My Thoughts on the Sony Playstation Mini Wired Control Pad

For those of you who don't know (because you're probably getting sleep while us insomniacs out there are up at 4:30 in the morning searching the internet) Sony has unveiled their new controller for the PS4, and its definitely not what you'd expect.

What is it?

Sony has unveiled their new Mini Wired Control Pad to target younger gamers, as their hands are typically smaller than the teenagers and younger adults (or even fully grown adults, I'm not judging) that are usually found playing video games.  The Mini Wired Control Pad is exactly what it sounds like, a smaller, more compact version of the standard Dualshock 4 controller we're all used to playing.  This smaller and more compact controller is definitely a change to the standard design that Sony has had for their controllers over the years, and here are some of the features of the new controller, as well as some of the things that were taken away and the disadvantages of it.

Features

As I mentioned before (numerous times) this new controller is much smaller than the standard Dualshock 4 we are used to, and will enable younger gamers to have a more comfortable controller at their disposal while playing video games.  This new controller is also easier to grip, and is equipped with a 10-foot-long cable, which is a decent size for a cable.  This will allow for easy plug-and-play action for young gamers who want to get into a game quickly rather than having to sign into a PSN account through the controller.

Strips

In contrast to what was added, there are also some key features that were stripped from this version of the controller, such as the touch pad, light bar, stereo headset jack, vibration, speaker, and motion sensing.  In essence, think of the NES controller, but Sony branded and modeled.  It feels like with this controller, we will be able to get back to the good old days of basic gaming.

Price

The price for this product is actually fairly reasonable.  At $29.99, this could become an easy collectible for collectors out there who like this sort of thing.  However, taking into account everything that was stripped from this version of the controller, you could make the argument that the price could be just a tad bit lower, but still no complaints here.

Thoughts?

I actually think this is a fairly cool idea.  Sony is attempting to go backwards in time to engage a new audience of gamer to their brand.  It could take some time for the hardcore Sony fans to get used to this product, but you have to keep in mind that the hardcore Sony fans really aren't the ones that this controller is marketed towards.  The simple plug-and-play action, coupled with the smaller and basic design will help younger gamers step into the threshold of the gaming world through Sony's means and are looking to capitalize on this youth in order to achieve lifetime customers.  Good on you Sony, that right there is a smart business plan.

So what do you think of the new Mini Wired Control Pad? Let me know in the comments below!