Computer Games Controller Adaptor

Hi Derek,

it is a while since I have used any games controllers and I know I would have difficulties holding and operating them now. I used to play games on the playstation with my younger sister. I would always have to rest the controller on something like the back of a chair so that could then put my efforts into pressing the buttons and had wedge it between my fingers so that I could reach the buttons a the back – L1/L2 R1/R2. Also, I had a job to use the joystick things nearer the centre of the controller which I seem to remember my thumbs were meant to operate? As I say, it has been a while and it is possible that the PS controllers are different now.

Good luck with your project, please keep us informed of how you get on.

Best Wishes,

Sarah

Since the original PSone the basic shape of the controller has changed little. Basically, the only additions are L2 & R2 buttons & two small joy sticks in the centre on the PStwo & then the loss of the cable making it completely wireless & the addition of the dual shock (vibration) function on the PSthree. Having had all three I am lucky to still be able to manage the PS3 controller for now but, I don’t always have the vibration on as this can be very strenuous & uncomfortable on some games after a while. Also I don’t hold the controller freely, it sits in my hands & my hands are on my lap.

So, I guess most people want something to hold the controller to play games but, I doubt many will be able to raise their hands/arms to do that. I’ve also got the Wii but, rarely use it because most games are far too physical for me & the controller relies on motion generally. With the recent release of Playsation Move & the soon to be released Xbox Kinect (which completely relies on player movement, no controller here at all), it seems gaming & controllers are moving away from people sitting in an armchair or relaxing on their beds whiling the hours away & getting far more involved & physical. Whilst I appreciate their aiming at a generation of couch potato gamers & want them to get off their backsides it’s also in danger of excluding & alienating people like me.

I hope these motion controllers & motion sensors are limited to some games & not applied to all

@catatude wrote:

what would/ could be usefully would be some sort of stand /craddle(like the one they use in Toysrus on the demo games) for the controller to sit in while you play. with some sort of suction cup to stick it to a table or tray so that their is less of a chance of it falling on the floor half way thru a game.

That sounds like a great idea, some sort of stand for the controler tht takes the effort of holding the thing in place, leaving the user to manage the dexterity of using the controller.

I used to play consoles mainly xbox 360 and ps3 (have owned pretty much everything else in between) but always preferred the xbox 360 controller as it was easier to hold. However now I really struggle to get my hands round the controllers as my thumb on my left hand it pretty much locked in to the side of my hand and does not stretch very far. Anyway I have since moved on to only playing on my pc as I can manage a mouse and keyboard better to play games.

I have seen software available on the pc that can connect to a console and let you use the mouse and keyboard to play console games, but I don’t know how easy or good it is to use. Also I bought this thing for my PS3 to allow you to use a Xbox 360 pad on the ps3 it works ok, however the rear bumper buttons are a bit weird. that might be an idea for some people maybe.

hope this has helped a bit

I have been looking at the Razer Hydra : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKLv8tyL2vU

Although in terms of modding controllers into anything the makey makey is ace:
http://www.makeymakey.com/

http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/1/AGS/AGS-bespoke.htm