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[//ARCANUM]

I'll defend the choice they made with the left joycon (and I've used it). they wanted to have the ability to have 2 player gameplay at any time with a set of joycons. If they went with a traditional dpad, then that severely compromises the core concept. The joycons need to have parity otherwise no one will want to use the one with the dpad.

But that's what the pro controller is for (and maybe they'll release an alternate joycon L down the line). And this is coming from a guy who is a fighting games enthusiast.

I'd rather have it the way it is and use a different controller for games that need a dpad.

 

[DarkConfidant]

It automatically makes traditional fighting games not worth your time on a JoyCon.

This. If you prefer using a gamepad for fighting games, this pushes you to either using analog sticks (which I hear are weird in these controllers, but is a poor option regardless), or to using a fight stick, which is purposely not the preference for many.

Plenty of old games that should be available via Virtual console will also likely play like ass.

 

[GamerJM]

D-Pads typically have more angles as inputs than just eight directions (which are all that can be achieved with the buttons through pressing them all individually + combinations of right+up, left+up, right+down, left+down). This limits movement by an extreme amount for isometric games that don't just have tile-based movement. Additionally playing fighting games that require things like quarter circle movements seems impossible with this thing.

 

[hatchx]

It'll happen but will they release a Switch version with a d-pad on the left, or are they going to force you to buy one separately. That's the question and I get the feeling they're going to go for the money route. Which kinda puts me off even more as I see it just as an increase to the console's price by £40.

I just think they are trying to emphasize the dual-controller synchronicity. It's what they are pushing off the release. Too many SKUs and joy cons would be a bit confusing and muddle the message.

I think people are making a big deal for nothing. They clearly have a patent for the d-pad controller, one where the d pad is on the top part and the lower part.

It's gonna happen. It's unfortunate for some not in the base SKU, but as I said, the dual play was clearly their focus in the launch SKU.

 

[Skyzard]

I just think they are trying to emphasize the dual-controller synchronicity. It's what they are pushing off the release. Too many SKUs and joy cons would be a bit confusing and muddle the message.

I think people are making a big deal for nothing. They clearly have a patent for the d-pad controller, one where the d pad is on the top part and the lower part.

It's gonna happen. It's unfortunate for some not in the base SKU, but as I said, the dual play was clearly their focus in the launch SKU.

Dual play could still work with a d-pad though.

And it's not like the controllers are identical. If anything, it would balance out the controllers, what with the right side having the analogue in the middle.

 

[Smasher89]

I guess this kinda evens the game against emulators, just thinking about the games that "breaks" when pressing left +right at the same time as a vertical button, like tweaking in pokemon 4th gen, or i think alttp.

 

[LinkSlayer64]

D-Pads typically have more angles as inputs than just eight directions (which are all that can be achieved with the buttons through pressing them all individually + combinations of right+up, left+up, right+down, left+down). This limits movement by an extreme amount for isometric games that don't just have tile-based movement. Additionally playing fighting games that require things like quarter circle movements seems impossible with this thing.

... What extra angles do dpads have?

 

[RM8]

Four buttons can perform the job very well indeed. One could even learn to prefer it. But it's not a rocker and not a real dpad.

It's crazy how the hori pad has four buttons underneath the dpad cover. Seems like a misguided homage to the joycon design.

What. Are there pics of the Hori pad? When was this revealed? The d-pad indeed looked weird with that weird disc thing This is insane, d-pad makes the best d-pads in the industry...

 

[MHWilliams]

But that's what the pro controller is for (and maybe they'll release an alternate joycon L down the line). And this is coming from a guy who is a fighting games enthusiast.

$69.99 for the Pro Controller.

$49.99 for an alternate Joy Con L with D-pad.

I understand why Nintendo did what they did, but it's absolutely bad if you wanted a traditional D-Pad.

 

[Seil]

$79.99 for the Pro Controller.

$49.99 for an alternate Joy Con L with D-pad.

I understand why Nintendo did what they did, but it's absolutely bad if you wanted a traditional D-Pad.

I'd buy a Joy-con L with a d-pad in a heartbeat even though I wish I didn't have to. But people pushing the pro controller are totally ignoring those of us that intend to actually use this thing portably. I don't want to lug a pro controller around so I can play Shovel Knight or VC games with a proper d-pad lol.

Overall I'm okay with the way things are, though, because of the whole multiplayer push they're going for except that I cannot currently even spend extra money to get an alternate left joy-con.

 

[GuitarAtomik]

$79.99 for the Pro Controller.

$49.99 for an alternate Joy Con L with D-pad.

I understand why Nintendo did what they did, but it's absolutely bad if you wanted a traditional D-Pad.

$70, but yeah. Also Pro controller isn't exactly an ideal solution for people who want to play in handheld mode.

 

[secretanchitman]

Not having a traditional "+" directional button configuration is probably one of the stupidest moves Nintendo has ever done with their controllers, and they have done a lot.

This is going to make a ton of games that rely on those buttons for specific patterns a nightmare.

Of course the diehard Nintendo fans will defend anything they do regardless of if its ass backwards or not.

Imagine where we would be if nobody criticized Sony's shitty original boomerang PS3 controller

110% agreed and I couldn't have said this better myself. The Switch joycon d-pad is absolutely not a d-pad in any way. A real d-pad would have the four directional buttons as one big button/rocker mechanism like others have stated.

It is ludicrous that Nintendo would ship a console or handheld controller without a true d-pad - even the goddamn Virtual Boy controller had *two* proper d-pads!

Even though it's overpriced, I bought a Pro Controller primarily because it has a legitimate d-pad.

 

[encephalon]

Again not the case. It still used one piece of plastic for the four directions like any other Nintendo controller. The dpad sucked because it was set waaaay to low into the system, so you couldn't even do diagonals. There was that mod a bunch of people probably did where you would stick a cross shaped piece of plastic inside that elevated it, and made it much better.

Is that what the problem was? That it was too low? I don't remember pressing one button affecting any other buttons like dualshock dpads did. It made games like RE2 a pain to play.

 

[hatchx]

Dual play could still work with a d-pad though.

And it's not like the controllers are identical. If anything, it would balance out the controllers, what with the right side having the analogue in the middle.

I still think they made the better choice to include mirrored joy-cons in the launch/base SKU and focus on the multiplayer.

I get that a D-Pad would work for multiplayer, but it's far less ideal, and it's almost certain it will come down the road based on the patents.


For everyone who doesn't know, this was in the Switch patents:

Maybe they want to announce it /bundle it along with some VC points or something.

 

[Stiflers Mom]

It's not that I expect any "fighting games" that interest me on the Switch anyway. There weren't any on the Wii U.

And those Smash Bros Dudes will probably get their concurrent incarnation of the GC-Controller for playing, I guess.

 

[Yazuka]

As many had said before me, it's not a d-pad. But I sure hope Nintendo will release a left joycon with a d-pad.
I'm getting a pro controller at launch, but would like to play games like Shovel Knight in handheld mode and be able to play it with a d-pad.

 

[Spiral Insanity]

So you don't play 2D games, ok.

 

[IsntChrisL]

The existence of the Pro controller makes it a non-issue for me. Also the fact the possibility that a standalone left Joycon with a D-Pad could be released in the future lessens the blow.

Otherwise it would bug me too. Instead it's just a cool way to play multiplayer games at no extra cost.

 

[buzzth]

I agree that it was a necessary action to take considering the core concept of the console. The best solution is to probably release a D-pad accessory in the future. I would reckon that the best way to do this without pissing people off too much is to bundle it with a good game (SF2 perhaps?) And keep the price standard.

 

[hatchx]

I agree that it was a necessary action to take considering the core concept of the console. The best solution is to probably release a D-pad accessory in the future. I would reckon that the best way to do this without pissing people off too much is to bundle it with a good game (SF2 perhaps?) And keep the price standard.

Considering the tech in the joy con, I doubt bundling it with a full retail game makes sense. It'd be smart if they launched the D-Pad joy-con (as I posted above) with a free promo for a bundle of eshop games or $20 in eshop money or something.

....with that said SF2 looks like kind of a joke to me and is more of less an eshop/indie game. So maybe what you're saying makes sense if SF is around $20 (which it should be...and won't be)

 

[Aztechnology]

The existence of the Pro controller makes it a non-issue for me. Also the fact the possibility that a standalone left Joycon with a D-Pad could be released in the future lessens the blow.

Otherwise it would bug me too. Instead it's just a cool way to play multiplayer games at no extra cost.

The existence of $70 controller you need to buy separately makes it a non issue? The second part would be nice, but I still don't want to be paying an extra amount to have it.

 

[miserable]

Street Fighter pro players have used the analog stick on DS3, DS4 and on Xbox360 controllers. Some even won tournaments with it. Same goes for Killer Instinct players on Xbox One. Just check out an EVO archive.

Myself I have used the Xbox 360 controller analog when SF IV came out and I did ok with it.

 

[Genio88]

That's not a dpad, it's fine for me and those who really don't play fighting games or 2d platformers a lot or with "passion" though i understand the complaints. I'm sure Nintendo will release a left joycon with proper dpad soon, i guess they'll release lot of custom joycons down the line.
for those who really can't wait i'm sure someone will come out with a platsic skin cover or something to put over those buttons to make them feel more like a proper dpad...
PS:someone is already thinking about that skin cover indeed http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2059932

 

[brawly]

Actually hadn't even thought this through. 2D games will suck in handheld mode. Playing something like Shovel Knight with a stick? No thank you.

Huge blunder.

 

[Lemonte]

I imagine switch dpad feels like 3ds face buttons. Too small and too far apart so not very good.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

It's clicky.

But it's absolutely going to be problem. I'm grabbing my N3DS horizontally right now and pretending the face buttons are a d-pad... it feels horrible, lol. I can't imagine playing, say, Ultra Street Fighter 2 with this.

The thing is: The dpad of the New3DS is clicky as well. And I played a lot of Super Street Fighter IV with that.
I too held it upside down right now to test how it would feel with only the face buttons, and I have to say that...it feels almost exactly the same.

We will know for sure once this system comes out though.

I really don't see as big of a problem like others do. May be a matter of preference, of course.

 

[i-Jest]

The Pro Controller was fine when playing Street Fighter 2.

 

[LordRaptor]

$69.99 for the Pro Controller.

$49.99 for an alternate Joy Con L with D-pad.

I understand why Nintendo did what they did, but it's absolutely bad if you wanted a traditional D-Pad.

I would assume given the market gap of any official offering someone is going to release a fight pad with the superior 6 face buttons configuration and a D-pad at a much cheaper price, as if the complaint is about playing specific genres being sub-optimal with the default controller a non-default controller that isn't particularly usable in most other genres is going to be a lot cheaper to manufacture and sell.

I mean, its not like the Pro Controller configuration is automatically great for fighting games even with a D-pad

 

[BattleMonkey]

PSP had buttons instead of a real d-pad as well, and that sucked. And those were actually pretty close together buttons. The one on the switch looks way to far apart and poorly shaped, so not expecting the "dpad" to be worth a damn.

 

[Manmademan]

PSP had buttons instead of a real d-pad as well, and that sucked. And those were actually pretty close together buttons. The one on the switch looks way to far apart and poorly shaped, so not expecting the "dpad" to be worth a damn.

it absolutely did not. I just pulled my PSP1001 out of a drawer to check.

It works EXACTLY like the dualshock does. It's a rocker connected underneath the plastic housing. This is obvious if you've ever actually used one.

Why people who have never actually picked up a dualshock or a PSP keep commenting and misrepresenting those things to defend nintendo's ridiculous decision is a mystery to me.

 

[Affeinvasion]

The fact that they removed the dpad so that it could be used as a sideways controller in multiplayer is hilarious considering how bad the right joycon is for that purpose with it's offset analog stick.

Keeping with Nintendo's overall design philosophy that a hybrid console isn't particularly good at being a handheld OR a console, the controller design fits perfectly.

 

[LinkSlayer64]

The fact that they removed the dpad so that it could be used as a sideways controller in multiplayer is hilarious considering how bad the right joycon is for that purpose with it's offset analog stick.

Keeping with Nintendo's overall design philosophy that a hybrid console isn't particularly good at being a handheld OR a console, the controller design fits perfectly.

I'm still confused, why hasn't anyone complained about the offset on the buttons on the other controller, if the offset is such a big deal?

 

[RM8]

The thing is: The dpad of the New3DS is clicky as well. And I played a lot of Super Street Fighter IV with that.
I too held it upside down right now to test how it would feel with only the face buttons, and I have to say that...it feels almost exactly the same.

We will know for sure once this system comes out though.

I really don't see as big of a problem like others do. May be a matter of preference, of course.

It absolutely doesn't feel the same IMO, and the gaffers who have tried it say it's bad. I'm not holding my breath, it's going to be horrible for my two favourite genres, lol.

 

[Tarextherex]

Honestly shocked that they copied the worst of Sony but made it worse, a separate d-pad doesn't feel good at all, especially when one of your flagship games is freaking Street Fighter 2. Even though the controller is small a dpad like the GBASP's or DS(DS Lite too, though some people don't like that one as much) would probably feel decent


Speaking of movement, I heard from a streamer that the analog sticks actually feel bad, like they go half as far as a regular analog stick due to the radius being smaller

 

[Listonosh]

Not having a traditional "+" directional button configuration is probably one of the stupidest moves Nintendo has ever done with their controllers, and they have done a lot.

This is going to make a ton of games that rely on those buttons for specific patterns a nightmare.

Of course the diehard Nintendo fans will defend anything they do regardless of if its ass backwards or not.

Imagine where we would be if nobody criticized Sony's shitty original boomerang PS3 controller

I'm no diehard nintendo fan, nor am I defending this per se, but you do realize the only reason they did this is so the other joycon can be used a standalone controller. So really, I wouldn't call this a stupid move by nintendo, if anything, it was a compromise to make those joycons work as separate controllers.

 

[Affeinvasion]

I'm no diehard nintendo fan, nor am I defending this per se, but you do realize the only reason they did this is so the other joycon can be used a standalone controller. So really, I wouldn't call this a stupid move by nintendo, if anything, it was a compromise to make those joycons work as separate controllers.

But the second controller is a bad controller with the stick in the middle. Nobody would choose that over the left joycon if given the choice.

 

[Vital Tundra]

But the second controller is a bad controller with the stick in the middle. Nobody would choose that over the left joycon if given the choice.

No ones hands are small enough for the analog to be a problem. Come on now.

 

[zelas]

I'm no diehard nintendo fan, nor am I defending this per se, but you do realize the only reason they did this is so the other joycon can be used a standalone controller. So really, I wouldn't call this a stupid move by nintendo, if anything, it was a compromise to make those joycons work as separate controllers.

Compromises can be stupid moves sometimes.

 

[-Mutsukki-]

Compromises can be stupid moves sometimes.

It all boils down to people liking the concept of instantaneous local multiplayer or not. Pretty much liking it or not will tell if you're ok with compromising the D-Pad for that (I surely am)

But the thing is, the Pro Controller price is the whole problem. If they could get it waaay lower people wouldn't have this much problem since they would have an affordable option

Maybe a Pro Controller without the NFC and the HD Rumble?

 

[Deleted member 10571]

No ones hands are small enough for the analog to be a problem. Come on now.

Spoiler

I mean how couldn't I. You set me up for that.

 

[Gravy Boat]

I can't thing of a single game I've played in recent years that was unplayable without a proper d-pad.

 

[Paskil]

I can't thing of a single game I've played in recent years that was unplayable without a proper d-pad.

Super Meat Boy.

Next.

 

[family_guy]

It all boils down to people liking the concept of instantaneous local multiplayer or not. Pretty much liking it or not will tell if you're ok with compromising the D-Pad for that (I surely am)

But the thing is, the Pro Controller price is the whole problem. If they could get it waaay lower people wouldn't have this much problem since they would have an affordable option

Maybe a Pro Controller without the NFC and the HD Rumble?

Even if the Pro controller was cheap it would still be a problem for people wanting to play the Switch on the go. No one on a subway or bus or sitting in a car is going to prop up the Switch and take out their pro controller. No one lying in their bed is going to do that either.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

It all boils down to people liking the concept of instantaneous local multiplayer or not. Pretty much liking it or not will tell if you're ok with compromising the D-Pad for that (I surely am)

But the thing is, the Pro Controller price is the whole problem. If they could get it waaay lower people wouldn't have this much problem since they would have an affordable option

Maybe a Pro Controller without the NFC and the HD Rumble?

Yeah it sucks for me as I'll literally never play local MP in table top mode. Probably never play local MP period.

I just bent over and took the $70 for the Pro controller just like I bent over and took the $300 for the underpowered console full of features (like portability) that I'll rarely or never use as I've got to have my Nintendo games on the big screen. *sigh*

 

[LordRaptor]

Super Meat Boy.

Next.

I've beaten SMB with a 360 pad using only the analogue and also with only a keyboard.

LITERALLY UNPLAYABLE.

 

[Gravy Boat]

Super Meat Boy.

Next.

Finished it with the analogue stick.

 

[Hentailover]

Whenever I imagine doing something as simple as a qcf on this, I shudder.

DP motion, or anything even more complicated... the very thought just gave me PTSD >_>

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Whenever I imagine doing something as simple as a qcf on this, I shudder.

DP motion, or anything even more complicated... the very thought just gave me PTSD >_>

Yeah, anything that requires precise diagonal inputs will be near unplayable with the buttons.

Platformers some can play with sticks, as indicated above. SFII very few can. Maybe if they only play charge characters. But you really need a dpad or fight stick for that game.

 

[SilverLunar]

That's why "1 half = 1 controller" is an inherently flawed idea.

The way I see it, they can simply release a left joycon with a dpad instead of buttons as something you can purchase later on, that way they don't compromise the pack in joycons and the people who don't want to carry the pro controller around will be happy.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

Super Meat Boy.

Next.

I did the entirety of Super Meat Boy on 360 including all dark worlds and bandages using the analog stick because of how shitty the 360 d-pad was. It played just fine and not once did I feel the controls were holding anything back.

Next?