Exaggerate much?
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How will the PS4 and Xbox 720 controllers look like?
- Thread starter DR3AM
- Start date
Exaggerate much?
Hopefully something like this:
The cord coming out of the bottom of that controller used to drive me nuts.
720:
Replace the dpad with a Saturn one, make the face buttons flatter and replace that battery hump with an internal one.
PS4:
Replace the dpad with a Saturn one, make the triggers concave, make the analog sticks concave and mold the controller shape itself into something a little more comfortable.
It would be nice if both systems allowed you to use 360 and PS3 controllers as well, it would personally save me around $300.
Replace the dpad with a Saturn one, make the face buttons flatter and replace that battery hump with an internal one.
PS4:
Replace the dpad with a Saturn one, make the triggers concave, make the analog sticks concave and mold the controller shape itself into something a little more comfortable.
It would be nice if both systems allowed you to use 360 and PS3 controllers as well, it would personally save me around $300.
I'll stick with my eneloops as well.
I like the 360 controller, and hope they don't deviate too far from it. WiiU's touchpad seems like overkill for just the sense of touch controls but I do like the idea of custom touch Hotkeys. I'd love it if the 720 controller basically becomes a next-gen DC controller.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
Give me a 360 controller with a built in battery and better d-pad and I will be in heaven.
Hopefully something like this:
Actually, I hope the 360 controller stays the same. I really like it how it is. I've never been a huge fan of the Sony controllers, but I don't plan on getting a PS4 so no big deal.
I loved the Dreamcast but everything about that controller besides it's triggers was painful.
Uno Venova
Banned
So I won't be able to move batteries around the house to different electronics, doesn't sound like a huge loss, that's something I would never do anyway. If these rechargeable batteries came with the 360 controller it might not be a problem but I'm not in the mood to buy something extra every few months over having something that can last for 5 years. I also prefer the rechargeable batteries for the convenience you can plug into any USB and keep playing.
Flare out the R2/L2 triggers on the bottom and then it'll be perfection
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
I'm relatively surprised we've stuck with the same, sucky analog stick design on the Playstation for so many years.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
One thing I wonder about is a stealth upgrade to Kinect for the Xbox, to take care of its limited functionality. Something like, an Xbox pad that does indeed break apart in the middle so it can function like a wiimote and nunchuk (or just for user preference, comfort).
That would give Kinect the physical control interface it desperately needs to make games like shooters viable on it.
That would give Kinect the physical control interface it desperately needs to make games like shooters viable on it.
Auto_aim1
MeisaMcCaffrey
They are symmetrical and work nicely in a wide variety of games. The placement doesn't need any changing. They should increase the overall size of the controller and the fix the triggers, that's it.
Unless you mainly play FPSs, I don't see how the DS3 wins the 'symmetrical' argument. For nearly every other game type, the X360 controller wins the symmetrical debate since the left stick is symmetrical to the buttons. Even for FPSs, I prefer the offset analog sticks. But hey, that's just a preference.
AGreed on the d-pad. However, the only time it becomes an issue is for 2D fighters. I found the DS3 serviceable for SFIV, but I went ahead and bought a madcatz gamepad for X360 when SSFIV came out, and it's much better (even works well for MKAK).
The 360 controller is more "natural" to me because of the placement of the left stick, not because the sticks are offset.
360 = Thumbs fall naturally on the left stick and face buttons
PS3 = Thumbs fall naturally on the D-pad and face buttons
Unless you play a lot of games where you use the D-pad instead of the left stick, or unless you disagree with me about what feels natural when you hold the controllers, then I don't see how the PS3 pad design can be called more "natural".
PS4...toss DS3 shape/design and start over. Garbage ergo, bad triggers. Pros-great button, d-pad response.
720...refine current design. D-pad is garbage, face buttons marginally usable (copy any Nintendo button or DS3 button please). Tweak shoulder button design/placement (too easy to hit).
The current 360 has by far my fave design ever, but could stand improvements (noted above). It seems most games have moved to dual sticks, heavy trigger use, d-pad and face buttons mostly modifiers or selection.
Where do they go? touchpad seems logical. PS4 should have break apart design to support move without addition.
720...refine current design. D-pad is garbage, face buttons marginally usable (copy any Nintendo button or DS3 button please). Tweak shoulder button design/placement (too easy to hit).
The current 360 has by far my fave design ever, but could stand improvements (noted above). It seems most games have moved to dual sticks, heavy trigger use, d-pad and face buttons mostly modifiers or selection.
Where do they go? touchpad seems logical. PS4 should have break apart design to support move without addition.
Eliminating the battery pack bulge in favor of a rechargable li-ion battery would be a pretty obvious improvement.
DualShock desperately needs a recessed curve on the analog stick faces and better triggers. Maybe add a little weight to it, feels too light.
Melchiah
Member
Well, yes. I've been using my Real Triggers for four years. Make the L2/R2 that shape as standard for PS4 and it's perfection.
Johnny2Bags
Member
"How will the new controllers look like??" "WHAT will the new controllers look like?" ugh.. sorry... Hopefully like the old duke controller that would rock!
There really is no reason to change either of them.
The Wii U has the stupidest controller in the history of gaming and that says alot.
People will swear to the heavens that it is brilliant because Nintendo can do no wrong.
Microsoft and Sony both have everything they need though text input still sucks.
You do not need a stupid gimmick for that though.
The Wii U has the stupidest controller in the history of gaming and that says alot.
People will swear to the heavens that it is brilliant because Nintendo can do no wrong.
Microsoft and Sony both have everything they need though text input still sucks.
You do not need a stupid gimmick for that though.
Another case of internet based vocal minority.
Like I said man, I've owned that many controllers on both the 360 and PS3, and this hasn't been an issue on any of them.
I have the new Silver controller with the fixed dpad(which is a decent alternative to the normal shit one), and just pulled out on of the 2 Reach ones from the Reach console, and they're both fine.
I did find one of my older controllers from almost launch had an issue with the left analog stick staying slightly up even if I let go, but I could move it back to centre anyway so it never affected gameplay.
That and triggers. All it needs really.
Move on the other hand will probably get paired with a Kinect type new camera. Best of both worlds.
AGREED, CANT LIVE WITHOUT THEM
My main X360 controller right now is the black one I got from the 2010 Holiday Bundle, and the drifting issue only showed up during my ME2 playthrough earlier this year.
Zombie James
Banned
- 360 controller needs a better d-pad.
- DualShock needs better analog sticks and triggers.
That is all.
Duane Cunningham
Member
Ha! These are bad things??
They have everything they need, but that doesn't mean they can't make some improvements. I think the Wiimote + Nunchuk is much better ergonomically compared to the DS3 (I haven't used a 360 controller) simply because you can move your hands around freely when playing a game. Sony has done this sort of thing with the Move, and Navigation controller so I'd like to see them make their next controller something like two navigation controllers but with more buttons.
Yes. They are. Ergonomics weren't high on the priority list for controller designers in the 90s. Having said that, the 6 button Megadrive controller was surprisingly comfortable, but I doubt the ergonomics were intentional there.
Duane Cunningham
Member
Actually, I do like the Wii with Nunchuck set up a lot. It kind of takes a while to realize how comfortable it really is. Maybe I should buy a Move and try a few games with it.
Duane Cunningham
Member
So what were the rounded edges on the SNES controller, the three handles on N64, the two handles on the standard Playstation design... all just visual design choices? You're saying that the entire evolution of controller design never had comfort in mind until Microsoft came along and enlightened everyone?
I think 2 Navi controllers would work well as a control method for Sony next gen. It's ballsy, but I still feel would be functional for all games.
As a matter of fact, why not combine the Navi and Move controller into one and use 2 of those? That would be pretty fucking cool.
Maybe I shouldn't have been as general as '90's' because the 64 falls under 90's. But I was hoping the point would remain. The Dualshock needs to change. Big time. By the way, the Gamecube controller was deceptively comfortable. You forget you're holding it after a while.
mclaren777
Member
Don't know about the next Xbox, but this is the PS4 controller, exclusively for GAF:
That would make me exceedingly happy!
Oppo
Member
I think my ideal would be:
- take DualShock 2/3 design, scale it up 20%
- change convex analogs to concave nubs like the 360 controller
- slightly indented (but not trigger-style) L2/R2
So almost exactly like the ORIGINAL-original Dual Shock.
(edit - this guy
Backpad is kind of an interesting idea.
And yes symmetrical sticks, because my thumbs are also symmetrical.
Also – while I didn't like the internal battery at first on those PS3 controllers, it has proven to be no issue at all. I kind of like it now.
- take DualShock 2/3 design, scale it up 20%
- change convex analogs to concave nubs like the 360 controller
- slightly indented (but not trigger-style) L2/R2
So almost exactly like the ORIGINAL-original Dual Shock.
(edit - this guy
Backpad is kind of an interesting idea.
And yes symmetrical sticks, because my thumbs are also symmetrical.
Also – while I didn't like the internal battery at first on those PS3 controllers, it has proven to be no issue at all. I kind of like it now.
Duane Cunningham
Member
So, a Move, but with an analogue stick? And you use one in each hand? Hmm... I like it. That would take a lot of balls, but if it was standard designers would have to use it. I'd be willing to give that a shot.
skullwolfgp
Neo Member
This. At rest, your thumb and index fingers form an angle of about 20-45 degrees. On a PS3 controller, that puts your thumbs pretty much dead-center over the D-Pad and face buttons.
Using the left analog stick - which is required for probably 75% of gameplay or more - requires you to exert extra force to bring your thumb out of its resting position by ~20 degrees. Moving the stick to its lowest Y-Axis point makes you move your thumb another ~15 degrees away from rest.
Rinse and repeat for the right stick, though it's not used as frequently save most shooters.
Now, you might say that the PS3's right stick and 360's right stick are in nearly the same position relative to the palm of your hand. However, on the PS3 controller the handhold/palmrest is at a pretty steep angle, ~45 degrees back from the face buttons. The 360 controller's palmrest is half of this angle or less and much broader, allowing for a much more relaxed grip in multiple positions (over the right stick or face buttons).
Basically the PS3's analog sticks were obviously tacked on to an original design, and the ergonomics suffer for it.
I've never understood the symmetry argument. There are plenty of games on the PS3 where you will play primarily with the left stick and face buttons, with your thumbs at completely different angles. Symmetry isn't what makes the difference. It's optimal placement of the controls that counts.
When I first got a PS1, I liked the controller because my thumbs were always in a natural position - the same position they're in when I'm using the left stick and face buttons on the 360 controller. But these days, far more games use the left stick as the primary input compared to the D-pad, so now my thumb is bent in at a more uncomfortable angle with the DS3. On the 360 pad when playing games where you primarily use both sticks, it would be better to have the position of the right stick and face buttons switched, but that doesn't make any sense overall so it's the best compromise.
Yep. When the Dual Analogue came out, the thumb sticks were tacked on and in most games, people still used the D-pad and face buttons. Then over the years the primary controls changed in games, but the DS design did not. If where the thumb sticks are on the DS3 is the optimal placement, then that's where the D-pad and face buttons would have been on the PS1 controller too.skullwolfgp said: