Dualshock - Not a Great Controller (Ergonomically speaking)?

Speaking to the Dualshock 3 and earlier models, I always found the Dualshock to be a very uncomfortable controller for most games (fighting/2d side scrolling the exception). I only have minor issues with the triggers or the buttons. I find that the left joystick is poorly located. I don't have Shaq hands, but the controller feels cramped. It becomes worse when having to use the left analog stick. Which caused me to immediately buy a 3rd party controller where the left analog and the Dpad are in reverse positions.

The Dualshock 4 maintains the same layout (of course offering new additions). Ergonomically, the handles are longer so it's not as cramped as prior iterations. I still find the place of that left analog to be poor. To sum on all DS controllers:

1. The left analog is too low.

2. The left analog is too center.

Anyone else feel this way? And relax this isn't I "hate Sony/PS4", All other systems > PS4 thread. This is, I've never liked the feel or layout of the Dualshock controller so much that I use a 3rd party one instead.

The pictures are just to compare the relative size of the DS4 compared to the old DS3 and new XB1 controller

I've always wondered why if it's better to have the left stick where the D-pad is then why don't people complain about the right analog stick? If it's so uncomfortable then it should be the same for your right hand too.

Looks like you're in the minority though.

DS4 > Xbone controller

My hands are symmetrical and so should the controller.

This is the best I've seen

As far as placement of the anlogs go, it's entirely a matter of habit. If you're used to the 360 controller, DS3 feels a little awkward and vice versa.

I always wondered if these people who cramp up so much from controllers are "newer" gamers. What I mean is that I gamed on regular NES, turbo controller NES, genesis, SNES, PS1-3, xbox, 360, dreamcast, gamecube. I've never had any problems with a controller with exception to the original xbox controller being too large, imo.

I haven't touched the PS4 controller yet but I do prefer the asymmetrical layout(Xbox analog sticks layout) when it comes to analog sticks.

I hated the DS3, and I am actually kinda off put by the DS4 because of the symmetrical design of the sticks.

Imagine moving right and then turning left. It feels like both thumbs might bump into each other because they are near. My opinion on it it might be different when I get my hands on it though.

Any word on when a third party controller might become available for the PS4?

@seanmcloughlin said:

My hands are symmetrical and so should the controller.

This is the best I've seen

It's a pretty great controller, easily the best yet though I haven't tried the DS4 yet.

You get used to the button placement very fast, then it feels completely natural.

@seanmcloughlin said:

My hands are symmetrical and so should the controller.

This is the best I've seen

Not the best to use though, the analogue sticks feel good but the ABXY buttons feel off, it's not as comfortable to use as a PS4 controller or a 360 one.

I've been gaming since PS1 days and I hated the Dualshock 3. I even played on Dreamcast.

I prefer the Xbox controller because it fits right in my hand. I found the Dualshock 3 too small for my hands and light. The analog sticks for me were terrible too.

Dual Shock 3 is horrible compared to the Xbox 360 controller, I don't really have an big issue with the cut of it, I'm mostly against the triggers, and the analogs aren't very subtle for control, they're too tall and the convex tips don't offer for a finer degree of control.

The DS4 looks to be a huge improvement on the control designs, it has sturdier better designed triggers, wide analog separation, and shorter concave analog tips. I haven't touched one yet but it definitely looks to be a huge improvement.

Hence why I said "Seen" :P

What it all boils down to is personal preference. We can all argue about which controller is better endlessly, but in the end it all comes down to personal preference.

It's all relative.

I've always hated the dual shock design from 3 back. It felt cramped and the analogs were inconveniently placed. Like you, I found the setup to work quite well with fighters and 2D/side scroller games. The PS4 controller fixed the spacing issue for me and Sony's controller finally feels comfortable in my hands. It feels waaaay better constructed than the DS3, as well. Should I decide to get a PS4 down the line, I won't have to worry about the controller sucking out of the box.

I like the X1 controller feels great in hand.....what I don't like is how loud the buttons and the dpad are when pressed. Seems a little cheap.

ergonomically speaking off-set sticks ARE NOT ergonomic because our hands are symmetrical. XD

But when you play with certain controller for so long anything else will feel weird. At the end there is no "better", only "preference".

The DS sucks but Sony are too stubborn to change it. The only time the DS was good was before analog sticks

Well i'm not saying the 360 controller ISNT a very comfortable controller, but generally speaking, every controller you hold is going to be held in a different manner. If you are getting cramps holding it, something doesn't sound right.

I think people like that the 360 fits entirely in their hands, that is a comfy, snug feeling. The gamecube controller was a very comfortable controller to hold in a similar sense. However, you don't really hold a dualshock the same way.

still ds4>>>>>>> xbone controller

I've never had an issue when I've put a DS controller to use - they've all been exceptionally functional.

The DS4 is the only PS-branded controller I've actually had high praise for, albeit.

Originally? No. The DS4 is leaps and bounds better, thank God. I've yet to try the X1 controller.

@hoosier7: I prefer it to be symmetrical, similar to how Nintendo has it. However, the use of the right analog for me at least, is usually not used as much aside from shooters. And you're right, it bothers me too. But the left stick is always used for movement, so I guess using it that often makes it uncomfortable.

So you're saying you didn't like the DS3, but now you like the DS4?

I found the DS3 mildly uncomfortable. It was usable, but I do find the DS4 to be far more comfortable and form-fitting.

@ohgeez: It cramps due to the placement of the joysticks. The NES, Genesis, SNES, TG16, etc., only have a dpad. And the DS works just fine as a dpad specific controller. It's the adjustment to the joysticks is where I find the problem.

And I'm definitely not "newer", lol.

How can a controller design that has been almost identical since around 1996 suddenly be "leaps and bounds better"?

The DS4 is not "almost identical." The DS1-3 were largely identical. Minor tweaks.

The DS3 was an absolute trash controller.

The DS4 is actually good.

The DS4 has been awesome thus far to me. I love it. Maybe P2M's resident lem @TheEroica can comment on it as well.

I use a DS4 controller for PC and it's awesome even without the touch-pad/six-axis (i can live without them, they seem gimmicky) and rumble (being a PC gamer I'm used to no rumble, but I'm sure someone will find a way to get it working soon). Way better than the DS3 by far. It's triggers feel far better, it's built more solidly, it has better grip, the size is better, etc. The only gripe I have with the DS4 is the odd tips of the analog sticks. They just feel kinda weird, but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Now that i've spent good amount of time with DS4 while playing BF4 i fund a minor weakness that pisses me off for long sessions of gaming but i won't say what it is because im supposed to be a cow and cows don't admit bad things about their system.

@bobbetybob said:

@seanmcloughlin said:

My hands are symmetrical and so should the controller.

This is the best I've seen

Not the best to use though, the analogue sticks feel good but the ABXY buttons feel off, it's not as comfortable to use as a PS4 controller or a 360 one.

I can't go back to using DS3 or 360 controllers once I have gotten used to Wii U button layout. Muscle memory goes both ways.

I found the DS3 to be comfy with a little modification added to it, but DS4 is probably the best controller that Sony has made thus far.

This is like a Mac user telling a PC user their keyboard layout is wrong, lol. If you use Adobe Photoshop, you obviously would be blinded to the fact that Autodesk exist, if you drive an Automatic Car, you would find driving a Manual Car difficult. Tacit knowledge of a particular device does weigh into how consumers react or adopt technology

DS4 is one of the best controllers I've held, ergonomically speaking... And for the first time it doesnt' feel like a cheap plastic toy, which I like. It remains to be seen whether stripping away the tradition start/select in favor of a touch screen will add any true benefit, but the buttons are responsive and It grips like a beast. I'm a big fan... I guess if you forced me to have a single complaint no matter how trivial, I'd say the L2/R2's are a little short and in tense moments, I sometimes worry my fingers may slip, but they never do.

This actually sounds really odd or catty to say, but my biggest disappointment in sony consoles is probably the DualShock itself. It has always been a cheap flaming pile of twice baked shit and it sucks to play games on it. Talk about your 1080p and 60fps... You can have your 5gigs of ddr5 and everything else you want to throw on the pile... The DualShock4 was the greatest gift Sony gave you on the PS4... It's a work of art.

I'm not paying £50 for a controller. I'll stick with the DS3 for now. Especially if I get a PS4 sometime in the future when they're cheaper, I'd get a controller with it.