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[yyr]

Whenever I use a D-Pad, I use it like I do regular buttons, lifting my thumb off the D-Pad and moving it to the direction I want to press before moving it down again

Thing is, I don't think most people use a D-Pad this way. I have a feeling more of us use it the way I do: thumb on it at all times, regularly sliding from one direction to another when continuous movement is required (fighting games, shoot-em-ups, retro games, etc.)

I sometimes use a D-Pad in the way you describe (navigating menus) but not nearly as much as in the way I described above.

If and when I do get a Switch, I'll be completely uninterested in USFII unless/until I get a Pro Controller.

 

[manueldelalas]

Bad for 2D indie games for example where the D-Pad is the primary input for movement

3D games will probably profit from it considering that the D-Pad these days is being used like four buttons

Not true for indie games, all of them are designed to be used with the thumb stick. Volgarr, Castle in the Darkness, Odallus, La Mulana,etc, all of them can be perfectly played with the 360 controller. Same is true for non indie modern 2D titles, like Ys, DKCR, Rayman, etc.

Obviously you would still prefer to use a Saturn or SNES pad to play them, but you also prefer arcade sticks for fighting games or a wheel for racing games.

It does suck for older games though, those are unplayable with a thumb stick.

 

[Neptonic]

What d-pad

(This is the answer)

 

[Rats Off To Ya]

The spin is getting hilarious. 2D platformers are not important for Nintendo, nope.

Seriously. Nintendo fans actually arguing against the inclusion of a d-pad. We are truly in the end times.

 

[Peltz]

Seriously. Nintendo fans actually arguing against the inclusion of a d-pad. We are truly in the end times.

As a Nintendo fan, I've been disappointed in the lack of D-Pad since the reveal.

 

[Azure Phoenix]

That's bullshit. Each direction would be a button. Diagonal to press two buttons at once. Nobody presses buttons on the opposite sides simultaneously (and no game is stupid enough to require it outside of maybe devil may cry 4 dante).

No game is stupid enough to have 4 important functions mapped to buttons and make you press 2 of them at once? Have you owned any console post-SNES era?

I'd like to see you play a fighting game or something without pressing two opposite face buttons at the same time. Hell, playing Gravity Rush 2 right now I'm having to hold X while manipulating the right analog stick and pressing R1, R3, Square or Triangle.

 

[Spiritreaver]

I'm really surprised there isn't a Joycon w/dpad. I'd be more willing to buy one of those than a pro controller.

 

[Skyzard]

I'm really surprised there isn't a Joycon w/dpad. I'd be more willing to buy one of those than a pro controller.

I've no doubts that they'll sell you one.

I probably won't buy the switch until it's packed in. Not paying an extra £40 for a d-pad.

 

[Twiforce]

It literally isn't even a dpad, its just four face buttons

 

[LordKasual]

I wont judge because i haven't held it in my hands yet

but this looks horrible. Fighting Games will be hell if this feels the way i think it does.

 

[anothertech]

It's the worst kind of dpad for fighting games and even smash. It sucks for diags and rolls.

I can understand why they did it, but it's bs.

 

[LinkSlayer64]

So, I personally have not used one.

I have also never used a controller that did anything similar.

So,

If you have a Vita, put your thumb on the right face buttons then do a circular motion around all 4 of them. Now do it on the left with the D-Pad. You can feel the difference.

Even though Playstation controllers other the Vita are also separated, the directions are closer and are still connected underneath. So doing circular motions are still easy.
Today 11:01 AM

I don't have my vita atm, so I opted for my 3DS instead.

except, I did a few circles, but I also focused on Dragon Punch/Shorukens
It actually felt fine, the only awkwardness to it was the fact to do it, I had to use my 3DS upside down, and the balance was off and the screen was in the way of my wrist.

So, until I can try it, I won't say it is terrible. The ultimate test for me will be playing Sonic Mania or Street Fighter, which ever I get first.

 

[Mutagenic]

Nintendo made the right decision on this one, and you shouldn't really complain when a readily available to purchase solution is available haha.

This is such a stupid argument. I want to use this thing like a handheld.

Due to the lack of dpad, I'll be avoiding Shovel Knight, SFII, many of the arcade archives, and most all virtual console releases. Good work!

 

[JayBabay]

I love making use of the D-Pad for any game that allows you to. Would rather they included one and forgo the 2 player support, or included an add on to snap over it. This can help to make it a bit larger as well.

For $80 per pair in revenue, I'm sure the couple cents extra even multiplied over millions of units would have went a long way to please customers and been an overall good investment.

 

[StereoVsn]

It's the worst kind of dpad for fighting games and even smash. It sucks for diags and rolls.

I can understand why they did it, but it's bs.

Realistically they just need to sell "Dpad Joycon" and the issue would be solved. Clearly Pro controller is not a solution for handhelds. Maybe they will have that out later in the year since it's not even clear that VC is going to come in at launch.

Still it is a shitty situation and I am sure plenty of folks would have preferred traditional dpad on the default config

 

[Occam]

"What's so bad about the Switch's D-Pad?"

-There is none.

 

[DMONKUMA]

I can't play A fighting game properly without a d-pad. As far as 2-D side-scrollers/platformers and VC....it doesn't really mean much to me as I fee that I'll be alright with the 2-D games(I don't play a lot of them anyways) and I doubt I'm gonna touch VC as well.

 

[Vital Tundra]

Its not a dpad. Diagonal inputs are the big issue, with the buttons being so far apart the second biggest. Thats what makes it not the same.

 

[MattKeil]

That's basically just semantics seeing as how they fill the same role as a traditional D-Pad.

It's just semantics, you can still steer. It's a steering wheel even without a wheel you steer with, what's the problem?

I can't believe this is even a question somebody has to ask. Have you never played a game with a d-pad in your life or what?

 

[Vic]

It's interesting how the Hori Switch pad has four buttons with the option of a d-pad cover. Nintendo could've adopted a similar idea, but I guess the Switch already has too many accessories to juggle.

Actually, it reminds me of when some people taped quarters to their PSP d-pad to be usable in fighting games. Basically this

Wonder if something like this will exist for the Switch. If there's a decent solution, it would be more preferable than buying a Joy Con with a D-Pad.

 

[frankie_baby]

Was there even a stick announced for the Switch? I only know of the Pro. I think Wii U didn't even get one until years after it launched.

I meant the analogue

But yeah there's a hori stick coming

 

[flaxknuckles]

It is bad because it is not the Vita d-pad, the greatest invention to ever grace this planet.

 

[Terrell]

I have to ask... didn't people praise the Vita d-pad, despite the fact that each direction on that is a separate button?

 

[jonno394]

I have to ask... didn't people praise the Vita d-pad, despite the fact that each direction on that is a separate button?

It's more the difference in the form factor as it tried to be a dpad whereas these just try to be face buying. It definitely had the feel of dpad which I'm not sure this will be able to match.

 

[Jubenhimer]

It's going to be a problem for those who play a lot of fighters and top-down shooters, as precise diagonal movement is a must for those types of games with a D-Pad. But for basic side scrollers, and 2D RPGs, it should be fine. Actually, for fighters, I wouldn't see the point. HD Rumble has the potential to make the analog sticks simulate the clicky-ness of an Arcade stick, thus negating the point of the D-Pad in the first place, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Hell, playing Gravity Rush 2 right now I'm having to hold X while manipulating the right analog stick and pressing R1, R3, Square or Triangle.

.... How many thumbs do you have?

 

[Terrell]

It's more the difference in the form factor. It definitely had the feel of dpad which I'm not sure this will be able to match.

It had the LOOK of a D-pad, but feel? That is where we will disagree.

But this is not me saying it's inferior in any way. It just looks the same but has a different feel to it. I'm not the person arguing that a single-piece d-pad is absolutely mandatory like some in this thread from a position of ignorance.

So I think we need to actually refer to impressions from others, where there seems to be uncertainty at best that it can be as functional, but not outright disbelief. USFII wasn't available to demo with Joycons, from what we've heard, so that's going to be a bit of a trick to get for now.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

I have to ask... didn't people praise the Vita d-pad, despite the fact that each direction on that is a separate button?

This is another reason why I hate playstation controllers. The D pad is like this but squish together. It still feel funky as hell.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I get that it's not a dpad, but the idea that two buttons are too difficult to press for diagonal motion doesn't click with me. My thumb looks like it could push all four buttons down at once if I wanted to.

Granted, I haven't held one yet. I'm just saying.

Spoiler

don't like fighters anyway, so not concerned either way

 

[marc^o^]

This is another reason why I hate playstation controllers. The D pad is like this but squish together. It still feel funky as hell.

What I dislike with dual shocks are the analog sticks, they are less precise than XBox One and Wii U Pro controllers, I can't get used to it.

 

[i HeaR MusiC]

I'm not going to complain until there is a fighting game or VC title and we still don't have a solution. I'll take the convenience of having out of the box co-op over a dpad that wouldn't get much use to begin with.

 

[Skyzard]

I'm not going to complain until there is a fighting game or VC title and we still don't have a solution. I'll take the convenience of having out of the box co-op over a dpad that wouldn't get much use to begin with.

Yeah, Nintendo never make side-scrolling platformers.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

I can't imagine pre-N64 Virtual Console games will work well at all on the not-D-Pad of the Joycons.

 

[i HeaR MusiC]

Yeah, Nintendo never make side-scrolling platformers.

When did I ever give the impression that they don't?

 

[Eolz]

I have to ask... didn't people praise the Vita d-pad, despite the fact that each direction on that is a separate button?

You're technically right, but there's an ergonomic difference between the Switch D-Pad, the Vita One, the DS4 one, and the DS3 (and before) ones which weren't particularly good.

But yeah, people that liked the old Dualshock D-pad should like it. Many others won't.

 

[Skyzard]

When did I ever give the impression that they don't?

Oh I see, you meant just the start of the switch lifecycle. That makes sense if you'll be playing co-op a lot. Although I dunno why you can't just use a d-pad like they're buttons for co-op anyway. Just feels like a scam to get you to buy another overpriced controller to fix the self-created issue.

I'd rather have a d-pad to play all the games the system will have, rather than be forced to buy another joycon to solve that issue.

2D platformers are nintendo's bread and butter. It's not just fighting games that will be an issue, like I keep reading.

 

[Breakage]

You have to go Pro if you want a dpad for your Switch.

 

[nopenopenope]

.

 

[SMK]

Man you guys should open up nintendo and playstation controllers. Like holy shit. The Vita D-Pad rolls very well so it's really easy, and comfortable, to do circular motions on them.

 

[Samemind]

Indeed. Funny how everyone on the other side of the argument is ignoring this post.

Is the question here "Why couldn't we have had a traditional D-Pad on the Joy-Con (L)?"

Because you couldn't press opposite directions simultaneously, thus removing an input that certain games like to use, such fighting games where you activate something by pressing all the face buttons at the same time.

Has there ever been a controller that had 4 buttons on the left side for movement? I have a gut feeling that the negative reaction is overblown at worst, same as the right stick being above face buttons. Like sure it might be worse, but not to the point of being unusable.

 

[pretty done]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPa43opB5oe/

pls Nintendo

This. Face buttons don't count as a dpad to me, and it's especially baffling considering Nintendo's great dpad history.

 

[milkham]

You're technically right, but there's an ergonomic difference between the Switch D-Pad, the Vita One, the DS4 one, and the DS3 (and before) ones which weren't particularly good.

But yeah, people that liked the old Dualshock D-pad should like it. Many others won't.

The difference is that the dualshock dpad was just cosmetically similar to the joycon, underneath it was just a traditional one piece rocker thing. People did complain about the dualshock dpad as well.

 

[tzare]

Because it is not a d pad.

 

[Jawbreaker]

The problem is that it doesn't have one, and that fucking sucks for 2D indie and fighting games.

 

[Mutagenic]

Man you guys should open up nintendo and playstation controllers. Like holy shit. The Vita D-Pad rolls very well so it's really easy, and comfortable, to do circular motions on them.

What is your point?

 

[hao chi]

Good luck playing stuff like Shovel Knight.

https://youtu.be/TDX-53g-Km8?t=723

 

[giancarlo123x]

I see zero dpads on the switch controller amigo.

 

[SURGEdude]

I absolutely agree with all of that, but still I completely understand why people miss a proper d-pad and I see why this is a deal breaker to some people. The people who find this a deal breaker are certainly in a minority, but nonetheless, OP asked why people find it a deal breaker and people gave legitimate answers.

The thing is that minority starts to stack and the Switch has already built up a good number of them already.

Most potential customers aren't gonna skip the Switch because of the prices of accessories, but some will.

Most potential customers aren't gonna skip the Switch because it's $50 or a hundred bucks more than they were hoping, but some will.

Most potential customers aren't gonna skip the Switch because they have to buy a pricey controller to get a d-pad, but some will.

Most potential customers aren't gonna skip the Switch because they wanted a more powerful home console portable be damned, but some will.

Once you start stacking these small groups you suddenly start to see an issue.

 

[Skyzard]

Is the question here "Why couldn't we have had a traditional D-Pad on the Joy-Con (L)?"

Because you couldn't press opposite directions simultaneously, thus removing an input that certain games like to use, such fighting games where you activate something by pressing all the face buttons at the same time.

So to fix an issue for fighting games in co-op that definitely can't change input requirements to match the device, you gimp the system for all other games that would be better off with a d-pad? When that solution doesn't even solve the problem fully and you'd still be better off buying another controller with a d-pad for multiplayer fighting games.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

All these responses will end up being dumb when they inevitably release the dpad version. But then theyll complain about the cost.
BTW I play games like Mario Maker with the control stick, and I promise I can do just as well, even in super hard levels, as anyone here who needs the dpad to play platformers.