Looking for a different style of controller

Baumhax

Junior Member
Jan 21, 2009
9
1
71
I absolutely HATE the controllers that consoles come with. They are very uncomfortable and my thumbs get sore after a few minutes of play. I would like to get a new PS4 but the not with the pain inducing controllers.

Anyone have any ideas or am I stuck with PC gaming?
 
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Nashemon

Senior member
Jun 14, 2012
889
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91
There are many 3rd party controllers available that are much less comfortable than the official ones that come with consoles. Have you ever used a controller you could tolerate? Have you only ever played with the original Xbox controller? What specifically causes you discomfort?

No offense, but I feel you aren't revealing something, like a rare skin condition, an allergy to rubber, or carpal tunnel or arthritis. Most controllers are fine for millions of players. What makes you different?
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
If it's just your thumbs you can search on Amazon or anywhere else, they have stick covers that changed the feel of them.
 

Baumhax

Junior Member
Jan 21, 2009
9
1
71
I have used controllers all the way from the original NES to the XboxOne and PS4. They all leave my thumbs in pain. Not just where my thumbs contact the controller but all the way down into my hand. I can use a keyboard and mouse all day and I do work with my hands quite a bit and nothing else cause this pain.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,546
6,371
126
The PS4 controller just flat out sucks for the most part. It's basically a controller that is 2 decades old with analog sticks tacked on in the only position available to put them just so they could compete with the N64 and put an analog stick on it. How they have hardly changed the design of the PSX controller in over 20 years is mind boggling to me.

The Switch Pro controller is probably the most comfortable controller out there, with the Xbox One being the 2nd.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
The PS4 controller just flat out sucks for the most part. It's basically a controller that is 2 decades old with analog sticks tacked on in the only position available to put them just so they could compete with the N64 and put an analog stick on it. How they have hardly changed the design of the PSX controller in over 20 years is mind boggling to me.

The Switch Pro controller is probably the most comfortable controller out there, with the Xbox One being the 2nd.

The Switch Pro Controller is currently the most comfortable first party controller but I just don't find the Xbox One controller all that comfortable. It comes down mainly to how the bumpers are placed. I loved the 360 controller, it was near perfect. But the new Xbox One controller is a downgrade to me from the 360. This generation I prefer the PS4 controller over the Xbox One.
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
I like the Xbox One Elite controller but mostly because of the extra weight to it. I don't know what to tell the OP, I guess if you feel that no controller is good for you then you're out of luck.
 

Baumhax

Junior Member
Jan 21, 2009
9
1
71
The last good controller I found was the Nintendo Advantage. Too bad it was several years after I had gotten rid of the NES.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,546
6,371
126
I am seeing pics of ones people have built but no guides. Any how to's out there?
There is a lot of information on shoryuken tech forums.

http://forums.shoryuken.com/categories/tech-talk

There really isn't much to it when you get down to it. It's just wiring up a PCB to some buttons.

I somewhat recently modified my old Xbox360/PS3 stick with a much easier and cleaner device called the Brooks Universal Fight board, and it works for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC. There is hope that it may work with switch too with a firmware upgrade but nothing yet.

Here's pics of my main one.

This was the wiring for PS3/360 before I gutted it.

59GsZFQ.jpg


And this is after installing the UFB, which actually requires no soldering if you don't want it to. It has terminals on the board too.

MwF02Np.jpg


b4AmZAk.jpg
 

cmdrdredd

Lifer
Dec 12, 2001
27,052
357
126
Problem with those controllers is no analog sticks or analog triggers. The joystick is more like a dpad.
 

XSoldier77X

Member
May 23, 2017
113
9
81
I absolutely HATE the controllers that consoles come with. They are very uncomfortable and my thumbs get sore after a few minutes of play. I would like to get a new PS4 but the not with the pain inducing controllers.

Anyone have any ideas or am I stuck with PC gaming?

you can get third party grips if the sticks are making your thumbs sore. similarly, the body has third party coverings as well. you're also thinking ps4, else i'd have sugested that $150 xbox controller which does seem pretty decent. but let's b real, if you're playing a shooter, you'll never get that mouse experience. the best one can get is comfort and there are plenty of accessories to help you achieve that. you can also look up third party controllers. there are quite a few out there, each with a unique design. also note that in case of fighters, you're better off with a stick. different games, different optimal devices