Controllers Everywhere....

I'm no reviewer but I feel the need to waffle.

I like the Xbox 360/Xbox one controllers. Not just because I've always been an Xbox fan but the layout is (at least for me) more natural. Mainly due to the offset thumb sticks. The PS controllers just don't do it for me. So in getting more controllers over the years it's always been additional 360/one controllers, especially for use with pc.

Recently it's become harder to get 360 controllers at a good price. I've always found 3rd party controllers to be shoddy, cheap and unusable. Not that I've bought any, but I've seen them through friends etc. Official controllers are overpriced, even if it's paying for quality sometimes you just need something reasonably priced.

360 controllers new are €80 upwards to insane prices. My local Game store sells second hand 360's with a controller for  €80-100. I pondered the second hand market but was always put off by it regardless of the good deals on price, mainly due to the chance you take on quality. If I was going to spend that kind of money on a 360 controller why not just go for an official new xbox one controller for the same price. Yet it's still a lot of money.

My need for another controller was down to a need for something I could use across multiple systems, PC, Laptop. Something that could get used and abused without feeling any loss if it does degrade/break. Quality but cheap, a tall order. I'm ánál enough to have good controllers, 'general' controllers and nobody touches my Elite controller!

So I found myself looking at the best of the second hand 360 controllers in a local chain. The shops buy cheap and sell overpriced but I saw a controller that seemed decent in both quality and price.
Getting it home I cleaned it up, took it apart and removed the usual funk n gunk. The shops do nothing but a cursory clean. Deep diving requires a screwdriver, alco wipes and some ear buds. All said and done the €22 controller clean was looking pretty sad. Which was a disappointment. The wear and tear really showed. Thumb sticks worn, case dented and scratched in places that seemed impossible. Disappointment but no regret. I decided a genuine controller with a face-lift was going to be worth going the extra mile for. Doubling down on my new buy meant buying a new shell/buttons etc. They are sold in kits online, so a few weeks later via China and a slow boat I got to refit the controller. It wasn't bad. A bit fiddly to do. I kept some original parts in place, the A,B,X,Y and xbox buttons and both trigger mechanisms but it all worked out. I was quiet happy with my Frankenstein creation.

Was it worth all the effort, yes I think it was, price wise it all cost about half of what a new xbox one controller would have cost and as a 360 controller is so rare...... Well it was worth it until it wasn't three weeks later. To be specific, the new case was more flexible at the seams than the original (materials matter); With use, a screw came loose and in a rushed annoyed action I pressed the shell together not noticing until it was too late, that I had trapped and snapped off the controller sync button(internal connection). Which made it useless. I had used it mainly on PC but in a switch over to a 360 console had re-synced it; With the button gone it didn't want to connect to anything. More damage done than I thought. I could have tried soldering it, I could also have fixed up the case, bought a cheap play/charge cable and used it wired...... But in fairness I'd had enough fecking about with it. I stripped it for parts and binned the rest. Cursing all the while. I was really done with the experience. I didn't want to chance more unknown or potential damage. It wasn't working out and putting a plaster on a plaster on an old gaping wound wasn't going to fix anything longterm. Enough was enough.

That was about two months ago. Long story short I was still looking for a decent controller. I'd put it on the back burner till a random search this week found a wired(usb), official licenced non Microsoft made Xbox one controller, compatible with windows. The "PDP Rock Candy Microsoft Xbox One Controller"; I even like the colours(Green / Red), retro and nostalgic(some might say gaudy but not me). With the €14.99 price it ticked a lot of boxes. Internet research was done and I was happy to buy. My PC is mainly themed on green, my laptop on red. Was this meant to be! I went all in and got two, one green and one red.

I expected the basic of basic but I am impressed with them. They really feel good in the hand. The buttons and triggers all feel right. The shape of the body is not totally smooth I'm sure for license reasons, but the angles that are there really work on an ergonomic level. The angle of grip for the bottom where your little/ring finger goes feels better in a way than a normal controller. The "Xbox" button works as normal on xbox and with Steam. It even has it's own audio additions.

The cable isn't an issue for length at 8 foot (usb/micro usb). It's connection to the controller is worth noting as the connection shroud is itself a part of the connection to the controller. This adds stability with enough moment that if it is tugged about it'll stay in place. Something that's not 'just' going to fall out.

PDP do a massive range of controllers, with variations on variations. I'm sure I've previously ignored this range, dismissing them as cheap and not worth it. They do slightly more expensive controllers at the €25-ish range and then up again, might be worth it if your after wireless or a different look.
Overall a range well worth it. 

The only down side (Such a minor, minor issue but I have to mention it) is with the controller thumbsticks. They bulge out rather then cave in. I'm more comfortable with the opposite so I'll be making another purchase to up the controller from 99% to 100%. Thumb Grip Caps.