There are arguments that are subjective, and arguments that are objective, based on facts.
The only arguments I ever hear concerning the supposed advantages of the 360 controller are subjective, take for example the notion that the controller is more comfortable than the DualShock 3. That's in the eye of the beholder, no facts to back it up.
Take me for example, I think the DualShock 3 controller is more comfortable to hold than the 360 controller. There's a common misconception that the DualShock 3 is designed for small hands. I have larger than average hands. I can grip an NBA sized basketball without issue using one hand, and the average male can't do that based on what I've seen at the gym. Despite having larger than average hands, I find the DualShock 3 to be the more comfortable controller to hold, but I realize that is a subjective argument, and it holds absolutely no weight. It's merely an opinion takingplace within the mind which is modified by individual bias.
Now that we have that factual part of the argument out of the way, lets focus on the objective differences between the controller, taking every component into consideration. These are the real differences that matter, the differences based on actual facts, undistorted by emotion or personal bias.
Battery:
The DualShock 3 comes standard with a Lithium Ion battery, which provides up to 30 hours of continuous gaming on a full charge. The charging cable is a standard universal USB cable, not proprietary.
The 360 controller does not come standard with a rechargable battery. You can purchase a nickel metal hydride Rechargable Battery Pack, which provides up to 25 hours of continuous gaming for the wireless controller. The charging cable is proprietary.
Sixaxis:
A major feature of the Sixaxis controller, and from where its name is derived, is the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration along all three dimensional axes, providing six degrees of freedom.
This feature is absent in the 360 controller, and it doesn't offer any alternative.
Face Buttons:
There are 8 pressure sensitive buttons on the DualShock 3. Triangle, Circle, X, Square, L1, R1, Select and Start.
The Xbox 360 controller does not have pressure sensitive buttons.
Analog Sticks:
The DualShock 3 features finer analog sensitivity than the DualShock 2, increased to 10-bit precision from the 8-bit precision of the DualShock 2. The controller also uses both analog and digital signals simultaneously at all times during gameplay.
The Xbox 360 controller uses 8-bit precision, the same used in last generation controllers, such as the DualShock 2, Gamecube and original Xbox controllers.
Wireless Connectivity:
DualShock 3 uses Bluetooth connectivity.
The 360 controller uses a proprietary wireless 2.4GHz protocol for connectivity, which is of less quality than Bluetooth. The differences are minor, but I have about a 10 to 1 ratio in use of my PS3 over my 360, and I have experienced many more controller syncing problems on the 360 in a fraction of the time.
D-Pad:
I don't think this one really needs an explanation. The DualShock 3 has a fully functional D-Pad while the 360 controller doesn't.
Triggers:
The PS3 has 2 convex analog triggers, while the 360 has 2 concave analog triggers. They both have identical functionality, while preference of shape is purely subjective and comes down to personal bias.
So there you have it. Look, I know that Lemmings latch on to the controller debate with a sense of urgency like flies on horse ****. The Xbox 360 doesn't have a single hardware advantage over the PS3, so they grasp onto the controller debate in an attempt to try and 1 up the PS3 in some way, shape or form, regardless of how insignificant it may be. Well, the only argument I've ever heard from a Lemming concerning the 360 controller has been about comfort, which is subjective and in the eye of the beholder. That is influenced by personal bias, and there is nothing factual to back it up.
When it comes down to facts and funtionality, the PS3 DualShock 3 wipes the floor with the 360 controller in every department. How could a controller be considered so great when it lacks something as significant as a D-Pad? All things considered, the 360 controller is basically a last generation controller. Last generation analog stick precision, last generation digital face buttons that lack analog pressure sensitivity, disfunctional D-Pad which is the same design from last generation, old wireless technology, no Sixaxis support or anything even similar, AA batteries as the standard which is what the Wavebird used last generation....
You can argue comfort and go around in circles all day about it. It's an argument you can't win, because it's purely subjective. These things I just listed however, aren't subjective, they're objective, they're facts.
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