If I have been disappointed with anything about my PS3, it has been the controller. From the battery charge system, to lack of rumble, to the funky R2/L2 triggers, to the cheap feel of the controller, the new Sixaxis controller is serviceable at best, but should have been a whole lot better.
I have not figured out a pattern on how long the Sixaxis holds a charge, but they do seem to charge up fairly quickly. Since I have two controllers, I keep one connected to charge up, and switch between controllers every couple of days. I could be cutting the life short on the controllers by constantly charging them, but it is nice to always have a wireless controller available.
I do not think the removal of rumble support is a huge deal, but it is funny how accustomed to it I have become over the years. It would be nice to feel some feedback in F1CE when I crash, bump into another car, or take it into the grass or kitty liter. If I do not buy a PS2 adaptor, my PS2 games will no longer support rumble. I have so many PS2 games that I may spend some money on an adaptor just so I can use my Logitect controller and/or a standard Dual Shock for games where rumble is actually helpful.
The Sixaxis controller changed the design of the R2/L2 buttons to have a lot more give. While not a pure trigger (analog on/off) they are pressure sensitive, providing varying degrees of input for things like gas and brakes in F1CE. I guess it is just a matter of preference, but so far I do not like these buttons.
While I am extremely comfortable with the new Sixaxis controller (it is the same basic PlayStation style controller that we have been using for years), it is just so damn light compared to the Logitect wireless PS2 controller that I have been using for the last few years. By comparison, the Sixaxis controller feels light to the point that it gives the impression of being cheaply made.
All in all, Sony could have done a better job with the new Sixaxis controller, but I suppose things could have been a lot worse. That damn boomerang prototype concept artwork was for the birds.
