PS3 Versus Controller

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List Price: $39.99
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This is the second PS3 Versus Controller that I try that suffers from the exact same defect: the joystick fails to consistently register the up-left and down-left motions. It's impossible to jump left or crouch guard left. That's a horrible problem in a fighting game. The sad thing is returning it for a replacement and having the new controller do exactly the same thing.

With that out of the way, if you do happen to luck out and get a working one, this is probably a very good controller. I was able to perform every movement that required right motions quite easily, and and button placement works really well. In fact, besides the issues with the left directions, the joystick's response felt a lot like that on the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and that's high praise for this kind of small digital thumbstick.

So, at the end of the day, this is a great concept for a controller suffering from really poor execution due to bad quality control issues. Nice try PDP, but you seriously need to up your game.

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*Poor Build Quality* The R2 button on this controller stopped working after 1 Day. I had heard stories of how poor the build quality was of the XBOX versions of the PDP controller, but I still wanted a PS3 version. Sure enough, after a solid play session and testing out the mechanics, I come back a day later and my R2 button has fallen in.

Build quality issues aside, the concept for this controller is great. I enjoy using the Microswitch as it reminds me of using a stick. The uneven hand grips seem odd at first, but as soon as you hold it in your hand, it'll make sense.

My only issues with the controller are that it could be a bit heavier in the hand, and it needs a rubber grip on the back. The controller is made of all plastic, so its very slippery in hand.

If not for build quality issues, I'd reccomend this 100% over the Madcatz Fightpads. However, my SF4 Fightpads have been going strong for a while now (altho the Dpad is squeaky) and the PDP Fightpad lasted me under 24-hours. Hopefully, I received a dud and its really not that bad of a product.

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Taking a step back for a moment from the marketing of it, as a basic USB controller there's really nothing too special about it. The micro-switches are nice. Kind of like clicking a mouse button. The modified D-pad kind of reminds me of the Sega Saturn 3D Analog stick, except no analog. Speaking of which, I had recently cloned my library of Saturn games and I was looking around for either a Saturn controller to USB adapter, a USB Saturn-like controller, or a similar looking modern controller with 6 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons. As far as I know, any adapter that might have existed before doesn't now, and the only "adapter" I could find was a DIY kit for retrousb.com. The current USB-i-fied Saturn controllers seem to be of poor build quality and the seemingly better made PlaySEGA controller can't be acquired since Sega's online customer records have been hacked and PlaySEGA is offline so I can't order a membership. So I started to look for similar modern controllers and ran across this one and a more expensive one from Hori. Both so-called fighting game controllers (which I guess means no analog sticks allowed) have the same general layout as a Sega Saturn controller, but for PS3 or Xbox 360. Both are USB, both have 6 face buttons and 2 shoulder buttons (plus 2 duplicated shoulder buttons on the Hori). The deciding factor in buying this one is that this one was cheaper and didn't have a lot of the customization that the Hori had that I thought was overkill.

Reading the reviews here concerned me. The build quality seemed to be the biggest downfall. Well, it seems that PDP has listened because a lot of what I read here is quite the opposite for me.

The buttons are solid. For one reviewer the R button caved in. They're solid for me. Without actually breaking it I tested the shoulder buttons and they held up to the palm of my hand pressing down hard on them. The D-pad is something I could get used to. I can see why this is a desirable feature as you can count the number of clicks you make when you try to perform a fireball or flying punch. Though, I think if I were to use it for fighting games I would have to get used to it still as for me either an arcade stick or a D-pad with cross directional bars on it is my preferred control.

And it seems that the back is now rubberized as one reviewer noted that it was something the controller lacked and something that he would like to see. The plastic on the front isn't slick either.

The weight is just fine for me. I was quite surprised by the size of it. For some reason I thought it would be bigger, but it's just fine for the size it is.

Nice big face buttons. That's a refreshing change. I can see why they shaped the controller the way they did. For those who like to lay the game pad on their leg and use it like a mini arcade control panel, it's pretty solid design. Works just as well holding it in your fists the traditional way too.

I bought it for the USB though and as a basic game pad in Windows 7 it seems to perform nicely. I notice in the game pad properties it still reads as an analog controller. This made me wonder why they couldn't have simply included the analog sticks and analog triggers in the first place. What was the point in excluding them? Did they get in the way of the 6 face buttons? I think they still could have included them. Weird. But for what it is it's simply ok. I needed a basic game pad anyway.

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coming from a noob in fighter games and no much space for fight stick

all i can say this is a must buy for any fighter fans, i can perform all the complexity of motion with ease of thumb move

u can even play using a piano style grip one hand holding the the pad with the mini circle and other hand press buttons

also highly quality buttons,very very comfortable grip u can can play for hours without thumb sore

the microswitch is brilliant add i can depend on the sound of the switches to know if i perform the motion right ore not!

its wired with enough usb cable means no lag at all .

my only complain is the dashing the circular d-pad should be a little bigger but i'm sure i can get over it that with little practice

buy now:)

i forgot to say it comes with 2 years limited warranty

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I recently bought this, and it's not a bad pad. It works well with games that use a d-pad for movement and fighting games like Mortal Kombat. I have no problems using the little nub, and I can still execute fatalities with no problems at all. I wish it was bigger, though. The left side has the longer handle, though there isn't too much of a grip on the right side, which does cause some small cramps. Also, the START and SELECT buttons are placed next to the R2 buttons. I know the reason behind it, but it is hard to reach, but due to the size, I wonder if there is an off chance of being too much into a game and accidentally pressing the button, in addition to the size. I don't even have big hands, either. But most of all, even though I have no problems using the nub, I do notice a squeaking noise when I move it left. This makes me question the quality of the controller, and it makes me unsure if my $15, which was what I bought it for, will go far, even to the release of Injustice. My recommendation of this controller will depend on hand size, mostly. If you have small hands and want something cheap, then go for it. But if not, well shopping for a fighting pad is like fishing, just keep on fishing, and you'll soon get a good one. (And hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about.)