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Sony's Dualshock 2 standard outlay has been in use for over eight years, and many have grown up with it. More often then not, it’s grown on them. However, in our around-the-office and gamers-we-know survey, there is a serious liking toward the Xbox 360's controller. I myself am more partial towards it, though I was also a fan of the original Xbox's duke controller.
Nyko didn’t change much in terms of how the Zero is shaped moving over to the PS3 model. It’s almost like a cross between the SIXAXIS and the 360 controller, with longer handles and a sturdy, metal plate covering most of the front. It has a D-pad with diagonal button-press area, and almost bumper-like R1 & L1 buttons. Not only that, it carries a battery pack on the back of the controller which can use either double-A batteries or a typical rechargeable battery, both of which are included with the controller.
The thumbsticks are also more like the 360's, using concave rubber compared to the convex of the SIXAXIS. It feels much better, and keeps your thumbs more secure when using the analog sticks.
It also has a very solid weight, which is centered on the Zero. That’s because the rumble kit is in the center instead of the handles, which may or may not be a good thing. If you’re the type of person who feels rumble shakes your aim too much, this certainly will benefit you. While the SIXAXIS has no rumble and we're still waiting for the Dualshock 3 to be released stateside, it's doubtful it'll weigh more than the Zero, which is heavier than the 360's. It isn't uncomfortably heavy, but it's right at that line where a little more weight could make it a doorstop.
