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CES 2010: SplitFish

by: Dan -
More On: CES 2010 Dual SFX Evolution Dual SFX Frag Pro
The first thing I looked at with my SplitFish appointment was the SplitFish Dual SFX Frag Pro, which has its foundation on the FragFX that John reviewed a couple years ago. The Frag Pro offers the same set-up as the original, but is wireless, with SIXAXIS control in the left grip. According to SplitFish folks, it is more accurate and faster than the original, helps relieve tension and the mouse is usable for navigation in Home and while using the browser. Ideally, the Dual SFX Frag Pro will help those hardcore PC gamers while playing FOS on the PS3 the best, but it can be of use to just about anyone that is looking for a multifaceted controller. It will hit retail with an MSRP of $89.99.

However, the big item of the day and one of the most unique items I saw at the 2010 CES was the SplitFIsh Dual SFX Evolution controller for the PS3 that was announced last year. I was given a hands on with Dennis ‘zDD’ Dozier (who is ranked as the #1 PS3 gamer for Call of Duty) of the Dual SFX EVO and needless to say, I was quite impressed.

From what I saw and experienced, the Dual SFX Evolution is probably the most versatile controller available for the PS3 today. With all of the macros, customization and different ways to use it to your advantage, the EVO is probably a must have if you want to beat your competition on a regular basis. The adjustable rapid fire allows the EVO to not only gun down others quickly, but stay under the radar of any developer that puts code into their game to thwart “turbo” controllers. It is also adjustable, so if the code changes, the controller can adapt as well. Plus, firmware upgrades for the EVO allow it to continue to evolve if need be for the future.

As potent as the EVO is during gameplay, its versatility may be the most impressive thing about it. With the ability to swap the right and left controls, sensitivity adjustments, plug and play and analog stick swap, it is good for noobs or experienced gamers alike. It is also ideal for left-handed gamers and even the disabled due to its unique controls. The visual indicator also lets you know when the macro is engaged, so you can disable it for a new game, or when switching from one player to the next. A USB dongle allows it to use one-button Macros, so you can program in some Tekken finishing moves into a single button and just kick your opponent to the curb quickly.

I was able to do a little racing with it and found that after a half a lap I was making turns using the SIXAXIS for steering much better than I would a normal analog stick. It was all in the wrist, as opposed to bending your thumbs all over the place to make a turn. As for the comfort, both pieces fit well in my hands and were easy to locate and use all of the buttons without having to move my hands or fingers around. I am sure there will be a learning curve to become highly proficient at using the EVO, but Dennis said it took him a few days, but once you were past that part it became a much more natural controller than the standard PS3 Dual Shock and its fixed position. My first impressions are that once you get the hang of it, you will be dominating the competition with the EVO without a doubt. For anyone serious about their competition, this will be money well spent and probably needed to just keep up with the other PS3 players that undoubtedly will grab one of these. The SplitFish Dual SFX Evolution will be available the first of February 2010 at www.SpltFIsh.com for an MSRP of $89.99. In the meantime, head over to the official site for some Video Spots and tech tips from Dennis.

I think Dennis does the best job of describing the EVO, so check out his CES tutorial of using the Macro feature: