Generic PS2 controllers - How are they?

[Samus]

I've seen a ton of these generic Dual Shock controllers floating around on eBay and they look like they're built well and identical to the Sony kind. Do you guys think it's worth it or a ripoff?

Here is one example: http://cgi.ebay.com/2-RED-DUAL-SHOCK-CONTROLLERS-FOR-SONY-PLAYSTATION-2-NEW_W0QQitemZ140215856670QQihZ004QQcategoryZ21188Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looking at a few auctions I could get two of those generic ones for about $15 shipped combined.

[GTmaster39]

Garbage! Dont do it. They're fake. I actually thought they were legit because I know Costco used to sell their console bundles with unbranded controllers(back in the day). But these dont even have the official seal or anything. Its like spitting in sony's face.......and thats just not cool.....well, sometimes...but not when it comes to controllers.

Think about it this way. You pay $15 now, and then when they shit out on you in a week you're gonna have to shell out more money for new ones. Just go the extra mile and get something official...... at least find some used ones in decent shape....

[Demolition Man]

Stick with the real deal Sony controllers.

[eau]

Stick with the real deal Sony controllers.
And officially licensed controllers such as the Logitech Cordless Action and Kanata Wireless.

[StealthSoul]

Well I bought a fake controller and it was real crappy. All the buttons had to be pressed down super hard and the controller felt all plasticy unlike the original PS2 controllers. I'd say stick to originals.

[mike.m]

You run the risk of blowing your controller ports with off brand junk.

[Rozz]

Garbage! Dont do it. They're fake. I actually thought they were legit because I know Costco used to sell their console bundles with unbranded controllers(back in the day). But these dont even have the official seal or anything. Its like spitting in sony's face.......and thats just not cool.....well, sometimes...but not when it comes to controllers.

Think about it this way. You pay $15 now, and then when they shit out on you in a week you're gonna have to shell out more money for new ones. Just go the extra mile and get something official...... at least find some used ones in decent shape....

I would not recommend used controllers either... In my experience they usually have something wrong with them that you might not notice initially.

[IAmTheCheapestGamer]

I've used some off brand stuff for years, with little to no problems, except for the occasional haywire moment where the turbo or whatever might not shut off on them. A simple unplugging and replugging is all it usually takes to right that problem in most cases.

MadCatz controllers though, are total trash, while Interact were tolerable and typically gave me years of use with no problems whatsoever. Hell, one of my favorite controllers of all time is an Interact brand one with concave sticks(fits your tip of your thumb perfectly and gives you precision control) and turbo with 2-3 settings.

I used it on MANY of my earlier PS2 games(GTA III, Spy Hunter, etc)and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Hell, back in the PS1 era, I even used Interact brand 'double memory cards', which had a button you pushed to switch from one card to the other. They were great in that you could save twice as much stuff for only $20.

It depends on the company really, but Logitech is an officially licensed product, while Interact is not and as I said before MadCatz is just plain trash.

However, I noticed you're speaking about those off brand generic Dual Shock 2 knockoffs. I can't vouch for them either way, but if worse comes to worse, simply buy them from someplace like DealExtreme or somewhere else where you get them shipped free and don't have to deal with someone saying 'they worked for me, all sales are final' after you buy them.

I would not recommend used controllers either... In my experience they usually have something wrong with them that you might not notice initially.

Except for when you buy them from Gamestop when they make an error in pricing and it only costs $8 for a used PS2 controller(Sony brand even), instead of their usual $20. I've bought 2-3 like this before and I've waited for sales on the PS2 controllers, then used Reward Zone certificates and price matches to make them even cheaper. Like now, I have a Sony brand controller sitting sealed in my room that I paid $12 for when Circuit City had a sale and I PM'd to Best Buy.