[Mush xx]

Recently a new wireless green controller was announced with an improved D-Pad. It was first shown at the Leipzig Games Convention.

At first glance you may be forgiven for thinking it looks no different to any other Xbox 360 controller, except for the colour, but it all comes down to the mechanism in the D-Pad.

"The new limited-edition green wireless controller offers enhancements to d-Pad functionality, which will add to the experience of playing games where the d-Pad is the primary control mechanism. We're always looking to improve products and we made these changes based on feedback from gamers." Microsoft stated.



I was lucky enough to get hold of one of these and gave it to Ix Splat I to test it on one of his favourite genre of games- fighting games!

Those of you who are used to games like Street Fighter know that to pull off certain moves, such as Hadouken it requires you to rub the D-Pad in quarter circle from the down position upwards. The normal controller has very limited movement and makes these kind of moves difficult. Ix Splat I was always complaining that the D-Pad on the Xbox 360 controller didn't quite cut it when it came to fighting games and the D-Pad "just didn't work properly".

The D-Pad on this new controller allows for more responsive actions, it actually does go where you want it to and feels more fluid, allowing you to move directions much more quickly and pull off moves faster, even using the Xbox 360's onboard keyboard to type messages is much easier as the D-Pad goes where you want it to in any direction. When you place a regular Xbox 360 controller next to this new one you can really feel the difference, the regular one seems to click when you rub the D-Pad, whereas the new improved one feels more like the Analogue stick, allowing you to move it round in a circle without any resistance. Good news for those who love to use the D-Pad and not the Analogue sticks. Ix Splat I hasn't put the controller down since we got it.

The controller has been specially optimized for use with PES2009 and Street Fighter IV and will be released in October in Europe, Asia and Latin America while supplies last making this a very limited edition and there are no plans at this moment to incorporate this mechanism into regular Xbox 360 controllers.

It gets the thumbs up from us!

[The Betrayer]

Horrible colour though, could have picked a nicer green. I think I'll stick with my browny grey whiteish controller.

[Mechanical R]

Judging from last nights Soul Calibur 4 performance, the pad is very good

[DJ-Jonesy]

Mechanical R, on Sep 7 2008, 05:18 PM, said:

Judging from last nights Soul Calibur 4 performance, the pad is very good

Yeah some of his combos killed his in virtually one

[Bank of Dank]

Awe Splat came out to play and I missed it?

[Mush xx]

The photo actually doesn't do the pad justice, it's actually quite a nice shade of green, more like a mint green.

[R31DY]

Like this? --->

[Mush xx]

R31DY, on Sep 8 2008, 01:23 PM, said:

Like this? --->

Nope lol more of a lighter green

[GWD]

Seems pretty nice Im happy they improved on the D-pad I just wish that the color was a little bit different. It just looks hideous.

But i guess its not about looks its about performance.

[OppaErich]

R31DY, on Sep 8 2008, 01:23 PM, said:

Like this? --->

More like the game box green.

[Rochie IRL]

I still prefer the black and grey of the Elite controller..The green is a bit.....em nasty, the wife would want a green tv to match.

[xXBADGERXx]

I was looking at the Tekken video the other day and lamenting the fact that although it`s a brilliant game , the Xbox pad isn`t . I have just found the answer to my problem and will get the family to buy me one of these for Xmas

[NightmareVegas]

i have this and the picture dont do it justice
and the dpad feels a lot stronger 2