The custom controller masters over at The Controller Shop have built a photo-realistic lab for their website, where customers can create and save their dream creations. As you can see, this is not always the best idea.
Blue sparkly directional pad? Check. Candy red buttons? Check. Pink and black metallic tiger striped face? Yup. Green Xbox gem? Why the hell not. Add a white rabbit decal and some yellow stick caps and you’ve got yourself a $US224.97 custom controller that looks almost exactly like the one I designed on the website.
Can you spot the differences?
For one, the black and pink are reversed in the final product. The plastic surrounding the gem, shown blue in the design, was left black. There are no menu or option symbols on the buttons of the finished controller.
The discrepancies aren’t particularly glaring, and there is a disclaimer at the bottom of the lap page: “Due to the fact that each of our controllers is hand-painted individually, your controller may not look exactly as it does in the lab when it is produced.” It’s hard to take umbrage with the minor differences.
It’s perfectly ok to get angry over a chip in the paint, and shoddy paint job around the edges of what would be the ‘B’ button, were it labelled. There’s also a chip out of the paint where the two pieces of the left hand grip meet. If I had to guess, I’d say my unit was rushed through production and skipped through quality control.
Which is a shame, because before I got in really close, I was pretty much in love with the design I’d created. It’s hideous and garish and obnoxious as hell, but… well, no buts. It fits right into our family dynamic here. I’m surprised the plain old Day One Xbox One controller hasn’t fled in terror.
Flaws aside, the controller does the job of an Xbox One controller admirably, because it is an Xbox One controller, just with paint all over it and those lovely analogue stick covers. And man, I do love the Omni grips — not enough to ever buy them separately, but enough to get all happy when they arrive pre-attached.
I’m also a huge fan of the rubberised handles. They’re a subtle change that make a whole lot of difference in terms prolonged controller comfort.
The Controller Shop has come a long way since 2012, when last I sampled its wares. Over the past two years they have managed to completely overhaul their ordering system, providing the visual creation system that was so sorely lacking. They have added PlayStation 4 and Xbox One controllers to the mix. The number of options for designs and decals is rather impressive.
If you’re in the market for a custom controller, I’m much more likely to recommend The Controller Shop today than I was two years ago. Just keep an eye out for flaws — if you’re paying a premium, you deserve a flawless product.
Comments
9 responses to “I Designed The Most Hideous Xbox One Controller”
Just needs some swanky lights and gold sequins, perhaps some big hair and it is ready to go back in time to the 70s
The alternative is it answering the question “Will it blend?”
Hmm never heard of these guys. There are much better choices for modded controllers rather than this sight.
like?
That is pretty hideous. I’m still waiting for the eventual release of a white DS4.
Weep for me, for I think that’s pretty and I love it.
(OH FFS, I am not posting too quickly. When, WHEN will this be fixed? It’s weeks now, which is just embarassing for a professional website)
I would have thought with the XBOX One’s clip together controllers they’d just 3D print out the designs. Won’t paint just chip and wear off right away?
The hideousness of that controller will haunt my dreams forever.
evilcontrollers.com is probably the best choice. Well known website, lots and lots of customisation option for controller designs or controller mods. Prices are what you’d you’d expect, $70usd for the controller plus what ever extras you add. Give it a look.
$280 for a ‘custom’ controller. Damn, that’s a lot.