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Banner ads are useful... sometimes

J-Cat

Shared on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 14:36

Are you guys seeing the banner ad for "SpeedFreek"? Looks like you can get a little claw to put on your thumbstick... added comfort or something? More torque*, make you move the stick faster... whatever. Got me thinking. I wonder if some guy is going to come up with custom controller: not different on the inside (i.e. no electronic cheats) but different on the outside: ergonomically fitted to each person. See: I have long thumbnails, they are just naturally strong and I use them for everyday stuff: opening pop cans and whatnot. My controllers all have the rubber sliced open in exactly the same spot on the samethumbstick. Kind of akin to the way a runner's shoe tread will wear in the same way, depending on whether or not they pronate (their feet tilt in or out) or however their feet go.

I also can't imagine that someone like Caesar (huge man-hands) would find the same controller comfortable as I (I have hands so small, in lab I had to find different ways to use lab equipment... my fingers just weren't long enough to manipulate "stuff").  And let's not even talk about kids...

Do you have any wear and tear on your controller from constant use? OR do you find the controller had to use from an ergonomic standpoint?

If I were to get a custom controller I would have a ridge on the thumbstick because I use the side (nail) of my thumb in the middle of the pad to move, rather than the whole pad. The ridge would help me catch my nail easier.

So yeah... if you hear that I have broken a nail... it's not just cause I'm whining cause I'm a girlie girl... I may have endangered my gaming!

*engineering and physics geeks: do I have this right? I am trying to remember this BS from first year physics (D is for "Degree" thank you very much). So if the stick is anchored on one palce, you move it in a circle (or a sphere I suppose) so by increasing the lever, you increase the torque... amirite?

Comments

SoupNazzi's picture
Submitted by SoupNazzi on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 15:50
I have the FPS Freek or whatever it is called. Love it.
Caesar's picture
Submitted by Caesar on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 15:57
You can do it jcat, but lime shoes the cost will be expensive, so it wouldn't cater to all gamers. But it's a great idea. I hate ps3's controller cause my giant man hand engolf the controller like it's for a child, one of the reasons I prefer the xbox controller
Fish66's picture
Submitted by Fish66 on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 16:07
With the long nails the FPS Freek may be better for you. They just extend the Joy stick, so your nail will not get caught on the buttons. Increasing the length will increase the leverage and the ability to produce more torque, but not enough to worry about, unless you go SheHulk on it that is. Or Nail clippers ;)
JeepChick's picture
Submitted by JeepChick on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 18:38
I have them and love them! Gave me a lot more movement and speed in aiming, plus I was able to work myself up to an insane level of sensitivity. :)
wamam87's picture
Submitted by wamam87 on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 19:39
the fps freek even enabled someone as bad as me to pick up a few sniper sprees :) i agree that controllers are not very well designed. the xbox does look way better than the playstation, but could use some tweeking IMO.
DeadDrPhibes's picture
Submitted by DeadDrPhibes on Sun, 04/04/2010 - 21:34
I couldn't agree more, although what really burns me, apart from the controller being too small, is that you're expected to simultaneously manipulate a stick AND four buttons with each thumb.. why not put them on the back, where your third through fifth fingers sit idle most of the time? There's a MW2 branded controller with 2 programmable buttons on the back, one for each side.. a good start.. Maybe putting a couple of big hunks of sculpey on the grips would let us large handed folk customize our own danged controllers..

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