As IGN's designated hardware expert, I've seen quite a few third-party controllers in my day, and while function is essential to any third-party product, most manufacturers place more emphasis on form, generally by creating a unique ergonomic design or a cool graphic finish. The Tron controllers, however, have a nice balance of both.
Of the three designs, the Xbox 360 and Wii controllers are the two most similar to their first-party brethren, taking on a similar form, button design and arrangement. The controllers look and feel comparable to the designs people already know and love with some subtle variations, plus awesome LED illumination effects. Did I mention the LED illumination effects? The PlayStation 3 version, on the other hand, varies more drastically, incorporating a more rounded base, narrower handle grips, and concave triggers.
For added comfort and visual flair, PDP used a combination of textured, gloss finish, and matte plastic on each design, as well as texturized rubber grips. The textured materials, namely the grips, are great for extended play sessions, allowing players to keep a solid handle on the controller despite the usual buildup of sweat. Fans will also appreciate the fact that the labeling of all of the buttons on the controllers features Tron-style lettering. To further solidify the collector's element of the controllers, there is a metal panel on the bottom of each controller that certifies its authenticity and lists its production number.
The Xbox 360 Controller
Let me get one thing out of the way right now; yes, the Xbox 360 controller is wired. It sucks, but there isn't anything PDP or any other Xbox 360-developing third-party manufacturer can do about it. It's an unfortunate truth, but Microsoft simply doesn't allow wireless third-party controllers. But if you can get past the fact that the Tron Xbox 360 controller is wired, it's actually a pretty solid design. Admittedly, there are some clear quality differences, namely that the buttons and triggers look a little cheap and the Xbox 360 dashboard button is a printed logo encased in plastic rather than a raised metallic, illuminated button, but it otherwise feels and performs great.
The triggers and shoulder buttons feel fantastic, with just the right amount of resistance and pop when fully depressed. The thumbsticks, on the other hand, are a little looser than we're accustomed to, with a somewhat weak center of resistance. However, the thumbsticks are just as responsive in terms of detection as the first-party alternative, so players simply have to take time to acclimate themselves to that aspect of the design.
Critics of the Xbox 360's d-pad will also be pleased by the Tron controller's raised plus-style d-pad, which is notably stiffer and more responsive than Microsoft's controller. Vibration effects are also fairly strong in the Tron controller, a somewhat uncommon quality in third-party controllers, which are typically underpowered.
The biggest weakness of the Xbox 360 version is, again, the USB cable, but as I said, there isn't much to be done there. Fortunately, PDP provides roughly 6' of cable to give players some room to roam.
The PlayStation 3 Controller
The PlayStation 3 controller is by far my least favorite of the three; the design, although unique, is not quite as functional as the other two, and deviates from the first-party version in some less favorable ways. The grips are smaller and more narrowly spaced, making the controller feel cramped. Also, the rounded edges of the base angle the triggers and shoulder buttons in a way that feels awkward in your hands. The triggers and shoulder buttons fall below your fingertips, making players curl their index fingers to tap them, further making players feel cramped.
Most importantly, unlike the Xbox 360 version, which was bound by Microsoft's strict licensing rules to be wired, the PlayStation 3 version could have been wireless, but isn't. Third party manufacturers are permitted to use 2.4GHz USB dongle systems to make their controllers wireless, however, PDP opted for standard USB wiring for the PS3 version. While I'm not the biggest fan of dongle systems -- due largely to the fact that USB dongles are hard to keep track of and occupy one of your console's few USB ports -- I would have appreciated wireless connectivity on the PS3 controller.
Like the Xbox 360 controller, the resistance of the thumbsticks in the PlayStation 3 version is a bit lacking, but responsive enough to make up for it. The concave thumbsticks are also a nice touch and the illuminated direction indicators alongside the d-pad look awesome.
The Wii Remote
The Tron Wii remote is easily my favorite design of the three because it looks and feels the most like it's first-party basis. If it wasn't for the illumination effects, rubber grips, and Tron logo, I'd have a hard time telling PDP's Wii remote apart from Nintendo's, and as a result, players get the best of both worlds; the familiarity and quality of Nintendo's controller, but the added style of a third-party license.
The layout, size, and shape of the buttons are identical to a Wiimote's, down to the look and feel of the d-pad. The Tron Wii Remote is also the only controller in the series to feature native wireless connectivity, allowing players to sync the device to their Wii's straight out of the box no dongle required. The design of the LED effects is also one of the coolest and most extensive of the bunch, following along the edges and center of the front panel.
Battery performance wise, the Wii remote was about on par with the standard Wiimote; roughly 24 hours of continuous use. Battery performance can also be improved by switching off the LED illumination, which can be performed by tapping a button underneath the battery panel, parallel to the sync button.
All things considered, the Tron controllers from PDP are effective third-party solutions. There are some clear benefits and sacrifices made for the sake of style, like going wired USB on the Xbox 360 and PS3 variations and some of the less favorable ergonomic choices, but considering how awesome they look, they may be worthwhile concessions for avid Tron fans. For $49.99, they aren't the cheapest third-party controllers on the market, but they are definitely some of the coolest.
More than anything, however, these controllers look and feel like collector's items, not just because of the unique Tron styling, but the amount of consideration PDP put into the slick packaging and individual numbering of each unit. They may not be the controllers you reach for first when you fire up a game, but they are certainly going to be the ones you show off to your friends.