Need help finding a good third party PS2 controller.

[Tommy Tallarico]

I'm looking for a third party PS2 controller that has grooves around the analog stick, something to lock the stick into a directional position, similar to the Gamecube. I've heard one exists, but there are a lot to choose from. Any suggestions?

[Tommy Tallarico]

Bump.

[Mamoscott]

None exist, and believe me I have looked.

[Tommy Tallarico]

None exist, and believe me I have looked.

God damn it.

[Mamoscott]

God damn it.

Yeah, that's exactly how I feel. It's a shame that every third party PS2 controller seems to copy the Dual Shock. It's just not a very good controller.

I posted the following a couple months ago on another, much larger forum and still got no alternative suggestions.

With the recent release of NCAA Football 2004 and the impending arrival of Madden 2004 and Tiger Woods 2004, I've been spending a great deal more time playing my Playstation 2. Unfortunately, I do not like the Dual Shock controller all that much. In fact, I borderline hate it. Normally, I'd just purchase the Gamecube versions of any multiplatform titles that come around (since I much prefer Nintendo's controller), but EA has put me in a very tough position.

I want to play NCAA, Madden, and Tiger Woods online, however, doing so requires me to get the PS2 versions of those games, which in turn dictates that I use the Dual Shock controller. My complaint here is not with EA or its online policy. What pisses me off is that there are no good alternatives to the standard PS2 controller.

Why the hell has every single third party adopted the exact same design and layout as the Dual Shock? Don't third parties make cheaper, different controllers, so gamers have alternatives to what Sony offers? So why then is every single PS2 controller a virtual carbon copy of the Dual Shock? Granted, some are slightly bigger or slightly smaller, but they still utilize Sony's basic design, most of the time with inferior results.

Here are a few of my complaints about the Dual Shock:

1. I don't want both analog sticks in the middle. It's stupid. I want one analog in the upper left (like on the GC and Xbox controllers). Why hasn't some company designed a PS2 controller that simply switches the placement of the left analog stick and the d-pad? In addition why aren't there any controllers with better d-pads than Sony's? I'd also like for the analogs to have more "grip" similar to the grooves on the GC analog stick, but at this point, I'd take whatever I can get.

2. Why doesn't any company turn the R2 and L2 butttons into triggers, like on the GC and Xbox controllers? I bought a Chameleon controller (http://gear.ign.com/objects/568/568088.html), but the buttons, d-pad, and analog sticks are a bit too stiff for my liking. Also, aside from the more trigger-like shoulder buttons, it's still basically the same as the Dual Shock. Still, the trigger-like shoulder buttons alone make the Chameleon feel a thousand times more intuitive in my hands.

3. To my knowledge, there are no adapters available that will allow me to use a GC or Xbox controller on the PS2. It's only the other way around (which is most likely due to button limitations).

I understand that everyone has their own controller preference and that the Dual Shock is fine for a lot of people. But it's ridiculous that there are virtually no alternatives for anyone who wants to make playing their PS2 the most enjoyable experience possible. Any suggestions?

I'll probably try the RetroCON out when I it finally gets released, but I don't expect it to be all that great. I also have no idea how firm that Oct. 7th release date is since that controller has been delayed for months.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/238154.asp

We're both in the same boat here - a boat that seems to be up shit creek.

[Tommy Tallarico]

I don't suppose there's a GC -> PS2 adapter available, or maybe an Xbox -> PS2 adapter, and maybe an Xbox controller with that feature?

[Wildkat]

None that ive seen..I hate the dual shock with a passion. Even PC controlers have pretty much copied the Dual shock layout...

/sarcastic mode on

EVERYONE loves the PS2 controler! Whats wrong with you people?!?!?

/sarcastic mode off