PS3 or Xbox controller: Which is better for shooting and which is better for different gaming genre?

[balladbird]

The two controllers are too identical for it to really be more than a personal opinion, from what I see. Swap the D-pad and left analogue stick around, and voila, you have one controller or the other.

For me personally, it's PS3. I've been playing playstation consoles since 1997, so I know the weight, feel, and button layout like the back of my hand, and using it is second nature. The 360 controller just feels needlessly bulky by comparison, though it's not so ghastly different that I hate using it.

 

[J-meMalone]

I prefer the PS3 controller partly because I've had so much more experience with the Playstation controller, and partly because I have spider like hands and it's easier to hold it claw style like this, except with an extra finger on the buttons. I have weird hands... http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EQo-QYzXpiE/TU8VfAVgkuI/AAAAAAAAAU4/8MXemly9XKo/s1600/The-Claw.png

 

[Shoggoth2588]

For those with issues with the PS3 triggers I got myself 2 sets of these

They are fantastic

You kinda just won the thread...I liked the 360 controller since it had proper triggers and good control sticks. The D-Pad was (and still is) absolutely crap. The PS3 controller is a wireless, somewhat lighter-weight PS2 controller: Great D-Pad, good R1/L1 with my biggest complaint being the marshmallows that are R2/L2.

 

[WouldYouKindly]

I have quite long fingers and kind of long palms too. While I don't mind the Sony controller, I do prefer the 360 controller for most third person melee games or pretty much any game with a car or aircraft driving component. The extra bulk fits my hands better. For most other games I like, a keyboard and mouse is really the best way to play them. Can't really use anything else for an RTS and mice are always more precise(if not harder to control at times) than sticks.

 

[Souplex]

For those with issues with the PS3 triggers I got myself 2 sets of these

They are fantastic

Is there an attachment that puts the left stick up top where it's supposed to go, replaces the mushroom tips with grooves, and reshapes the handles so they fit in a human hand?
Because that sounds like the perfect controller.

Spoiler: They're almost there with the PS4 controller

 

[Doom972]

The 360 controller is better for shooters because the left stick is more easily accessible, and makes is better for movement in a 3D environment. The PS3 controller's more easily accessible D-Pad makes it good for movement on a grid and precise movement in side-scrollers.

 

[DrOswald]

I actually think about controllers a lot, so I have way too much to say on the subject! Let us begin.

Notes: I am including the Gamecube controller because it is the best modern style "hardcore" gaming controller Nintendo has produced and it did a few things really well. I am also going to include the "best ever" in each category and any thing I feel is important to mention.

Individual components:

left hand analog stick: N64 > Gamecube >> X360 > PS3
D-Pad - DS > PS3 >> X360 >>>> game cube
right hand buttons: Gamecube > PS3 > Xbox (gamecube was best ever)
shoulder buttons/ L1 and R1/ Z: PS3 > X360 > Gamecube
Triggers/ L2 and R2: N64 > Gamecube > X360 > PS3 (the z trigger was really good, but at the expense of the rest of the controller)
center buttons (start, select, etc) PS3 > gamecube > X360 (PS3 gets best ever)

Qualitative judgments:

Ease of use (beginner): Touch controls > Super Nintendo > motion controls > Gamecube > X360 > PS3 >>> Keyboard and mouse
Ease of use (amateur): X360 > PS3 > Gamecube > Keyboard and Mouse = touch controls >>> Motion controls
Ease of use (expert): PS3 > X360 > Gamecube > Keyboard and Mouse > touch controls >>> Motion controls
Versatility: Keyboard and Mouse > PS3 > X360 > Gamecube
Comfort: Wiimote+nunchuck (minor motion controls only) > Gamecube > X360 > PS3 >> NES
Inherent Fun: Motion Controls > touch controls > controllers >> keyboard and mouse

Best overall: Keyboard and Mouse = PS3 = touch controls > X360 > Gamecube > motion controls

What controller is best all depends on what you are more likely to need. In first person shooters where precision strafing and trigger responsiveness is all important then the X360 works best. The same is true of twin stick shooters. However, in bullet hell shooters (or any similar) the PS3 is easily better because the d-pad and face buttons are better. Same for 2D platformers, racing games, fighting games, etc. Generally speaking, if the analog sticks and triggers are vital to the core gameplay then the X360 is slightly better. For everything else the PS3 is better. However, most games for which the X360 is best a keyboard and mouse is even better.

Note: If a game requires a high precision left stick and good face buttons (3D platformers mainly) then the Gamecube is the best.

It is worth noting that there is no true best control scheme. The 4 big categories all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Keyboard and mouse are best when the precision of a mouse or the versatility of a keyboard is needed. Touch controls are really nice for simple games. Controllers are really good when responsiveness is important. Even motion controls can be really fun if use correctly (Mario Kart Wii!)