Is the Dual Shock a outdated gamepad design?

When we talk about the Dual Shock, we can notice that the design is basically the same as it was back in 1997.

Sure, it's a pretty universal gamepad design but is it really the optimal?

See, I think it's a very good pad for 2D games like shmups or sidescrollers, but it's a little uncomfortable for 3D games due to the position of the analog sticks.

I am of the opinion that the 360 pad has surpassed the Dual Shock in basically all aspects by now (in other words: it's just the more comfortable gamepad).

I also think that the GameCube pad was more comfortable that the DS2 and I found the N64 pad more ergonomic than the DS1.

If PS4 will again have the Dual Shock, will that mean it'll lag behind the competition in gamepad terms?

Discuss.

When we talk about the Dual Shock, we can notice that the design is basically the same as it was back in 1997.

Sure, it's a pretty universal gamepad design but is it really the optimal?

See, I think it's a very good pad for 2D games like shmups or sidescrollers, but it's a little uncomfortable for 3D games due to the position of the analog sticks.

I am of the opinion that the 360 pad has surpassed the Dual Shock in basically all aspects by now (in other words: it's just the more comfortable gamepad).

I also think that the GameCube pad was more comfortable that the DS2 and I found the N64 pad more ergonomic than the DS1.

If PS4 will again have the Dual Shock, will that mean it'll lag behind the competition in gamepad terms?

Discuss.

nameless12345

WAT?

Must be just you because i find no discomfort in the DS design, and ive been gaming for a few years :roll:

Also i prefer the DS pressure sensitive buttons aswell as the built in battery. Usb port makes it ultra easy to play any pc game with it too. Oh and lets not forget the d-pad.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

When we talk about the Dual Shock, we can notice that the design is basically the same as it was back in 1997.

Sure, it's a pretty universal gamepad design but is it really the optimal?

See, I think it's a very good pad for 2D games like shmups or sidescrollers, but it's a little uncomfortable for 3D games due to the position of the analog sticks.

I am of the opinion that the 360 pad has surpassed the Dual Shock in basically all aspects by now (in other words: it's just the more comfortable gamepad).

I also think that the GameCube pad was more comfortable that the DS2 and I found the N64 pad more ergonomic than the DS1.

If PS4 will again have the Dual Shock, will that mean it'll lag behind the competition in gamepad terms?

Discuss.

lucky_star

WAT?

Must be just you because i find no discomfort in the DS design, and ive been gaming for a few years :roll:

Also i prefer the DS pressure sensitive buttons aswell as the built in battery. Usb port makes it ultra easy to play any pc game with it too. Oh and lets not forget the d-pad.

When we talk about the Dual Shock, we can notice that the design is basically the same as it was back in 1997.

Sure, it's a pretty universal gamepad design but is it really the optimal?

See, I think it's a very good pad for 2D games like shmups or sidescrollers, but it's a little uncomfortable for 3D games due to the position of the analog sticks.

I am of the opinion that the 360 pad has surpassed the Dual Shock in basically all aspects by now (in other words: it's just the more comfortable gamepad).

I also think that the GameCube pad was more comfortable that the DS2 and I found the N64 pad more ergonomic than the DS1.

If PS4 will again have the Dual Shock, will that mean it'll lag behind the competition in gamepad terms?

Discuss.

nameless12345

its not a broken design in any way, it just needs to be optimized.Trust me its a tried and tested design for sony much like the iPod click wheel is for apple its functional does its job well and just needs optimized just that little bit more.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

When we talk about the Dual Shock, we can notice that the design is basically the same as it was back in 1997.

Sure, it's a pretty universal gamepad design but is it really the optimal?

See, I think it's a very good pad for 2D games like shmups or sidescrollers, but it's a little uncomfortable for 3D games due to the position of the analog sticks.

I am of the opinion that the 360 pad has surpassed the Dual Shock in basically all aspects by now (in other words: it's just the more comfortable gamepad).

I also think that the GameCube pad was more comfortable that the DS2 and I found the N64 pad more ergonomic than the DS1.

If PS4 will again have the Dual Shock, will that mean it'll lag behind the competition in gamepad terms?

Discuss.

tormentos

strangely the latter 2 are wrong and 4 button layouts belong to the snes.

[QUOTE="tormentos"][QUOTE="nameless12345"]

When we talk about the Dual Shock, we can notice that the design is basically the same as it was back in 1997.

Sure, it's a pretty universal gamepad design but is it really the optimal?

See, I think it's a very good pad for 2D games like shmups or sidescrollers, but it's a little uncomfortable for 3D games due to the position of the analog sticks.

I am of the opinion that the 360 pad has surpassed the Dual Shock in basically all aspects by now (in other words: it's just the more comfortable gamepad).

I also think that the GameCube pad was more comfortable that the DS2 and I found the N64 pad more ergonomic than the DS1.

If PS4 will again have the Dual Shock, will that mean it'll lag behind the competition in gamepad terms?

Discuss.

razgriz_101

strangely the latter 2 are wrong and 4 button layouts belong to the snes.

The 360 controller feels way better. I play my PS3 all the time, and my 360 like never and still prefer it's controller. The dual shock cramps my hands. The 360 controller doesn't.

I prefer neither of those to the Dualshock controller. DualShock is comfortable to me and I'm not sure why you think having the sticks in different places magically makes the 360 controller better. Good for you I guess if you feel the 360 is more comfortable. Doesn't seem to me to be any more so than DualShock. But since it is for you, it must be true.

I've never had a problem with it. People sometimes complain that it's too small for people with big hands. I play piano. I have big hands. Still no problem. mrmusicman247

I have hand problems like arthritis and repetitive stress in my right wrist from work and poor posture while using a pc for many years. The extended "wings" on the 360 pad fit in my entire hand much more naturally and I don't need to "hook" my fingure at the same angle. It feels much better after long periods of time.

I can play with the dual shock just fine, and I do use it much much more then the 360 pad becuase I hate my Xbox and would sell it if it didn't have Halo. Plus right now I'm on a fighitng game kick and the DS d-pad is much better. But from a pure egronomic standpoint I'd give the 360 pad the nod every single time. 5 hour marathon with the DS vs 5 hour marathon on the 360 pad and my wrist feels much worse with the DS.

Again, this is just my prefernce/experience. I'm thinking of trying one of those 360 shaped PS3 third party controllers. Hoepfully I can get a bluetooth one since I use the DS on my PC when I want wireless. Refuse to buy a dongle if I don't need to.

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"]I've never had a problem with it. People sometimes complain that it's too small for people with big hands. I play piano. I have big hands. Still no problem. Metalscarz

I have hand problems like arthritis and repetiive stress in my right wrist from work and poor posture while using a pc for many years. The extended "wings" on the 360 pad fit in my entire hand much more naturally and I don't need to "hook" my fingure at the same angle. It feels much better after long periods of time.

I can play with the dual shock just fine, and I do use it much much more then the 360 pad becuase I hate my Xbox and would sell it if it didn't have Halo. Plus right now I'm on a fighitng game kick and the DS d-pad is much better. But from a pure egronomic standpoint I'd give the 360 pad the node every single time. 5 hour marathon with the DS vs 5 hour marathon on the 360 pad and my wrist feels much worse with the DS.

Again, this is just my prefernce/experience. I'm thinking of trying one of those 360 shaped PS3 third party controllers. Hoepfully I can get a bluetooth one since I use the DS on my PC when I want wireless. Refuse to buy a dongle if I don't need to.

I prefer neither of those to the Dualshock controller. DualShock is comfortable to me and I'm not sure why you think having the sticks in different places magically makes the 360 controller better. Good for you I guess if you feel the 360 is more comfortable. Doesn't seem to me to be any more so than DualShock. But since it is for you, it must be true.

LovePotionNo9

[QUOTE="Metalscarz"]

[QUOTE="mrmusicman247"]I've never had a problem with it. People sometimes complain that it's too small for people with big hands. I play piano. I have big hands. Still no problem. mrmusicman247

I have hand problems like arthritis and repetiive stress in my right wrist from work and poor posture while using a pc for many years. The extended "wings" on the 360 pad fit in my entire hand much more naturally and I don't need to "hook" my fingure at the same angle. It feels much better after long periods of time.

I can play with the dual shock just fine, and I do use it much much more then the 360 pad becuase I hate my Xbox and would sell it if it didn't have Halo. Plus right now I'm on a fighitng game kick and the DS d-pad is much better. But from a pure egronomic standpoint I'd give the 360 pad the node every single time. 5 hour marathon with the DS vs 5 hour marathon on the 360 pad and my wrist feels much worse with the DS.

Again, this is just my prefernce/experience. I'm thinking of trying one of those 360 shaped PS3 third party controllers. Hoepfully I can get a bluetooth one since I use the DS on my PC when I want wireless. Refuse to buy a dongle if I don't need to.

Ok. I'm just pointing out why *I* would argue compared to the 360 pad it is worse design, ergonomically. Maybe not bad per se, but worse.

The only issue I have with dualshock is the trigger shape. Other than that its perfectly fine for me.

i find dualshock to be the best controller ever made, i dont love so much the xbox one, and how is a game pad "outdated" did our hand design change in the last years so that we need a new controller?

[QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

[QUOTE="tormentos"] The best answer i can give you without going into the usual 10 page debate is,that is a taste thing,many prefer the DS to the xbox 360 controller,the fact that the controller set the standards for dual analogues,rumble build in and 4 shoulder buttons says it all. I have no problem what so ever playing with the DS.tormentos

strangely the latter 2 are wrong and 4 button layouts belong to the snes.

I'll just leave this here...

[QUOTE="tormentos"][QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

strangely the latter 2 are wrong and 4 button layouts belong to the snes.

peterw007

I'll just leave this here...

they took a good design and made it comfortable, whats the problem with that again?

I'll just leave this here...

peterw007

They should just improve upon the design - not scrap it. My only problem is with the two sticks.

I'll just leave this here..peterw007

[QUOTE="tormentos"][QUOTE="razgriz_101"]

strangely the latter 2 are wrong and 4 button layouts belong to the snes.

peterw007

I'll just leave this here...

Absolutely. The angle my wrists bend when using it is much larger than that of the 360 pad, and the 360 pad's grips are much better than the PS3's. lowe0

Exactly. And I know from seeing you post you work long hours with PC's everyday. Like me. I wonder if that has something to do with it, since my wrist is already stressed before I'm lucky enough to start playing games.

[QUOTE="peterw007"]I'll just leave this here..tormentos

No...you usually update a game pad when its totally broken. "The Duke" was literally hard to use on some games and thats why Microsoft needed to change it. If your preference is Xbox 360 of course you're going to make threads like this cause that is the controller you are used too, playing with a dualshock after playing only on the 360 would feel uncomfortable (the same can be said vice-versa)...

I can still pull off headshots using the dualshock and the 360 controller, and considering the dualshock is from the 90's thats pretty astounding to me.

If anything is outdated (before its been released) its that weird looking Wii U tablet, to not only cut costs and truly commit to hardcore gamers they need to replace that witha Gamecube-esque controller

respect the dualshock. i'll always love it. was around for at least 13 years and is not going anywhere.

I love the DS but I always like to see something new, I guess they did change things up with the DS3 anyway, the L2 R2 buttons for example. These little changes are enough for me.

i personally love my dualshock 3. it also happens to be the best controller to use on my pc as well. thats not to say, i like the 360 controller as well, but oh god it has such a horrible dpad which is why i dont use it! when it comes to old school emulators, i need my dualshock's awesome dpad.

Just because its old doesn't mean its bad or needs to be altered. Why has the mouse retained its form for decades? Because it works. All they need to do is fix the triggers.

i want this one :( (with some modification)

aside from the "trigger" buttons the DS is just fine.

i want this one :( (with some modification)

r12qi

I'd love to actually try one of those, it looks neat. :P

Anyways, the Dual shock 3 is a fantastic controller.

[QUOTE="tormentos"][QUOTE="peterw007"]I'll just leave this here..KGB32

Chill out man. Obviously I know what shoulder buttons are.

I've owned both a PS2 and a PS3.

All I was trying to say is that the initial PS1 controller was initially very derivative of the SNES controller.

Take a SNES controller, add love handles, R2 and L2, and you get a PS1 controller.

Because the Dualshock is heavily based on that design, I was trying to make the point that the Dualshock is an old design.

I'm not claiming old = bad, but it would be nice if Sony decided to switch it up for next gen.

The Dualshock design has been practically unchanged for 14 years.

No. There's a reason they haven't changed the design 17 years. It works. It's still a very comfortable, well-designed controller.

I am a long time supporter of the PS controller. I have used it since the original PS launched (in its many forms) and played for countless hours I couldn't even begin to count high enough to report. I have never once had hand problems or cramps or anything like that. So I just ignore the complainers who talk about hand pains or how uncomfortable the DS is. To me, it is just some anonymous internet BS and whining. Like much on the internet, people can't accept a middle ground. Something either has to be the ultimate best or it is a piece of garbage.

Why do I say that? Because I do admit and believe the 360 controller is more comfortable. It is just better molded to the shape of our hands. The DS is still very much straight and flat. But that doesn't mean the DS is UNcomfortable or terrible by any stretch of the imagination. It isn't. It is still a great controller.

So it really only needs a couple minor tweaks to be more comfortable. Make the handles more curved and rounded like your hands when half closed. That is all it would take. Also move L2 R2 buttons to the back like the 360 triggers because your middle fingers are more naturally at the back on the controller than the top.

That is it. I personally strongly disagree that the stick layout is better on the 360. If we are talking about natural and comfortable, your thumbs are even level and beside each other when you hold the controller. Not one up and close and the other sticking out to the left. Granted, that is tiny, but to me the DS stick position is a more natural lay out than the 360 uneven layout. But neither is "uncomfortable".

The only problem I can see with the DS is the ergonomical shape (only some third party DS clones get it right), and that grabbing the controller with your complete palms feels superior to the grab it with mostly your fingers approach of the DS.

Outdated? No. It works with 100 percent of the games on the system. I do think it's a rather poor design as far as ergonomics go.Find the 360 gamepad more comfortable for longer stretches of time.