So this is what we've come to expect with modern gaming hardware/access?

[Clint Thompson]

I'm mostly a PC gamer and my last real modern console was an Xbox 360. I've been gaming for how many decades now? Anyways, I've never had an issue with companies not only offering multiple ways to handle something on a gaming system (audio, video, controller, sometimes power even) but they have always included at least a basic method of connection to TV or accessory.

 

The lack of required cables/accessories to connect your new device is acceptable to everyone on a $60 controller these days? What a bunch of shit! I got a PSTV because they were $20 and I've been wanting to play TxK forever now. With much reluctance, I finally broke down and just purchased a wireless PS4 controller for my PSTV with the idea it'll make for a solid backup/2nd controller for when I get the PS4/PSVR later this year. Mind you, it's really hard to justify the cost of said controller when for $60, there's a ton of other things you could get (Used Dreamcast setup, Atari Lynx, 3 more PSTV boxes, a whole lot of pizza, etc. etc.) but, I did it. Done deal. I was on my way to finally playing another Llamasoft masterpiece. This was supposed to be a fanfare moment, not a WAH-wah moment.

 

Half way home, I rip the box apart. To my shock and awe, it was missing the micro usb cable to connect the controller to the PS4 or PSTV. The words that would utter out of my mouth after reading the back and finding the asterisk are everything you could possibly expect. If any of the ones you're imagining involve alphabet letters like F, F or F, then you're right on the money! I simply give zero alphabet F's how commonplace this micro usb is supposed to be, but damn it Sony, you're supposed to include that. It's part of the package. That's how you not only connect the overpriced $60 controller but also charge it. Shame on you.

 

What was supposed to be a 25-minute trip turned into a full featured movie. I return only for the person to help me unlock the controller from their security bracket for purchase, check me out a micro usb cable. I need a usb cable for the PS4 wireless controller I just got, I can't believe it didn't come with one. He grabs one off the shelf, I buy it for the extra $5 and I'm on my way. Not thinking for a second to even question the guys ability to do the job tasked at hand and picking the right one for me. I'm yet down the street half way again and to much of my disappointment and not really to be surprised I guess, it's the wrong cable. I failed. Once again, I put too much trust in another person to do the simple task to do their job in grabbing the cable that I very clearly verbally requested. Truly, it's my own fault. I said PS4 multiple times. It blatantly says for PS3 on the bottom of the box. It's what I get for not looking. I go back a 3rd time to return and exchange it. Needless to say, I'm not at all happy.

 

Thankfully the exchange was in and out and even though I told her there was nothing wrong with the cable, she still exchanged it out with the code of defective. I give up. Who cares, I was on my way home again with all the required accessories to connect an alphabetting F controller to the goofy PSTV. Seriously though? Screw Sony. I wouldn't have had to go through all that shit had they done proper what gaming companies have done my entire life and that's include the required accessories for connection in the first place. I can't believe this is considered acceptable.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Clint Thompson

[leods]

I am glad not everything comes with a micro usb cable. I have plenty already. Well, I wish micro usb didn't exist, cause it's crap, and for a videogame controller mini USB is just miles better. Whatever.

 

So there are two sides to the whole thing. To me it's much worse knowing every single new controller I buy except for arcade sticks are going to breat 10x faster than my oldschool controllers.

[Punisher5.0]

You don't have any devices that take micro usb? I heard a lot of companies are doing this and it's ok for me. I probably have 5 micro usb cables laying around because everything but Apple uses them.

[HoshiChiri]

I think the only reason they can get away with it is because micro USB is such a standard now, they can safely assume you don't need a new cable.

 

I have to wonder, though- what would happen if you wrote to Sony and complained? Would they mail you one for free? Perhaps a PSN code for 5 bucks to cover the cost? Somebody should try that and see if they react at all.

[BawesomeBurf]

I bought my PS4 controller to use with my Raspberry Pi, and was pretty pissed when I discovered there was no cable included. I have tons of mini USB cables, but zero micro USBs. Not everyone has a ton of these cables sitting around, and for the disgusting price of modern controllers, it should come with one.

[Lost Dragon]

I seem to remember outrage here in the UK at the time Sega didn't have an RF cable in with the Saturn, SCART only and you had to buy the RF cable yourself.

 

Plus 3DSXL? had no AC adaptor with it.

 

So Sony seem to be following others.

 

I ditched the free HDMI cable that came with my 360 elite, for a £3 replacement, as it caused bizarre issues with my TV at the time.

[cimerians]

3DSXL, yes a bit worse when you don't get an AC adapter with your device but seriously......nobody gives you extra shit these days. Its the way it is.

 

Micro USB + HDMI cord, $10 bucks total:

 

http://amzn.to/1OvQAc1

 

http://amzn.to/255CaXA

 

As Lost Dragon mentions I don't bother with the pack in HDMI's either.

Read the product description, the box, reviews. See what your getting before you pay for it

[TPA5]

Price goes up, value goes down. It's the way of the world.

[WispFollower]

I'm amazed people think $60 is too much for a controller. Mine last through thousands of hours of game play, making it about a penny or two per hour of play at the most. They have tons of tiny parts, the ability to connect to multiple different machines wirelessly, a very long charge time on the battery, and a solid build quality. It feels like a $60 device to me. I realize many classic controllers have lasted decades, but with the simplicity in their designs, functions, and builds it is really comparing apples and oranges. As far as not coming with a cable, it makes sense, as most people buying a Playstation controller already have a Playstation, which came with a cable.

[Clint Thompson]

I'm amazed people think $60 is too much for a controller. Mine last through thousands of hours of game play, making it about a penny or two per hour of play at the most. They have tons of tiny parts, the ability to connect to multiple different machines wirelessly, a very long charge time on the battery, and a solid build quality. It feels like a $60 device to me. I realize many classic controllers have lasted decades, but with the simplicity in their designs, functions, and builds it is really comparing apples and oranges. As far as not coming with a cable, it makes sense, as most people buying a Playstation controller already have a Playstation, which came with a cable.

 

I guess I'm just not most people then, who knew. My complaint about the controller would have probably been far easily sidelined had they given me a way to connect the damn thing in the first place. Call it what you will and as standard cable as it may be... but no, I don't have a pile of micro usb cables just lying around waiting to be used on a moments notice and I'm not really sure why the mentality is expected to be such. Should I have really known better? That Sony wouldn't include such an inexpensive cable to connect it? No way. I mean, I had no choice but to obviously suck it up buttercup. And I agree, getting 3rd party HDMI cables are generally better but that's supposed to be an option, not the standard. Console market is now bring your own cables and accessories and even power supply too? Ridiculous.

 

I guess I grew up spoiled, having remotes included, typically at very least 2 generic batteries to get you going. Hell, it was something even Sony themselves used to do.

[Flojomojo]

Micro and mini USB cables come with everything. At my place they seem to multiply, like file folders or paper clips. It's fun to get them in different lengths and colors so you can tell what they are at a glance. I suppose it's also fun to rant on retro game forums about how things were better in the good old days! Color printed manuals, software catalogs, $40 4K ROM cartridges, and we liked it that way!

 

The PS4 is a good controller and you'll probably enjoy it once the steam clears, Clint. PC Gamer calls it the best controller you can use on a PC.

 

So who's going to tell him that he needs a memory card to do much more than run Tempest on this? He seems really mad, I want to keep my distance. This is a good one.

[Flojomojo]

I guess I grew up spoiled, having remotes included, typically at very least 2 generic batteries to get you going. Hell, it was something even Sony themselves used to do.

 

The PS4 console comes with a dualshock 4 controller and the cable you seek. Most people buying a PS4 controller either have the console, or know what they're doing. If/when you get a PS4 console, and it comes with a 2nd cable, are you gonna throw a shitfit because it doesn't match what you bought?

[WispFollower]

I guess I'm just not most people then, who knew. My complaint about the controller would have probably been far easily sidelined had they given me a way to connect the damn thing in the first place. Call it what you will and as standard cable as it may be... but no, I don't have a pile of micro usb cables just lying around waiting to be used on a moments notice and I'm not really sure why the mentality is expected to be such. Should I have really known better? That Sony wouldn't include such an inexpensive cable to connect it? No way. I mean, I had no choice but to obviously suck it up buttercup. And I agree, getting 3rd party HDMI cables are generally better but that's supposed to be an option, not the standard. Console market is now bring your own cables and accessories and even power supply too? Ridiculous.

 

I guess I grew up spoiled, having remotes included, typically at very least 2 generic batteries to get you going. Hell, it was something even Sony themselves used to do.

I can't speak to the console cable issues, as my ps4's included cables are working fine, but I definitely understand being a minority consumer. Big companies cater to the majority, or else they waste boat loads of profits. I enjoy when games come with instruction manuals, inserts with game art on them, or when the inside of the box has art instead of just being blank. Most people don't give a shit about art, so many games just come in a simplified, blank box. Since I enjoy that little extra, I will spring for it on games I really enjoy. For example, I got the Libertalia collector's edition of Uncharted 4. It came with some great extras, which help me enjoy the final game in one of my favorite series ever.

[Clint Thompson]

While I do miss the physical copies of games, there's a huge difference between fancy packaging with artwork/manuals and a cable that is actually required to allow functionality of your device. I guess my rant makes me all short of expectant that they also supply the power for the device they sold me too, eh? Hardly. I don't think my 'high expectations' of what once was a standard, now stripped and offloaded onto the consumer is out of line, but because it's a so-called standard cable that everyone and their mom has heaps lying around, I'm ridiculous for expecting it. Makes sense. 3-prong power cables are a standard too but I've never purchased a new electronics device that didn't include one because that would be insane. But surely everyone has dozens of them just lying around. Surprise! Here's your brand new DVD player, now go out and buy a $10 power cable for it!

 

And by all means, ship your heaps and mounds of useless, space taking USB cables my way. I bitch about not having one to play my game because it used to be a standard (and still is by most companies) and then people bitch about having too many lol I suppose I could see the problem with that. Sucks having backup cables.

 

Micro and mini USB cables come with everything. At my place they seem to multiply, like file folders or paper clips. It's fun to get them in different lengths and colors so you can tell what they are at a glance. I suppose it's also fun to rant on retro game forums about how things were better in the good old days! Color printed manuals, software catalogs, $40 4K ROM cartridges, and we liked it that way!

 

The PS4 is a good controller and you'll probably enjoy it once the steam clears, Clint. PC Gamer calls it the best controller you can use on a PC.

 

So who's going to tell him that he needs a memory card to do much more than run Tempest on this? He seems really mad, I want to keep my distance. This is a good one.

If they came with everything, this thread wouldn't exist. I've played the PS3/PS4, the controller is fine but again, since I've never owned one I was obviously ignorant of the fact of it not including a required, which is typically included across the board as standard, cable. There's no way (proof above) that I'm the only one that was pissed to find this out after buying a primary or secondary controller. I'm aware a memory card isn't included and yes, it has enough space for TxK and a few others if I ever decide to actually purchase more. But go on, keep your distance lol

 

The PS4 console comes with a dualshock 4 controller and the cable you seek. Most people buying a PS4 controller either have the console, or know what they're doing. If/when you get a PS4 console, and it comes with a 2nd cable, are you gonna throw a shitfit because it doesn't match what you bought?

...or don't - why would I throw a shit fit if it actually includes the necessary items to play? That's all I was expecting in the first place.

[Flojomojo]

You might feel vindicated by this. Or perhaps it will make you feel worse! Heh http://bfy.tw/5mvn

[BawesomeBurf]

The PS4 is a good controller and you'll probably enjoy it once the steam clears, Clint. PC Gamer calls it the best controller you can use on a PC.

It is a great controller aside from the light that can't be turned off, and the tiny Start and Select buttons. I've had the controller for like 3 months now, and finding the Start button quickly is still tough. Other than that though, it's really comfortable and well designed. Still not sure if I prefer it over the Dual Shock.

[+save2600]

Pretty assumptive on a company to believe or think *most* people already have some of this stuff. Extra cords, etc. are nice to have. Hell, in the high end audio world when I'm selling/trading multi-thoughsand dollar pieces, most everyone still wants their plain vanilla power cord and those are infinitely more common than some of this goofy USB shit.

 

And agree about the help in retail today. Can't assume these monkeys know jack, even if they themselves are gamers. Know more people than not that still don't know the difference between a PS3 fat, slim and a super slim. ha!

[Austin]

I'm not a fan of this new direction either. Similar story, I bought a *new* 3DS system back in December, brought it home, then realized it didn't come with an AC adapter. They make you buy another one with this latest system. So, I head back to the store, only for them to be sold out. Of course, this was the middle of the night and so Wal-Mart was the only place open. I got desperate and bought a *new* 3DS car charger, then got a car charger to wall adapter from the cell phone section. Completely ghetto rigged, but it worked. It was a total pain in the ass and was a couple hours of my time spent that could have completely been avoided had Nintendo decided to not cheap out on something that's actually kind of necessary.

[PhoenixMoonPatrol]

Had no idea this goes on with game controllers,damn. Cause I bought a new XBox One pad 3 months back and it included a 6 foot micro usb cable. So I thought this was pretty much a packin for all controllers when purchased. Sony need to follow suit or just piss off. For being the market leader this gen its pretty rotten to do such a thing. And yeah I got lucky in that the clerk I was dealing with atleast gave me a heads up about accessories that were needed when I bought a 2DS last year. Unbelievable that they skipped on a charging adapter.

I wanted to play Sega's new Shinobi game and Mario 3D so bad on that handheld that I just laughed and shook my head while giving the clerk more money for an adapter.

Edited May 18, 2016 by PhoenixMoonPatrol

[Austin]

Had no idea this goes on with game controllers,damn. Cause I bought a new XBox One pad 3 months back and it included a 6 foot micro usb cable. So I thought this was pretty much a packin for all controllers when purchased. Sony need to follow suit or just piss off.

 

This must be something Microsoft just started doing (I'm assuming with the newer model controllers with the headphone jacks). The couple of controllers I picked up in the first year and a half or so of it being out didn't come with the cable, you had to buy a play and charge kit for that ($25 on its own), that or use AA batteries.

[Flojomojo]

The 3DS is more annoying because it's not a standard connector, but I like these better than Nintendo's bricks: http://kotaku.com/charge-your-3ds-over-usb-xl-with-this-4-cord-1616074237

I've never seen them at retail, though.

[leods]

When I bought my DS3 to use with my Vita TV the person in store didin't even know wether it worked. I had to double check myself wether the PS3 controller was compatible as the guy thought it was only with dual shock 4.

 

Generally speaking I would never ask people in big stores for advice on anything.

[Jess Ragan]

I bought a cat 'o nine tails connector which just happens to have a 3DS connector on one end. Pretty convenient! Shame the micro USB connector seems to be broken, though.

[Mord]

3DSXL, yes a bit worse when you don't get an AC adapter with your device but seriously......

 

I don't think it's a bit worse at all - the micro usb cord is generally the built-in way to recharge the controllers - buying standalone charging stations for the controller would be no better than buying the AC adapter separately.

 

So really... I'd probably consider the missing micro usb cord a bit worse - since you need to use that to get the controller to even talk to the PSTV to begin with.

[HoshiChiri]

 

I don't think it's a bit worse at all - the micro usb cord is generally the built-in way to recharge the controllers - buying standalone charging stations for the controller would be no better than buying the AC adapter separately.

 

So really... I'd probably consider the missing micro usb cord a bit worse - since you need to use that to get the controller to even talk to the PSTV to begin with.

 

I think the 3DSXL is worse because it's a non-standard cord. I can't use my phone charger on my 3DS, nor can I run to basically any drugstore to get a charger. It's still stupid all the way around, but the micro usb is easier to acquire.

 

I have no need of a new controller, but I'd still love to see what Sony does if you contact them and complain about this.