This is about as user friendly looking as being punched in the cock per letter typed.

Leetables

It's obviously not something to be used in the middle of action gameplay. But it doesn't seem hard to use either.

I hope the keys are easy to press without pressing like 3 of them at the same time.

Vashu

@RonCey:

One it's convenient in many reason. One you don't always sit at a computer desk or any sort of desk. You could be on a couch relaxing it would be bothering to switch between keyboard and controll all the time. Another reason is people don't like to clutter there desk with keyboards and mouses. They want it to look simple easy to access less bothered by it.

Another reason it's small easy to carry seeing as it fits right on the controller. So less travelling between rooms. Did I mention it's wireless so don't have to worry about having a to be so close to the tv or the ps cause you limited by a usb keyboard.

Cunder

"The good news is that neither Totilo nor Were-Totilo had trouble typing with the thing snapped onto a PS3 controller."

Really? You SURE?

Numanoid

Yikes, that doesn't look very efficient.

AnEternalEnigma

@IntelSilver:

It helps between switching from game to XMB. Less time using the controller to type got a mini keyboard over it. Just lick and switch to XMB and type up a quick response IM.

Cunder

Yeah.. I'll stick with my USB keyboard. Thanks, though.

CockneyKaiser

@Communist_Gamer: but even if it did have a use....why not just use a USB keyboard? the mind boggles

excel_excel

@Darkest Daze: You took the words right out of my mouth, heh. (at least, assuming you're being light-hearted about being offended. :) )

Spike

Did MS patent the position of the 360 chat pad? What is wrong with copying MS's or the ps2 chat pad? This just seems aesthetically unpleasing and annoying to use.

lancaster1

That's not nearly as hairy as you make it sound. Are you smooth in every other part of your body, Crecente? :)

DarkGildon

You have to move your hands out of playing position to use. Lame.

VSpeck

@Komrade_Kayce: exactly! there impossible to use with thumbs, you might as well be prodding the damn buttons with a stylus

excel_excel

Does anyone REALLY bother with this?

I know MSN doesn't quite have the same level of use across in the pond in America as it does here, but surely the 360s interface is far superior since not many people are going to be sending messages via PSN?

Or perhaps I'll stick with my original point. A console plays games, perhaps downloads stuff, and plays that 'stuff'. Nothing more. Why do I need all these forms of communication when anyone who has a PS3 will also have a computer?

Tacky, aimless, at least Nintendo don't do anything capitalist bastard level like this - wait a second...

Communist_Gamer

Still looks pretty damn uncomfortable.

MPSai

@PercyChuggs: Well, for me it is better as i am not a native English speaker, i can understand it but because my accent sometimes people have trouble understanding me.
Sending a message is better taking into account lots of people in my friend list speak English.

KamuZ

My lord, it is indeed a retarded stretch from gameplay position to reach the keys. The 360 one requires the simplest of thumb rotation to type, this requires moving your whole damn hands. No chance Sony, no chance.

NecronomiconUK

It would've been interesting to see how your finger position will change with the trigger/bumper buttons while you try to use your thumbs on the analog sticks.

dyl604

@excel_excel:

You can use a keyboard on the 360 also.

This is for those people who would like the option to not have a keyboard sitting next to them at all times.

Yeah, I don't know what the fuck is wrong with them either.

RonCey

Wow that looks awful. That looks like a lame counter to the 360 chat pad. At least that one is in a reasonable place.

I'll just keep using Xbox.com and my handy laptop keyboard to write messages thank you.

bakalhau

@excel_excel:

I feel the exact same way about the 360 keypad.

Useless shite compared to a real keyboard.

Komrade_Kayce

I would really like to see a video of that being used. I just cannot see how that would be comfortable unless you had long mutant thumbs.

twesterms 2nd

Its a damn shame you can't plug in USB keyboards in the PS3!......oh wait

excel_excel

I really don't see what's so difficult about having a regular keyboard next to you or in your lap.

R.C.Collins

Why do consumers need this now? Is the text messaging culture that big that texting is going to replace in-game chat as the new means of showing everyone else in the game how much of an immature douchebag you are? "OMG I M T-BAG'N U!"

PercyChuggs

@IntelSilver: And by that, I mean you don't need this...

IntelSilver

All you need is a Bluetooth mic and you're pretty much good to go.

IntelSilver

Hey! Those hands are less hairy then mine...I'm offended.

Darkest Daze

which fingers do they use? i imagine myself using my thumbs but it looks like a fair stretch.

kitsuneconundrum

I cant see any way that would be easy to use mid game.

cluster1990

Looks pretty good to me tbh.

Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.

@belo: Lucky then,that you do:)

xIvSlowDeath420

@cluster1990: It's not going to be... The 360 one has a better design... that one is just... horrible...

Gravnar

@Leetables: oh god, comment of the week right here

excel_excel

I wouldn't mind having one, but since keyboards work better and cost much less than $40-50, I'll pass.

Wolfers

Hairy hands are sexy hands. :(

KoW

YIKES! $40 or $50 as the price? fuck

excel_excel

"Aaah! You have a woman's hand, my lord! I wager these dainty pinkies never weighed anchor in a storm."
In fact I would go far as to say;
" Aaah! You have a woman's skin, my lord! I wager it never felt the lash of a cat, been rubbed with salt, and then flayed off by a pirate chief, to make fine stockings for his best cabin boy."

Weirdwolf

@excel_excel:
I have the Chat Pad add-on keyboard for the 360 controller and it's really useful!
IMO it's easier to use than the PS3 one because it's on the bottom of the controller and you don't have to stretch your fingers to reach the keys... But I haven't tried this one so I'll just wait and see!
The add-on gives you a lot of freedom and (again) IMO is more useful on the 360 due to the Live Messenger capabilities!

henri1kk

My only qualm is the price. For $10, I have a USB keyboard that's plenty long enough to reach my couch when I need to write a message, enter create-a-character info, etc.

I just don't personally see how this is a necessary upgrade, especially when you can buy something equal for much, much cheaper.

maravi

Should have ripped off the 360 .......who ripped off the Jaguar ......... which really didn't need that many buttons to begin with and wasn't really a keyboard......umm never mind.....long live Dreamcast.....no wait fuck... where was I......?

Who the hell types anymore anyways?
No wait

NEVERMIND.....BUT
People should write more..if only to keep themselves from forgetting what grammar can actually do for them in a social setting (like on KOTAKU )and not being relegated to some 10 year old tard with a southern accent yelling WAZZZZZUP in his mic for ten minutes in HALO.
and knowing is half the battle..... YO JOE.....

And yes I do have a problem with people with southern accents....................

Just kidding I hate everyone....

Zatoichi666

Hrm... honestly i'd rather have the option of putting down the controller and using a nearby keyboard...

belo

I don't mind it. Price is way too high though... its a damn attachment!

mablung

Damn that's ugly.

CanaryWundaboy

@kitsuneconundrum: Apes can stretch their fingers a lot more than humans, they should test the controllers with people also before releasing it.

VakeroRokero

May be the point is that you can't play and type at the same time and you can move your hand to a suitable position when typing. imagine playing and typing with the xbox controller, I don't think it will be nice. I don't know!

agmsd

Totilo seems like a cool guy, even with his hairy hands and odd comb-over style cut. I jest. ;)

sascha23

@cluster1990: for real. that thing looks ridiculus.

sampagne

@Darkest Daze:

I was going to say the same thing. There is a reason my wife started calling me "PapaBear." I think my dad was part yeti.

PapaBear434

@Artdeux: No, the chatpad is above them, there's a cutout for the shoulder buttons. Check out a side shot, it works well, actually.

Denalin

@Cunder: Thanks for the reply. I really don't see how it could possibly have been hard to figure out the benefits of a wireless mini-keyboard that attaches to your controller over a standard keyboard.

tok1879

@cluster1990: I'd rather switch to a real keyboard, but the 360 one would actually work, and this one wouldn't... The Sixaxis / dualshock is great on its own, but it isn't made for accessories like that.

bobtheduck

Wait...
Did they move the position of L1 and R1 to the top of the chatpad?

Artdeux

And some of you people complain about a mouse and keyboard being hard to use?

Yeah, that looks REAL easy......

mva5580

@cluster1990: I think it's meant to stay out of the way though. I couldn't be convinced without trying it first, but I like the fact that it doesn't make the bottom of the controller wider.

fecalchaos

this looks absolutely uncomfortable. How can you type? MS did an excellent job with the chatpad, and i don't think it'll be breach of design if Sony put it at the bottom.

mcool93

This doesn't look bad, but hard to say until I get a chance to try it, and for the price, hmm...

As for those saying "use a USB keyboard" that requires you to put the controller down to use it, and have the keyboard beside you/on your lap/wherever so can be a bit cumbersome.

Ecks

The PS3 has USB ports for a reason. Sorry Sony, but no go.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Cunder:

Yeah sorry, that last line was sarcasm.

RonCey

@undefined:
still going to use my apple bluetooth keyboard fits nicely on my lap whist sitting on a beanbag or on the floor beside me

eagle14

@mascot1063: I'm thinking you should give Sony's version of it a chance.

Mit

I don't see whats so bad about this. Having the keyboard under like the 360's just wouldn't work. The base of the 360's controller is much wider than the Dualshock, this works better for this controller.

Trailnutz

@ngin.small:

In my eyes they are both crap. ^^

For only ten (insert curtensy here) i get a good full funktional USB-Keyboard wich is much better for writing messages and a lot cheaper too. ^^

fELIXADER

I used to have the one for PS2. Then I got another one, cause the buttons stopped working. Keyboard and control pad. Then the second one started fucking up to. No can do with this one.

mascot1063

Do you guys are all on drugs, the 360 chatpad controller sucks. The d-pad is at the bottom......your thumbs are in the direction of left, right or up. This new controller looks a lot better.

ngin.small

So... I don't get why people think it'd be hard to use. Sure, it looks pretty awkward, but if you've ever held a dualshock, you kinda get the design.

yazman

My 360 chatpad it good, works better then you would initially think. I wonder if it is awkward for the keyboard to be on top though.

Quicksilver4648

You would think they would have a better pic of how it does or doesn't cover the shoulder buttons. I would think that would probably be an important observation. The fact that they didn't point it out leads me to think that they don't really hinder there use. People usualy tend to point out what they don't like more then what they do like.

Stikasasn

Looks okay to me. I need something like this =D

Crimsondramon

Cant wait to buy it! looks very sleek ^.-

wcgold22

That looks Horrid. I'll stick with my full sized wireless PS3 keyboard w/touchpad mouse. Works absolutely perfect, and was only 25 dollars.

DarthBrady

maybe they want you to type with your pointers???? try to be different than the 360 pad and this monstrosity is what you get

onlysublime

It looks totally stupid compared to the 360's chat pad, having the keyboard above the controller is just awkward.
But I'll still buy it to increase the weight of the PS3 controller.

XbhaskarX

@excel_excel: Yes, because although they all sit within the 5 meter max range, they also want a usb cable running across the room. Also, not everyone has the money to spend on buying either a bluetooth keyboard or a wireless usb hub... basically, there is a very valid reason people would choose this WIRELESS option.

darknessgp

Eh, it's cute.

But ponies are cute too and I want no ponies.

90sKid

@Spike: Definitely being light hearted. Somehow within the last 5 years, the Italian gene must have kicked in....good thing is that I don't need a coat in the winter; I bring my own.

Darkest Daze

@KamuZ: surely the talking helps you in that

Cueil

@twesterms 2nd: I dunno might not be that bad, you could just slide your hand up a little bit probably.

sereal

@dyl604: how would someone with small hands use it... wouldn't it be better on the bottom where you can just drop your thumbs down?

Cueil

This looks horrible honestly.

Doctor Dentz

Well.. uh.. if you squint really hard, it kinda looks like a Metroid. That's a plus, right?

Killtacular

It could be comfortable depending on how your hands are positioned on the controller.

Keeping 2 or 3 lower fingers under the grooves of the shoulder buttons should be fine for holding it up, and using the thumbs along with 1 or 2 fingers to type/hold the keypad should be enough to properly use.

bigdude209

It looks decent. I don't know why everyone is freaking out without even having tried it yet. These companies do a shit ton of user testing first and I'm sure if most people complained about inaccessibility, then it wouldn't be released as an official product. Like the original PS3 controllers, you guys have to give it a chance before you bitch it out of production. How else are we going to progress ergonomically?

everybest

@Numanoid: Yeah I can't really see how it's going to be easy to reach any of those buttons...

cheeseboybeans

@cluster1990:

Alright guys, I have an idea for the keypad...

So, you know how the Xbox has their keypad on the bottom of the controller so it's easy to type?

Well, I say we put ours on TOP, so that, uhm...

Amsterdaam

@bakalhau:

Agreed it's fugly and badly placed for comfortable typing.

RetroBob

Looks elegant... not.

Come one, this could have been released in the late 80ies. In which case we'd be laughing at it, retro-style.

lumpi

At least it would add some weight to the SixAxis controllers.

flukielukie

I think it looks great. If anyone picks up a SIXAXIS or DS3 and imagines the keyboard on it, they would notice that it would not be difficult to use a keyboard in that configuration.

The keyboard sits kind of hovering over the controller, so when your using the keyboard your actually holding the keyboard and not the controller.

cduran01

Bring back the creepy Wii Wheel hands!

navstar

@darknessgp: Except that you can buy a usb wireless keyboard for a whopping $25 compared to this thing's projected $40-50. So you get wireless keyboard, which does the same thing without awkward hand positioning, for half the price of the ps3 keypad.

unruly

That looks really awkward. Not even going into the curve of the keys, the sticks and buttons look like they'd get in the way. The 360's keyboard makes sense as if your using the main buttons, the keys on the keyboard are low profile enough to not accidentally press.

a_pink_poodle

@Darkest Daze: Werewolves of the world unite!

Petezah

@cheeseboybeans: agreed. It just looks like an awful design.

Adam In Texas

@cduran01:Looks are one thing. Function is something else.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Leetables: Sony's really ramping up their efforts to attract feminist gamers, I see.

AvidAbey

@Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.:

ya same...

i mean, maybe not as easy to use as the 360s, i really can't comment, having used neither, but to be honest, it DOES look usable... it looks convenient, more so than having an actual keyboard hanging around all the time.. and really, i can't wait to get one, since its annoying using the on-screen keyboard with the controller.

joeloliol

looks shit

f0cus

whoa do want!

trebors

I wonder if the people that are complaing about the fact that it is hard to use realize it is made to be out of the way and you are supposed to re-grip the controller to use it?

Hand_O_Death

@Amsterdaam: If you actually hold the DS3, you can tell it would be more comfortable, in this case, to reach reach up, instead of down.

It worked going down for the 360 controller since the 'wings' are more flat. The PS3 controller is really angled so it would be uncomfortable.

Either way, I'll still be using my normal keyboard that I bought just to use on my consoles

Sousanator

@Amsterdaam: You sound stupid. So because MS made a keyboard first, noone else is allowed to make one and put it -anywhere- because then it's stealing ideas?
So if Sony had done it first, MS doing it second you would have the made your comment say this:
"So, you know how the PS3 has their keypad on the top of the controller so it's easy to type?

Well, I say we put ours on BOTTOM, so that, uhm..."

SeraphX2

That looks good as hell.
Not smushed up and boxy like the 360 controller/sidekick
but open enough with all the right buttons, and fits like you'd type on a sidekick...

the 360 one is too low to smash hella fast on like you can if it's just a reach up.

Tilt the controller, folks, it's all about that SixAxiS baby. LOL

I MIGHT buy this...

SailentFire