i think i kinda remember microsoft releasing a special 360 controller in the pal territories with an improved d pad for the fifa crowd, i dont know if they ever did really release it, but you should look into that
i think i kinda remember microsoft releasing a special 360 controller in the pal territories with an improved d pad for the fifa crowd, i dont know if they ever did really release it, but you should look into that
"Kidnap the presidents wife without a plan..."
On the subject of the silver "adjustable d-pad" 360 controller...
Your mileage may vary, but most of the people I know who have bought one have had some kind of a problem with it. In my case, the left analog stick developed a drifting issue about 3 months after I got the controller. To put that in perspective, I've had my 360 since December of 2005 and the two wireless controllers I bought with it at the time still work just fine.
I've spoken to a bunch of other people who picked one up, and several of them have also mentioned issues with it. (Unresponsive buttons, battery doors cracking, the d-pad falling out (don't ask me how that one works, it sounds like abuse to me, but I only work here) etc) - They just don't seem to be made as well as the original pads.
I picked up the Razer Onza (wired) in hopes of a better d-pad, but it's just not smooth enough for more games - especially fighters. It's a great pad for first person shooters, but the dpad is lacking.
So far, the best pad I've found as far as d-pad use goes (as mentioned by a few people above) are the Mad Catz Street Fighter pads - but again, as mentioned earlier, they are wired.
Mostly Harmless
The problem is that if you want wireless; you're pretty much limited to what MS offers. I don't personally mind wired controllers much but then again I play alot of the time with the charging cable for the Play and charge kit hooked up and the cord for my headphones running out from the system so really what's one additional cable? Sure wireless is convenient when you need it but not a big concern as far as I'm concerned. I can understand the concern if you play further back from the TV though.