I was going to post this yesterday, and forgot. So yesterday, the camo controller I had coming in arrived much sooner than expected (it said on the confirmation I got when first ordering it that it was expected on the 23rd). There's these crappy, cheap third parties I've used for years and years now for PS2, and I never knew they made camo ones until a week ago when I was randomly looking online and saw one. Me loving anything and everything camo (woodland mainly), I instantly wanted it. But here's the thing - they only make the camo ones for PS3. Looked and looked forever trying to find one for PS2, never could find it. Maybe they exist, but I couldn't find them. Nevertheless, from prior knowledge of having had these controllers for PS3 (just not in camo), I knew that the shells, the buttons, everything apart from the boards themselves is literally identical between the PS2 and PS3 controllers they make, and so I ordered a PS3 controller anyway just for the camo shell. It came in yesterday, and I went out to a retro store I frequent and bought a PS2 version of the same controller in regular black (only option they have there) just for the board. Swapped around all the stuff yesterday, and here you go - the only instance as far as I know of a camo version of one of these controllers existing for PS2, and I'm very happy with it. Also added non-functional vibration motors from old Xbox 360 controller parts to it just for added weight in the hand, which is actually kind of a bitch to do with the grip panels being separate from the shell, and falling out ridiculously easy when getting it back together. The motors have to go in at a very specific and crooked angle, and it's virtually impossible to get them in without the grip panel falling off. It's a nightmare, and took me a few frustrating minutes just to do it. But I did it. Another minor modification was swapping out a little decorative piece of plastic that goes across the front, which was camo like the shell itself on the factory controller, but I swapped it for the black piece that was on the donor PS2 controller, since I found it more aesthetically pleasing to have that piece not match and instead go along with the other black parts of the controller.
Controller itself works reasonably well, but it has some very minor issues that are just endemic of the horrendous build quality of these controllers from the factory. I love them and have used them for years, mainly for the very Xbox 360-esque ergonomics and being really cheap (brand new, costs $15 - you can't touch actual Sony brand ones for twice that...), but I'm not advocating them as being "overly great" or anything; you get what you pay for. There's a slight issue in sensitivity where the left stick is a hair more sensitive to the right than other directions, so it takes less travel to activate in that direction, but honestly, it's a very minor issue I'm already used to after having been using it since last night. I could care less about that, but it's a present issue nonetheless. On some of these, the sticks are stiff in one direction, so I'm just glad this one doesn't have that problem. Every one of these controllers is unique in their own way due to extremely bad quality control. The main issue also present, which is really just aesthetic, is that one of the lights on the Analog button meant to emulate an Xbox 360 Home button is somewhat dim. Not a functional issue, but my OCD is not necessarily pleased by it. On some of these, one light randomly just doesn't work at all. Again, every one of these is unique due to quality control issues. Other than that, no problems, though. Initially, when I first assembled it, the L2/R2 buttons were having a slight sticking issue that I couldn't tell why, and have never encountered before, assuming it to be because of the slightly different, grittier finish these controllers have, and potentially microscopic differences in plastic thickness - but by now, that issue has gone away as far as I can tell. I'll at least give it that much regarding that issue that it really has not had much of a break-in period at all. Not that controllers should really need a "break-in" period to work like we expect them to...
