I am an adult gamer: a 6 foot, 250 pound adult gamer. As a result, I have larger hands and have always had a problem with the various iterations of Sony’s PlayStation controllers. It could be a resistance to conform (I never owned a PlayStation 2), but particularly since the advent of thumbsticks, I have had a difficult time manipulating the on-screen action with these devices.
Enter the Microsoft Xbox, and its behemoth controller. Yes, I was one of the few who actually enjoyed the original model, but later realized the error of my ways, finding the S-controller to be a superior device. The thumbstick placement of these devices, while unconventional, felt more natural. With the launch of the Xbox 360, I felt Microsoft had perfected the gamepad, with more readily accessible buttons and a shape that accommodated both large and small hands.
Fast forward ahead to just after the launch of the PlayStation 3... After seeing previews for several forthcoming games, I knew wanted this console. After all, the technology had the potential for games far superior to my beloved Xbox 360, and I was sure they had improved the controller. Sadly, I found they had not. In addition to the same old awkward placement of thumbsticks (remember, I’m an Xbox guy), the handles were as short as ever, and the L2 and R2 buttons were convex. Who had that great idea?
