While it probably goes without saying, hardcore gamers spend hours at a time on their games. They obsess over strategies for each title. And they spend hundreds of dollars on their gaming gear. The Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller is aimed at these gamers, and its $129.99 (list) price tag is justified thanks to its extensive customization options. This PlayStation 3 lets you switch between multiple types of analog sticks, direction pads, controller configurations, and even faceplates, with even more planned. Mad Catz also makes a same-price Xbox 360 version, which is nearly identical because you can choose between PS3 and Xbox 360-style analog sticks and direction pads for either model. Its excellent feel and multiple options help this pricey gamepad earn our Editors' Choice.

Customizing the Gamepad

Straight out of the box, the MLG Pro Circuit looks like your typical third-party PlayStation 3 gamepad with a detachable cable. However, once you pull the magnetically attached face plate off, its differences and appeal become apparent. The direction pad and analog sticks are modular, and you can swap out the default broken arrow direction pad and convex PlayStation 3-style sticks with the included solid plus direction pad and concave Xbox 360-style sticks. The left analog stick and direction pad can also be swapped back and forth, like Mad Catz's Cyborg V.5 gamepad, letting you choose whether you want to play with a PlayStation 3-style layout or an Xbox 360-style layout.

The customization doesn't end there. A cartridge on the back of the gamepad holds two 35-gram weights, giving you three weight adjustments for the controller. A flat cover replaces the cartridge if you don't want any weights and want the back of the gamepad to be flat, instead of feeling like it has a battery pack. The faceplate and left and right handles of the controller are removable, letting you choose between the included glossy black and matte black plates included with the gamepad (or you can mix and match them). All of these different parts, plus the removable three-meter (9-foot-10-inch-) woven cable and the gamepad itself, fit in the included carrying case for easy transportation to tournaments or friends' homes so you can switch your configuration on the fly. If that's not enough, Mad Catz will offer additional "ProModule" analog sticks and direction pads of varying shapes and textures, faceplates of varying styles, and detachable cables of varying lengths.

Despite the many removable parts, when everything is locked in the MLG Pro Circuit Controller feels rock-solid. The screw-on cable connection keeps the cable secured tight (there's no wireless option), and the direction pad and analog sticks, despite fastening with a short twist into the sockets, stay in place. With the faceplate on, you can't even tell the gamepad is modular.

How Gaming Feels

The gamepad's shape is closer to an Xbox 360 controller than a PlayStation 3 controller, and feels pleasantly solid in the hand even without the weights. The Xbox 360-like trigger buttons and larger, more curvy profile are much more comfortable than the PlayStation 3's stock Sixaxis and DualShock 3 gamepads. In my large hands, the MLG Pro Circuit Controller simply feels better. Instead of being pawned off to the second player, this gamepad cries out to stay with the host.

One minor touch makes the MLG Pro Circuit Controller so much more appealing for gamers on the PS3. If you hold the Start and Select buttons for five seconds, the player lights on the bottom will invert (if you're player one, the first light will be dark and the other three will light up) to signal that the trigger and bumper shoulder buttons have been switched. This means you can pull the right trigger button to fire weapons in most first-person shooters, when previously the right bumper was used to fire. It's a small feature, but it makes playing shooters much more comfortable. The Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller for Xbox 360 doesn't include this feature.

I tried the MLG Pro Circuit Controller with three games: Mortal Kombat, Resistance: Fall of Man, and EDF: Insect Armageddon. As a fighter, Mortal Kombat benefitted from being able to switch both the position and style of the direction pad. I had the most luck with the PS3-style broken arrow direction pad in the PS3 configuration. In Resistance: Fall of Man, I used the shoulder button switching feature to use the trigger to fire, and I had the most comfortable experience with Xbox 360-style sticks in the PS3-style configuration. In EDF: Insect Armageddon, I had the best experience turning quickly to kill giant bugs with the PS3-style sticks in the Xbox 360-style configuration. Your tastes may vary depending on your play style and the size of your hands, but the different options mean you'll play comfortably in exactly the way you want.

The Mad Catz MLG Pro Circuit Controller might be an expensive gamepad, but it's also the best third-party gamepad you can buy thanks to its solid design and multiple configuration options. The simple ability to switch analog stick styles and positions makes it appealing, and the shoulder button switching feature makes it invaluable for gamers who like to play shooters on the PS3. If you can spend the $130 and you spend all your time on your PS3, this is the gamepad you want to get.

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