PS3 and Xbox 360 Controllers and their Design

A lot of design time and effort goes into a controllers development. If you actually look at the controllers, the look weird don’t they? That’s because they are designed to perfectly match the user, from playing style to ergonomic needs. For example you write with a pen for 30 minutes, your hand gets tired, you play on your PlayStation or Xbox for 30 minutes, you don’t even feel tired.







There is one main difference between the PS3 and Xbox 360 controllers and the Wii Controller, And that is the PlayStation and Xbox controller is designed to be played with both hands, while the Wii remote is designed to be played with one. This is because Nintendo intended to revolutionise console gaming by making it more active and simulate sports like tennis and golf. This is what has made the Wii a massive success in family entertainment. I’m going to focus on the PS3 and Xbox controller.











The Ergonomics behind the Xbox’s Controller







Back in the day, when the original Xbox was in its user testing phase, the original controller got a lot of stick. Shortly after release, it was soon obviously a new controller was needed. Therefore Microsoft took up the task of redesigning the controller, this time with ergonomics in mind. They came up with the smaller designed controller similar to the one we see today.







By the time the Xbox 360 was released the controller was practically perfect. Gamers utilizing first person shooter games thought it was perfect for their needs. So aside from a few tweaks here and there, the controller was kept and released with the Xbox 360. Thus this is how Microsoft became aware that ergonomics were important and needed to be recognised.







The Ergonomics behind the PS3 Controller







It seems that Sony got it right first time with the PS3 Controller; they have stuck with the same design since the original PlayStation was released. The PlayStation controller has impressed gamers globally due to its comfort and durability. So aside from the addition of a colour change and vibration being added, The controller has stayed the same for years.







The controller is designed to be easily gripped using its two handle’s and every button can be comfortably reached by only using a thumb and a finger on each hand. In terms of comfort, that is ideal. Sony got it right the first time with the controller, prompting people to think maybe they took ergonomics into consideration with the controllers original design.