PDP’s Afterglow controllers get a 10th Anniversary upgrade

At the PDP booth during E3 2013, I was able to play around with the PDP Afterglow line of controllers for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. If you're not familiar with PDP, one of the things they do is make third-party controllers for consoles, coming in at different prices for those with different budgets looking for different features.

Their Afterglow line of controllers is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In conjunction with that, the Afterglow controllers are getting an upgrade. All Afterglow controllers for Xbox 360 and PS3 starting this Summer will have the custom engineered SmartTrack technology, which brings better analogy stick performance and accuracy. SmartTrack brings the tightness and accuracy of the analog sticks more in line with what you can expect from a first-party controller.

PDP will also be releasing two Afterglow 10th Anniversary bundles this holiday season:

Afterglow 10th Anniversary Bundle for Xbox 360

Controller Features:

• Custom engineered SmartTrack technology for superior analog stick performance and accuracy
• Dual Action Lighting
  • Blue Edge Glow Lighting stays lit during gaming
  • Red Action Pulse Lighting react to Rumble Events
• Vibration
• 10ft cable with breakaway

Communicator Features:

• Crystal clear communication for online gaming
• Flexible, noise canceling microphone
• Rotating microphone boom

Price: $39.99

Afterglow 10th Anniversary Bundle for PS3

Controller Features:

• Custom engineered SmartTrack technology for superior analog stick performance and accuracy
• Dual Action Lighting
  • Blue Edge Glow Lighting stays lit during gaming
  • Red Action Pulse Lighting react to Rumble Events
• 2.4gHz Wireless
• Built-in rechargeable battery
• Vibration
• 8ft charge cable

Charger Features:

• Charges your Afterglow wireless controller
• Easy seat charger with no wires, cables or connects to plug into the controller
• Simple and convenient.

Price: $39.99

I was able to hold the controllers, play around with them, and try out the new SmartTrack analog performance. The analog sticks are really improved from previous Afterglow controllers. If you don't want to fork over $60 for a controller, or you really love the glow features and want a snazzy look to your controllers, don't look much further than PDP's Afterglow line.

You can follow Senior Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He likes talking sports, video games, movies, and the stupidity of celebrities. Email at LLiebl@GameZone.com