GreenPeace, our favourite hands-on environmental safety organisation have recently been checking up on our 3 major console creators. A recent report known as ‘Playing Dirty’ was issued after the autopsy of the Nintendo Wii Remote, PS3 Sixaxis Controller and Xbox 360 controller found many hazardous chemicals used in the circuit boards. Including aspolyvinyl chloride (PVC), phthalates, beryllium and bromine indicative of brominated flame retardants (BFRs.) all 3 controllers tested very high indeed for levels of Bromine. GreenPeace Says:

“Brominated flame retardants do not break down easily and build up in the environment. Long-term exposure can lead to impaired learning and memory functions. They can also interfere with thyroid and oestrogen hormone systems and exposure in the womb has been linked to behavioural problems.”

Phthalate, DHEP, which is probably the most concerning chemical involved when it comes to the male side of things, is known to interfere and damage the sexual development in mammals - especially males. High levels of this substance are found in the Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers. To be fair, if guys are spending long enough on their consoles to be effected, the chances are - they won’t be doing much reproduction anyway.

Download the ‘Playing Dirty’ report.

The PlayStation 3 was an eagerly waited console, and it took it’s time getting to us - And i must say, i was shocked to see they had scrapped the original idea for it’s controller. I say ‘Shocked,’ i mean relieved, look at it and tell me you like it. It looks like you would wear it on your head and pretend you’re in the X-Men! PlayStation designed this controller to be comfortable and easy to use, and yet, to me it seems the exact opposite, the shoulder buttons seem too close to the center to reach very easily, the analogue sticks look like you will break your thumb using them and the start and select button - what were they thinking?

The idea of the PS3 was to be revolutionary, futuristic, the only option for home entertainment - But how do you create a controller to meet these demands? Well here it is, they didn’t! And it’s a good job they didn’t because if they did, we would be left with creations like the boomerang here. They decided to keep the same shape they had for the PS2, which in turn was the same shape as the controller for the original PlayStation. It goes back a long way, but i must say it, it was probably the best idea for PlayStation. The controller is small, black, comfortable, user friendly, and what’s more, we’re all already used to it.

Infact, the only difference i can feel in the controllers, beside from the wireless factor, is the buttons feel smoother to press, they have more comfort to them. They have a certain feel to them that just feels right. And as for the analogue sticks - they are so much more sensitive, it’s fantastic! Now, scouting a target with a sniper on Call Of Duty 3 from 300 yards away is easy, you have complete control over what happens. The triggers, unfortunately are a little bit far from the natural position and makes it almost uncomfortable to shoot for those who haven’t already played the PlayStation or PS2, but this is only a small error which takes a little bit of getting used to.

As i mentioned before, the new controllers are also wireless. Brilliant idea, they compensate for so much, storage is a doddle because you have no wires to clutter up space, and because there are no wires, there are also no tangles to sort out. And the best part of it is that you can sit down, play your game, jump, run, duck, hide and really get involved in the gaming experience.

An even more fantastic part of these controllers, they are also rechargable, meaning you save money on batteries. Not the most expensive thing you can purchase, but, after all, we all love saving money.