360: Decent Off Brand Headset/Controller?

[AlexRuzhyo]

If you're like me, and you have mild OCD, you like everything you own for your console to be an official/matching accessory. I'm talking headsets, controllers, chargers, what have you... But these Official 360 accessories are shit. The sticks wear out within a couple months and the D-pad blows on the controllers. The headset plugs will break or just die out completely due to the shitty cord. I've gone through 2 controllers and 3 headsets within a 2 year period.

I'm looking for higher quality than the Microsoft brand. A familiar controller shape and weight with decent quality buttons... and a headset made out of something along the lines of Nintendium. Most importantly is their resilience over time.

tl:dr- I hate M$'s shit and I want something that has a longer life span but isn't too unfamiliar.

[Fallyn]

as far as headset goes, get a turtle beach (X41 series are the shit).

controllers... i dunno what you do with your controllers but ive had mine for like 3 years and no problems lol.

[Folant]

http://press.razerzone.com/content/view/408/101/

Obviously, no idea how it feels, but it loooks slick.

Other than that, I used Mad Catz wired pads for my Xbox, honestly no complaints from me on them, they sit pretty well in my hands and haven't broken yet.

[Seanr]

i was just about to post what Folant put... I'm grabbin those most def.

[Blabj]

Those Razer peripherals look sick. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on them!

[Norellicus]

After Kotaku's review of it I've been inclined to pick up http://www.madcatz.com/productinfo.a...60_Accessories but just don't play online enough to care at the moment, heh.

[izembo]

the official ones are still the best imho, see way too many 3rd party ones returned defective

[MisterBob]

What are you doing to your xbox360 controllers? Mine from the launch day are still in very good condition...

[Doombear]

The controller from Razer is kind of exciting. Not too sure how practical the 'Multi Use Buttons' will be that they added. I do like where the Back and Start button are though, makes more sense.

Didn't look too hard but didn't see a price. That will determine if I pick em up or not down the line.

The headphones I don't know about either. Right now i use a pair of Audio Technica AD700s and a $6 Zalman Mic that I have added on to them myself. The Mic sounds clear but is finally starting to go after 2 years.

I had PLANNED on getting a pair of these from Astro Gaming though, since I already have the MixAmp. Not sure now. I will have to wait and see what gets said about the Razers.

EDIT: Actually, when i went to get the link for the Astros... I saw that they have a new Upper Playground set out so I am pretty much sold now. Go go Sam Flores.

[Tekki]

I've probably sold hundreds of accessories for the 360 since its launch. Go first party for controllers. I've seen sooo much of that third party shit come back (And later field destroyed).

The exception is expensive headsets. Turtlebeack, Astros, Tritons, the usual. If your willing to spend the extra money, those go the distance and you will get out of them the money you spend. (Same can be said about cheap headsets...)

[AlexRuzhyo]

Thanks for all the feedback.

What are you doing to your xbox360 controllers? Mine from the launch day are still in very good condition...

The sticks wear out. Between me, my two brother, and my friend who pretty much does everything but sleep here - they go fast. It gets to the point where you auto-walk or your view will slowly pan unless you pull back on it. In games like MW2 where you're prone but you can't iron sight because you're moving very slowly. Shit sucks when you crouch, as it exposes you even more.

I've probably sold hundreds of accessories for the 360 since its launch. Go first party for controllers. I've seen sooo much of that third party shit come back (And later field destroyed).

The exception is expensive headsets. Turtlebeack, Astros, Tritons, the usual. If your willing to spend the extra money, those go the distance and you will get out of them the money you spend. (Same can be said about cheap headsets...)

I'll check out the higher tier headsets. I'm sad to learn there isn't much out there besides the first party controllers. Hopefully the more expensive headsets offer alittle more in terms of features, or at least sound quality/volume.

By the way. Very off topic but I believe my USB ports are no longer functioning/killing my charger kit cables. Anyone think it's cheaper to repair than the $100 refurbish crap M$ offers?

[Korietsu]

I personally like the Plantronics Gamecom X10, great lightweight headset.

[xerodok]

The sticks wear out. Between me, my two brother, and my friend who pretty much does everything but sleep here - they go fast. It gets to the point where you auto-walk or your view will slowly pan unless you pull back on it. In games like MW2 where you're prone but you can't iron sight because you're moving very slowly. Shit sucks when you crouch, as it exposes you even more.

1. Walk into Walmart
2. Buy a new 360 controller.
3. Go home, open the package.
4. Put your broken controller in package.
5. Bring it back the next day, say it doesn't work.
6. Get your money back.

[Blabj]

I have the Madcatz throat communicator (MW2 branded) I like it, its very comfortable and all, but a lot of people have had issues with the mic in it. Some say it makes my voice sound terrible, like I have a cold all the time. Others have said they can hear my music playing in the background (which was the sole reason I bought it - to listen to loud music and not disturb anyone over the mic. It later emerged that it was if my mouth was open while playing.)

I'm a fan of getting your own headset & mic combo, since it gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of what headphones you use. Turtlebeach headsets are also great, I've played on one of them before and it is true about being able to hear cocksuckers sneaking up on you. My only problem with it was, for MW2, it made me even more paranoid and skittish while playing.

[Blabj]

1. Walk into Walmart
2. Buy a new 360 controller.
3. Go home, open the package.
4. Put your broken controller in package.
5. Bring it back the next day, say it doesn't work.
6. Get your money back.

Somewhat illegal and rather obvious since there's no way they'd be pre-worn in from a new packet. If I were serving you, you wouldn't get your money back.

[Fallyn]

Somewhat illegal and rather obvious since there's no way they'd be pre-worn in from a new packet. If I were serving you, you wouldn't get your money back.

seconded lol.

[edit]

By the way. Very off topic but I believe my USB ports are no longer functioning/killing my charger kit cables. Anyone think it's cheaper to repair than the $100 refurbish crap M$ offers?

If you are saying your play and charge kits dont charge anymore, its the battery packs and not the cable/usb ports. if you are on about something else then idk, just thought id throw that out there though.

[Doombear]

After doing some more thinking, I have decided that I would just 'update' my Audio Technica cans with this little DIY mic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...l/Odds/HP1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...l/Odds/HP2.jpg

Already have the coupler and mic on the way, just need to work on the wooden piece and I will be set. Be nice to be able to keep my headphones and just replace the mic i use now (a clip on, SO HORRIDLY attached to the headphones) with this more visually pleasing setup.

Worth the work if you want to spend that money on a nice pair of headphones instead? The Mix Amp from Astro has never disappointed me. I use it for my PS3, my 360, and my TV just swapping out the Optical cables.

All in all this DIY mic is going to cost me about $20 or so. The 3.5 to 3.5 cable i am using actually came with the Mix Amp, but I may buy another longer cable to use when i feel like it. The coupler costs about $1 and the mic comes off of a $15 PC Mic.

[Trigun]

http://www.turtlebeach.com/

My uncle bought a pair of the wireless for xbox for his son when his daughter was born(dont wake the baby!). I bought 2 of the wired ones they get tangled but at least I dont have to listen to all the noise of L4D when my little cousins play.