Nyko counts down to Zero pads

Aluminum-paneled wireless controller for PS2 set for release next month; Xbox 360, PS3, and PC versions to follow.

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Third-party peripheral manufacturer Nyko today unveiled Zero, its new line of wireless controllers for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PC. Each version of the controllers will feature 2.4GHz wireless functionality, a rechargeable battery, and a USB charging cable.

For those who enjoy some form with their function, the controllers will also feature heat-dissipating aluminum panels (perhaps for those who fondly remember the company's AirFlo line of controllers with built-in fans), backlit face buttons, and three different color schemes. The PS2 pad is pictured above in black, silver, and white variations.

Xbox 360 gamers may have noticed a lack of third-party wireless controllers since the system's launch nearly a year ago, but this news doesn't necessarily mean that's going to change. A Nyko representative told GameSpot that the company is in discussions with Microsoft to license the pads on its systems but that they are unlicensed at the moment. The PS2 and PS3 Zero pads are also unlicensed for now.

The PlayStation 2 Zero pad will retail for $49.99 when it ships in early November, with the other versions of the pad coming "in the following months."

66 Comments

  • ck02623

    Posted Apr 3, 2008 8:45 pm PT

    This controller is freaking terrible.

  • Quex13

    Posted Apr 8, 2007 3:41 pm PT

    Agreeing with Thebill,

    The 360 controller is too perfect to use anything else.

    I went back to playing Xbox for a while, and the controller felt like a brick. So...big...I never complained about its size until now.

  • DoctorFu

    Posted Apr 3, 2007 10:50 pm PT

    I don't know, it looks really cheap and light. If it turns out to have a good feel and is heavier than it looks then we'll see..

  • KingSigy

    Posted Apr 3, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    Why not just keep the game pad that came with your 360? Or, better yet, If your friends can't help you pay for extra controllers, they don't deserve to be playing with you.

  • enzo268758

    Posted Dec 22, 2006 7:41 pm PT

    I have it, its really good and its not big

  • skylinerules

    Posted Nov 16, 2006 1:05 am PT

    we'll see when it finally comes out

  • _Sam_

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 10:21 am PT

    I wish it was cheaper

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Oct 20, 2006 7:32 am PT

    Looks quite good...

  • thebill1979

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 11:49 am PT

    While I love and still use my MadCatz Gamecube controller, I find my 360 controller to be too perfect and comfortable for my hands to replace it with anything else.

  • mr_ackman

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 11:27 am PT

    huge and looks heavy

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 11:12 am PT

    Sounds cool but that looks ugly

  • yugimasa9999

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 10:01 am PT

    where would the sweat from my palms go?

  • AnubanUT2

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 9:54 am PT

    Yuk. I just looked at all the pics and also just noticed the odd design of the 360 controller. Nope for me.

  • Brutalus7

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 9:24 am PT

    why exactly is this a big deal? it's just a third party controller. They're all over the place, so what?

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 8:29 am PT

    looks good, but will it feeeeel good?

  • ftjx

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 8:07 am PT

    aluminium! sounds very nice!

  • Ohidjwae

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 7:26 am PT

    I think it would confuse my hands to use a PS2 controller that looks (and feels) like an xbox controller. I actually don't think the all black one is that ugly though, but the analog sticks appear to be too close together to be comfortable.

    And I assume that the PS3 controller will be Bluetooth (not 2.4 GHz)?

  • Mr_Bastille

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 7:03 am PT

    gonz87
    is it even possible for third parties to make ps3 controllers with tilt AND rumble? would the code for "getting shot = rumble" have to be embedded on the game disc or could nyko, logitech, etc find some way to do it externally? no matter the clunkiness, if they manage to include both one day, im all for it.

    The code has to be in the game. Basically, the only electrical components in a controller is the circuitry to read the buttons being pressed, the joysticks being moved, and transmit that data to the game.

  • oldschoolplayer

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 6:59 am PT

    Waste of money for PS2 version. You can buy five 2.4 GZ controllers at Circuit City (Dream Gear) for the price of one of these(when on sale). These will flop and the price will drop to $20 bucks in just a matter of months.

  • keldog

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 6:08 am PT

    Looks cheap.

  • gonz87

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 5:13 am PT

    is it even possible for third parties to make ps3 controllers with tilt AND rumble? would the code for "getting shot = rumble" have to be embedded on the game disc or could nyko, logitech, etc find some way to do it externally? no matter the clunkiness, if they manage to include both one day, im all for it.

  • kingkongjay

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 5:09 am PT

    3rd party controllers will forever be garbage in my opinion. Buy original or don't buy at all.

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 1:33 am PT

    I think it's not a good idea to even consider buying a 3rd party controller for either x360 and ps3 right now. Since the controller for both systems are wireless, there should be 3rd party UNIVERSAL controllers by next year.

  • kai_311

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 11:13 pm PT

    Since the controller is copying the x360 design they should atleast switch the places for the right analog to where the D pad is. Then i might consider getting this for my ps2 so i can replace the original controller.

  • Pacemen2

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 10:43 pm PT

    the intec micro xbox controller was the best ive ever played with

  • paranoiasurviva

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 10:37 pm PT

    I hate 3rd party controllers

  • Ne0zEEd

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 10:00 pm PT

    Ok it's safe to say that not more than 5 of the people who posted before me are buying this thing..I think i'll join those in majority for this one..

  • 0rin

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:45 pm PT

    I would almost be willing to give that controller a go if it weren't for that hideous D pad. I despise the round style D pads. They are too clunky for me. I prefer the playstation style of D pad, where the buttons are separated. Granted that style isn't the best for fighting games (where you have to often go diagonal with them), but for everything else, its much nicer. In my opinion anyway.

    Either way, its nice to see someone pioneering for a different controller style. Even though I must admit, It does resemble the 360 controller. Which isn't a bad thing, but the 360's controllers were just a tad too big for my liking. oddly enough, they were still pretty comfortable though. But IMO (i repeat) IN MY OPINION, the Playstation style of controllers fits my hands a lot better. So I would like to see a smaller style third-party controller.

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:22 pm PT

    Those have to be some of the ugliest controllers I have ever seen in my entire life. And sjustememe, nice try with the flame bait. We know...SoNy RuLz...right? sigh...

  • sjustememe

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:14 pm PT

    darthvaderNDS i was obviouly kindding. that look uncomfortable as hell.

  • LuminosityBlaze

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 8:32 pm PT

    I don't like it... Why dies the PS2 controller suddenly look like the ORIGINAL (Not S) X-Box controller? I hate 3rd party accessories with the exception of a few good products that come along now and again... I also don;t know if I trust a 3rd party to make PS3 controllers because of all the new features, more things to possibly mess up. Not that Nyko is a bad company in particular, but I will be sticking to my Sony controller(s), and my Microsoft XB360 controller for my PC...

  • DarthVaderNDS

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 8:28 pm PT

    "sjustememe
    THAT THING IS UGLY BUT STILL LOOK 10X BETTER THAN THE 360 CONTROLLER"
    Dude the thing looks like a tank compared to the 360 one.
    I hate third party controllers anyhow.

  • Tahsin

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 8:22 pm PT

    it might look ugly but i doubt it will be unconfortable. manufacturer won't just make "messed up" looking controller just for the heck of it, there abviously a reason behind the "deformed" looking controller, execpt for not making it look a bit more sleek which i believe they could have done.

  • sjustememe

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 8:19 pm PT

    THAT THING IS UGLY BUT STILL LOOK 10X BETTER THAN THE 360 CONTROLLER

  • Arvishes

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 8:07 pm PT

    It is ugly and cold to your hands and it will hurt playing with this kontroller..

  • Pablo620

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:54 pm PT

    Can you say BuFFugly. Can you spell it?

  • s3lFc0nTr0l

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:41 pm PT

    ALUMINUMN FTW!!!!!!!

  • legend133

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:26 pm PT

    kinda bulky imo

  • AnubanUT2

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:24 pm PT

    Damn I just wish MS would let 3rd party devs bring some really cool WIRELESS controllers to market. I mean I know they need to recoup the money they are losing on each console someplace but damn ... controllers. I really want one with backlit buttons ... that's all I need ... nothing else. Like the ones Team X-tender has but of course those void your warranty if you mod your controller.

  • linksdeity

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:18 pm PT

    Nyko AirFlo controllers remain as one the greatest PC controllers to date.

  • sainraja

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:17 pm PT

    Why can't third parties never get the design of the controller right? Every third-party controller I have seen is UGLY and not to mention uncomfortable.

  • MyBrainIsStew

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:15 pm PT

    looks kinda bulky

  • demonik_360

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 7:13 pm PT

    sounds good.

  • taboo

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:44 pm PT

    Well, certainly a rather functional little controller, but rather unneeded.

  • madman666

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:38 pm PT

    Who told them to resurrect the boomerang?

  • ladellb

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:36 pm PT

    Think I'll past on this one. You can get a Logitech for $40 or less on ebay.

  • TryMe01

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:30 pm PT

    i think this controller rivals the uglyness of the original xbox controller

  • selfaware_robot

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:27 pm PT

    i still dont see the purpose in a wireless controller...

  • Judeep

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:22 pm PT

    Fifty bucks for that thing? I'll stick to buying Logitechs on ebay thank you very much. It's so big and uncomfortable-looking. God, it's ugly.

  • G-Legend

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 6:21 pm PT

    Whoal ooks like the Boomerang but larger it might be comfortable you never know I know the boomerang would have been a great controller it looked really ergonomic this could be the same you never know a lot of people stretch pictures just like they did with the boomerang to make them look worse and it's not to scale.

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