Mod for slim PSP adds second analog stick

by Majed Athab { Mar 31st 2008 at 4:00PM }

It is sort of baffling why anyone would need to mod a PSP in order to have two analog nubs. Why isn't one enough? Is playing Me & My Katamari just that difficult? Or maybe there is some sort of massage therapy simulation game out there that requires the most accurate symmetrical touch scheme? Perhaps a Karate Kid game -- wax on with the left nub and wax off with the right nub. Well, whether it's useful or not, someone still made it.

LordNico of AcidMods made this slim dual analog stick PSP. The second analog nub replicates the functions of the regular four-buttoned pad. While it's a neat trick to pull off, it's something completely unnecessary. We suggest just to check out the dual nubs in action in the clip after the break and not try it yourself.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: mod, mods, psp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

gurbinder @ Mar 31st 2008 4:05PM

why do we need 2 analog sticks... but it would look cooler anyways... just a thought

Wolf @ Mar 31st 2008 6:29PM

We don't need two analog sticks, we only need one.
I just cant for the life of me figure out why in the holy hell they decided to put the F'ing thing on the left. It would have been a million times more effective if they had only put the thing on the right hand side.
FPS's on the PSP would have been awesome if only we had a stick on the right side. As it is, they are complete crap.
I don't even see the point of having one on the left side at all. Every game I have played on it worked just as well if not better on the D-pad. Completely useless.

rikki @ Mar 31st 2008 6:38PM

@Wolf

"I just cant for the life of me figure out why in the holy hell they decided to put the F'ing thing on the left."

A little pilot light for your mind: Left-handed gamers.

They exist.

You may even know one.

mathab @ Mar 31st 2008 6:40PM

then play upside down!

**flees before being mobbed to death**

Wolf @ Mar 31st 2008 9:06PM

@ Rikki
I realize that there are left handed gamers, poor things, but the vast majority of people (90+%) are right-handed which is why almost every controller ever made was made for righties.
@ Mathab, if they made a FPS for the PSP that gave you the option of flipping the screen, allowing you to use the buttons for movement and the analog nub for aiming, I would probably play it that way.

JayD-1K @ Apr 1st 2008 7:31AM

most FPS games let you use the left analog for your the look and squar, triangl,and so on buttons for your movement. (i think medal of honor was a good one this)it took a lil getting use to but, once you got the hang of it....it was almost as good as having the second analog. that should be the default setting for all FPS on the PS3! imho

Nate @ Mar 31st 2008 4:13PM

Well, dual analogs would be fantastic, but that's beside the point... modding one in is useless, because no games will support it.

Lars @ Mar 31st 2008 7:03PM

Exactly. I suppose it would work for some of the FPS's out there though, if you're into that sorta thing.

Personally I haven't found a game yet where I felt like I needed the second stick. Don't get me wrong, it would be nice to have. But I'd rather have L2 R2 on the PSP before a second analog.

farfisa @ Mar 31st 2008 4:26PM

Me & My Katamari really is that difficult.

Josh @ Mar 31st 2008 4:30PM

Why wouldn't you want a second analog stick if it was actually functional? The PS2, PS3 and 360 have 2nd analog sticks on their pads, why not put it on the PSP. Some of the games, GTA Vice City Stories for instance, need a second analog stick for the camera.

required @ Mar 31st 2008 5:23PM

GTA Vice City Stories works very well on the PSP, maybe you are having a hard time adapting?

The moment you start adding all of the things a standard PC has to a UltraCompact PC you begin to loose the compact. Same goes with the PlayStation Portable, once you add all of the things a PlayStation has you loose the Portable.

Josh @ Apr 1st 2008 10:32AM

Vice City plays well but the convenience of moving the camera would be a great addition. I'm not saying it plays poorly, I'm just saying that the 2nd analog as the camera would be extremely useful. This can help in a lot of games where the need to move the camera is necessary and if it only helps the game then I don't see the issue.

I also don't see how it takes away from being a compact gaming device. It's an additional button that adds functionality but doesn't change the size or current layout of the device.

required @ Mar 31st 2008 5:14PM

I've adapted well to the current control scheme and don't want a second analog stick. As has been proven with the plethora of great games for the system, it is totally unnecessary.

To all of you that don't like one: why stop at two?

captnzro @ Mar 31st 2008 9:33PM

How does adding 2nd analog stick make this less portable? it still fits in a pocket or case right? I have wanted 2nd stick since I bought first gen psp 3 yrs ago because it would replicate the consoles that we have all adapted to. Everyone was stoked when consoles got them, I am surprised at how this offends people on a handheld.

Wolf @ Mar 31st 2008 9:06PM

Adding a second analog stick on the right side would have made 0 difference in the size or portability of the PSP. There is the exact same amount of room under the buttons as there is under the D-pad so I don't understand what point you are trying to make.
As for having a "hard time in adapting" I seriously doubt that Josh is the only one, because trying to use for digital buttons in lieu of an analog stick is lame and frustrating. It simply does not work.
Why stop at 2? I don't know, maybe its because most humans only have 2 thumbs? Just a thought.

butterbean @ Mar 31st 2008 5:17PM

i for 1 think its a marvelous idea it enables the first person shooter players of psp to have an easiier time playing their game its way better than the right buttons for the camera. how could this not be a benefit . in what way is it bad for the psp.

required @ Mar 31st 2008 5:27PM

Because the PSP works. A second analogue is not needed. Maybe something to explore for PSP2 though.

TheDragon @ Mar 31st 2008 5:25PM

How can you say this is a useless mod? The video even demonstrates it with a FPS. This is an absolute necessity for PSP FPS games that map the look controls to the action buttons. This will be extremely useful for those types of games.

required @ Mar 31st 2008 5:31PM

For me this is in no way an absolute necessity, it is totally unnecessary. I've had no problem adapting to the PSP controls. This might be because I've always been a portable gamer though.

TheDragon @ Mar 31st 2008 5:35PM

Well, nevermind the fact that FPS games on consoles are naturally flawed because they don't come close to the necessary control provided by mouse and keyboard, the closest thing they have is the dual analog move/look. You just can't be precise in your aiming or looking with digital on/off input. This isn't even an opinion I'm expressing here, this is flat out fact. Analog > digital when it comes to things like precise aiming.

eMag @ Apr 1st 2008 1:55PM

I used to think like you. Then I picked up a Wiimote. When properly implemented, the Wiimote blows the mouse out of the water for FPSes.

Reuben @ Mar 31st 2008 5:36PM

I don't think a second "nub" is necessary, per say, but I certainly do think that it would make things easier. I feel that 3D games are just meant to be played with two thumb sticks.

Strike009 @ Mar 31st 2008 5:53PM

as far as fps go, i think a second nub is a necessity. even if you don't like the mod yourself, dont berate it. any mods to hardware or software, legal that is, should be reported on without such strong bias.

mike @ Mar 31st 2008 5:50PM

I'm all for a second analog stick, in fact I demand it for PSP2!!!

But this mod is cool, but not needed and shouldn't be wanted.

The guy playing the PSP looks like he'll get cramped after 30 mins of gameplay

bryansurvive @ Mar 31st 2008 5:58PM

i dont need another analog stick but it would be cool for future psp models and games. hey maybe now theyll think about adding an R2 and L2 right!

Bentley @ Apr 1st 2008 3:49PM

Anyone who says the PSP does not need another analogue nub is mental. It's the one thing I miss on the PSP. Sure, the games try to get around it, but it's a plain and clear FACT that much, MUCH better games would be created if there was a second nub!

Also, kudos to the guy who said if there is only one, it should be on the right. I've said that since PSP was announced and I stand by it.

I love my PSP but anyone smirking at the notion of a second nub is a fanblind. It's crying out for one; obviously too late for this model, but PSP2 MUST have it. Exactly as PS3's joypad always, ALWAYS needed rumble.

cafecito @ Mar 31st 2008 8:00PM

You guys are insane. Analog only on the right? Useless? C'mon. Even if it's just an unofficial mod, it'd work WONDERS on games like Monster Hunter, where the camera's assigned to the directional buttons.

Wolf @ Mar 31st 2008 9:48PM

I may have been a little misleading. What I meant to get across is that having just one and having it on the left side is useless. It wouldn't bother me to have a stick on the left, but I probably wouldn't use it for much. Digital is fine when you are only going in eight directions. WASD for example works flawlessly on the PC.

fframza @ Mar 31st 2008 7:58PM

I'm disappointed pspfanboy.
Ever since the the PSP came out the #1 complaint has been the lack of a second analog nub. Reuben is right, 3D games just work much much better with two analog sticks. And it doesn't take away from the PSPs simplicity to add a second nub.
It just doesn't make sense when you guys report on a mod allowing you to turn your PSP on without touching anything with a positive tone, but when there is a mod like this which is actually very helpful and appropriate, you act like it's a waste of time.
It's cool to be a fan of sony and the PSP, but it's dumb to deny obvious flaws, and to bash obvious improvements.

Tacoslave @ Mar 31st 2008 11:03PM

that is cool that would be pefect for shooting games

Chenchi @ Apr 1st 2008 10:03AM

Some poeple just can handle the fact that the second analog stick is not there for their fps needs. Honestly go play a fps on a pc wsad controls ftw I would never play one on a console or hand held.

For most console games the second stick just controls the camera around your character. The L and R have always done that just fine.

Gabriel @ Apr 26th 2008 12:23PM

hell, i dont know if he still retainded the triagle, square and other controls, but having another analog stick is good for when your playing shooting games like syphon filter, rather than using the nonsense look controls. and if he just soldered wires to the square and other "shape" contols he could use those normally as well.