I am starting to wonder how big other people's hands are, and which game controllers are the most comfortable. The reason I ask is, it seems like there's a definate XBox controller is too big/just right camp and the exact same people who think the XBox controller is perfect for their hands think the GC controller is too small. Those who think the XBox is too big think the GC is just right. So, I ask this question: how big are your hands, and which controllers fit best?

My hands span 9" when spread wide, and measure 7" from the top of my middle finger to the bottom of my palm. My palm, not counting thumb, is about 3.5".

Now, I find XBox controller extremely comfortable. Not one button is difficult for me to reach or use in the heat of battle. Everything is right where I need it to be. Granted, it does feel big when I first pick it up, because it is SO much bigger than any other controller -- but once I start playing, it no longer bothers me.

On the other hand, the PS2 controller is right on the edge of being too small. I can't really hold on to it well, though I think it's one of the better controllers out there. I can use the shoulder buttons well if I'm using the analog sticks (Twisted Metal: Black) but not if I'm using the X,O, square, and triangle buttons (Street Fighter II). Don't get me wrong, it's very comfortable, and I like it, it just seems that my hands are too big to use all the buttons easily.

The N64 controller is also too small for my hands, I can reach all the buttons, and it's comfortable, but I can't help but notice that my hands would fit a lot better and I could grip it a lot better if I had hands that were two sizes smaller.

The new gamecube controller also appears like it will be too small, though I've not played with it. If it is smaller than the PS2 controller, I can almost guaruntee I'll have problems with it.

I can't believe I did it, but I just finished measuring my hands. Oddly enough, my hands are the exact same size as yours.

I always thought that the N64 controller was actually a little too BIG. Not by a lot, but enough that it wasn't quite comfortable.

The Gamecube controller is quite confortable for me. I like it better than the N64 controller after only a couple days of playing with it.

I also find the Xbox controller very comfortable, but my experience with it is limited (store kiosks).

I like the Xbox controller and my hands are about an inch longer and half inch wider than yours. I don't like the buttons, as it's too hard, but it may be that I hadn't gamed in a long time, and pretty much any long amount of gaming would make anyone's thumb hurt. That only comes from playing a game like THPS2x where I have to ride a button for all intensive purposes. I could play a day of Fever or Halo with no problem.

8 1/4" spread
8" tip to palm
4" palm

I love the XBox controller. It feels right.

I'd have to say that I haven't been gaming much as of late, and it took me the whole last weekend to get my fingers and such to be re-acclaimated with playing, but now I'm fine. Initially, I thought that the buttons on the Xbox pad were too round, making them seem hard, but now they feel pretty good. Although, I will agree that Tony Hawk can murder your thumb...

The Xbox controller fits me very nicely (without actual hand measurements).

One thing I've particularly noticed that's nice about the Xbox pad is the directional (digital) key. Unlike the Playstation and such, it's not sectioned or just square, and damn is it nice. If I'd have only had a pad like this in the Street Fighter 2/Alpha glory days...It almost reminds me of the saturn US and Japanese pads. Those were the days...

I have to admit that the XBox's d-pad is very nice. Playstation's is probably the worst. It destroyed my fingers until I learned to just lightly push it, and not slide my thumb around on it too much.

9 1/2" spread
8 1/2" tip to palm
4 1/2" palm

Dreamcast controller is a little small - feels ok, but after long play time, it cramps my fingers up.

Playstation controller is ok - a little small

Xbox controller I can't remember what that felt like... seemed like I didn't like something about it.

I've never liked any of the Nintendo controllers, but I haven't tried the GC one... I imagine I won't like that either just based on looking at it, but that's not because of the size, more about the edges and the shape. I like more ergo controllers.

The Playstation and Nintendo digital pads do cause alot more pain during intense play, but they have something that the XBox doesn't ... a definate sense of hitting the diagonals. The Xbox digital pad is on a perfect circle and it's hard to know when a diagonal is pressed. I've found the XBox controller to be comfortable, but there are problems getting used to the buttons. I find myself looking down at the XB controller alot to find what button to push while the Gamecube controller is alot more instinctual. My favourite controller has to be the Alps Interactive controller for the PS1 ... it was massive and solid and had the best pad I've ever felt. Too bad there are very few games that use the d-pad anymore.

You know, I forgot about the Alps pad...that thing was SWEET. What a fantastic controller that was...wonder if they're even still in business? I'm gonna have to search.

Playstation Dual Shock controller is a perfect size for my hands.

Ever since I first picked up an XBox controller a year ago during usability testing for Microsoft XBox team, I made comments that it was far too large for me. I'm going to have to be importing the smaller Japanese controller if I ever get an XBox.

8.5 Spread
7 lenght
3.5 palm width.

Love the GC controller, the Dual Shock, and the N64 controllers.

The X-box controller sucks IMO. It's too big, the buttons are slick and the last two face buttons are uncomfortable for me to reach.

Then GC controller is the most erognomical controller I've ever used. It fits perfectly into my hands. It just seems to be contoured perfectly for the average persons hands. Your fingers fall naturally on all the buttons, with the exception of the crappily placed z trigger. The R and L triggers are the only one's I've ever found comfortable to use. My index fingers rest on them all the time. Usually I would have to move my fingers to hit the triggers on the Dual Shock or SNES controllers and there was just something uncomfortable about the DC controller when it required a lot of trigger use..

ok, so I finally conned some kid at Best Buy into just letting me hold the GC controller for a few minutes.

My impression? It's a bit small, but not horribly so. The L and R buttons are very, very nice. I think the Z button gets a bit of an unfair rap, it's no more difficult to use than PS's R1 and R2, it just doesn't feel as nice as the L and R buttons.

Some criticism though. I can't remember the last time I played a game that had one primary function and a lot of very lesser functions. Yes, there is always one button you use most, but I don't know about making that one HUGE and the rest very small. I couldn't play any games with it, so I don't know. The d-pad was very small, too small in my opinion, and it and the camera stick were awkwardly placed.

In all, not bad, but not the best either. I still rank them like this:
XBox
Playstation
GameCube
N64
SNES
Classic Atari
Dreamcast
NES

Your right about the Z-button, it's no worse than the PS or SNES L and R buttons, I just hated them too.

The button layout is a little strange looking, but it works great. Most games do tend to use one button a lot more than the others, and the other buttons are easy to find. The are a lot smaller than the A buttong, but are actually bigger than the buttons on some other controllers. The layout is a snap to learn. I memorized the buttons on this controller faster than I ever have with a new controller before.

The D-pad is too small, but there are very few games I'd ever want to use it in, really only fighting games. Capcom is supposed to be releasing a fighting pad for (maybe with) their first GC fighter, and I think there's already some arcade sticks available. One thing I've noticed is that the analog stick might be useable for fighters. The plastic around it is sort of in an octogon shape with "corners at up,down, left, right, and the diagonals. This lets you "feel" where your stick is at. So it might work ok, tap moves would still be hard though, but it would work better than the analog sticks on the DC or PS2. The PS2's d-pad sucks too, I had to buy an arcade stick for me old PSX because I couldn't play with the regular controller. So it's really not a big issue as fighters are all that really require the use of the D-pad for gameplay, and it has always pretty much been a given with every system that if you want to play a fighter properly you'll need to buy a different controller.

My hands are the same size as yours...

I hated the DC controller- it was just all wrong.

Love the various official Sony controllers.

Favorite Controller? N64. I know it is weird, being that my hands are as big as they are, but it just "fit" right.

Worst Controller? GBA- I literally can NOT use the Game Boy Advance. Waaayyy too small.