which controller has the most accurate thumbsticks?

  • Thread starter nomis3613
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nomis3613

nomis3613

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Hi,
I'm looking to buy a new controller (yes, wheels are more accurate but I don't have the space) to replace the tired sixaxis. Since I use thumbsticks for steering and pedals, my priority is something with precise thumbsticks. It sounds like the extra stiffness of a DS3 will help, but I'm wondering if there are controllers out there with more accurate position sensors in the thumbsticks?
(it seems the resolution of the sixaxis is poor- as seen by the throttle bar if you slowly increase throttle- and it often jumps between these intervals when holding part-throttle)

Thanks,
Simon
 
If you're asking about aftermarket controllers; most of them, if not all, have less sensitivity than the SixAxis & DS3 controllers. It's the same with 360 controllers as well. You may way to try the DS3 if the sixaxis wasnt working well.

Could be dust or gunk built up in the lubricant of the thumbstick, too. I've got a DS3 that has a sticky thumbstick which likes to lockup during gameplay. If you've ever taken apart a PS3 controller, you could try clearing it as a last resort before buying a new one.
 
nomis3613
Hi,
I'm looking to buy a new controller (yes, wheels are more accurate but I don't have the space) to replace the tired sixaxis. Since I use thumbsticks for steering and pedals, my priority is something with precise thumbsticks. It sounds like the extra stiffness of a DS3 will help, but I'm wondering if there are controllers out there with more accurate position sensors in the thumbsticks?
(it seems the resolution of the sixaxis is poor- as seen by the throttle bar if you slowly increase throttle- and it often jumps between these intervals when holding part-throttle)

Thanks,
Simon
Click to expand...

My G27 is actually hooked to an IKEA stool, pedals fits perfectly underneath, shifter is under the wheel.
 
I've used a bunch of different controllers for all the different Playstations.
I have found that it's cheaper, and less frustrating to just drop the $60 on a DS3, instead of dropping $15 - 30 EACH on a myriad of "off-brand" controllers that don't do what a DS3 does.
The only possible exception is IF Logitech makes a PS3 Controller that is as good as their PS2 controller was....
Though it still wasn't as sturdy as the DS2 I was using at the time.... But it offered awesome control.
 
Thanks everyone for your help.

The controller extenders are something I've looked into. But I thought it best to first fix the fundamental problem of poor resolution for the sixaxis stick. It's something I'll be looking into afterwards though, thanks for the tip.

And the HKS controller was tempting, but I'm scared cos a lot of the reviews say it broke within a couple of months. (Also, a normal controller would be better if I ever decide to play another game aside from GT5!!)

Seems like geniune Sony DS3 is the way to go, I'll get one of these. (Also, having a 2nd controller makes me seem less antisocial :P)

Thanks,
Simon
 
Keep in mind that the GT5 throttle is dramatically more sensitive in the 50-100% range than it is in the 0-50% range.

I don't know if it is that way for the face buttons, but whether I've used the trigger or the stick I found it to behave exactly the same. You slowly increase to 50% and then increase a tiny bit more and it jumps all the way to 95%, and it can be quite tricky (particularly if you don't use it all the time)to find the exact touch needed to have proper throttle control above 50%. I'd love to hear what the reasoning for this is as the only thing it appears to accomplish is making driving much more difficult. It's not a DS3 issue, it's a GT5 issue.

Not saying that that is the entirety of your problem, and there are those who say I'm crazy and their sticks don't act like that. I'm just saying that it could make deciphering your exact problem more complicated, and that a different controller might not help if that is what it is. The only way I've been able to get a linear throttle is with a pedal.
 
You don't need a lot of room for a wheel. 100 bucks for DFGT.
55 bucks for a controller and 20 for extenders.Buy the wheel trust me
 
nomis3613
Thanks everyone for your help.
(snip)

Seems like geniune Sony DS3 is the way to go, I'll get one of these. (Also, having a 2nd controller makes me seem less antisocial :P)

Thanks,
Simon
Click to expand...
Well, yes. But you also always have a charged up controller...
 
Buy a new ds3 at best buy. Get the 2 year warranty for 10.00 more. Return the ds3 every 4 months saying it sticks. They don't even look at it. 70.00 = 6 new controllers.

But a dfgt is still a better deal.
 
Thanks everyone for your help.

The DS3 controller arrived today, after comparing it back-to-back with the old sixaxis, the results are the opposite of what I expected!

Around Grand Valley East with the new DS3, an M3 CSL felt terribly reluctant to turn and then way too easy to smoke the rear tyres on the way out of slow corners. Of course, I expected it to take some time to get used to the DS3 (mainly due to the stiffer thumbsticks) but nothing as bad as this. Swapping back to the sixaxis, the car became wonderfully agile and dancing the rear around on the throttle was a joy. I eventually got a similar lap time with the DS3 but it always felt like I was threading a much finer needle.

So I did a comparison of how the throttle and brake indicators reacted to each controller. To start with, there is a much bigger "dead zone" at the start of the DS3's thumbsticks and triggers. I can move the DS3 a few millimeters with nothing happening, but the sixaxis reacts almost instantly.

Also, the DS3 reaches full throttle/braking a long way before the end of the thumbstick/trigger is fully pressed. Combined with the dead zone, this means the actual range of motion of the DS3 is a lot smaller than the sixaxis. So much that I had very little control over the braking force in the 50-100% zone.

Strangely, the sixaxis didn't have any of the part-throttle "jumping around" which I'd previously seen. Maybe this has been fixed in software since I noticed the problem?

Anyway, looks like I'll be sticking to the old sixaxis :dunce:
 
I seem to remember a thread not so long ago where someone was saying old ps2 controllers worked better than ds3s do for gt5...
 
I am using a DS2 right now, it works a lot better than my DS3. Need a bit of gamble to find a good one - mine needs 3 time more pressure for full brake or throttle face buttons than DS3, but most DS2 original stick have better sensitivity than DS3. I got it from other 3 DS2 sticks that are gathering dust, did some salvaging. If you used to have PS2, give it a shot, you will need USB converter for PS3. I also have made a thread about using the rubber band trick to get the analog stick more precise and smoother - which works to any DS2 or DS3

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=256326

Hope this helps :)

Edit :
hairystig
I seem to remember a thread not so long ago where someone was saying old ps2 controllers worked better than ds3s do for gt5...
Click to expand...

That was probably me, as I am might be the only one here in GTP who uses modified DS2 with USB converter :nervous:
 
Ha ha awesome, if I still had my old job fixing consoles where we had literally tonnes of old controllers kicking around I would be all over this but for now I'm trawling second hand shops for old ds2s, what's the usb converter I'll need?
 
hairystig
Ha ha awesome, if I still had my old job fixing consoles where we had literally tonnes of old controllers kicking around I would be all over this but for now I'm trawling second hand shops for old ds2s, what's the usb converter I'll need?
Click to expand...

I have a chinese brand PS2 USB Converter compatible with PC and PS3.

My mod for the DS2 were simple, just try different inner rubber pad for the face buttons from other DS2 or DS1 stick until you get the desired level of pressure need for full input register. The shoulder buttons inner rubber usually are the same across different stick, unlike the face buttons and D pad which have different pressure sensitivity. I also added a piece of tissue paper between the electronic board and the rear casing for tighter feeling.

The results are shown in one of my replay video done with the aforementioned stick, check my post here :

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=7192440#post7192440

Edit : DS1 from old PSX also can be used for salvaging, the only usable parts are only the inner rubber pad for the face buttons and Dpad, so if you have broken stick, there's nothing to lose there.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys, I have a controller question and maybe someone can answer it.
When I`m driving on the X-Track, sometimes a car will go pass like it`s doing a million miles an hour and not just glitching, I drive with a steering wheel, and I want to know if there`s a button on a certain type controller or something that lets a person do that at will, like a Turbo button?
 
nomis3613
Thanks everyone for your help.

The DS3 controller arrived today, after comparing it back-to-back with the old sixaxis, the results are the opposite of what I expected!

Around Grand Valley East with the new DS3, an M3 CSL felt terribly reluctant to turn and then way too easy to smoke the rear tyres on the way out of slow corners. Of course, I expected it to take some time to get used to the DS3 (mainly due to the stiffer thumbsticks) but nothing as bad as this. Swapping back to the sixaxis, the car became wonderfully agile and dancing the rear around on the throttle was a joy. I eventually got a similar lap time with the DS3 but it always felt like I was threading a much finer needle.

So I did a comparison of how the throttle and brake indicators reacted to each controller. To start with, there is a much bigger "dead zone" at the start of the DS3's thumbsticks and triggers. I can move the DS3 a few millimeters with nothing happening, but the sixaxis reacts almost instantly.

Also, the DS3 reaches full throttle/braking a long way before the end of the thumbstick/trigger is fully pressed. Combined with the dead zone, this means the actual range of motion of the DS3 is a lot smaller than the sixaxis. So much that I had very little control over the braking force in the 50-100% zone.

Strangely, the sixaxis didn't have any of the part-throttle "jumping around" which I'd previously seen. Maybe this has been fixed in software since I noticed the problem?

Anyway, looks like I'll be sticking to the old sixaxis :dunce:
Click to expand...


You need to break it in or it will not perform the way you want.
 
Veyron Tony
Hi guys, I have a controller question and maybe someone can answer it.
When I`m driving on the X-Track, sometimes a car will go pass like it`s doing a million miles an hour and not just glitching, I drive with a steering wheel, and I want to know if there`s a button on a certain type controller or something that lets a person do that at will, like a Turbo button?
Click to expand...

No...
 
Veyron Tony
Hi guys, I have a controller question and maybe someone can answer it.
When I`m driving on the X-Track, sometimes a car will go pass like it`s doing a million miles an hour and not just glitching, I drive with a steering wheel, and I want to know if there`s a button on a certain type controller or something that lets a person do that at will, like a Turbo button?
Click to expand...

On SSRX, I can't see the controllef having anything to do with it, considering the track is mostly straight. Either it's the internet connection or thst person's car is just faster than yours. If the car is an X2010/11, than the million miles per hour thing is true.
 
Not X2010/11, similar cars like Bugatti. It just seems strange to see another of the same going past at such a rate (w/o draft) when you know the car you`re in is fast.
But if no is the answer, so be it. Thanx
 

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