Snakebyte makes a range of peripherals for gaming here in Europe.
Recently, they announced a new line of PS3 controllers a Bluetooth, Wireless and standard wired version. Today we’re looking at the Bluetooth controller. I’m going to do them as a series of articles so that I don’t have to restate the aspects which are all the same. All of the controllers feature six axes motion-sensing and vibration. They have Turbo functionality and multiple controllers can be used simultaneously (for the wireless ones).
Each of the controllers also comes with a set of triggers to be used on your original PS3 controller. These concave plastic pieces snap on to the L2/R2 buttons to give you that little bit of extra purchase for your fingers during those heated firefights in Uncharted 2 or Fallout 3. Handy I must say as those convex buttons were a bit slick in battle.
The controllers all come with a fairly lengthy USB cable - 3 meters (almost 10 feet) so that means I don’t really need to ever use them wirelessly as I have a fairly small office and 10 feet is about the length from wall-to-wall the long way. But that cable means you can be a fair distance away from the console while still charging the controller.
The major difference between the controllers is how they connect to the PS3. Yes, they all use a USB port but the Bluetooth only needs it for charging. Mine never seemed to be able to manage a charge. I could leave it plugged in for hours with the PS3 on and when I disconnected the controller from the cable, no charge. I’m not exactly sure what happened. I switched cables and USB ports on the PS3 to no avail. So I tried one final time using the PC. I know the USB ports function properly because my standard controller charges just fine. Even on the PC the would charge for a minute or two and then stop. Just my luck, another faulty controller it seems (see my previous review on the Split Fish SFX Frag Pro for the other faulty controller).
Now because this unit is Bluetooth there’s the potential for some latency between controller and PS3. Having not been able to use the controller while not plugged into the USB port I can’t fully comment on how much latency there is with it.
The Sunflex Snakebyte PS3 controllers offer longer handles for a better grip over the much shorter, fatter ones on the standard PS3 controller. This gives a good deal of extra grip during those fast-paced action scenes or heated FPS battles. The standard buttons and D-pad are classically hard plastic and the other buttons (select, start, Home, Turbo and clear) are all rubberized. I have noticed that there is some lag in using those buttons. It seems like you have to hold them down longer or press harder to get them to activate. Normally, they’re not used in a game for much aside from the menus so it is not detrimental to gameplay.
The sticks are responsive and comfortable and are the same size as those on the standard controller though the pads on them are slightly larger. That might be to make up for them being closer together by about a centimeter. In fact all of the buttons are a hair larger except, oddly enough, the triggers, which are stubby and concave but still work extremely well. Strange that they give large concave pieces for the standard controller triggers but then supply you with tiny little ones on their controllers. Perhaps they felt that since theirs were concave they didn’t need to be larger.
The Snakebyte controllers are in general, heavier. This is probably due to its larger size. The stated weight is 0.356 Kg or 12.55 ounces while the Dual Shock 3 Sixaxis is listed at Amazon at 9 ounces. But it does little to limit your play time or impede movement.
The literature on the controller stated more than 10 hours of gameplay on the built-in Lithium-Ion battery but as mine wouldn’t take a charge I can’t give you actual play time. I’ll test with the wireless which is said to have up to 20 hours of gameplay on a single charge.
While the larger size of the controller makes it slightly more comfortable I am concerned that the review unit they sent me was unable to be charged properly. I tested all the USB ports and cables and the other controllers charge fine which means the unit is faulty and that is never a good sign.
They try to pass off the USB cable as a ’bonus’ but really, who would buy a controller without a cable or pay extra for one? Yes it is 3m long and that’s great, but then to say that it and the triggers are a 14.98 Euro bonus seems wrong to me. Do they offer a cheaper version of the controller without these? No. Retail price of the product: 39.99 Euro.
Read Part 2 - 2.4 Ghz Wireless Controller
127 days ago
It is a common problem for these controllers and it looks like it does not charge, but the problem is that is not working without USB cable plugged into controller.
I bought it 10 days ago and I need to use USB cable, otherwise it turns off immediately. Try it: hold down PS button and try to use it, but do not release PS button. It will work until you release PS button.
This controller suffers another problem. Mine will send to PS3 action that I have pushed circle button and it do it every 10-15 minutes. Even if untouched left on the table, it will send circle button push to PS3.
Final problem on mine is R1 button, I need to press it really hard and, while holding it, it tend to think I have released button (hard to play flipper with such).
Plastic add-ons for original controller is also not much in use. I have tried them and while playing one dropped off.
Although price looks tempting comparing to Sony controller, I do not recommend this controller. Probably next version will solve these problems.
I wrote on Snakebyte forum for my primary problem about USB cable, but no answers in 2 days (and counting). There you can find on German language that someone else had the same problem, but they have replaced controller. As I don’t live in Germany I need to stick with what I have until I buy another one, this time Sony contoller.