This thread, I suppose in a way goes out to all PC players,
or even console players that have tested different console controllers with trials games through the years,
Or those whom own a ChronusMax and can use any controller on any platform.
Let me begin by saying in the past week I have gone through 5 controllers, which is not a good thing because in less then 2 weeks I have to play trials in front of a large internet audience in america. I think for the most part Im going to have to keep ordering a new 360 controller until one comes that isn't already broken.
I ordered a 360 controller last week (new) and it came with both sticks having left drift, when letting go of the analog it stays partially left.
In Trials this offcourse is causing my character to pull up in the air.
Back to the topic, I am going to go through all the controllers I have used thus far and give my opinions on them, and at the end of each controller thought I will list my opinion of the best and worst features of the controller specifically for use with trials games with a *
Xbox 360 Controller
I still think this is the best all round controller for trials,
even though the analog sticks have a little dead zone on them, I must of been through about 11 of these in the last 2 years.
The triggers on this controller are perfect for trials in my opinion, they have what i like to call a heavy cushion on the triggers.
So when you push them in there is resistance, for me this is pefect for ninja tracks for example (Wall climbs). As I find it very easy with this controller to do gradual changes in throttle control. The Dpad isn't great but not many use it. The one thing I found with this controller is the analog sticks seems to deteriorate over time which may explain why I've been through a lot of them.
*Best triggers
*Decent analog sticks
Xbox one controller
This controller has undergone a dramatic change I think from the 360 controller. The resistance has been removed from the triggers and the controller is trigger happy. Something I think is great for FPS like call of duty but for trials I'm not a fan of removing the resistance in the triggers. It makes throttle control a lot harder. I'm sure those of you who are light handed can manage with the controller perhaps? - For me I'm quite heavy handed with controllers and I think its much harder to apply throttle control in trials.
Now the one thing I think great about this controller is the analog sticks, they have a great accuracy, reduced dead zones from the 360 version and although they are smaller which some may not like It helps with fingers never slipping off them with the added side grip to supplement this. Also the Dpad is significantly improved. I also think the buttons press in easier, not by much but its noticeable.
*Great analog stick
*Questionable triggers
Razer Onza Gaming controller TE
This controller was gifted to me, At first I thought I was on to a winner. But with this controller it would seem that the triggers although having a little resistence seem to apply alot of % to the throttle in comparison to how much you push the trigger in. This makes it very tough to judge the amount of throttle force you want. Ultimately this is what caused me to scrap using this controller.
The great features of this controller on the other hand are that is has no dead zones in the analog stick. And I mean 0%. Any small movement moves the shaft of the analog stick. This feature is amazing for trials and I was dissapointed that the triggers let me down otherwise I would of got a lot of use from this controller.
This controller has the fastest buttons on any controller iv'e used the are flush with the shell of the controller and use a different type of button. mechanical switches or something. The ninja "fap" with x is the fastest on this controller, It is lightning.
*Bad triggers
*Crazy precise analogs
*Lightning quick buttons
Razer Sabertooth
I bought this controller 4 days ago at a steep price tag of £70. I expected greatness with that price tag, £50 more then what a normal 360 controller costs.
The controller feels great, the triggers have resistance like the 360 pad and are the closest to mimicking that resistance. Its almost the same, and by almost I mean the only difference is how far the trigger goes in being slightly shorter but this can be adjusted to and the resistance feel is the same. I haven't fully tried this controller on like wall climbs but im sure I will.
As it stand i'm not sure if my razer sabertooth is faulty. Other people i have spoke to have this controller, and say the dead zones I have aren't there on their controller. So It may be that I have to send it back. For this reason I can't really comment on the analogs. I made a video about it:
Like the onza the triggers are lightning, though slightly raised and not flush with the shell they use the same buttons and are crazy fast, I only find that sometimes the click doesn't register when pressing them allot really fast, maybe this is because they are longer buttons then the onza. Either way this happens rarely and for the most part the buttons function the same.
Good Triggers*
Great Buttons*
I haven't reviewed any playstation controllers, but if you have had experience with the 360 controller. Feel free to compare the PS controllers. For me I couldn't see myself trying them because the analog sticks are lower down in the shell and would be strange to get used to. I also have heard that the PS4 controllers triggers also have no resistance.
Feel free to review any other controller you have used for trials. Mention resistance or no resistance in triggers, talk about the analogs and/or dead zones etc, give us a picture and feel of the controller in the review.
Also feel free to mention what you think I should do for the time being, baring in mind I have a Gaming marathon for charity to attend in 2 weeks and play fusion live at, Perhaps for the time being it's best I just send back my faulty 360 pad with left drift and just order another one?
Blaze
Hey Blaze. Thanks for the very detailed writeup. I hope you find a good controller, but I also think looking for something that's absolutely perfect might drive you a little nutsIt sounds like you're quite happy with the 360 controller if you could just find one that isn't busted. One thought I had is maybe trying a controller properties editing program? I found this, but haven't tried it myself. Might help with the stick deadzone.
Personally, I've used Playstation controllers forever. I probably wouldn't recommend switching to one, but I'll offer a writeup just to contribute to the thread.
Dualshock 3
I used a DS3 to play Evo Gold, and while it's not perfect, it served to learn the game and get all the platinum medals so it's certainly serviceable. The first difference from a 360 controller is stick placement. Mostly a matter of familiarity, might throw you off if you are used to XBox placement. Sticks are very loose as well. Probably too loose for most people, but can still be used perfectly accurately if you have a delicate touch. The convex tops are not good for long-term play. Triggers are not great. I personally like the feel of pushing them, but again, the convex shape leads to fingers slipping.
Dualshock 4
Now THIS is a controller. I got one of these as soon as they went on sale, before I was even planning to get a PS4 and I think it's a big step up from the DS3. Sticks have better resistance to them and are roughly the same height as the 360 sticks, whereas the DS3 had taller sticks. The tops have a convex top with a rim around the side. Seems a little weird they didn't just make them concave, but I think they do the job. The triggers are very good I think. They have good feel, travel distance, and ergonomics. For my money they are better than the 360 triggers because my fingers rest more comfortably in the "sweet spot". On a 360 pad the triggers are so tall that I feel like I have trouble putting my fingers in the right position. I wind up resting my fingers on the bottom corner so that I have a tactile reference point and so that I have the most travel distance to give the best control, but it's not very comfortable. On the DS4 the triggers are broader and are nicely curved right where your finger should rest. Also, the overall ergonomics of the DS4 are very nice. On a 360 pad I don't really like how my fingers push up against the bottom of the pad. On the DS4 your fingers comfortably wrap around the handles without feeling cramped.
To your point about the resistance of the triggers, I held a DS4 in one hand and a 360 pad in the other and the DS4 triggers may have slightly less resistance, but I certainly didn't find it very noticeable. They also seemed to have similar travel distance.
Anyway, that's my perspective. I certainly don't mean this to start a platform war, just wanted to offer a positive perspective on an alternative controller![]()
really good info... somewhat disturbing news tho, the 360 controller is absolutely great imo,Originally Posted by The_Blaze_Jp Go to original post
and i was expecting the same from xbone.
Oh! Also, going into the editor and looking at the trigger and stick values is a great way to analyze the differences with controllers. I had an off brand controller that also had great tension in the triggers, but the input values were horrible. 50% of its input range was in 10% of its range of motion. I returned that sucker IMMEDIATELY. 360 has fantastic ly smooth triggers.
Personally I think that as long as the anolog isn't all lose and annoying then any controller is the same. As the game is programmed to basically go left, right, gas, brake etc. Having different controllers doesn't matter. And because you can touch all the buttons at once without having to take your finger off the button, having extra buttons under the controller or any other type of mod doesn't have any affect. At the end of the day I think that it's just about getting the controller that is not lose, you are comfortable with and you won't have any disadvantage.
Venomz my freind, I can tell you alot of people would disagree with this.Originally Posted by NSPIV Go to original post
You cant say any controller is the same, especially when talking about triggers. So many controllers have different trigger designs and levels of resistance.
You must be light handed when using your controllers if it doesn't make much difference to you.
I can tell you from personal experience the resistance levels in the 360 triggers compared to the X1 are very different.
For people who arent ultra light handed like me, It causes the simplest bunny hop to turn into a slide backwards because in the game and the amount of throttle being exerted thats the difference in relative position between the two controllers by the same pressure being applied to the trigger.
Personally, I prefer the Xbox one controller. At first, I didn't like - probably because I got used to the 360 controller after a few years! But after a few days of just playing trials on the Xbox one, when I went back to the 360, that controller didn't feel as precise. Now that I'm used to both, I prefer the Xbox one controller by miles! It just feel more precise on the throttle and brakes. I don't care about the trigger vibration, and the left stick feels the same on both controllers, it's just the throttle and brakes that I prefer.