hey hey all, just signed up, but I've been coming to the site since the older bluer layout, I think it was V1.0.

Has anybody ever had trouble memorizing the PS geneal controller layout?  I'm talking about the action buttons (the 4 shapes).  I'm not that good at memorizing and I mess up on everything that has timed action command like Rogue Galaxy Burning strike, which I am currently playing.  I never use it since I have to look down on the controller to see which action button to press.  With all other consoles it's easy to figure out, since it's just  ABXY, and I don't have to look down at those for anything, though I do admit that I have to repeat ABXY in my head while moving my fingers on those buttons.  It's still better than the weird shapes, the only logic I can see is the triangle, it's the top button and it looks like an up arrow, I always forget the rest.

Did Sony ever say why they used the shapes instead of letters or numbers?  My theory is (I have a feeling some people might get mad at this) that their target audience were very young children, since most children learn shapes before their ABCs or 123s.

I hate how Sony chose to lay out the buttons. I grew up on Nintendo and Sega, and I really can't handle anything but A,b,x,y,z,r,l, or 1,2,3,4. I know, incredibly lame, but I really hate circle, x, square, triangle. Not only is it hard for me to remember where they are, (correction) two of them take more than 1 syllable to say, and square just sounds long.

Also, I don't think they did shapes for "really young chidren" if the kids can't say their alphabet or count, then they won't be old enough to really play any of the games. (with the very few exceptions, but then they'll have parents helping them). They did it so they wouldn't infringe on Nintendo or Sega's patents.

I'm slowly getting better...

Growing up with Playstation, I do much better with shapes than with letters. It's like second nature.

I cant remember PS buttons, it always takes an extra second

Same with me. I'm not sued to it at all even after all these years.

The controller has been out for over a decade. I've had it memorized for a long time.

I always remember the psbuttons. Not really hard.

Of course I know where they are =P It's quite easy actually. Triangle and X are the easiest to memorize. I'd see people having more trouble with square and circle.

It could just be my memory, I know it's really bad. Some people are really good at memorizing so they don't have a problem. Also why use shapes for the front buttons and L and R for the sholder, now it's mixing shapes with alphabets. yeah, I know L means Left and R means Right. I have an 360 and I have to say that L1 L2 and R1 R2 are easier to remember than LT LB and RT RB.

I've been with Sony since psOne so it's 2nd nature to me, but XY AB is a little odd but I get by.