Hardware

New details have emerged on Microsoft’s ambitious Hololens headset. At a presentation in Tel Aviv, Microsoft Technical Evangelist Bruce Harris revealed that the augmented reality headset would be completely wireless …
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Fans of Halo and special console colors alike can now get their hands on the Xbox One Special Edition Halo: The Master Chief Collection Bundle. This package includes the “Cirrus …
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The team at Polygon shared a fascinating summary of former Microsoft developer Nat Brown’s blog a few days ago. He expresses his disappointment with the direction Microsoft has taken …
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Oh man, we love us some 360 controllers. They fit any size hands, unlike the Sony controllers, and despite the less-than-stellar stock d-pad they’re a dream to use. But it’s not just about functionality, it’s about collectability. And with 33 official Microsoft controllers to hunt down there’s no shortage of game for the hunter.

But some controllers may only interest you from an aesthetic standpoint, and so in addition to a rarity rating for each controller we’ve also listed an availability level for replacement parts should you want to transform your existing controllers. So instead of buying an all new controller you can give that nasty, sticky-buttoned gamepad new life and a wicked shell. When searching for custom shell parts remember to stick with vendors that have high reputability or high eBay ratings. There are a lot of cheap knockoffs that look the same in a picture but fit poorly. As per our recent review, we recommend Quickdrawmods if you’re looking for shells that have a Low or above availability rating. Past that go for eBay sellers with high ratings (both in percentage and number of ratings). Also be sure to pick up a Torx T8 security bit screwdriver from whoever you buy your first shell from. It’s invaluable, and they’re usually dirt cheap.

So without further ado we present the 32 Microsoft produced 360 controllers: row by row, left to right.

UPDATE: Added a missing controller to bottom right of the above, along with a description below.

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When you want the optimal gaming experience, it doesn’t matter how nice your TV is if the sound system can’t keep up. Games today place a high premium on audio whether it’s the haunting footsteps and echoes of Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, the upbeat pulsating rhythm of an XBLA classic like Geometry Wars Retro-Evolved or the dulcet tones of the narrator in Bastion. And with a rough economy it’s hard to throw down a large sum of money on a full surround sound system. Thankfully, that same quality level of audio comes in a head phone form for under $100 in the[easyazon-link asin=”B005T3GQLA” locale=”us”]Tritton Primer[/easyazon-link].

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