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Durango/next Xbox controller currently covered in stripes; similar to X360 controller

Because Sony's too lazy to improve the ergonomics of their controller. Or too scared to change it out of fear that people will hate it. That's not necessarily a better reason, just a more truthful and accurate reason.

There are a lot of people who find the ergonomics just fine and the same people love the controller as is.
 
I get that some people don't like the stick placement, but it certainly wasn't arbitrary. When Xbox was released, d-pad was no longer the primary control method so they put the stick where the d-pad always was.

"Primary control method" changes on a per-game basis.

What's weird is that Xbox is sort of known for shooters, but this scheme flies in the face of that. Your "primary" control points (most-accessed) are the two sticks and the shoulder buttons. That supports a symmetrical argument.

Older games, i.e. dpad+face button style platformers, also support symmetry. It's the case of analog+face buttons where the offset sticks seem to make more sense, but in either case - going either direction- it's either a short reach up, or a short reach down.

That's why I've always slightly preferred the Sony/Nintendo symmetry approach. I don't get why people are so bothered about it. Of course I switch to my XBox controller on Steam and don't think much of it these days, other than it feels just a bit strange. Not "omg my hands are cramping, this is unthinkable?!" strange, just.. a bit... offset. ;)
 
Wasn't the dpad pretty much fixed with a later revision?
It's improved, but it's still not great. The D-pad has 2 settings. 1 of them is basically the same as the old D-pad and the other lowers the circular part of it so that the cross part is more defined.

Nerfgun said:
"Primary control method" changes on a per-game basis.
Yeah, and how many games use the left stick as the primary control method these days? Pretty much all of them. With the right stick, you are having to bend your thumb in a bit to use it, but it would be more awkward if you had to bend your thumb in a bit to use the 4 face buttons. For shooters, the Wii-U Pro controller is best. For games that use the left stick and face buttons, the 360 controller is best. For games that use the D-pad and face buttons, the Dual Shock is best. And by "best", I mean that your thumbs fall naturally on the controls.
 
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If I can't use mine or they don't have a new one, Wayne Brady isn't going to be the only person choking a bitch.
 
It's improved, but it's still not great. The D-pad has 2 settings. 1 of them is basically the same as the old D-pad and the other lowers the circular part of it so that the cross part is more defined.
Yeah, and neither of them fixes the mushy response.
 
"Primary control method" changes on a per-game basis.

What's weird is that Xbox is sort of known for shooters, but this scheme flies in the face of that. You're "primary" control points (most-accessed) are the two sticks and the shoulder buttons. That supports a symmetrical argument.

That supports a symmetrical argument in the WiiU style, not dualshock. But twin-stick shooters weren't as big when Xbox was introduced

Older games, i.e. dpad+face button style platformers, also support symmetry. It's the case of analog+face buttons where the offset sticks seem to make more sense, but in either case - going either direction- it's either a short reach up, or a short reach down.

Of course, but these games were on the way out when the system was introduced. They've obviously had a bit of a resurgence since then
 
What's that got to do with anything?

When I pick up a controller, I want my thumbs to fall naturally on the primary controls. I don't give a shit about symmetrical sticks. I care about the controller being comfortable to use and not turning my hands into lobster claws.

ok then...
 
Same here. Even the original 360 controller is too small IMO and I need to use the chatpad to play it comfortably.

Just fix the shitty d-pad MS, that's all you really needed to do.
Since apparently making it bigger wasn't an option =/
Duke for lyfe!
 
The analog placement on the 360 pad is perfect, i use a Shadow 6 with my PS3 which has the same layout. Asymmetrical is just better, especially for FPS.
 
I think Sony is just conservative about the DS overall shape and ergonomics because it became such an iconic design and people got used to it. There's no way that form factor could not be improved, regardless of stick placement.
 
That supports a symmetrical argument in the WiiU style, not dualshock.

How so? Just because one has the buttons above as opposed to below?

Of course, but these games were on the way out when the system was introduced. They've obviously had a bit of a resurgence since then

Sure, I was just pointing out that those games are almost invariably "use dpad OR left analog to move", ala Fez and the like. So you have a choice in that case.

abadguy said:
The analog placement on the 360 pad is perfect, i use a Shadow 6 with my PS3 which has the same layout. Asymmetrical is just better, especially for FPS.
Tell me why you think this is the case.
 
Wasn't the dpad pretty much fixed with a later revision? I never got to play with it but I remember reading about some sort of clicking shenanigans.

Say whatever you want about some recent MS choices but the 360 controller with a better dpad would literally be the best videogame controller ever designed.

Edit: Seriously, as someone that did not play with a Dual Shock in more than 10 years and got a Vita recently, that thing gives me serious cramps after 1h or so. Guess it's a battery saving mode.

There's that one with the dpad you can twist so it raises up and it's decent enough I guess, but I found myself going back to the default 360 controller's dpad for Street Fighter and stuff.
 
I think Sony is just conservative about the DS overall shape and ergonomics because it became such an iconic design and people got used to it.
Of course that's the reason. Sony have used the same design since 1997. People that have only ever gamed on Playstations would blow a fuse if they made a more ergonomic design. I can see them now, all snapping their lobster claws in the air while shouting angrily. :P
 
There's that one with the dpad you can twist so it raises up and it's decent enough I guess, but I found myself going back to the default 360 controller's dpad for Street Fighter and stuff.

Honestly if I played fighting games at all I would probably murder someone after a play session with the 360 pad.
 
How so? Just because one has the buttons above as opposed to below?



Sure, I was just pointing out that those games are almost invariably "use dpad OR left analog to move", ala Fez and the like. So you have a choice in that case.


Tell me why you think this is the case.

I find movement and aiming with that set up easier personally. When i first bought my PS3 slim and KZ2 with it, i found it uncomfortable to be honest and ended up getting the S6 controller the next day. Also i have never really been a huge fan of "d-pads" at all, for anything other than maybe controlling a menu or something but not so much for any sort of gameplay.
 
Why built in battery? You can charge the 360 controller battery by connecting it to the system , by external charger or by regular AA batteries.

Yeah, the 360's battery system is much better than the PS3's sealed controller. My PS3's controller battery is finally dying and I have the option of buying a new controller or figuring out how to crack open my controller and replace the battery pack.
 
I see no reason to fix what isn't broke.

There is a lot to improve. Shooters could be much better on console if they didn't have to rely on auto-aim to make them playable, for one.

It's too bad we're moving away from the Wiimote/Move. An improved version of either would have been great for next-gen consoles. Even just adding a pointer would be a huge upgrade.
 
They just sold 6 million copies of Minecraft. I'm guessing many of those were for little kids. Going bigger was probably never part of the plan.

I know going bigger was never an option, I was kind of joking there. As for the kids that play Minecraft, I doubt this new console will be directed towards them. If I were to buy a MS console for a child, I'd much rather buy them a 360 than Durango.

Because Sony's too lazy to improve the ergonomics of their controller. Or too scared to change it out of fear that people will hate it. That's not necessarily a better reason, just a more truthful and accurate reason.

So far it looks like Sony made more changes than MS, so I don't think lazy has anything to do with it. Besides, if your fear theory had any truth, laziness would have little to do with it.

Yeah, and neither of them fixes the mushy response.

I thought the issue has always been how inaccurate the d-pad is, not how it feels or responds. I couldn't care less how the d-pad responds if I can double tap a direction in a fighting game and run instead of jump.

Duke for lyfe!

lol I still have one in my drawer. Found it while moving recently. Should probably pick up an xbox again some time.

XBOX 1 controller was great too. Should they bring back black and white buttons?


Xbox_Controller_S.jpg

The d-pad was excellent in the S-controller, the rest of the design was shit IMO.
 
My PS3's controller battery is finally dying and I have the option of buying a new controller or figuring out how to crack open my controller and replace the battery pack.
You have to undo half a dozen screws on the back, then you can pop it open. I've not done it, but I've heard it's easy to do.
 
Asymmetrical sticks already make it a better controller than DualShock 4 and the Wii U Gamepad.

3D camera control is dogshit with symmetrical sticks.
 
Yeah, and how many games use the left stick as the primary control method these days? Pretty much all of them. With the right stick, you are having to bend your thumb in a bit to use it, but it would be more awkward if you had to bend your thumb in a bit to use the 4 face buttons. For shooters, the Wii-U Pro controller is best. For games that use the left stick and face buttons, the 360 controller is best. For games that use the D-pad and face buttons, the Dual Shock is best. And by "best", I mean that your thumbs fall naturally on the controls.

I'm not sure I buy the "fall naturally" argument, as I don't know if it means anything, but let's go with that for a sec.

The way I see it... and I'm not militant on this point, as I mentioned, I switch between them all the time and have no real big issue with either apart from the Xbox's mushy dpad... but I would like to understand why there is a vocal contingent that thinks symmetry is an outright mistake.

Shooters, or any 3D game with camera control - primarily both thumbs on sticks, fingers on shoulder buttons. Point for symmetry.

Racers - primarily left analog + shoulder buttons. Point for symmetry.

Platformers - primarily either left analog or dpad interchangeably, and face buttons. A wash. Arguably better on 360 controller if you never use the dpad. Arguably better on dual shock if you prefer dpad for platformers.

Fighter - dpad + face buttons. Point for symmetry.

You see where I'm going with this. Again I don't think it's a big deal to do the little reach, but if I had to analyze the most-used control mechanisms in games, I can't escape the fact that if there's 3D camera control, you are in fact using both sticks most of the time, and that just feels more intuitive to put them side by side. No one ever built an offset RC controller or steering wheel, it's just odd. So I think MS basically borrowed the Dreamcast's scheme (in that window of time when we were just getting used to one analog stick) and stuck with that.

Sheroking said:
3D camera control is dogshit with symmetrical sticks.
Maybe you will be the one to actually try and explain why you think this is...?

abadguy said:
I find movement and aiming with that set up easier personally. When i first bought my PS3 slim and KZ2 with it, i found it uncomfortable to be honest and ended up getting the S6 controller the next day. Also i have never really been a huge fan of "d-pads" at all, for anything other than maybe controlling a menu or something but not so much for any sort of gameplay.
Thanks for the answer. I mean all you said was "it feels better", so ok, but I'm still not sure exactly why, other than you haven't spent any real time with a dual shock maybe? I readily admit that after using that shape for 10+ years, I probably have a lot of muscle memory for that controller, but it still didn't stop me from using the xbox controller.
 
I'm one of those people, when I play games other than FPS I like the DS3 a lot more the the 360 gamepad.

To each his own of course. I just don't understand this though. I bought a 360 style controller for the PS3 and I NEVER pick any controller over the 360 one for my PC.

I grew up using PS1&2 controllers alongside my N64 and GC controllers and was blown away by how comfortable the revised Xbox and 360 one were. I was never a fan of the "duke" though.

Sony's controllers feel so squirrelly to me now.

On subject, I'm curious about the "smaller" rumors....not sure if good or not.
 
I don't see why people object to an internal battery. You can replace it (the battery) if it dies for cheaper than the charge and play pack, but do you guys really like buying AA batteries and throwing your money away?

And the love for asymmetry makes no sense on a controller but ok.
 
Yeah, this won't be the only thing regarding the next Xbox you will see from Kotaku this week... next week, the latest.
 
I know going bigger was never an option, I was kind of joking there. As for the kids that play Minecraft, I doubt this new console will be directed towards them. If I were to buy a MS console for a child, I'd much rather buy them a 360 than Durango.



So far it looks like Sony made more changes than MS, so I don't think lazy has anything to do with it. Besides, if your fear theory had any truth, laziness would have little to do with it.



I thought the issue has always been how inaccurate the d-pad is, not how it feels or responds. I couldn't care less how the d-pad responds if I can double tap a direction in a fighting game and run instead of jump.



lol I still have one in my drawer. Found it while moving recently. Should probably pick up an xbox again some time.



The d-pad was excellent in the S-controller, the rest of the design was shit IMO.

How was it bad if you said you like the 360 controller? It's practically the same.
 
I have a question for people saying asymmetrical sticks are better. This is typically because they feel its easier to aim, correct? If so, why does it matter where the left stick is placed when it is the right stick that handles aim? The right stick on both controllers is on the same spot. The placement of the left stick does not effect your aim. I think the REAL problem you guys have with symmetrical sticks of the Dualshock is that they are too close together for some. For some, they can't stop bumping them. The DS4 has more space between the sticks, so that shouldn't be a problem.
 
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