Only the PC mode ...

Hello,
the Mad Catz CTRLR I have ordered in addition to the Fire game controllers to have an alternative. Intended purpose should be primarily the Fire TV box, but also for the advertised PC function I was very interested because I also needed a new Controlelr for the PC.

Pro:
- Proven shape, similar to Xbox Controller
- Very good workmanship
- Promises versatility
- Holder for Smartphone to 5 "

Con:
- Price
- No integrated battery

As was the Fire Game Controller I am of the opinion that the price seems very high indeed, but the product is also high, so the price is ultimately justified. Likewise, the lack of battery might be annoying, because you now and then change the batteries must yet, but you can with a defective battery easy to change the battery, the controller itself can therefore continue to be used. With a built-in battery that would not be possible.

Otherwise, the manufacturer has done everything right in this controller. The design is unmistakably modeled on the Xbox controller, thus it is very comfortable to hold. The pressure points of the keys and responsiveness / precision of the analog sticks is very good and give no reason for complaint. The additional multimedia keys are a nice feature if you have, for example, be connected tablet or smartphone via MHL / SlimPort to the TV to play videos or streams. In hinnaus they work perfectly together with the Fire TV, so the CTRLR can be used as an alternative to the remote control. The enclosed, screw-mount for smartphones is solid and smart phones can take up about 5 "(possibly even up to 5.5") record well. However, the smartphone should be better protected by a sheath, otherwise the edges are most likely scratched. In return, the smartphone also sits in the bracket but really safe and secure.

The only complaint is the advertised cross-platform compatibility. The idea is ansich quite nice, a controller which is usable both on the smartphone, as well as on Android boxing as the Fire TV Box and PC. Mad Catz makes here though already much better than other Android Bluetooth controller, but unfortunately just does not stop there.

Once the driver installation has been completed and recognized the controller correctly to the PC, you can also control in the controller properties, which keys are recognized as. Here, one finds that while all keys trigger a reaction, but there are a total of more buttons in the overview available when the controller actually has. The thumb buttons for example are shifted with respect to the standard configuration and start only when "2", thus it is impossible to press "1". In addition, the analog trigger buttons on the front are only recognized as a digital key, which can be problematic in racing games, if you want to speed up these keys.
Add to that the Xbox controller is not just CTRLR, and many games now only automatically detect Xbox controller. If the game has a key assignment menu, you can simply confirm the corresponding buttons of CTRLR usually, if not but, then in addition to the analog stick is happening purely garnix. At this circumstance, however, Mad Catz is not to blame, but the developers that support for resource reasons only Xbox controller. The buyer helps unfortunately not at all, if he wants to be with Cntrollern on PC on the safe side, it is better or worse, an Xbox 360 controller must have.

Finally, it is to want to operate relatively annoying one controller to more than one device, such as smartphone and Fire TV Box. Because the controller can always be paired with a device, and this pairing is established after switching on the controller immediately, has the Fire TV Box are completely switched off (unplug it) if you want to pair the controller with your phone, because Bluetooth in Box is permanently active. Alternatively, you can cancel the menu, the pairing, then pair the controller with your smartphone. But then you want the controller to use the Fire TV ... etc, etc. This is also not the fault of Mad Catz, but is used in the Bluetooth technology founded. But again, this brings the end user very little.

Conclusion:
The cross-platform use is possible, but paved with so many pitfalls that there is a star deduction. Anyone looking for a controller that works on PC, especially, is limited to the CTRLR happy and had better access to the proven Xbox 360 controllers. About an additional wireless receiver and the wireless controller to the PC and even the Fire TV can be used if a cable on Xbox disrupt controller.
Anyone looking for a controller exclusively for Fire TV Box, which is better off with the Amazon Fire Game Controller, the quality is the same at a lower price to CTRLR.
Ultimately, I have but then decided to go for the CTRLR because me the extra support for Smartphone allows you to play games on Android smartphone better. Since the CTRLR is only slightly more expensive than the Amazon Fire Game Controller, this was quite bearable. For the PC I had, however, still an additional Xbox 360 Controller Buy. The controller earns basically a 5 star rating because even without the PC function agrees the value for money yet. In this respect, this PC mode should be regarded merely as a nice "extra", and it would have been so advertised the stands 5 stars nothing in the way. Potential buyers are however misled that the CTRLR is also a full-featured PC-compatible game controllers, and that's just not the case.