The Titan submersible was built on a tight budget. It was basically an experimental unit built with the idea of going down to 4000m as cheaply as possible.

The sub was controlled using a Playstation 3 controller interface. The idea was that the controls of the sub could be handed to any one of the 5 members on board and that person would have confidence in moving the craft. This isn't the first time this has been done and it's a sound approach.

BUT... I can't help but get hung up on the fact that cost cutting on this project was so tight that they couldn't even spring for an actual Sony Dualshock.... they were controlling this sub using a cheap Logitech wireless PS3 controller.

I'm not implying that the controller had ANYTHING to do with the loss of the sub, but if I paid $250,000 to take a ride in an experimental sub and then saw the $20 Logitech controller that was in charge of my fate, I'd probably have some very concerned questions and maybe I'd think twice before sealing myself in.