The boomerang controller... revealed?

by Nick Doerr { Mar 31st 2007 at 3:00PM }

Teiyu Goto, creative force behind the design of the PlayStation 3, once again decided to let the public know where some ideas and things came from. This time, he's going to explicate the creation of the Boomerang controller that was panned by many, now missed by some. Last time he talked about the usage of the Spider-Man font, so check that out if you haven't yet.

Goto said this about the creation of the controller: "Quite frankly, we had set aside the ergonomic aspect in favour of the image it conjured up. We wanted to present an avant-garde model for the show, running a risk of being criticised." As most of you know, they were. Pretty heavily. What did Goto think about the controller, personally? "It was very futuristic visually, but practically speaking you only had to hold it to realise how it compared to the Dual Shock 2." Probably true. Anyone out there actually get to hold the Boomerang?

Finally, why the re-adoption of the Dual Shock 2 model, minus the shock and plus the SixAxiS: "The desire for change for there, but the legacy of the PlayStation was stronger - the slightest change to the controller could annoy players and the risk wasn't worth taking. Also PS2 and PS3 provide backwards compatibility; the ergonomics should be the same when you play games from the previous generation but without having to bring out the 'wired' controllers." That makes sense. I wouldn't like trying to play an N64 game with the GameCube controller (for example).

Tags: PlayStation 3, Playstation3, PS3, SIXAXIS, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Mar 31st 2007 3:20PM

Yeah, SIXAXIS kicks the crap out of that thing, imagine how hard it would be to hold...

Dual-Shock 2 was a really well-designed controller, and SIXAXIS built off the idea, by fixing Dual-Shock 2's only flaw (too small of proportions)

Ynosony @ Mar 31st 2007 4:23PM

=O
How are you supposed to use it? It looks impossible to hold...

jay @ Mar 31st 2007 10:57PM

i think a 360 type controller (staggered sticks) would be the best way to go. it makes fps games much easier to play...

Stef Geiger @ Mar 31st 2007 4:38PM

The controller is hideous, but I definitely wish the sixaxis had longer wings (the things that end up in your palms). I kind of feel like the controller is optimally designed for 12 year-olds. I wonder if they'll change the form factor once the rumble stuff comes along.

massive_98 @ Mar 31st 2007 6:10PM

Companies should release more games in the spring. I'm bored. (that controller is ugly)

Average_User @ Mar 31st 2007 7:26PM

I've held a clone made for the PS2 and it feels good. Looks weird, but feels good in the hands.

insane @ Mar 31st 2007 9:46PM

do NOT trust Sony:

I was on the fence about getting a PS3 or 360, till I found out why they opted for the SIXAXIS controller and their recent lawsuit with Immersion (they make vibration technology in controllers).

After stating that vibration technology is "Not possible with the SIXAXIS" and that "rumble is last-gen technology", what does Sony do?

They pay off Immersion and say "they are looking forward to working with Immersion again in creating exciting new products for our consumers"

Considering that motion and vibration are possible (Wii) does this mean they'll start using this "last-gen" feature again? There's still room in the controller for it. Motion tech. is only a damn chip!

The whole thing just turned me off. I'll be getting a 360, thank you.

PLS GO BUY THE X360, no one care...
cheers........

Will @ Mar 31st 2007 9:48PM

nobody cares who you trust, microsoft isn't exactly a company known for being completely honest either. they're the ones that said everyone should have 2 hard drives, yet they announce a larger one and you can only transfer files from 1...what about all the people who had 2!? and oh yeah, hdmi isn't important but it will be made possible when we feel there is a need...yet they go and make you buy a whole new console to get hdmi. yeah and you don't trust sony because of the controller...u're real brilliant

Askzander @ Apr 21st 2007 8:49PM

Sony should copy the 360 controller instead of the Wii controller. Playing shooters is MUCH better on a 360 controller than PS3. Sony is just too lazy to try to improve their controller so they just copied the Wii's motion sensing because after all, rumble is so last gen.
Sony, the whole point of a new console is to improve upon an old one, NOT to take away features.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Apr 1st 2007 2:46AM

Sony didn't want to change the controller because it would mess up the ergonomics? Yeah, right.

About the only thing that did change was the shape of the backplate, and that has a huge impact on ergonoics because I tend to hold the controller loosly and let the "bow" underneath rest on my fingers. That doesn't work with the PS3 controller, and it really turns me off.

But, they couldn't clean up the indentations around the buttons, or make the L1 and R1 buttons easier to reach?

BrotherEstapol @ Apr 1st 2007 7:53AM

Witht he PS3, they missed a great chance to fix the duel shock...comparing the duel shock to the 360 controller that becomes very evident.
If there's a feature of the PS3 that's last gen, it's the ancient design of the "new" sixaxis controller.

nofanboy @ Apr 1st 2007 9:02AM

#2 and #7 got it right on. The current Sixaxis really is physically painful to use. I am over 10 and have average size hands. The 360 controller is virtually perfect. I think the boomerang would be perfect in the hands since it is those stubby little parts always digging into my palms. On the other hand, the Sixaxis R/L 2 buttons are sooo much better than the too thin 360 triggers that cut off circulation in your index finger when racing anything on 360. Why can't one controller just get it right? They spend enough money on designing these things. The boomerang looks strange, but who cares if it feels right in the gamers hand. F the press.

Raycer @ Apr 1st 2007 9:15AM

While the PS3 controller doesn't hurt me or feel uncomfortable and I'm 33 years old and have decent size hands, I do agree that my 360's controller and it's staggered analog sticks are better suited for shooter;, though according to 90% of my friends, I'm the minority. Most prefer the Sony controller probably because they're used to it for the past 10+ years, so Sony might have a point.

John @ Apr 2nd 2007 10:24AM

It was so pathetic when people panned the boomerang controller. It's obviously more ergononomic. But then, it would take brains to see this. Hence, most people panned it. Good idea ultimately that SOny went with the old controller, but then we had these LAME and I mean LAME people saying "It's too light."

Well, the Xbox360 doesn't hit enough frames per second, you complaining about that?

Freaking morons.

Right now we've attacked a helpless country that posed no threat to us and we're attacking their women and children and non-fighting men, blowing off their arms and legs and faces, and we're busy torturing people who don't deserve it, and what do we care about?

We care whether or not a controller has vibration, or it's too light or ohmygod I shouldn't have bought an xbox.

It's no wonder we humans are so close to being extinguished. We're a bunch of frickin assholes.