Afterglow Prismatic Controller & LVL 5+ Wired Headset – Review (@pdpgaming)

With so much selection as far as gaming peripherals go, it can be hard to choose between them all. Today I have the PDP (Performance Designed Products) Afterglow Prismatic Controller for the Xbox One to review, and this is one product that I am looking forward to getting to grips with. Alongside the controller review, I also have the Afterglow LVL 5+ Wired Headset review included.

The first thing you see is the eye-catching, high quality packaging. The front of said packaging shows a holographic type image of the controller that changes colour as you move the box around. The back of the packaging has information about the “Signature Prismatic LED Lighting” which informs you that you can change the colour and brightness of the LED lights. Also included is a brief description of the Dual Multi-Function Wheels, as well as the 3.5mm Audio Jack and controls.

Upon removing the controller from the box, I was instantly impressed with the build quality. Made from a transparent plastic, you are able to see the circuit board and the internal parts of the analogue sticks, rumble packs, etc. The actual controller itself feels very close in quality to the official Microsoft Xbox One controller, as do the A, B, X, Y buttons and the bumpers and triggers. Also included in the box is the user manual, and a 10 foot USB cable.

Now, I will admit, I was expecting my first time using the controller and setting the LED colour, programming the rear wheels, and generally getting to grips with things, to be a bit of a daunting task. How wrong was I?! From the moment I had the controller powered on, I found it very easy to assign the wheels to buttons, as well as changing the LED colour to one that suited me, and lastly, putting the controller into Prismatic mode (I will admit that I found this by accident and it took me a few button presses to figure out what it was that I pressed initially).

There is a small button on the back of the controller, located in the middle between the two wheels that is basically your gateway to fully customising the controller to your needs and preferences. Simply click the button once so that the LED on the front of the controller changes to blue. You can then use the left analogue stick to control the brightness of the LED and the right stick to cycle through the colours. Once you have chosen your preferred colour, press the button on the back to store your colour choice. If you would like to use Prismatic mode, press the button on the back to get the blue LED on the front and click Up on the D-Pad. To set the rear wheels to your preferred buttons, press the same button on the back of the controller twice so that the LED shows as green and then press the wheel of your choice (the LED should then flash green) at the same time as the button you wish to map it to, then simply release the rear wheel. The wheels on the back each have three different functions – scroll up and down, and also press the wheel inwards – so six in total! Lastly, if you would like to turn off the rumble packs inside the controller, press the rear function button three times so you see a yellow LED on the front and click Down on the D-Pad. To turn them back on, press the function button three times and click Up on the D-Pad. If the rumble is on, when you get to the yellow LED light, you will see red LED’s on either side of the controller – if they are off, no red LED lights are visible.  Lastly, to mute the mic when you have a headset connected, press the button that is located beside the right analogue stick, and press again to unmute.

As previously mentioned, the controller quality is pretty amazing. I love the feel of the analogue sticks, maybe more than I like the sticks on the official Xbox controller. They seem to have more grip to them than the original controller sticks, meaning that the usual add-ons that I use for gaming are no longer needed! The controller itself is very light to hold, but it is still very comfortable to have in your hands. I feel that for my size hands, which I would probably say are medium-ish, the buttons on the back of the controller are in the perfect position. The only drawback that I have with this controller is the fact that it is wired. Now this may not be an issue for many people, but for some, maybe with young children or pets, a wired controller may not be the suitable choice.

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Now to move on and cover the Afterglow LVL 5+ Wired Headset.

I’m a stickler for headsets and always enjoy my game more when I have loud game play coming through a headset rather than a TV. To be able to do that, I need a headset that isn’t going to disappoint.

The LVL 5+ headset packaging, much like the Prismatic Controller, is very informative. The front of the box sports a nice side profile image of the headset. The rear of the box gives ample information on the back of the packaging, which includes additional bass impact drivers, easy accessible volume controls, and also the fact that it is compatible with the newer 3.5mm Xbox One controllers.

In the box you simply get the headset, 2 x AAA batteries, and a user guide, though you really don’t expect to find more than that. The LVL 5+ headset has a long cable that comes down from the left ear cup with a 3.5mm jack on the end. It also has impressive 40mm Neodymium drivers. The volume controls are also located on the left ear cup, and so is the fully adjustable and flexible microphone. The Afterglow branded headband feels nice and comfortable due to the soft material used – this material is also on the ear cups, which only adds to the comfort. Lastly, the bottom half of the ear cups contains the LED lighting that we have become used to seeing on PDP products.

Getting started is really simple. While the provided batteries are not required, using them allows you to use the headset to its full potential. Simply slot in the batteries provided, plug-in the 3.5mm jack (please note; you will need either the Xbox One chat adapter, or a newer Xbox One controller with the 3.5mm port), and you’re good to go. Once the batteries are inserted, the LED lights come to life (green for Xbox One, blue for PS4). You also have the option to enable the Quad Boost function.

Sound quality on this headset is actually pretty good, especially for the price that you pay. I was told that the sound of my voice when using the microphone was clear, though the volume was a little on the low side unless I had the mic close to my mouth. The sound of the game play, however, was really good. I was able to notice the direction of explosions and gunfire, yet was able to sit back and take in the sounds during more relaxed game play. It is worth mentioning that the headset volume control does not work without the batteries. Whereas other headsets draw power from the controller itself, this one does not.

I feel that with the Prismatic controller, PDP have covered all bases. While some features may take a bit of getting used to, or may even be seen as a bit of a gimmick, the controller is a pleasure to use and in some ways, I actually prefer it over the Microsoft controller. When coupled with the LVL 5+ headset, you really are good to go! The easy access volume controls, on-the-fly button re-mapping, and the impressive LED lighting on both products definitely sets them apart from competitors.  Both products compliment each other really well, and for the price you pay, I would highly recommend both the headset and the controller.

You can pre-order the Prismatic Controller from Amazon UK due for release on November 27th (£49.99).  You can pre-order the LVL 5+ Headset from Amazon UK due for release on November 20th (£37.99).  Both prices correct at time of posting.

Thanks to PDP for supplying both products for review.  Be sure to head over to their website, visit their Facebook, Twitter & Instagram pages!

PDP Afterglow Prismatic Wireless Headset – Review (@PDPgaming)

When it comes to choosing a new headset for your gaming needs, there is definitely a lot of choice about.  As well as having a large selection of headsets, there are also many different price ranges to choose from.  Do you buy something cheap and cheerful, something in the middle, or splash out on top of the range gadgets with 5.1 this and 7.1 that? Well, I’m hoping that the Afterglow Prismatic Wireless headset from PDP (Performance Designed Products) will show that you don’t have to spend huge amounts of cash to get decent, all-round quality.

As always, with any product, the first thing you notice is the packaging.  The box for the Prismatic headset is easy on the eye.  The front shows a view of the headset from the side, showing the different colours available for the illuminated earpieces.  It also gives you a list of devices that the headset is compatible with.  In this case, you can use the Prismatic headset with the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii & Wii U, PC, and mobile devices.  It’s worth noting that with the Xbox One chat adapter, you can also use this headset with the Xbox One console, and I’m assuming that it works in the same way for the PS4, although I am unable to try this as I do not own one.  The sides of the box has a feature comparison chart, as well as a run down of the custom audio profiles (see images).  Lastly, the back of the box shows a list of what the headset can do – from extraordinary sound, to the easy slide microphone.

Now for the box contents.  To state the obvious, there’s a headset in the box!  As well as the headset, there is a large collection of wires – 2.5mm to 2.5mm (chat cable for Xbox 360), 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, RCA cable with a 3.5mm connector, mini USB cable, and the wireless USB dongle (which is connected by default to the RCA cable via the 3.5.. connector).  As you can see, there is a cable for every occasion!  It is recommended that you charge the headset before using it for the first time, something that I did not do.  I soon charged it once I noticed a low hum while wearing the headset.  To charge, simply hook up the included mini USB cable and watch the lights in the earpieces flash away until the charging is completed, in which case, the flashing stops.

The headset itself seems to be very well built and sturdy.  The earpieces are made of a polyurethane leather type material, which only adds to the comfort of the ‘around the ear’ design.  The earpieces themselves are a decent size, but could possibly be a little bigger for those people with bigger ears.  The headset has a nice amount of flexibility, and is adjustable, although the earpieces do not rotate. The headband is made of plastic and sports the Afterglow branding and when adjusted, you can see the thin metal reinforcement strip that foes through the headband to the earpieces.  Lastly, the inside of the headband has a very nice padding which adds to the comfort factor when in use.  The left ear cup is where all controls can be found.  On the outside of the earpiece itself, there is a transparent plastic design.  Being able to see through to the inside allows you to see the circuit boards, etc, which actually looks quite nice! On the outer side of the earpiece is where the volume wheel is, as well as the mixer slider for voice and game sounds, connections for the 2.5mm Xbox 360 cable input, line in, and the mini USB port.  The front of the left earpiece is where the microphone can be found and pulled out for use, next to which is the Mode button that allows you to choose which lets you select the audio profile that you wish to use.  Lastly, on the outer left earpiece is where you’ll find the power/mute button.

Now for the fun stuff!  Hooking the headset up to the PC was as simple as it could have been.  Simply plug the USB dongle into a free USB port on the PC itself, and then connect the 3.5mm jack to the speaker/headphone port on the sound card.  Once the drivers have installed themselves, you are good to go!  To turn the headset on, simply press in the button on the left earpiece until it lights up blue and you’re good to go.  Unfortunately, because of the amount of devices I have hooked up to my PC, there is a bit of a hum – this is only present on the PC and with the sound turned down slightly, the hum is not always noticeable.  To set the colour to one that you prefer, simply hold in the Mode button for a few seconds until it starts cycling through the available colours.  When you get to your desired colour, stop pressing the Mode button in and it will stay on the selected colour until the headset is powered off and back on again, or until it is changed manually – if you would rather stay colourless, you can depress the Mode button when you come to the part of the cycle that doesn’t feature a colour. The Mode button also allows you to choose one of the three audio profiles – Pure Audio (blue), Bass Boost (red) and Immersive (purple).  It’s easy to keep track of which profile you have chosen as there is a light at the end of the microphone that changes colour as you cycle through the profiles.

Even though the Prismatic headset is primarily a previous gen headset, I was unable to try it with an Xbox 360 as I sold it literally the day before it arrived.  I did, however, hook up the 3.5mm audio cable to the headset and also to the chat adapter connected to my Xbox One controller and was able to use it for both game audio and chat.  I was informed by friends that my voice came across nice and clear, and it was the same for me whilst listening to them.  I’ve also connected it up to my phone to listen to music, and as previously mentioned, it has been used on the PC.  My partner even likes to take it upstairs at bedtime and hook it up to the TV so that he can watch without disturbing me.

As far as sound quality goes, I have no gripes with the headset.  Game play was clear and I was able to decipher which location footsteps and gunshots were coming from whilst playing Call of Duty, and hearing the revs of engines in Forza 6 was just mind-blowing.  On the other hand, watching TV and listening to music were both impressive, even more-so with the bass boost audio profile in play – I like to think that the 50mm speakers played a nice role in this!  While on the subject of the bass boost audio profile, the bass levels are more than adequate when in pure audio and immersive profiles – having that bit of extra oomph never hurts though.

Overall, I am very impressed with the Prismatic headset.  The sound quality is great, the build quality is sturdy & makes the headset feel like it can withstand every day uses with ease, and the fact that it can be used across multiple platform makes the whole package worthwhile.  Althought the lights are a cool feature, I can’t see myself sitting here each time I use the headset and scrolling through all of the colours to choose the one I want.  A great headset that won’t break the bank as much as other gaming headsets.  You can currently grab this headset for around £70 on Amazon UK (at time of posting).

Be sure to head over to the PDP website, visit their Facebook, Twitter & Instagram pages!

NoScope Gaming Glasses – Review (@NoScopeGlasses)

I’m sure that eye fatigue is something that all gamers and PC users have experienced at one point or another.  Whether it results in that annoying grainy feeling in your eyes, headaches, or even nausea, it’s never nice, that’s for sure.  Being a sufferer of all of the above, eyt having to spend extended periods of time on the PC and gaming, I was after a solution without breaking the bank. Today, I have a review of the newest gaming and PC glasses on the market from NoScope – a pair from their “Demon Series“.  Check out the unboxing video for a detailed view.

[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEekMiuAKbw[/embedyt]

A good starting point would be price and delivery.  You can pick up a pair of these glasses for around £19 GBP – that’s including delivery.  Delivery time from the US to the UK was only a week, so that’s definitely a plus in my book.

The glasses arrived very well packaged and protected.  The come in a rather large cardboard box, and when opened, the glasses themselves are in a transparent zip closed plastic bag.  Also bundled in with the glasses is a nice material pouch for the glasses which sports the NoScope logo, as well as a lint free cloth for keeping the glasses lenses clean and dust free.

The glasses are made from lightweight plastic and it is said that “One size fits all”.  We’ll get to that soon though.  The glasses also have yellow tinted lenses that are supposed to help reduce symptoms of eye strain.  Between the lenses is a nicely placed NoScope logo – nicely placed because it is not too in your face, but it is noticeable enough so you know which company the glasses come from.

The glasses themselves are very lightweight and from what I can tell, the “One size fits all” claim is a valid one.  While I don’t have the biggest of heads, the size difference between mine and my partners is definitely noticeable – to put it nicely.  We were both able to wear the glasses for an extended period of time without experiencing any loose fitting or discomfort.  I have actually been able to sit at the PC for longer than half hour here and there without getting hit with a horrible feeling of dizziness and nausea, and that’s always a plus in my book!

I know that compared to other PC/Gaming glasses companies, the NoScope glasses are only available in one style, and not currently available as prescription glasses, but for the price, you can’t really complain.  They do what you expect them to do at a price that everyone can afford.  Who knows, there could be more styles on the way – for the record, that would be awesome!

For the price you pay and the way that they combat eye strain and fatigue, I’ll be wearing these for a long time to come and will happily suggest them to people that ask.

Venom Power Bank – PS3 – Review (@VenomGamingUK)

I doubt that there is a single gamer out there that would not like to extend their controller battery life, even slightly.  It’s even worse if you are using a PS3 controller and the only way to rectify the flat battery issue is to have either a spare, charged controller, or sit with the charger cable attached to the console and controller so you can play while charging.  Now though, there is a way around this – the Officially Licensed Venom Power Bank for PS3 controllers.

The Power Bank comes packaged in a nice blue and white box that shows how the unit looks by itself, as well as when it is hooked on to your controller.  Also included is the “Official Licensed Product logo for PlayStation, and on the back, is some additional information.  Inside the box, you have a User Guide, the Power Bank, and a USB charger cable.

The Power Bank is a small unit that is actually really nice to look at.  It is small, sleek, and is the size you would expect it to be.  The unit is small enough that it attaches to the controller via the USB port on the top.  To hold it in place securely, the Power Bank has a small clip on the bottom that fits snugly around the base of the controller.  You can fully charge the unit between uses by unclipping it from the controller and hook up the USB cable that is provided in the box, and once fully charged, it provides up to an additional 20 hours of controller use time.

For something so small to be so practical, it is probably a must-have for PS3 users.  You can pick one up for the price of £19.99 from the Venom Play Store, with free delivery.  This is something that is easy to use and that would prove handy for all gamers.

Venom Vibration XT+ Multi Platform Gaming Headset – Review (@VenomGamingUK)

Today, I have the Venom Vibration XT+ Headset for review.  The XT+ is a step up from the XT model, and has added support for the PlayStation 4 console.  As well as working with the PS4, you can also use it with the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Mac.

First up, the packaging.  The front of the box has a half and half design going on.  The left side of the box has the Venom logo, the name of the headset, and a short bit of text informing you about the vibration technology that is included.  The right hand side of the front of the box gives you a view of one side of the headset through a clear plastic window.  Under this window there is a list of the platforms that this headset can be used with.  The back of the box lists several pieces of information related to the headset, including the fact that the headset boasts 40mm drivers, as well as the 3.85 metre cable.  At the bottom of the rear of the box there are a couple of diagrams showing how to quickly set up the headset for both component and HDMI cables.

The headset itself is securely transported in a clear plastic insert.  The first thing I noticed when removing the headset from the box is how light the headset is.  It has a nicely padded, fully adjustable, Venom branded headband, padded earcups which both have the Venom logo, and the generous 3.85 metre cable. The cable contains the inline volume controls, the USB connector, component cable adapters, and the 2.5mm plug for the Xbox 360 controllers.  Also included in the box is a detachable microphone for the headset, and a user manual.

Connecting the headset up to your platform of choice is reasonably straightforward, especially if you are familiar with setting up headsets previously.  If you do get stuck, the included user manual is helpful as far as getting you up and running.

I don’t have a PS4 so was unable to test it with that console, but I did put it through its paces on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.  The headset vibration feature is something that worked surprisingly well and being able to control the amount of vibration using the dedicated switch on the inline control was a nice touch.  The vibration made all the difference during game play with the 30mm vibration speakers – it was as if it was bringing the game to life that little bit more.  Also included on the inline control box was the mic mute switch, and the volume controls for both chat and game volumes.  Having dedicated game and chat volume control is always a nice bonus because there is nothing worse than not being able to hear chat over the game volume.  The sound quality was very impressive for both game and chat on all platforms, and I was informed that my voice was nice and clear and there were no reports of any feedback or distortion.  Having the logo on each earcup illuminate in an eye catching red colour when in use just added to the list of nice touches that this headset contains.

The XT+ headset was a pleasure to wear for prolonged gaming periods.  The padded headband and earcups definitely played a large role in the comfort department, as did the fact that the headset is nice and light.  I don’t have massive ears and did not encounter any discomfort during long sessions.  I cannot comment as to how comfortable the headset would be for people with larger ears, though I doubt there would be an issue, if I am honest.

Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with the Venom XT+ Headset.  It provides comfort, it adds to the game playing experience, and the fact that you can use it on your choice of platform (all except the Xbox One) is a bonus.  The vibration features adds an extra level to the game that you are playing and having the option to increase and decrease the level of vibration means that it isn’t something that is forced on you.  For the price you pay (£32.99 GBP) and the fact that you can use it on your choice of platform, this is a headset that I would highly recommend.

Venom Quad Charging Stand – Review (@VenomGamingUK)

Having controllers with built in rechargeable batteries can be a pain when it comes to forgetting to charge them up and then getting caught out in the middle of a gaming session.  I have one of the latest official licensed products from Venom that aims to counteract this issue, by keeping all of your controllers not only charged, but kept together without having to have several charging cables plugged in.

The Quad Charging Stand from Venom comes boxed in a rectangular box that shows an image showing the charging stand on the front.  It also states that the stand is designed for use with DualShock 3 PlayStation controllers.  The back of the box has a short list of information relating to the product – this information is listed in several different languages.

Removing the product from the box was just a case of pulling out the stand.  Also provided in the box is an AC adapter, as well as a two and three pin plug – handy for use abroad, if and when needed.

The stand itself is made from a tough, black plastic and has four Mini USB cables tucked neatly away on the top, between the moulded spaces for the four controllers.  To use the stand it is simply a case of plugging in the AC adapter, popping out the USB cables that you need to use with the number of controllers you have, rest the controllers in the spaces provided, and plug in the Mini USB adapters.  Because the stand is powered separately from your console, you can quickly charge your controllers without having to turn your console on.

Having the option to not only charge your controllers but also to store your controllers on this stand will help to keep your gaming setup looking not only clean and tidy, but also stylish as the stand will not look out of place alongside your PS3 console.

The Venom Charging Stand is available at an affordable price of £19.99 from the Venom page on Play.com.

Venom Quad Charging Stand – Review (@VenomGamingUK)

Having controllers with built in rechargeable batteries can be a pain when it comes to forgetting to charge them up and then getting caught out in the middle of a gaming session.  I have one of the latest official licensed products from Venom that aims to counteract this issue, by keeping all of your controllers not only charged, but kept together without having to have several charging cables plugged in.

The Quad Charging Stand from Venom comes boxed in a rectangular box that shows an image showing the charging stand on the front.  It also states that the stand is designed for use with DualShock 3 PlayStation controllers.  The back of the box has a short list of information relating to the product – this information is listed in several different languages.

Removing the product from the box was just a case of pulling out the stand.  Also provided in the box is an AC adapter, as well as a two and three pin plug – handy for use abroad, if and when needed.

The stand itself is made from a tough, black plastic and has four Mini USB cables tucked neatly away on the top, between the moulded spaces for the four controllers.  To use the stand it is simply a case of plugging in the AC adapter, popping out the USB cables that you need to use with the number of controllers you have, rest the controllers in the spaces provided, and plug in the Mini USB adapters.  Because the stand is powered separately from your console, you can quickly charge your controllers without having to turn your console on.

Having the option to not only charge your controllers but also to store your controllers on this stand will help to keep your gaming setup looking not only clean and tidy, but also stylish as the stand will not look out of place alongside your PS3 console.

The Venom Charging Stand is available at an affordable price of £19.99 from the Venom page on Play.com.

GamerModz PS3 Custom Controller – Review (@GamerModz)

**Note: Use discount code ‘tootie’ on the GamerModz website to receive 10% off of your total order price!

I recently received a PS3 controller from my sponsor GamerModz to review.

I was told that I could choose any design and add-ons that I wanted, so I went ahead and started going through their site.  As with the Xbox 360 controller that I received a few months back, the process was easy and straightforward.  All I had to do was choose the controller for the platform that I would like, select a design from the large library that is available, and choose any extra mods that I would like included in the controller.  I went with the Green Swirl design and had all white buttons/L & R buttons//thumbsticks added.  Now I am not someone who uses rapid fire, etc, but I also went with the SPS-X3 Rapid Fire mod so that I could give my opinions on all aspects of the controller.

It took only a couple of weeks to arrive from the day that I ordered the controller, which I think is definitely reasonable – especially when you see the quality of the product.  Once I received the controller, I checked it over for any drip marks or bumps on the finished product and am pleased to say, found none at all.  I checked over all of the buttons and other inserts and all buttons and triggers  were pressable with no excessive force and everything seemed as it should be.

After fully charging the controller, I synced it to my PS3 and couldn’t wait to give it a test run.  I fired up some Black Ops to put the controller through its paces.  Firstly, I noticed that all of the buttons, etc, worked perfectly well.  No excessive button smashing was needed to get the controller to do what you want it to, so I knew that the buttons were fine.  The thumbsticks and L & R buttons also did what you would expect without any extra force required.  After giving the controller a proper workout in multiplayer, I grabbed a friend and set up a custom match so that I could test out the rapid fire.  Following the included instruction manual (also available on the GamerModz website) was the easiest thing in the world to do.  Everything is there for you in black and white, and following the steps couldn’t have been easier.  I toggled through and tried out each of the modes – No Rapid Fire, Single Trigger Rapid Fire and Dual Trigger Rapid Fire.  Each mode worked as you would expect and I didn’t notice any issues there.

After thoroughly testing out my new controller over the past week or so, I am very happy with it.  There is no sign of any markings on the controller itself, and all of the buttons, etc, still work as perfect as they did on the day that I received it. If rapid fire is your thing, the mod set will be perfect for you.  If you are just looking to jazz up your controller a little, then GamerModz could well be the site for for you.  Massive thanks to the guys over at GamerModz for sending this controller out to me for review.

Infected Audio Headset – Review (@InfectedAudio)

Please click here for the unboxing video.

Here is the video review for the Infected Audio Headset.

Please check it out, like, favourite and subscribe.  It would also be great if you could share it about a bit.

If you have any questions, comments and/or suggestions, please either leave a comment on this blog post or over in the comments section on the video.

ORB Wired Game Controller PS3/PC – Review (@ORB_Accs)

When it comes to playing the PS3, the controllers aren’t always user friendly.  For this reason, I am always on the lookout to find ways to make PS3 game time more comfortable for my hands.  Hopefully, this is where the ORB Wired Game Controller for the PS3/PC from ORB Accessories comes into play.

First up, the box itself is easy on the eye.  The red and white box colouring is nice to look at, and is coupled with an image of the controller.  When looking around the box,  you can find some controller information listed, making it easy for you to find out the functions of the controller before you buy it.

Inside the box you find the following contents.

• 1 x Wired Game Controller
• 1  x Instruction Manual

The controller itself looks and feels very nice.  With its matt black finish, ORB logo and nice button designs, it is nicer to look at than the regular PS3 controller – in my opinion.  When holding it, it has a nice texture on the skin, the kind of texture that you don’t need any extra grip with.  It has the four buttons on the back of the controller – L1, L2, R1 and R2.  The L2 and R2 buttons are not the usual trigger style, but normal buttons, just over double the size of the L1 and R2 buttons.  The D-Pad is a solid button you have a Turbo button, Clear button and the Select, Start and PS home buttons.  The thumbsticks have a nice grip to them, hopefully making it a little easier to control without added grip, rather than the sticks on the standard PS3 controller.  Lastly, the Square, Triangle, Circle and X buttons stay similar to those on the original controller, but have their own design to them too.

Product Features.

• Support multiple signals transmission without interference
• Suppers PC game using OS Windows2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7
• Turbo buttons
• 4 corresponding LED indicating the choice of channel
• Support up to 7 multi-players

When it came to getting the controller up and running, it couldn’t be easier.  Simply plug the controller cable into the PS3 console and then turn it on.  You should see  the LED lights start to flash, confirming  the connection between the controller and console.  Press the PS button to operate the controller and the controller should choose the channel.

When it comes to using the Turbo button during gameplay, the Instruction Manual does a great job of walking you through how to get things up and running.  I would highly recommend reading through the manual, even if just to get to grips with how things work ahead of time.

Comfort wise, I found the ORB controller easy to hold and comfortable to use.  The thumbsticks seem to be reachable, more-so than they are on the standard controller.  The D-Pad is easy to use, as are the Square, Triangle, Circle and X buttons.  The L and R buttons are easily accessible and despite my reservations about using the less curved L2 & R2 buttons, I was pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness of them.

I have used this controller a fair bit since receiving it and am impressed by it.  The comfort, style and look of the controller are all very appealing and if you are looking for something to use that has an improvement over the original PS3 controller, then this would be my suggestion to you.  At least give it a try if like me, you are a little skeptical about it – I don’t think you will be disappointed.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below and I will get back to you ASAP.