Microsoft Announces New Xbox Controller

[Typhoid]

I'd assume the system has to be on when you're charging the controller. Much like your phone has to be on to have its battery charged. I don't know for sure, because I just charge it while the systems on. But it only makes sense.

And I can't say much for 10 years of PS controller-ship, but the controller I got with my system 3+ years ago still works perfectly, and holds it's charge ridiculously long.

[gekko]

I only ask because on Xbox if you have the play-and-charge kit connected and you shut down the system (at least via the controller), the system enters a low-power mode where it will continue to provide power to the USB ports until the controller finished charging, and then shuts off completely. They also support continuing downloads after you shutdown these days too.

Just a nice way to have your wireless controller fully charged for next time you play.

[Typhoid]

Both systems get the job done. I don't really see where the weak debate we're having lies.

[gekko]

I'm not trying to debate you, other than pointing out the possible long-term side-effects of built-in batteries. I absolutely hate the PS3 controller, but it has nothing to do with batteries.

I'm actually just curious how PS3 worked, because I've never really used one.

[manasecret]

The PS3 controller does not charge when the PS3 is off. I think this is a stupid oversight, but nonetheless hasn't affected my gaming much.

The other stupid oversight is that the USB cord to charge the controller is I think like 3 feet long. So when I'm gaming and relaxing back on my couch playing on an HDTV about ten feet away, and the controller buzzes warning me it's almost out of juice, I have to pull up a chair up close to the TV and be chained to the PS3 3 feet away. To be fair, it's just an annoyance, and obviously not that big of one, otherwise I'd just go buy a longer cable...

[TheGame]

To Gekko,

Yeah, the Ps3 controller lasts pretty darn long without a charge. I usually don't ever turn the system off too, unless I'm going out of town or something.

I remember when I used my mini USB for my phone and ended up losing it for a while... I played my system just as much as normal and the controler lasted almost 2 weeks. But it never even died... That's just when I got the USB charger back.

For a controler that has force feedback and motion controls, it's pretty damn power efficient. (If the system is in the stand-by/screen saver mode where the light dims, I just have to pick up the controler and everything lights back up because of the motion feedback)

I've yet to meet someone with a faulty Ps3 controler battery too. I think down the line it may be a problem, but by Ps5 they're likely going to have Ps3 backward compatibility anyway... if there's not already some new downloadable media store like the Wii/Ps3 has.

[Typhoid]

The other stupid oversight is that the USB cord to charge the controller is I think like 3 feet long.

Well, it's just a normal USB cable, is why. You can use any USB cable in your PS3. My friend charged his phone via my PS3 the other night. I've charged my PS3 controller on my computer before. Circle of life.

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

Well, it's just a normal USB cable, is why. You can use any USB cable in your PS3. My friend charged his phone via my PS3 the other night. I've charged my PS3 controller on my computer before. Circle of life.

Well, duh, way to repeat what I just said. It still doesn't mean it wasn't a stupid choice (read: cheap choice) to include a ridiculously short 3 ft cord for the controller. Especially since it doesn't charge unless the console is on, so it's not like it's just a short charge cable, it's a short playing cable. And there's no such thing as a "normal" length USB cord -- it was just a cheap decision.

But I can't imagine you admitting anything Sony did with the PS3 was dumb in any way...

[Vampyr]

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

15' USB for less than $2.

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by Vampyr

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

15' USB for less than $2.

For posterity's sake and anyone looking at this thread, that's the wrong one. You'd actually want this one with a mini-B end --

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...t=1#largeimage

Or a more versatile solution, a regular USB cable extender --

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

(Which reminds me, I already have one of these extensions -- thanks for bringing up the link since it helped remind me!)

But the $2 price tag is just my point. It would cost Sony a few cents extra wholesale to include a 15 foot cable (or just anything > 3 ft), and yet they didn't. That's cheap.

But also as I said initially, it's not like this is a huge deal. If I were that annoyed I would have just bought another cable already. It's just a dumb decision while on the topic of the PS3 controllers.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by manasecret

Well, duh, way to repeat what I just said. It still doesn't mean it wasn't a stupid choice (read: cheap choice) to include a ridiculously short 3 ft cord for the controller. Especially since it doesn't charge unless the console is on, so it's not like it's just a short charge cable, it's a short playing cable. And there's no such thing as a "normal" length USB cord -- it was just a cheap decision.

But I can't imagine you admitting anything Sony did with the PS3 was dumb in any way...

Uh... They made it wireless with a ridiculously long battery life. I think that kinda defeats the idea that the cord is too short. You're kinda digging deep here to find something wrong with the controler. lol

But I guess for you the glass is half empty and for Typhoid it's half full.

The way I see it, if they gave me an 8 foot USB that I only use when the controller is charging, that'd actually be MORE of a problem. Since the controller is sitting right by the system every time it's charging. Now I'd have this massive wire that I have to wrap around the controler for no reason.

[manasecret]

Originally Posted by TheGame

Uh... They made it wireless with a ridiculously long battery life. I think that kinda defeats the idea that the cord is too short. You're kinda digging deep here to find something wrong with the controler. lol

But I guess for you the glass is half empty and for Typhoid it's half full.

The way I see it, if they gave me an 8 foot USB that I only use when the controller is charging, that'd actually be MORE of a problem. Since the controller is sitting right by the system every time it's charging. Now I'd have this massive wire that I have to wrap around the controler for no reason.

Why is it so hard to admit that including a 3 ft wire was a cheap decision? And like I'll repeat for the 3rd time now, it's not like it's a huge deal, but it was a cheap decision.

And the only reason it works for you is because you apparently keep the PS3 on at all times and so your controller is always charged. I don't leave it on. I think it's waste of energy. And so my controller isn't always charged, and I sometimes have to charge it mid-game and sit up close to the TV. That's not digging deep for something wrong, that's a fair criticism of the system as it comes. And thus this ties back into the stupid decision to not let the controller continue to charge while the PS3 is off.

Again, these obviously aren't humongous deal breakers. I'm not returning my PS3 because of it. But I have a hard time figuring out why it's so hard to admit that these are dumb decisions. I'm not arguing that the 360 controller is SO much better, or that the Wiimote is the best ever. I'm just talking about the PS3 controller and its small issues. That's it. Apparently you guys feel the need to come to the PS3's rescue and defend it from any criticism.

[The Duggler]

I predict some big changes for the controller of the PS4. Keeping that 10 year old design is retarded.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by manasecret

Why is it so hard to admit that including a 3 ft wire was a cheap decision? And like I'll repeat for the 3rd time now, it's not like it's a huge deal, but it was a cheap decision.

And the only reason it works for you is because you apparently keep the PS3 on at all times and so your controller is always charged. I don't leave it on. I think it's waste of energy. And so my controller isn't always charged, and I sometimes have to charge it mid-game and sit up close to the TV. That's not digging deep for something wrong, that's a fair criticism of the system as it comes. And thus this ties back into the stupid decision to not let the controller continue to charge while the PS3 is off.

Again, these obviously aren't humongous deal breakers. I'm not returning my PS3 because of it. But I have a hard time figuring out why it's so hard to admit that these are dumb decisions. I'm not arguing that the 360 controller is SO much better, or that the Wiimote is the best ever. I'm just talking about the PS3 controller and its small issues. That's it. Apparently you guys feel the need to come to the PS3's rescue and defend it from any criticism.

I don't really care enough to keep defending it. I've yet to have an issue with it, if you're not charging the controler 2 hours for every 20 hours you play, then I think that's a personal problem lol.

And Duggler, I hope they don't change it. The controler's design is simplistic and it works well imo. I don't think they should fix what isn't broken.

[Zach]

Ick, it looks ugly to me. Silver and chrome... ew.