I loved the original. The DualShock 3 is a piece of junk. My hands get tired from holding down L2 and R2. It takes way too much effort to use and it slips our of your grasp all to often.

Try pressing down on the R2 button while only holding it with your right hand. It feels like its going to slide out of your hand.

Comfortable I think not.

On the other hand this thread is for the original. And that controller my friend was one to bow down to.

Happy Birthday

I had no idea what to do with those damn sticks the first time I picked one of these up. Now I don't know what I would do if I was relegated strictly to a D-pad

Best Controller ever! I even use it on the Xbox when Im forced too.

I still love that controller design, I find the 360 controller is a bit more comfortable in my hand, but for pure functionality you can't really beat the DualShock.

Happy birthday to you old friend :-D

Happy birthday to the best controller ever in gaming history. You've only gotten better and better over the years too.

@chrisgriner: I'm surprised you like the others over the DS3. When I use the original now, I think L2/R2 buttons suck compared to the new one.

I think its the ideal controller out of the choices we have. and I have large hands.
But this brings up a good point in my mind. Why are we forced to use ONE controller with a system
(Shut up Wii Im not talking to u)
Should a system not release several options with the same usability and let the consumer chose? I know I would love this. Think of the possibility's ppl Think.

I'm not a fan of the controller but i'm glad it was made as i'm sure without it the Xbox Controller S would not have been made. And then evolved into the 360 controller; The best controller ever.

@DaFox: You obviously don't play fighting games if you think the 360 controller is the best controller ever.

Mad props, homie.

Best.

Controller.

Ever.

The DualShock is a great controller, but my heart still belongs to the Sega Genesis six-button controller. That controller was perfect for fighting games.

The Dualshock WAS a great design for a game controller, but I love the 360 controller over every other. And I don't play fighting games. The main reason that Sony have stayed with this design is because it's so obviously easy to re-use due to it being adaptable and a good design. The only thing I don't like is the left analogue not being where the d-pad is and vice-versa.

I really don't understand all the rave about this one. I mean, its good and all, but not my favorite. Of all the previous gen controllers, I'd have to go with the gamecube, honestly, followed by PS2. Even then, it wouldn't be the dualshock. It would be the wireless Logitech controller. The only thing I think the dualshock did better than any other controller is the d-pad. That's it.

I like almost everything about the 360 controller except, and this is a big except, the darn d-pad!!! i've not ever seen an equal of sh1ttyness...

My favorite controller last gen was the Dual Shock 2. Near Perfection.

Current gen must go to 360 Controller. Great triggers, not too soft, not too hard on the springs, just enough range unlike the S model/Fatty/Dreamcast.

The DS3 would have been the best had they made the L2/R2 triggers concave (like 360 triggers) instead of convex (stupid slippage). Can't someone re-make the L2 & R2 buttons to curve the other way? Replacement buttons would be awesome.

I'd just like to take this moment to say that in my opinion, Logitech makes the best D-pads in the industry.

Their line of DualShock imitators for the PC are fantastic, and in many ways rival the real thing IMO.

Just my 2 cents ;-)

@psycoking: very true.

comes from the SNES design, but it works. mad love for the dualshock.

@TheDoomer:

i have to disagree. the snes controller's d-pad was absolute gold.

if we could combine the snes controller and the dualshock controller we'd have gold. GOLD I TELL YA!!!!

Congrats to the best controller of all time (and the DS3 is fantastic). For 10 more ...
Happy Birthday old friend!

@exstrat: I don't, this is coming from a guy that NEVER uses the D-pad. Which I do understand is a known flaw of the controller. Im sure if 95%+ of games used the D-Pad primarily rather than the analog stick I would prefer the Dual Shock. But the fact that the X360 controller has the D-Pad and Left analog stick swapped around makes it WAY more enjoyable.

Dual Shock 1 is still my favorite. Analog face buttons are for chumps.

@chrisgriner: For some reason, I was only thinking of controllers of this and last gen. But now looking back at the previous posts, I'm going to have to disagree with myself. Genesis' d-pad has to be my favorite of all time.

@DaFox: You just proved my point. You never use the D-pad meaning you probably don't even know how to say for instance call an air strike in Call of Duty. Having a flaw in a controller automatically makes it NOT the best controller ever.

Can't be the best controller ever with that piece of shit d-pad. Still, a decent controller. Shame it hasn't evolved in 10 years.

Best. Controller. Ever.

Simplicity > Innovation

Excellent controller.

@DaFox: Yup. I liked the GameCube controller over the Dualshock because of the analog stick placement.

For that same reason I may buy a Classic Controller to enjoy Earthbound...

@exstrat: I dont use the D-Pad and I play fighting games all the time. With the DualShock I would always use the D-pad due to its location and the right thumb analog. Love the controller but I have to agree, the 360 controller just feels much better with those two being swapped out. Theres nothing the D-Pad gives me that the analog doesnt. Besides calling in Airstrikes and Heli's.

@R3load: Well, not swapped out, but swapped in position rather.

@TheDoomer: The Genesis D-pad was the greatest. No one has made a decent 8-way d-pad since then, and believe me, I looked for a good 8-way controller for a while before giving up.

While the dualshock is a nice controller, I really wish they would change the d-pad. I hate how its seperate buttons instead of a cross. Having them seperated makes it harder to slide across them and makes my thumbs sore when if I use it for a long period of time.

DS1 FTW!

best controller nest to the Classical SNES Pad.

I can't believe people are satisfied with a 10 year old design. Every time I pick up my PS3 controller, I get depressed. Why the hell is the analog stick still not in the main position?

@R3load: I don't think theres a single good SF player in the world that would ever consider using a thumb stick over a dpad or joystick. If you don't realize this you must not be very good at fighting games.

Please take your dualshock hating somewhere else like 360fanboy.com. This post is to celebrate the dualshocks 10 year anniversary not to proclaim it to be the best controller or anything. Its obvious your just fanboying here by proclaiming the 360 the best controller ever and hating on the dual shock.

I would rather use the dual shock in a fighter. Don't like the 360 d-pad. That Said, I really like the DS3 too. The R2 and L2 buttons never slip out of my fingers so Im guess you nerds need to lay off the doritos before playing.

@WingZero987: Main position? WTF are you talking about? the Dualshock is the best controller ever. I can't stand MS's controllers they're only built for FPSs. anyone remember "The Duke"?

@exstrat:

Calm down, man. He's just stating a reasonable opinion. No need to get worked up about it.

@psycoking: If you're looking last gen, you might check the Nuby SFII controllers. They were basicaly JPN Saturn clones and were the best PS2 d-pads I'd found.

And I agree about the separate buttons. The Dual Shock has busted diagonals on the d-pad due to the layout and it's always bugged me.

Oh, and I can't think of a single thing I liked about the Gamecube controller (talk about an unuseable d-pad. Could they have made it any smaller?) but I may be the only person in the world who liked the N64 one. It was funky, but it worked wondeerfully for Goldeneye and many others.

@exstrat: Remember the rules of the...nevermind.

@Captain Wrong: it may have been large, unusual and clunky, but it was awesome whenever I played Goldeneye. man those were the days.

Happy Birthday DualShock! I fondly remember the weekend I bought the PS1. I instantly fell in love with the controller and proceeded to wear it out playing Battle Arena, Duke Nukem 3D and NFL Gameday all weekend.

@exstrat: Jeez man. Thank you for name calling because I did not agree with you, didn't know you were so emotional about it.

I don't think theres a single good SF player in the world that would ever consider using a thumb stick over a dpad or joystick. If you don't realize this you must not be very good at fighting games.

Thats cool. My opinions are not made for me because Street Fighter fans say otherwise. I still, however, don't know what that has to do with my dislike of the D-Pads placement. Better yet, its not the D-Pad, its the analog. Both my thumbs feel funny right next to each other. The D-Pad is fine where it is, its the analog thats in the spot I feel is uncomfortable, hence why I said I always used the D-Pad, but I like the analog better.

Please take your dualshock hating somewhere else like 360fanboy.com.

Thats cool too, I dont mind being called a fanboy. My friends at work call me a PC addict since I log in twice as many DoTA hours than any of my current consoles, so I guess theyre calling me a fanboy also, its pretty cool. You assume I dislike the Dualshock.That makes an Ass out of u and me.

This post is to celebrate the dualshocks 10 year anniversary not to proclaim it to be the best controller or anything.

Well then why are your comments directed at telling us we are clueless on how good the controller is instead of congratulating Sony on an excellent controller?

Funny how ten years go by and all we get is motion sensors and different trigger buttons. Woo!

Happy birthday, bb! I miss you! ;-;

"After all, how many control pad designs make it to their second hardware generation, let alone - albeit belatedly - a third?"

I'll tell ya. Ones run by lazyass companies like Sony. Sorry that was too easy. I guess many will say if it ain't broke. Why fix it? Well I still think they should make it a tad larger. It still feels like it's for kids hands

I remember picking up the original Dual Shock. I bought it for one reason and one reason only: the original Gran Turismo.

This is the controller human hands were built for.

*Taken from a Digg comment:

It was the first controller to have built in rumble, 2 analog sticks, and depressible analog sticks.
Playstations controller was also the first to have elongated handles and quad-shoulder buttons

Last I checked, that fit the definition of innovation.

Happy birthday to a classic.

I remember getting the Dual Shock for the first time and trying it out, wondering "how do TWO analogs work together?!." Now I can't even imagine not having two.

I blame my childishness and my addiction to the N64.

10 years strong.

And yes, I too miss the N64 controller. It would have been great had those 2 designs stuck around (imagine a Wii-mote with 3 legs!)

I wish the DS3 was as light as the Sixaxis though...guess you can't have it all :)

I personally hated the Cube and 360 controllers

Cube has the smallest dpad ever, the analog stick is horrible. It should not have used the same n64 concentric circle design that caused all those blisters with mario party. And they should have been depressible. The c-stick should have been the same what I wanted for the other stick. There should have been a Z button equivalent for the left side. The bean buttons were retarded, they should have been the standard SNES-diamond arrangement. Bring back select.

The 360s dpad is the worst of any controller ever made. The handles are too wide on the inside where they join the controller. The triggers are too thin, they put too much pressure on a smaller area of your finger giving Crazy Taxi finger/Gears of Sore with prolonged use.

When I hold my hand in a neutral position, my index finger falls on the dual shocks analog stick. I don't know why people want it switched with the dpad, it's not ergonomic.

Yes yes you have said it...dual shock 3 not comfortable. Play mgo and try slipping into the box and it doesnt happen at all. But for the most part the vibration is better and