#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 manual
#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 full
#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 pro
#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 software

The fact that it actually does some things better than the official controller is a major step forward for a third party offering, and its shortcomings are not deal-breakers.

#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 pro

Overall, the MadCatz GamePad Pro 360 is a good controller. It's a cool feature unique to the GamePad Pro, and something to remember if you are an inverted-control fan.

#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 software

The MadCatz 360 controller is able to invert the sticks itself, bypassing any software settings. A fair number of gamers are most accustomed to inverted analog control for first person shooting games, but not all console games offer an inverted control option. More useful, however, is a hard-invert switch found on the underside of the pad. A multi-speed programmable turbo feature can be activated for any of the buttons, though fewer and fewer games these days actually benefit from super-fast button mashing. MadCatz incorporates a couple of features completely lacking on the official 360 pad. Though plenty of games don't use the stick buttons for such touchy maneuvers, it is nonetheless a shortcoming of the analog stick design on the GamePad Pro. While trying to snipe in CoD2 I had to keep the left stick depressed while I aimed to steady the gun, but instead succeeded in sliding out from behind my cover because I couldn't depress the stick without adding a directional component as well. In addition, depressing the sticks to active the stick button (like for steadying aim in CoD2) without also leaning the stick left or right is nearly impossible because of the height and narrow stalk of the sticks. The consequence of this difference is that the GamePad Pro's sticks are easier to lose grip on, and the increased range of motion leads to a bit of thumb fatigue even in the hands of a well seasoned gamer. Because the GamePad Pro's sticks sit much higher, the angle at which the sticks lean over at the limits of their input range is much more severe.

#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 full

The official 360 pad's sticks are rather squat and recessed, minimizing the angle at which the sticks lean over at the full extreme of a direction. The analog sticks stand extremely tall over the face of the controller and sit upon very narrow stalks. Unfortunately, the success of the triggers does not carry over to other aspects of the GamePad Pro's analog control.

Sometimes walking tall isn't such a good idea. Driving games especially benefit from this change, as the greater range of motion on the triggers allows for better variation of throttle and breaks. The triggers are also greatly improved, with a much longer throw than the official 360 pad and an increased sense of analog rather than digital contact. The MadCatz pad greatly expands the size of the bumper buttons and gives them more space, which is an excellent change for games like CoD2 that use the buttons a lot. The RB and LB shoulder buttons/bumpers on the official 360 pad are quite small and are placed very close to the triggers. MadCatz also made some serious changes to the shoulder buttons and triggers, markedly improving the Microsoft design. Though not a huge issue, I found myself having to take my hand off the prong to reach the Start button to pause a game, which adds a bit of extra time to the motion and effectively got me killed in Call of Duty 2 when I needed to pick up the phone in the midst of a firefight.

#Gamepad companion layout for xbox 360 manual

The Start and Back buttons are located above the center Xbox logo as opposed to on each side, making them less obtrusive visually but more difficult to reach in manual use. MadCatz also made some adjustments to the button layout. The plastic that MadCatz uses for the GamePad Pro is shiny and smooth, as opposed to Microsoft's textured matte, and while the Microsoft 360 controller wins the battle in the ergonomics department, the GamePad Pro is not an uncomfortable controller to hold. While the Microsoft controller has no hard edges whatsoever, the MadCatz pad is flat across the majority of its face, and the transition from body to prongs has a much harder edge than the organic Microsoft model. Look-and-feel wise, the 360 GamePad Pro stays pretty true to the Microsoft style, the greatest difference being the rubber ridges on the prongs and the availability of black as well as white for color. The MadCatz GamePad Pro for the Xbox 360 is a wired offering that takes inspiration from the layout and design of Microsoft's first party 360 controller and expands upon it in some interesting ways.