Game Console Controller Comparison

Whether you play with a Nintendo Wii controller, an Xbox 360 controller, a Playstarion 3 controller, or a host of other controllers that are out there; chances are you have run into a common situation that we all face from time to time and some of us more frequently than others, if not always; it's the sweaty clammy hands we get when we're really grinding it out trying to top our opponent.  So, let's talk about our options here.  If you play the Wii, one obvious option is to use the factory installed leash (go figure right) that comes with the Wii controller.  While this is handy for keeping the thing from flying out of your grip and smacking your little sister in the grill, it's not gonna help much when she returns your volley and you're sitting there with a contoller doing a hoola hoop dance around your wrist piece. 

Nintendo Wii Controller

So Nintendo and some aftermarket suppliers came up with a gel type sleave thing that fits over the controller so you can keep your nasty paw intact and in play.  Well, to be honest, although this may work, this may be the only controller set up it has hopes of working on.  Why, because on the Wii controller, you're doing big bulky movements with it, there's not a lot of precise button play involved in most Wii games.  Even so, if you don't like the feel of a bulky jellified controller, there are other things you can do, like ask your hockey buddy for some stick tape.  Barring taping up your controller, which may or may not t-off the other peeps in your crew that wanna use it, it's a fairly permanent and messy solution.  Why not just curb you hands from sweating to begin with?  No need for jelly grips or hockey tape. That's just one controller type, can those two methods work on an xbox or a playstation controller?  I've seen it attempted.  There are products out there, like controller gloves that fit over the handle of your controller.  There again, I feel they just make the controller bulky, more or less they just get in the way.  I've tried using athletic tape on my controllers, although my grip on the controller vastly improved, I got blisters from the added friction.  You see, when you play, you want your hand to be able to have a natural and very slightly tacky feel with the controller. 

Improving Your Game Grip

That brings us to another attempt at getting better controller grip, the gamer glove.  I tried to play with a set once, again, just didn't feel right, didn't have the same connection with the controller that I am used to.  Not to mention, can you imagine going to play some heads up at your friends house and you whip out a pair of gloves?  The words tool and shed come to mind.  The other thing the controller makers have tried is to put a set of fans inside vented handles on a game controller.  What???  I picked one of these up once when it was being demoed, not only were the vents in the controller handle extremely annoying, the fan noise itself going off in the unit was brutal, not to mention the fact that it just didn't work.  So, that brings me full circle to the very beginning of the problem.  If your hands are sweating and annoying while you're engaged in some instense action, why not just go to the root of the problem, rub on some Ghost Grip, and you're good for 3-4 hours of sweat free gameplay.  

When it comes to handling a sweaty controller, GhostGrip has you covered, no sweat!

Until next time, keep your hands dry and your room a pig sty.  What is a pig sty anyway, I may need to google that one.  

Console Wars

You've got two major players in the console wars (not counting Nintendo of course, we're not going to talk about that right now, totally different issue), on one hand you have Sony, a huge manufacturer of electronics equipment, on the other is Microsoft, not generally viewed as a manufacturer of hardware.  The difference between these two powerhouses can be reflected as the differences between the people that buy their consoles.  It's rare these days to know someone that has both a Playstation 3 and an Xbox 360, unless they are some kind of spoiled rich kid that gets whatever they want or they'll go crying to their mommy (dude's 25 and living in the guest house for free, hah).  Generally, I've noticed that there are differences in the Playstation people and Xbox people. 

Brand loyalty

Most people that I know that have a Playstation have it for one reason, brand loyalty.  When the Playstation one came out, it left such a good impression, that these guys didn't want to try anything else.  Dude, at some point you gotta leave your highschool sweetheart behind and go to college. Here's an anology, when the Playstation hit the market, it was to competitors like Kimbo Slice is to some random schmoe on the street.  However, while the Playstation was busy beating the crap out of everyone, the Xbox snuck up from behind with a baseball bat and took a Barry Bonds rip,,, it could be,, back back back back back,,, gone! 

Online gaming changes the landscape

Microsoft's online community with a little help from a franchise some of us know (eeehhheemmm,,,, Halo), pretty much outclassed the competition, and in my humble opinion, still does handily.  What was Sony's answer?  Well, you gotta admit, the Plastation 3 is an impressive looking piece of hardware and,, whoaaaaaaaa, it's got a blue ray player,,pbbbbbbbbbbbbbhhhhhhhhhh,,,whatever dude.  That's what they decided on to set them apart?  Jacking up the price and forcing gamers to pay for a blue ray player?  Anyway, not trying to bag on something before I've tried it, so recently I went to a friends house to play the much anticipated Metal Gear Solid on his PS3. 

Some off the cuff remarks on the PS3, but it's definately becoming a respectable online platform

It was like playing the original Metal Gear Solid on my PSone, but with better graphics.  To put it simply, the game play sucked a$$ by todays standards, and the controller still hasn't changed, what's up with that?  So, to be fair to everyone and not dis to bad on PS3, they are getting better, and it definately has a very bright future.  I look forward to it, and hopefully they'll be an aftermarket controller (if there is one let me know) that is shaped like an Xbox 360 one and not like a wooden back massager.  Who knows, someday, I'll be the guy that's got both systems at my house, subscribing to both online services.