To put it simply, I guess I'd tentatively rate the controllers of this generation: 1) Playstation 2, 2) Xbox, 3) Gamecube


I tend to prefer controllers that are built based on the NES's (and SNES's) template, which is why I like the PS2's the best. The biggest problem I have with it is the screw hole issue I've complained about before (which is probably remediable).

I was thinking that the Xbox and Gamecube seem designed to not give access to all buttons simultaneously, and that that isn't true for the PS2. But it sort of is, to a lesser degree. I do generally reconfigure games' controls so I don't have to use the left shoulder buttons so much (For instance, for R-Type Delta, I put the speed controls on the right shoulder button. I also had to change the controls for Shinobi to make them comfortable, but I don't remember exactly how) But that too is remediable, especially since few games use *every* single button on the PS2 controller.


I guess the Xbox controller is really more based on the Dreamcast's controller, but it's still close enough to what I'm used to. I can't imagine easily reaching the black and white buttons (that are on the lower right) during a game, but most games don't seem to make that necessary. Likewise, the start and select buttons are slightly awkwardly placed. I'm not sure if my thumb problem will be a continuing issue with the xbox controller or not (I haven't played a heck of a lot of Xbox action games). I know that after playing a few hours of Mars Matrix, my left hand would cramp badly, and I blame that on the controller. Since the two controllers are similar, I wouldn't be surprised if it was an issue.


I don't think the game cube's controller is designed to give easy access to more than two face buttons at the same time. The button cross is just too bizarre and awkward, and I have no idea why they designed it that way. One thing I was thinking about after reading your question was how many Gamecube games don't *need* very many buttons -- Super Monkey Ball doesn't need buttons at all, most of the time in Wind Waker you'll just use the sword button, in Eternal Darkness the extra buttons are just for spell shortcuts and aren't really needed, etc. My guess is that the designers of these games were aware of the controller's problem and thus consciously avoided using many buttons. (And the z button is really awkwardly placed, and it's even easy to forget it's there)

There was one situation where I directly compared the Xbox and Gamecube controllers: I had bought Timesplitters 2 for Gamecube because that version was the cheapest (maybe only $10). I tried it a bit and didn't like the control much. The Xbox version was cheap, too, so I just figure "what the heck" and got that also. After playing that version, though, I think I decided that the issue was really just that I had to get used to the control for the game (it's not exactly like any other FPS game I've played, IIRC, but is sort of like a cross between Halo and Goldeneye [it's kind of like Goldeneye if you could move and aim independently]) (also, the targeting controls are very sensitive).


So, even though I might like some controllers more than others, I do think most can be gotten used to.

"Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood."
-Orwell