Loyal podcast listeners may recall my old friend Alex Verrey from Mad Catz shilling his wares informing everyone of the line of Call of Duty: Black Ops controllers and accessories a few weeks back. He promised to send me some of it so I could check it out — and he kept that promise. I’ve taken the last week to test out several products from the line — and I’m a big hardware geek, so my standards are high. I’ve split my findings into to two simple categories: part one is console stuff and part two is PC stuff. And all the lovely product photos were custom shot by Kat.
So. Let’s get geeky.
PrecisionAIM Controller for Xbox 360
$49.99
Yes, it's corded
What It Is: A custom-designed Xbox 360 gamepad with two assignable “Combat” buttons on the underside. In the Precision setting, those buttons keep your aim steady by restricting the travel of your analog sticks when pressed; alternately they can do double duty for the face buttons or analog stick button presses. Also, it glows red when you plug it in.
What I Normally Use: Microsoft’s stock Xbox 360 controller, like everybody else.
What I Liked: The rubber grips on the sides feel comfortable and secure without adding bulk to the controller. Triggers feature beefy springs with stronger resistance than the normal controller. D-pad gave me no troubles when planting claymores or calling in care packages. Braided cable is nearly ten feet long yet tangle-free. Ten bucks less than the Microsoft gamepad.
What I Didn’t: I didn’t use the combat buttons much; they worked fine, I just didn’t incorporate them into my game. The controller is not wireless, but we all know that Microsoft is protective of its wireless tech. I use wired controllers fairly often because I often play at a desk with a 23” TV, but even with a three-meter cord, this may be an issue for couch gamers.
Verdict: Different enough to be distinctive, but similar enough to the standard controller in all the important ways – I played for two hours and I never felt like I was fighting the controller. It feels natural and won’t throw your game off.
Wireless PrecisionAIM Controller for PlayStation 3
$49.99
Dig that groovy red glow!
What It Is: A replacement PS3 controller with glowing red lights beneath the joysticks and two assignable “Combat” buttons on the underside of the controller, which you can easily tap with your middle fingers. Those can double as the face buttons, L3 and R3 buttons, or in Precision mode will restrict your analog stick feedback so they move in much smaller increments. Comes with a USB charging cable.
What I Normally Use: Sony’s DualShock 3 controller – the standard.
What I Liked: The rubber grips offer a nice feel, and I liked the flanged L2 and R2 buttons – they feel more like triggers and they offer strong resistance. A switch lets you turn the glowing red lights on or off, but I think they’re fun so I let ‘em glow. I’m just going to recharge it anyway.
What I Didn’t: It’s wireless but it’s not Bluetooth – the controller uses a USB dongle to communicate, and I had to sacrifice one of the USB ports for that. The d-pad required more force than I wanted to exert; I have a soft touch, so calling in spy planes didn’t always register. The unit feels a little light for my tastes. And the Precision AIM buttons worked, but I felt like it was one more thing to think about.
Verdict: I used to be very comfortable with the regular Dual Shock pad, but after a few years covering Xbox platforms for work, it’s started to feel awkward to me. I was really hoping this would be a viable alternative for me, but it’s not fitting my sense of “what’s right.” Your mileage may vary.
Stealth Inductive Charger for Wii
$39.99
Wiimotes not included, mind you
What It Is: An induction charging base and two NiMH batteries that clip into your Wiimotes. To charge your controllers, just place them on the AC-powered plate. The base features a lenticular version of the Black Ops SOG logo.
What I Normally Use: Nyko Wii Charge Station, or regular remotes with rechargeable AAs.
What I Liked: Magnets in the base keep the remotes from sliding around. If you’re using silicone sleeves, you don’t have to remove them for it to charge (a major perk over the Nyko system I’m using, which was designed before the silicone sleeves became the norm). Brain-dead easy – just place them down and Your Friend Science does all the work.
What I Didn’t: Nothing really, but while subsequent charges are basically just top-offs, the initial charge will take a long time. I stopped watching the lights blink after about seven hours. Start charging the day before your big gaming session, not the day of.
Verdict: Your Wii controllers will always be charged and you won’t misplace them between sessions? Win/win.
If you’re a PC gamer, check out part two — I tried out the mouse, mousing surface, and those big-ass headphones.
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