Tag: Controller

The First Xbox One Custom Controller Goes To Titanfall

Are you already tired of your two month old Xbox One controller and need a change? Microsoft knows what ails you. Take a look at the custom controller for Titanfall that will release this March. It will only set you back $64.99 or roughly 1/4 the price of the [amazon_link id=”B00G2HSX86″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Titanfall Ultra Mega Huge Look At This Bastard Collector’s Edition[/amazon_link].

Of course you could just tell people it is some kind of rare Mass Effect 2 or Deus Ex controller for Xbox One. As long as it is a game that has an over-dependence on orange colors and is futuristic it will work.

January 15, 2014
Steam Controller Unveiled. Valve Takes On Virtual Boy For Worst Controller Design Ever

It has been a big week for Valve. They teased three big announcements for this week and have so far delivered Steam OS and that the mysterious Steam Box would be coming next year as they try to revolutionize the relationship of PC and living room TV gaming. I have not focused on these announcements because…well I am not a PC gamer and probably will never be. Just being honest.

But this is something different. Because..well…look at it!

It is the official Steam controller which features two circle trackpads as opposed to analog sticks. Valve says that they will offer unparalleled control and as Valve stated will make, “whole genres of games that were previously only playable with a keyboard and mouse” easier to play on a TV. ” The trackpads can be used as buttons also and will also have a feedback system.

There is a touchpad in the middle of the controller which can be used in many different ways including scrolling through pages of information and also can be a clickable button.

I do not play mobile games on my phone for a reason. I do not like touchscreen control pads. Now I know this is not the exact same thing, but I have to have tactile contact. I want to feel an analog stick moving in the direction I want it to. Those trackpads may be amazing, who knows. I will never get used to gaming like that though.

OK, those are the basics. I know there are some long-winded explanations of every function this controller carries, but I have to get on with the simple fact that this thing is plain, fu**ing ugly. There will some Valve lovers that will jump down my throat because everything Valve does is a revolution or whatever, but come on. Be realistic. This thing is Virtual Boy ugly.

It is like looking at a Steam controller in reverse.

Of course, there is still the Gamecube controller out there with its hanging blue balls.

And one can never forget the Jaguar controller. I know my hands never will. Long nights of Aliens vs. Predator and hands cramps…the hand cramps. Never forget.

September 27, 2013
Two New Colors Will Be Availbale For PS4 Controllers

If black is not your style then Sony is giving you two other options for your Playstation 4 controller. The “Magma Red” and “Wave Blue” controllers will be available in Europe on the Playstation 4’s launch day of November 29th and in North America later this year (i.e. before Christmas). They will cost $60 each.

What do you think of the new colors? To me they make the sleek controller look a little…third party. That is my nice way of saying cheap.

August 20, 2013
Major Nelson Helps Break Down The Xbox One Controller Improvements

Photo courtesy wpcentral.com

Microsoft has released a new video going in-depth with the new features and improvements found in the [amazon_link id=”B00CMQTVMI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Xbox One[/amazon_link] controller including the new individual rumble features in the triggers, redesigned d-pad and the controllers ability to sense when the controller has been passed to another player and change their profile on the fly.

Check out the video below and let us know if any of the new features tickle your fancy…or anything else on you.

August 12, 2013
Xbox One Controller, Accessories Priced

Photo courtesy softpedia.com

Microsoft has revealed the pricing for the Xbox One controller and all of its various accessories. The controller will retail for $59.99 while the play and charge kit will run you $24.99. Buying the controller together with the play and charge will cost $74.99. The chat headset retails for $24.99.

So if you are planning on getting an extra controller and play and charge and don’t want to use the Kinect to voice chat (who the hell does?) be prepared to fork over an extra one hundred bucks on launch day.

Pre-orders are being taken on all of these items on Amazon.

Photo courtesy screencrush.com

July 29, 2013
Xbox One’s New Buttons Revealed

Photo courtesy gematsu.com

The new buttons replacing the “start” and “back” buttons will now be known as the “menu” and “view”.

Microsoft revealed the new uses for the buttons in an article on IGN.

“The Menu button (on the right) will bring up context-specific menus which game and app developers can design to enhance the user experience. The Menu button could be used in scenarios such as bringing up in-game menus, showing video playback options, and accessing commands on the console’s user interface.”

Microsoft also said the view button “will change views or provide more information in games and apps. The function of the View button will be driven by developers. Possible uses of the View button include viewing a map during a role playing game, displaying a leaderboard in a first person shooter, and enhancing the navigation of the console’s user interface.”

May 26, 2013
A Closer Look At The Xbox One Controller

Photo courtesy theverge.com

The one thing I did not think Microsoft needed to change was the design of the 360 controller. It is, for all intents and purposes, the best controller for any machine in video game history. The d-pad (even the current redesign) did leave a lot to be desired, especially in fighting games, but the feel, weight and overall ease of use is what is important.

So they changed it.

After seeing what has been put in its place for the Xbox One I can say that I am a little less worried than I was. The basic design is still there just with a more flat look from the front. The start and back buttons are still there (kind of). Microsoft is not saying what the new buttons will exactly do. The triggers have been swooped up and look to hold your fingers better and the bumpers have been increased in size. The home button still remains, but has been moved up and separated more from the other buttons so no more accidental fat finger home presses for guys like me. Also each analog has a individual rumble feature to add a new depth to your shaky hands besides all the drinking.

Finally, Microsoft has gotten rid of the battery pack and replaced it with a rechargable integrated battery like the Playstation Dualshock’s. So no more battery buying and no more play and charge kits that are extremely overpriced.

Our early opinions of the Xbox One have not been too enthused, but the controller is looking good so far.

May 22, 2013
Dualshock 4 Developer Video Shows Off The Controllers New Features

Sony has released a new developer video on their Playstation Blog that shows off the new Dualshock 4 controller. The design of the controller is discussed as well as the uses of the front touch pad. They also talk about how integral the share button will be in the future of PS4 gameplay. I absolutely love the look of the Dualshock 4 and think Sony hit a home run with the design.

April 26, 2013
Controller Inspired Cufflinks. For The Nerd With Important Places To Go.

All photos courtesy etsy.com/BazingaJewelry

Do you have an important function to go to? A nice dinner or maybe a wedding of a person that you don’t really consider a friend, but know well enough to put on a suit? Are you actually a very lonely gamer and sometimes you dress up while you play Dead or Alive and pretend that you are on a date with one of the chicks in the game?

Well Bazinga Jewelry is looking to cater to you. They are offering these video game controller inspired cufflinks for the man about town…and games. Each set will run you back $19.99 and they have choices that include the NES, SNES, Genesis, Xbox 360 and Playstation.

At the very least you could buy a set for that one magical day when you have to wear a nice suit and people will notice your mad cufflinks. So go buy them and call your grannie to see how she is feeling.

And now we play the waiting game.

March 8, 2013
Meet The Dualshock 4

Photo courtesy edge-online.com

While we may not have seen the Playstation 4 in the flesh (or plastic) last night, one thing that we did get a good look at was the redesigned Dualshock 4 controller. It is really beautiful and looks much more refined than the leaked pictures of the dev unit version from last week. It has an integrated touch pad on the front of the controller, much like the back pad of the Vita. The start and select buttons are a thing of the past with the options and share buttons replacing them. The new share button is a major change in that the last ten minutes of any game you are playing will always be saved into the Playstation 4’s memory and at any time you can hit the share button and pick out any part of that saved gameplay and upload it instantly to Facebook or UStream.

Photo courtesy gamesradar.com

The shape of the Dualshock 4 has been altered also. It is thicker and is more contoured which makes it more in line with an Xbox 360 controller (for me, that’s a great thing). The D-pad has been tweaked as well and you can see the analogs have been given an indentation around them for better grip. There is an LED light at the top of the controller which will identify different players I am assuming by different colors. It is noticeably more pretty than the standard red lights on the old Dualshocks.

Photo courtesy kotaku.com

The Dualshock 4 will be more hefty than its predecessor going from 6.77 ounces to 7.4 ounces which,again, I love because I have always enjoyed the weight of an Xbox 360 controller over the feather light feel of a Dualshock.

All in all I have to say that Sony knocked it out of the park with the Dualshock 4. Its more curved, contoured approach and sleek styling with the touchpad and LED light makes this a gorgeous looking controller.

February 21, 2013