Wireless controllers.....a blessing or a curse?

Does anybody else feel the same way that I do towards wireless controllers? This wasn't a problem for me when this generation's systems first came out, but now their limitations are becoming painfully apparent. I've had to throw away two Dual Shocks. I really don't play my PS3 all that much, and sometimes the controllers are not in use for 3-4 months at a time, if not longer. As I understand it, the batteries need to be used every so often to be able to retain a charge, otherwise they'll die. I thought I could plug in and play if they can no longer hold a charge, but two of my pads wouldn't work even doing this, and I had to trash them.

I also have two rechargeable paks for my 360, when I first got them they held a charge for a good 8-10 hours. After a few years of use though, now they're down to around3-4 at most if I'm lucky. I went on Amazon intending to buy replacements, and there's a lot of negative reviews stating that since the batteries were manufactured years ago, they are now useless namely because they HAVEN'T been used. I'll be honest, I prefer the 360's controller, as I always have one battery plugged in my recharge station and ready when the other dies, whereas with the DS they're always dead when I wish to use them. I shouldn't be required to play to keep them ready to use as intended.

It's just annoying to consistently have to hassle with battery worries. I know I can plug in, but then why havea wireless at all?

Does anybody else feel the same way that I do towards wireless controllers? This wasn't a problem for me when this generation's systems first came out, but now their limitations are becoming painfully apparent. I've had to throw away two Dual Shocks. I really don't play my PS3 all that much, and sometimes the controllers are not in use for 3-4 months at a time, if not longer. As I understand it, the batteries need to be used every so often to be able to retain a charge, otherwise they'll die. I thought I could plug in and play if they can no longer hold a charge, but two of my pads wouldn't work even doing this, and I had to trash them.

I also have two rechargeable paks for my 360, when I first got them they held a charge for a good 8-10 hours. After a few years of use though, now they're down to around3-4 at most if I'm lucky. I went on Amazon intending to buy replacements, and there's a lot of negative reviews stating that since the batteries were manufactured years ago, they are now useless namely because they HAVEN'T been used. I'll be honest, I prefer the 360's controller, as I always have one battery plugged in my recharge station and ready when the other dies, whereas with the DS they're always dead when I wish to use them. I shouldn't be required to play to keep them ready to use as intended.

It's just annoying to consistently have to hassle with battery worries. I know I can plug in, but then why havea wireless at all?

Rekunta

When wirelress came out the first time I thought it was a blessing, as my cat always ate the wire from the control so I always ended up buying a new control, but then it was the batteries cost, not much but still a pain, plus if you dident have anything at home you had go run down to town or to a local sotre to get a set... but i do understand what your saying about the control, that if you don't use them a surten amount of time the seem to die out for some reason, Iv been lucky, that haven't happen for me yet, and im like you, I always have battries charge up and ready to go if it start's do die out...and plus I have the cable as well just incase... you never know, maybe they will come out with a control that don't need to be charged at all... but i guess with today's tech we just need to accapte that we can't get everything we want atm :P

Wait, Dual Shocks are completely dead once the battery is out? You cannot plug them in and use them that way, afterwards? Personally I like wireless, though just last night I'm working on the computer and I had the xbox controller plugged in and was getting annoyed at the dongle obstructing mouse activity. Ultimately I think wireless is better, as I think I've had people almost destroy every console I've owned because of wires.

I do not game all that often but was aware of the battery issue so even if I have not played in a while I throw my Wiimotes on the inductive charger just to make sure.

Wait, Dual Shocks are completely dead once the battery is out? You cannot plug them in and use them that way, afterwards? Personally I like wireless, though just last night I'm working on the computer and I had the xbox controller plugged in and was getting annoyed at the dongle obstructing mouse activity. Ultimately I think wireless is better, as I think I've had people almost destroy every console I've owned because of wires.

Heirren

I've repeatedly been told by many people you can just plug it in and it'll work, but two of mine wouldn't. Nothing at all. Sony addressed this back when the PS3 was first released:

http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/84262/sony-pledges-to-replace-dead-ps3-controllers/

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

Wait, Dual Shocks are completely dead once the battery is out? You cannot plug them in and use them that way, afterwards? Personally I like wireless, though just last night I'm working on the computer and I had the xbox controller plugged in and was getting annoyed at the dongle obstructing mouse activity. Ultimately I think wireless is better, as I think I've had people almost destroy every console I've owned because of wires.

Rekunta

I've repeatedly been told by many people you can just plug it in and it'll work, but two of mine wouldn't. Nothing at all. Sony addressed this back when the PS3 was first released:

http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/84262/sony-pledges-to-replace-dead-ps3-controllers/

Interesting, because I have wireless xbox controllers that have had the rechargeable battery die and they still work when plugged in. Hmmm.

it's a blessin for me. Needinalanky

I love wireless. Not only is it more convenient, but I have kids who are running back and forth all the time so wireless is safer.

I've been gaming with wireless controllers ever since Nintendo's Wavebird came out in 2003, and for the most part, I love it. The Wavebird was the best wireless controller I have ever used due to it running over 100 hours on just two AA Alkaline batteries; I'd could go six to eight months before needing to replace the batteries. Wireless controllers this gen are not as good, IMO, because they do not last nearly as long. Don't have a PS3, so I can't comment on that controller. My Xbox 360 controller isn't too bad since I can go a month or two before the batteries die, but I'm lucky if I can get a couple weeks of play out of my Wii Remote, and that's with rumble and the internal speaker turned off! It's worth the battery hassle for the convienence of not having to deal with those long controller wires.

I actually prefer wired controllers, because you don't have to keep putting new batteries in them.

I kind of don't even like wireless anymore. I always play with the controller plugged in, also partly because of input lag and when you are playing a shooter online every split second makes a difference.

I've been gaming with wireless controllers ever since Nintendo's Wavebird came out in 2003, and for the most part, I love it. The Wavebird was the best wireless controller I have ever used due to it running over 100 hours on just two AA Alkaline batteries; I'd could go six to eight months before needing to replace the batteries. Wireless controllers this gen are not as good, IMO, because they do not last nearly as long. Don't have a PS3, so I can't comment on that controller. My Xbox 360 controller isn't too bad since I can go a month or two before the batteries die, but I'm lucky if I can get a couple weeks of play out of my Wii Remote, and that's with rumble and the internal speaker turned off! It's worth the battery hassle for the convienence of not having to deal with those long controller wires.

Ravenprose

A blessing for the industry.

A curse for us gamers.

It feels wrong when I go back to wired controllers on older systems... I see it as a blessing.

I don't have a wireless controller. I guess I like it better to actually hold something than wave my arms around like a bufoon. :P

Although I'm also a PC gamer so....yeah...there's that. :roll:

The last straw for me using a wired controller was someone tripping over it and taking my system down to the ground from 6 feet up. No more wires for me ever!Dracula68

The last straw for me using a wired controller was someone tripping over it and taking my system down to the ground from 6 feet up. No more wires for me ever!Dracula68

Same here. Let's hope those times never come back.

OP: Just try using normal AA in x360 gamepad.

[QUOTE="Dracula68"]The last straw for me using a wired controller was someone tripping over it and taking my system down to the ground from 6 feet up. No more wires for me ever!shinian

Same here. Let's hope those times never come back.

OP: Just try using normal AA in x360 gamepad.

I would but I try to conserve as many batteries as I can, and for the amount I play on the 360 I'd be using them up like crazy.

I would but I try to conserve as many batteries as I can, and for the amount I play on the 360 I'd be using them up like crazy.

Rekunta

I haven't really had much of a problem with wireless controllers, except possibly with my Halo Reach X360 Slim controller being perhaps not as responsive as it could be sometimes. Or that could just be the D-pad.

It feels wrong when I go back to wired controllers on older systems... I see it as a blessing.

joesh89

I like wired controllers because they are alot lighter and i can use them with my pc as long as they are usb.

Does anybody else feel the same way that I do towards wireless controllers? This wasn't a problem for me when this generation's systems first came out, but now their limitations are becoming painfully apparent. I've had to throw away two Dual Shocks. I really don't play my PS3 all that much, and sometimes the controllers are not in use for 3-4 months at a time, if not longer. As I understand it, the batteries need to be used every so often to be able to retain a charge, otherwise they'll die. I thought I could plug in and play if they can no longer hold a charge, but two of my pads wouldn't work even doing this, and I had to trash them.

I also have two rechargeable paks for my 360, when I first got them they held a charge for a good 8-10 hours. After a few years of use though, now they're down to around3-4 at most if I'm lucky. I went on Amazon intending to buy replacements, and there's a lot of negative reviews stating that since the batteries were manufactured years ago, they are now useless namely because they HAVEN'T been used. I'll be honest, I prefer the 360's controller, as I always have one battery plugged in my recharge station and ready when the other dies, whereas with the DS they're always dead when I wish to use them. I shouldn't be required to play to keep them ready to use as intended.

It's just annoying to consistently have to hassle with battery worries. I know I can plug in, but then why havea wireless at all?

Rekunta

This goes for my corded electric shaver too. I have one that I've owned for years. I bought a rechargeable one for travelling and backup. Never again!!! It's not working that great and when it kicks the bucket, (which probably won't be long) I'll buy another corded one.

I love them. looking forward to a wireless vacumn cleaner

I don't mind not having to trip over wires and having spaghetti cables and the like but I also miss knowing that those controllers will always work if I just plug them in.

Man that is bad luck for you.

But I love my wireless controllers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKf1SW2F8TY