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chadskin · Oct 21, 2013

"For the analog sticks, we did test having the analog sticks on top, since the Xbox has the left side on top [above the D-pad]," Sony's Toshimasa Aoki said. "Especially from the shooter teams--we got feedback that that's what they wanted. They knew that consumers liked the 360 for shooters."

Sony experimented with every possible combination of stick placement, even going so far as prototyping a controller with both analog sticks on top--much like the Wii U Pro Controller (above). However, Sony discovered that it didn't work.

Ultimately, "tradition" was what won out at Sony, with Aoki saying symmetrical sticks are part of the company's DNA. "The prototype team, myself, and also the management team really felt that having this look is the PlayStation look, and we had to keep that."

Source - via Shacknews

Shock if old.

Tucah · Oct 21, 2013

Glad they stuck to the old configuration.

sestrugen · Oct 21, 2013

Symmetrical > Asymmetrical so thank you Sony

Empty · Oct 21, 2013

good decision. i prefer them that way.

BadWolf · Oct 21, 2013

Good.

Amir0x · Oct 21, 2013

Even though I never had a problem with symmetrical sticks (more the loose-ness and closeness of the sticks), "tradition" is a really stupid reason to make a critical design choice. "It simply works the best" should be the only consideration for a game controller.

LiquidMetal14 · Oct 21, 2013

They made the right choice.

Defect · Oct 21, 2013

Should've had both versions.

faberpach · Oct 21, 2013

I would love to have the option.

R3TRODYCE · Oct 21, 2013

Should have switched to that layout.

giancarlo123x · Oct 21, 2013

I'm glad they kept it the way it's always been.

Pop-O-Matic · Oct 21, 2013

You fucked up, Sony.

cyberheater · Oct 21, 2013

It's a pity. The Xbox controller layout is much more comfortable.

Haribo · Oct 21, 2013

Good.

SEGAvangelist · Oct 21, 2013

Tradition over functionality? BOOOOOO!

Still excited to try the controller, though. Heard good things.

Salvor.Hardin · Oct 21, 2013

Did they prototype with a boomerang again?

Markitron · Oct 21, 2013

I regularly use both controllers, it makes absolutely no difference

Cuyejo · Oct 21, 2013

They made the correct decision!

zinder · Oct 21, 2013

Thanks god.

Fracas · Oct 21, 2013

I wish there was an official DS4 with asymmetrical sticks. I may end up grabbing a third party controller.

kittens · Oct 21, 2013

As long as they feel good, I don't care. I've always preferred the Xbox controllers over the Playstation ones, but it sounds like the Dualshock 4 is a huge improvement.

Deadly Cyclone · Oct 21, 2013

Should have released one of each. Best answer.

Orayn · Oct 21, 2013

Layout isn't a huge sticking point for me, but it still would have been neat if they released an asymmetrical version. The Controller S and Duke briefly coexisted on the original Xbox, right?

serversurfer · Oct 21, 2013

I prefer my controllers like I prefer my hands; symmetrical.

Smokey · Oct 21, 2013

cyberheater said:
It's a pity. The Xbox controller layout is much more comfortable.

This

Mr. West · Oct 21, 2013

That's fine. The PS3 controller's problem was more the closeness and looseness of the sticks than anything.

Pagusas · Oct 21, 2013

They made the wrong choice, they even basically admitted it. Tradition won out over the better implementation. Oh well can't win them all, and they've done enough other good stuff that I'm not going to complain, just suck it up and get use to it.

NoirVisage · Oct 21, 2013

cyberheater said:
It's a pity they didn't make the controller more like what i'm used to on an entirely different console. The Xbox controller layout is much more comfortable to me.

Fixed it for you my friend.

dmr87 · Oct 21, 2013

Thank you Sony, for keeping the superior design.

Ishida · Oct 21, 2013

Thank God they kept the symmetrical sticks.

They made the right decision.

Loudninja · Oct 21, 2013

Pretty sure this was known.

Pain · Oct 21, 2013

Team Vernia said:
Tradition over functionality? BOOOOOO!

Still excited to try the controller, though. Heard good things.

So you're saying the stick layout is nonfunctional?

If they put the analog stick where the D-pad is it would be harder to use the touchpad.

UNCMark · Oct 21, 2013

Bad decision. But 'deal with it', I guess.

Doffen · Oct 21, 2013

Damn shame, will probably get fixed with a 3. party controller soon'ish.

kittens · Oct 21, 2013

Deadly Cyclone said:
Should have released one of each. Best answer.

That'd be so cool.

Pain said:
So you're saying the stick layout is nonfunctional?

Functionality isn't a zero sum game.

Rizsparky · Oct 21, 2013

Glad they stuck with it, I'm pretty sure third party controllers can cater for gamers who prefer asymmetrical sticks.

Zukuu · Oct 21, 2013

Glad they sticked with it. Asymmetrical is just atrocious and feels unnatural.

AkIRA_22 · Oct 21, 2013

Defect said:
Should've had both versions.

It really wouldn't kill them to make an official asymmetrical controller for those that want it. Pack in the standard one with the console, that way they have to buy a second controller at the full retail price... is anyone at Sony listening? I just gave you free money

artist · Oct 21, 2013

Tucah said:
Glad they stuck to the old configuration.

sestrugen said:
Symmetrical > Asymmetrical so thank you Sony

Empty said:
good decision. i prefer them that way.

BadWolf said:
Good.

LiquidMetal14 said:
They made the right choice.

giancarlo123x said:
I'm glad they kept it the way it's always been.

Haribo said:
Good.

Cuyejo said:
They made the correct decision!

zinder said:
Thanks god.

serversurfer said:
I prefer my controllers like I prefer my hands; symmetrical.

dmr87 said:
Thank you Sony, for keeping the superior design.

Ishida said:
Thank God they kept the symmetrical sticks.

They made the right decision.

Zukuu said:
Glad they sticked with it. Asymmetrical is just atrocious and feels unnatural.

Best decision.

Visualante2 · Oct 21, 2013

Sony as a brand is known for form over function. I would like to think there's more to games than shooters, personally.

sublimit · Oct 21, 2013

I'm really glad they kept the symmetrical sticks.Always hated the asymmetrical sticks on GC and xbox controllers.

Frillen · Oct 21, 2013

In this thread it's easy to see who loves FPSs and who doesn't. Try playing Call of Duty with a 360 controller for a few days, then switch over to the PS3 controller and play Call of Duty with that. It's like hell times 10.

Xanadu · Oct 21, 2013

Zukuu said:
Glad they sticked with it. Asymmetrical is just atrocious and feels unnatural.

weird because the 360 controller is much more comfortable than the dualshock

Rey · Oct 21, 2013

So they went for looks on a contoller ha.... Amazing

Wish they chose to bring 2 versions.

alr1ght · Oct 21, 2013

Here is a vid with Sucker Punch detailing how they iterated and iterated again designing the controller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywdb7aXzVQ8

<cue 10 pages of bickering about this for the 100th time>

Treythalomew · Oct 21, 2013

Would have preferred 360 style but just glad they didn't do the sticks on top like Wii U. I can play games with the Wii U controller but I never feel comfortable about it.

Monty Mole · Oct 21, 2013

Rizsparky said:
Glad they stuck with it, I'm pretty sure third party controllers can cater for gamers who prefer asymmetrical sticks.

I wish they'd gone asymmetrical. I'm pretty sure third party controllers can cater for gamers who prefer symmetrical sticks.

h1nch · Oct 21, 2013

I've always preferred the Xbox style, but its not a strong preference TBH. Both layouts work well.

I'm more interested in how the sticks are shaped, and how much resistance they give, as those were the two things that made me dislike the DS3, along with the shape of the trigger buttons and the overall shape of the controller.

Haven't held one for myself but from pictures it looks like they addressed all of those things (I've heard that the sticks are a bit more resistant. Is this true?)

Either way, I'm really jones'ing to try both controllers out for myself.

jon bones · Oct 21, 2013

damn, so close. still going PS4, but that would have been peeeerrrrfect.

hey_it's_that_dog · Oct 21, 2013

Amir0x said:
Even though I never had a problem with symmetrical sticks (more the loose-ness and closeness of the sticks), "tradition" is a really stupid reason to make a critical design choice. "It simply works the best" should be the only consideration for a game controller.

Yeah, I don't care either way how the sticks are laid out, but I would be interested to hear more about the testing and feedback process.

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