller than analog sticks on the dualshock. More like the "c"" joystick on the gamecube pad. Also noticed: the buttons are nearly flat and they follow the curve of the controller. No words about the Shoulder buttons, but they seem to be difficult to use too.

I can't wait to get my hands on it, to see if it is as bad as it look to be.

 

Nope, its not just you ;-)
Really, the first analogue stick should be where the D-pad is, giving you a symetrical grip, like with the Xbox. Sony however seem to hate you having both thumbs in the same place though, making the PSP analog nub very uncomfortable :-( .

 

The dualshock is just.... generic in a way. Its a universal design. Not every controller is perfect, however.

 

i think it would be a great idea to find pictures of the "batarang" from different angles:






Mm...:icon_toil

edit:
(o/t)
anyone else noticed that the "ps" logo could do a "home" button, similar to what you can find on the xbox360 controller?

 

If that is the final design, its the worst 'looking' one i've ever seen (hopefully it feels much more comfortable then it looks though).

 

Not only is it ugly, but it looks far too wide for normal humans to use... (and I have large hands)

Edit: Dammit

 

and btw, playstation was suppose to an snes addon, the whole controller was based on the snes one but with two extra shoulder buttons, then when the 64 one came out they decided to copy that and add dual shock to combine the rumble in, though i think i heard somewhere sony made single analoug controller for japan, not srue if this is true or im getting my info mixed up.

 

I have used PC Joypads with a similiar "boomerang" shape and it just doesn't work. The arc at the top is uncomfortable and bulky - reaching those joysticks is going to feel like a stretch, especially for people with small hands.

Worse still, the tips of the boomerang are nothing more than wasted plastic - if this thing is light, it's going to feel cheap. It's not tight, it's not efficient - I'm not a HUGE fan of the dual shock but I would use it any day over this poor excuse for a first party controller.

 

This will probably end up being the first time I've ever had to buy a third party controller to replace a first party one because I disliked it.

 

iirc last time this was discussed some one discoverd that this controller was based around some 3rd party controller for ps2 that the few people that had bought, thought it was the best controller they've used... or something like that

 

The original analogue pad had no rumble feature. The analogue sticks are different to the ones on a Dual Shock, they're indented instead of mushroom shaped. No too common, but I remember them being sold in the UK.

 

I still say the original PSX and Dual Shock controlers are shite. THey are only popular because of the system they are for. Shooters, fighting games and racing games are a right pain with them. Best controller ever is the Japanese Saturn controller followed by the SFC one.

Yakumo

 

In all the time i've been a gamer (nearly my entire life) I have never found a 'perfect' controller. PS2's pad is better then alot of others though. As long as your not using the D-Pad for movement or playing first person shooters it's not bad at all id say.

For instance (clairifying "never found a 'perfect' controller"):
NES = Annoying pointy edges, and feels like a toy (considered a good thing then, but not now)
SMS = Like the NES pad, but with fewer buttons.
SNES = feels like a toy.
Genesis = uncomfortable, feels like a toy, is a generation behind when it comes to button count.
3DO = High quality but the chain-system it employs (for extra players) is horrid.
Jaguar = Lots of useless buttons in poor locations.
Saturn = feels cheap (all 1st party controllers), and breaks too easily (not including the jap pad)
PSX = lousy D-Pad (all 1st party controllers)
N64 = VERY easily worn out joystick
Dreamcast = Begs for a second joystick, and hurts some peoples hands.
PS2 = like the PSX has a lousy D-Pad, using both analogs at once (fps games) is more difficult then it should be.
Gamecube = Feels comfortable generaly speaking but is broken in almost every way from a functionality standpoint.
XBox = The black and white buttons are almost unusable.
XBox360 = using both L or both R buttons at the same time is difficult.

 

Ugh, I played with a 360 controller yesterday. Those triggers on the shoulders are the suck. I hated them on Dreamcast and Gamecube; I'll hate them forever. Also, the controller felt... cheap. I don't know; this is my first impression. I hated the PSX/PS2 analogue controller at first too. Now it is in the top 3 controllers I like. (Though I will admit I use my Logitech wireless PS2 controller more. ^_^;; )

I'm going to have to hold the PS3 controller before I judge it. It reminds me of the cheap Sidewinder that was released before MS pulled the plug on the Sidewinder division. It was OK, but no Sidewinder, mind you.

 

anyone else find that the dualshocks handles/arms whatever are a little to short and the joysticks are too close together?.....in all honesty looking at the ps3 controller, i want to puke.......what were they thinking.....it looks as if the anologue sticks will have more restricted movment........

 

Just a note on the 3do, I loved the way you could jack your headphones right into it. Great idea, I wish they would use that for the next gen.

I do find the design of the ps3 pad odd, expecially as sony have previously done great simple designs, and I like the look of the ps3 console. I can't help but think it must be very comfortable, why else would they pursue the idea? They are not that stupid surely? They can not be going for an odd design just for the hell of it, there must be a good reason.