On the E3 show floor, CTA Digital showed off some of their new and upcoming gaming peripherals and I got the chance to try out Modern Warfare 2 using their Assault Rifle Controller hooked up to a PlayStation 3.
First off, it’s pretty much what it looks like: a PS3 controller in the shape of an automatic rifle with buttons awkwardly placed along the side of the gun barrel as well as one analog stick behind the gun handle and one towards the front of the gun. Playing Modern Warfare 2 took some adjustment, as soldiers with riot shields shot me repeatedly while I became an expert at unloading full clips into the ground.
Even when I got the hang of things, however, I still had to wonder what the point of the controller is exactly. You don’t feel more immersed by the controller, you just feel like a jerk holding too much plastic to play a fairly simple war game. This seems like the usual MO from CTA Digital, however, who have in the past have made an inflatable go kart and plastic bowling ball for the Wii; fun toys that don’t really add anything to the gameplay experience.
The Assault Rifle Controller might be worth the investment for novelty factor alone, but don’t expect this thing to improve your game or add anything to the experience.
