PLA ALT Motion Controller
An unorthodox, unusual, and unique keyboard alternative? We’re interested.
THE WORLD ISN’T SHORT of bizarre gaming controllers or ‘intuitive’ peripherals— just take a look back at the Sega Fishing Rod for the Dreamcast, the NES Power Glove, the Donkey Kong Jungle Beat bongos, or even the Tony Hawk Ride Skateboard. They will always hold a special place in our hearts, but trust us, the Sega Fishing Rod did us no favors when hopping into ApexLegends!
The faithful keyboard and mouse combination has stood the test of time, yet that might just be down to what we know best and not wanting to break the mold. PLA LABS is challenging this traditional gaming setup with the ALT Motion controller, which certainly looks like a distinctive peripheral.
At first glance, it's mouse-shaped and symmetrical, with an ambidextrous design. This controller is aimed to be used alone or alongside a mouse, so it should be a seamless addition to your existing setup, as it doesn’t take up much desk real estate. Underneath are clear rubber feet that prevent it from sliding across your desk. The bottom end of the device features a wrist rest, which we have to say is rather comfy, so it’s easy to find a suitable position for this. It bulges outwards, creating an ergonomic curve for your hand to sit on.
Quality-wise, and with the $299 price tag in mind, we aren’t fully satisfied, as it does feel weak in some areas. We get that this is essentially a startup project that has been evolving since 2015, but at the price point, quality is what you expect. We must also mention Edward Larkin, who is leading PLA labs, was behind the invention of the mouse bungee in 1994, and formally worked for Razer, so he certainly knows a thing or two about peripherals.
Aesthetically, it features a matte black chassis, with gloss-gray accents that again should be a universal fit for most setups. If you need a bit of color, there are RGB ring lights around each of the analog sticks. Speaking of which, the one on the left and right are identical, with one at the center towards the top which is larger due to a rubberized control wheel. These thumbsticks have plenty of grip on them, thanks to the textured finish on each of the convex sticks. We say thumbsticks, but technically only one will be. The way we used this was left-handed with our thumb on the right stick, our middle finger controlling the center stick, and our pinky on the left stick. The fundamental issue with new controllers is the bedding-in process, and it wasn’t the most natural feeling, but after a few hours, you start to pick up the pace and things become more intuitive.
CONFIGURE IT YOURSELF Where the ALT Motion Controller really shines is its customizability. It’s essentially a macro device, so you can map this to whatever you see fit. We loved using the wheel on, you guessed it, racing games in particular. Five tabs are at the top, including settings for profiles, lighting, programming, wheels, and macros. Within the wheel tab, you can map the left steering to A and the right to D, just as it is using typical WASD keyboard controls. You can map the analog sticks to specific keys within the macro settings, too—this creates many possibilities to control games exactly how you’d like. A device like this would be very well suited for emulation as well, as you can create separate profiles for different consoles. Going back to the software, although very easy to navigate and use, it is a bit of a disappointment for a $299 product. It leads us back to quality, and its design is rather lackluster here. It feels like a rushed application although fundamentally it gets the job done.
We had fun using this ALT Motion controller as a step away from a keyboard or standard gaming controller. It's best suited to FPS titles, and although it wasn’t the easiest to pick up, we got there in the end. It certainly gives you a lot more flexibility and options, and hits the nail on the head when it comes to ergonomics. Our issues lay with the overall fit and finish, and software gripes. Unfortunately, at the moment, it’s just not quite there for the $299 price tag.
The unit is currently available to preorder, and if you're after a unique and intuitive way to play games, this could certainly be a good option if you’re willing to overlook some of the issues we found.