Cutting the Cord
Like doing things wirlessly? Yeah, us too, that's why we gave Logitech's Play Link and Cordless Action Controller a full-blown whirl at our offices. Afterthoughts within!
Published: January 5, 2005
We're all about getting things done with about as little hassle as possible here at PSX2.com, so when the notion of giving our offices the hassle-free wireless treatment, you'd better believe we were all for it. Thanks to the generous folks at Logitech, we had the pleasure of giving both the Logitech Play Link and the Logitech Cordless Action Controller a run for their money, putting the former up to the test of coast to coast online gaming and stacking the latter up against the flawless DualShock 2. We've presented our afterthoughts in dual review-like format to provide our loyal readers with a bit of perspective on both wireless products.
Sam: Well, it's nice to see that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to get everything going wirelessly, eh? Regardless of what little gripes I have about the products themselves, I really can't argue that Logitech has pretty much nailed bringing wireless gaming to the masses with literally no fuss.
Kyle: I couldn't agree more. The Play Link entails such simple setup (plug it into your system, plug it into your router - that's it, folks) without sacrificing quality (totally lagless play, from what I experienced), you really can't go without it if you're looking to get online with ease. And as for the Cordless Action controller, heck, it's the single most useful peripheral I've gotten my hands on for the PS2.
Sam: Yep, it's almost scary that it took this long to get all this stuff, but now I actually feel comfortable recommending a wireless setup to friends and family that look at me with a blank stare when I try to explain wireless networking and stuff. Heh, and I didn't realize how used to using a wired controller I was until I went to get up to get some food and actually moved the controller as if I were getting the cord out of the way on impulse.
And the battery life, something that I used to bitch about with the first wireless controller products, really seems nailed. Even with rumble on all the time and all the gaming I did over the holidays, it's still running like a champ off the (included!) batteries.
Which is something else I should point out. You actually get name brand batteries with the Cordless Action, which is just friggin' rad. It's a small thing, I know, and I'm a nerd for pointing it out.
Kyle: Indeed! Speaking of the rumble feature you mentioned before, I was all for the intuitive buttons actually on the controller. One touch of the vibration button (a one second shake of the controller) turns off the feature while another tap of it (marked by a much lengthier rumble) turns it right back on.
I wasn't quite sure what to think of the Mode button (which takes a comfortable spot above Select), but putting it to use on a range of PlayStation titles made its function quite clear. Earlier PS1 titles like Final Fantasy VII (tear) only employ the D-pad, therefore having the analog sticks turned off in the Digital Mode, as they call it, is quite necessary. With stick movers like Katamari Damacy, though, Analog Mode, with its increased pressure and fully functional buttons, is about as responsive as they come.
Sam: It's important to note, though, that while the sticks are analog, the rest of the buttons aren't. Or did I just miss that?
There certainly isn't the sensation of pressure sensativity, which is one of the things I dig about the DualShock 2's face buttons. And in fact, it's really my biggest gripe about the Cordless Action: as good as it is (and if you're going to go 3rd party, there's no reason NOT to get it), it's still nowhere near as good as the DualShock 2. I don't get why Nintendo is the only company that feels like making a kick ass first-party wireless solution.
Kyle: Thought it does bear the official PlayStation license, the Cordless Action isn't a DualShock 2 without wires.
Sam: It's one of my big hopes for the PS3 that we'll get some kind of standard wireless update of the DualShock with a (removable) rechargeable battery. But that's wishful thinking (and way off track, I know), and I really can't complain about the wireless performance at all. It's just me being pissy about a non-Sony controller not feeling like a Sony controller.
Kyle: It does have a bit of stiffer feel to it than the DualShock 2, no doubt. With the PS3 in mind, though, Sony has such a unmatchable controller concept on its hands that a wireless DualShock 3 seems like the next logical evolution.
Sam: Yep, totally. Wireless in general is something that I just dig in concept. I'm sure we're going to find out that it causes cancer or something in a year or so, but seriously, I can't think of a better way to just drop as many wires as possible. Short of the power and A/V cords, this really does make the PS2 about as wireless as it can get, and combined with the ease of use, Logitech totally nailed making this a no-brainer recommendation. The Dual Link is seriously something that everyone should have. I can't recommend it enough.
Kyle: I heard a bit about a notorious button-sticking problem with the Cordless Action, but I didn't come across any. How was it on the West Coast, where I imagine humidity could very well be a factor in stickiness?
Sam: Yeah, my pissy NFL Street 2 matches meant I was reaming on the buttons a lot, and the X button stuck on me a couple times. I don't know if humidity played a part (though all the freaking rain out here as of late has been annoying if nothing else).
Kyle: I suppose the game genre played would be a factor. Sports and button-mashers alike could definitely lead to a problem sooner than those that require a bit less of the tap-tap-tapping
Sam: That's a good point, actually. Did you take any of the stuff home or test it out with the family over the holidays? I've pretty much kept everything here in the office, so I sadly didn't think to give it a "real" real-world test.
Kyle: Ah, nor did I - most of my testing stayed in the office.
Sam: And it'll probably stay there. I honestly see no reason to stop using this stuff, I've never missed wires less.
Kyle: Assuming it holds up over the months and even years, I'll go wireless over wires any day.
Sam: And since Sony's being all stingy with the first-party love (no, giving the Cordless Action an officially licensed stamp doesn't count), this is as good as it's going to get in this generation, I think.
Kyle: All we can hope for is that Sony gets the hint from Nintendo and the overwhelming success of the WaveBird (assuming it keeps an eye on its competitors) and does fans a favor with a wireless first-party controller for the PS3 and beyond. Who knows what the possibilities could bring?
Sam: Preach. I do like that the PS3 is supposedly going to have a wireless hub built-in, but the Dual Link is seriously the next best thing. Heh, that's pretty much all I have to say. At the very least, if you have broadband, there's no reason not to own it. The Cordless Action I'm a little iffier on, just because it's not a DualShock 2, but you can't really get a higher quality cordless option.
Sam: Well, it's nice to see that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to get everything going wirelessly, eh? Regardless of what little gripes I have about the products themselves, I really can't argue that Logitech has pretty much nailed bringing wireless gaming to the masses with literally no fuss.
Kyle: I couldn't agree more. The Play Link entails such simple setup (plug it into your system, plug it into your router - that's it, folks) without sacrificing quality (totally lagless play, from what I experienced), you really can't go without it if you're looking to get online with ease. And as for the Cordless Action controller, heck, it's the single most useful peripheral I've gotten my hands on for the PS2.
Sam: Yep, it's almost scary that it took this long to get all this stuff, but now I actually feel comfortable recommending a wireless setup to friends and family that look at me with a blank stare when I try to explain wireless networking and stuff. Heh, and I didn't realize how used to using a wired controller I was until I went to get up to get some food and actually moved the controller as if I were getting the cord out of the way on impulse.
And the battery life, something that I used to bitch about with the first wireless controller products, really seems nailed. Even with rumble on all the time and all the gaming I did over the holidays, it's still running like a champ off the (included!) batteries.
Which is something else I should point out. You actually get name brand batteries with the Cordless Action, which is just friggin' rad. It's a small thing, I know, and I'm a nerd for pointing it out.
Kyle: Indeed! Speaking of the rumble feature you mentioned before, I was all for the intuitive buttons actually on the controller. One touch of the vibration button (a one second shake of the controller) turns off the feature while another tap of it (marked by a much lengthier rumble) turns it right back on.
I wasn't quite sure what to think of the Mode button (which takes a comfortable spot above Select), but putting it to use on a range of PlayStation titles made its function quite clear. Earlier PS1 titles like Final Fantasy VII (tear) only employ the D-pad, therefore having the analog sticks turned off in the Digital Mode, as they call it, is quite necessary. With stick movers like Katamari Damacy, though, Analog Mode, with its increased pressure and fully functional buttons, is about as responsive as they come.
Sam: It's important to note, though, that while the sticks are analog, the rest of the buttons aren't. Or did I just miss that?
There certainly isn't the sensation of pressure sensativity, which is one of the things I dig about the DualShock 2's face buttons. And in fact, it's really my biggest gripe about the Cordless Action: as good as it is (and if you're going to go 3rd party, there's no reason NOT to get it), it's still nowhere near as good as the DualShock 2. I don't get why Nintendo is the only company that feels like making a kick ass first-party wireless solution.
Kyle: Thought it does bear the official PlayStation license, the Cordless Action isn't a DualShock 2 without wires.
Sam: It's one of my big hopes for the PS3 that we'll get some kind of standard wireless update of the DualShock with a (removable) rechargeable battery. But that's wishful thinking (and way off track, I know), and I really can't complain about the wireless performance at all. It's just me being pissy about a non-Sony controller not feeling like a Sony controller.
Kyle: It does have a bit of stiffer feel to it than the DualShock 2, no doubt. With the PS3 in mind, though, Sony has such a unmatchable controller concept on its hands that a wireless DualShock 3 seems like the next logical evolution.
Sam: Yep, totally. Wireless in general is something that I just dig in concept. I'm sure we're going to find out that it causes cancer or something in a year or so, but seriously, I can't think of a better way to just drop as many wires as possible. Short of the power and A/V cords, this really does make the PS2 about as wireless as it can get, and combined with the ease of use, Logitech totally nailed making this a no-brainer recommendation. The Dual Link is seriously something that everyone should have. I can't recommend it enough.
Kyle: I heard a bit about a notorious button-sticking problem with the Cordless Action, but I didn't come across any. How was it on the West Coast, where I imagine humidity could very well be a factor in stickiness?
Sam: Yeah, my pissy NFL Street 2 matches meant I was reaming on the buttons a lot, and the X button stuck on me a couple times. I don't know if humidity played a part (though all the freaking rain out here as of late has been annoying if nothing else).
Kyle: I suppose the game genre played would be a factor. Sports and button-mashers alike could definitely lead to a problem sooner than those that require a bit less of the tap-tap-tapping
Sam: That's a good point, actually. Did you take any of the stuff home or test it out with the family over the holidays? I've pretty much kept everything here in the office, so I sadly didn't think to give it a "real" real-world test.
Kyle: Ah, nor did I - most of my testing stayed in the office.
Sam: And it'll probably stay there. I honestly see no reason to stop using this stuff, I've never missed wires less.
Kyle: Assuming it holds up over the months and even years, I'll go wireless over wires any day.
Sam: And since Sony's being all stingy with the first-party love (no, giving the Cordless Action an officially licensed stamp doesn't count), this is as good as it's going to get in this generation, I think.
Kyle: All we can hope for is that Sony gets the hint from Nintendo and the overwhelming success of the WaveBird (assuming it keeps an eye on its competitors) and does fans a favor with a wireless first-party controller for the PS3 and beyond. Who knows what the possibilities could bring?
Sam: Preach. I do like that the PS3 is supposedly going to have a wireless hub built-in, but the Dual Link is seriously the next best thing. Heh, that's pretty much all I have to say. At the very least, if you have broadband, there's no reason not to own it. The Cordless Action I'm a little iffier on, just because it's not a DualShock 2, but you can't really get a higher quality cordless option.