Microsoft planning simpler controller?

Like many baby boomers, even Xbox chief Peter Moore is getting a little confused by all the buttons and joysticks being crammed onto modern gamepads, and some recent comments he made may indicate that Microsoft is actually working on ways to dumb-down the increasingly complex controller. In an interview with Gamertag radio, Moore seemingly put the "shoulder buttons, triggers, analog sticks, and d-pads" on today's controllers in a negative light compared to the "old Atari 2600 button-and-stick, which everybody could pick up and have some fun with." Even Moore's 14-year-old daughter reportedly finds the 360 controller somewhat confusing, with the man himself mentioning that Microsoft is "doing a lot of stuff there," but that they won't release a product that's not "intuitive and innovative." We're all for input devices being as intuitive as possible, but instead of wasting time trying to innovative, maybe Microsoft should just cave in and adopt a certain technology that's already proving to be pretty popular.

[Bobo @ Jun 25th 2006 12:47PM]

>>>the man himself mentioning that Microsoft is "doing a lot of stuff there," but that they won't release a product that's not "intuitive and innovative."

[Jedediah Johnson @ Jun 25th 2006 12:49PM]

Looks like Nintendo is leading the way with this one.

[Bobo @ Jun 25th 2006 12:50PM]

the man himself mentioning that Microsoft is "doing a lot of stuff there," but that they won't release a product that's not "intuitive and innovative."

Funniest line all morning.
Thanks for the laugh.

[RazorElite @ Jun 25th 2006 12:56PM]

It's ok to make a simpler controller. But try to give me one that won't tire me out after an hour of gameplay (aka motion sensing). I just don't see that being possible.

[Steve @ Jun 25th 2006 12:58PM]

I also think that the game pad of the xbox game console is quite complex... but I, for sure, wouldn't like to play next-gen games using a joystick on my 360.

[Cloudy @ Jun 25th 2006 1:06PM]

Yah, don't give me anything that has motion sensing...god forbid I have to move my body to some extent.

[Jedediah Johnson @ Jun 25th 2006 1:23PM]

Motion sensing is fine and dandy. Just don't over do it. Better yet, I wouldn't do it at all right now (If I was M$). It looks like it needs a few more years of development. Not everything at Nintendo's E3 booth looked like it was playing that perfectly with the controller. Now mind you there's lots of time tweak but lets be honest, Red Steel sounded great in mind but didn't play as well in real life. And even regular games like Brawl can't use the controller.

[LongshotX @ Jun 25th 2006 1:24PM]

I'm sorry but the Wii controller looks even more complicated than even the Xbox 360 controller or the Dual Shock. I don't see how Nintendo is leading the way in anything but milking first party franchises.

[RogueStorm @ Jun 25th 2006 1:35PM]

Microsoft would do themselves good to release a package that includes a bunch of Live! arcade games and a controller that can play those games easily. An arcade style joystiq and a few buttons are all that would be necessary. Market it to the same group Nintendo is trying to reach out to and they're golden. My wife loves the arcade games, hates everything else on my 360 as they're too complex.

[E4 @ Jun 25th 2006 1:44PM]

Less complicated control would be much welcome. I was playing fight night round 3 the other night, and it made me long for the old days were you can simply move and press a couple of buttons.

[William Stameris @ Jun 25th 2006 1:56PM]

I think less complicated it good, being a playstation guy that controller makes my head spin.

[Craig @ Jun 25th 2006 2:04PM]

If they want it to be simple? Ask Apple. They seem to be able to make things simple, but useable and functional.

[z @ Jun 25th 2006 2:20PM]

Microsoft seems again to be trying to reinvent the wheel. When will the market see that Microsoft hasn't ever been up to much yet?

[Shaun B @ Jun 25th 2006 2:32PM]

new controller.. hmmm.. maybe slight like the old version without the shoulder buttons and maybe motion sensitive like nintendo / ps3. ha just a thought.

[furtim @ Jun 25th 2006 3:16PM]

Do any of you people actually play games? Controllers are not too complicated at all. Any reasonably complex game is going to need a significant number of buttons to perform all the functions.

Don't get me wrong, there are lots of cool games with simple controls, but it's the bloody 21st century here. All games can't be as simple as Pong.

[Evilsmevil @ Jun 25th 2006 3:35PM]

You want a controller that people will understand straight away and be able to 'pick up and play' what about a mouse...

[RogueStorm @ Jun 25th 2006 3:44PM]

"All games can't be as simple as Pong."

True, but the vast majority of people who should be playing games and aren't are attracted to Pong like games. Complexity scares people away when it comes to casual gaming.

[Wontoncookie @ Jun 25th 2006 3:58PM]

Why not just add the qwerty keyboard and mouse back to the silly PC, oh...Xbox.

[Bo @ Jun 25th 2006 3:59PM]

i think moore is being nonchalant about introducing a wii-ps3 like controller. lose an analog stick for a tilt sensative controller?

[Zacky V @ Jun 25th 2006 4:27PM]

Yeah and the controls for the arcade games are easy I mean look at Geo Wars, Muntant Storm, and like alot more...move with the left stick and move the right one to shoot, thats pretty simple to my grandmother

[Chris @ Jun 25th 2006 4:38PM]

Was that last sentance a joke?

[Johan @ Jun 25th 2006 4:47PM]

Ok, so I don't really get it. Has anyone besides me noticed that the Playstation 3 controller and the Xbox 360 controller have the exact same amount of buttons in practically the same locations? The only difference is the fact that the numpad and the joystick are swapped on the left hand side! If the PS3 controller is the same size as the PS2 controller, then the xbox 360 controller is larger, as well, which is great from someone with large hands (such as myself). I do not see this complicated-ness that they are seeing with the controllers.

The Playstation controller has has the same ammount of buttons/joysticks/triggers as the 360 controller now has for what... 9 years (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_Analog_Controller)?

Have they changed that controller? Well, they have made it smaller and added the vibration feedback elements, but that is about it!

So I seriously do not understand what microsoft is trying to do...

[kerunt @ Jun 25th 2006 4:48PM]

Ditch the controllers, grab a mouse and keyboard.

[ECM @ Jun 25th 2006 5:03PM]

For the last time: you don't have to wave your arms around like Harry Potter on acid to play with the Wii controller. In fact, going by E3, the controller is so sensitive that you can have the wand in your right hand, restig on your lap, and the slightest movement sent the cursor (in the case of Mario or Zelda's bow) whipping across the screen. This proves that you can wallow in your couch potato ways and not even begin to strain your meek little girlie wrists (we're talking less work than moving your mouse to get to that can of Mountain Dew and Cheetos on your desk, chubs.)

[Gdogg @ Jun 25th 2006 5:24PM]

U guys have to remember u dont have to buy the motion sensored joystick

[Andrew @ Jun 25th 2006 5:30PM]

Moore's just trying to put it smoothly that they're going to be ripping off Nintendo. I think that they're totally just going to copy Nintendo's design... they're probably going to just as shitty of a job on it as Sony did. Ok maybe not that bad.

[mis @ Jun 25th 2006 5:33PM]

I still think this is the best GCN Nintendo controller that never was.

http://www.axess.com/twilight/console/detail/gcnprot1.jpg

Only I would have put two face buttons (A & B) rather than the customary four.

A pair of analogue sticks, a pair of shoulder buttons and a pair of face buttons. And one Start/Pause button. Perfect.

[JRM @ Jun 25th 2006 5:40PM]

It's amazing that, despite being in "3rd place", Nintendo is the company that is the most trendy and feared. It makes it look like Sony and MS aren't really into videogames and are just posers.

[Sukato @ Jun 25th 2006 7:09PM]

Nintendo is more into the gameplay and having fun. Sony and Microsoft are into the "make everything look really good, and don't focus a whole lot on story or gameplay". Only problem is, all the "hardcore" gamers focus too much on looks and sleekness, that they sacrifice gameplay and story. Plus, Nintendo's definitely gonna move up within the next year, what with the Wii and all. I don't know if it'll top Xbox yet, but PS3 is going down. It doesn't have anything new or innovative, and it's gonna be 600 freaking bucks. Compared to the Wii's 250, I'd say Sony's committing suicide on this one. Plus, there've been rumors circulating about how Nintendo and Microsoft might form up against Sony, but who knows.

[Guruboy @ Jun 25th 2006 7:33PM]

All controllers have some sort of learning curve. The Xbox controller is such that most people need to play it a lot to get used to it, even those who have been playing with a controller for a long time. However I think the same goes for any console for a first-time user. What Nintendo is trying to to is come out with a controller that is so natural that anyone can pick it up and play. Remember going to a friend's house and playing a game or console that you'd never played before, and having your butt kicked because it was too complicated? If you saw Nintendo's bit at E3 (it was on google vidoes), it's obvious that this is what they are shooting for. Don't judge the controller or console until it's out, unless you want to be really embarassed. I trust Nintendo on this one.

As for this article, much as I dislike Microsoft and Xbox, I'm glad they're actually at least trying to seem like they're making a response to a problem. Of course it's up to Microsoft to make a move like this work well. I mean come on people, they're basiclly saying "the Xbox controllers right now a pretty sucky, so we're going to make brand new ones". I say good move. Wii fanboys will still complain that Microsoft is copying Wii, especially if the new controller supports any type of motion or tilt sensing, which I doubt. If MS can come out with a decent, easy-to-use controller with rumble and wireless, they'll be fine.

[LongshotX @ Jun 25th 2006 7:58PM]

Sukato we've been hearing that same thing from Nintendo about them changing how we play games since the Nintendo 64. I'm certain many of the people who grew up with the Nintendo and the NES (now 20-30 years) are frankly fed up with this promise. You make it seem like every game come out that decides to up the visual and sound ante, that they are downplaying story and character development. I don't know about you but Halo and Half-Life, the upcoming Gears of War, etc look great and have equally fantastic storylines and gamesplay.

The DualCube=Wii has not been confirmed at $250. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Guruboy I don't know what reviews you've heard but from what I've read the Xbox 360 controller is getting rave reviews for being easy to use and extremely comfortable. Microsoft is not making a new simpler controller just because the one they have is "sucky" they are making it as an addition to there already phenomenal first party accessories. If anything it may be even better than the Wii mote.

[Lazarpandar @ Jun 25th 2006 9:49PM]

Uhh... is it me or does that thing look alot like the atari controller

I smell a lawsuit!

[Cry Havoc @ Jun 25th 2006 10:40PM]

Longshot: The Wii hasn't been confirmed at $250. It's been confirmed at $250 or LESS. Sorry to burst your bubble. Please only post stuff when you know what you're talking about, as this took 5 seconds to search for on google.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6151827.html
http://www.betanews.com/article/Nintendo_Wii_Will_Sell_for_Under_250/1148574717

Just a couple of links. I can find more if you want.

The Xbox 360 controller is great. It's comfortable and nice to use. The only problem is the top shoulder buttons aren't as accessible.

However, the Wii's controller has unlimited potential, in either direction. It could be a titanic flop, or the start of something truly unique and wonderful for gaming.

Half-Life 2 does have a great story, but Halo? How can you say Halo is a shining example of a storyline?

Lots of aliens invade. You kill them. That's it. Halo is revered for being an FPS game with above average -control- and -gameplay- on a console. No one is wondering if Bungie is going to turn out the next Final Fantasy FPS. They want Halo for the gameplay, specifically multi-player.

The storylines for games have absolutely been lacking. To say otherwise is to ignore the absolute chasm that is the Xbox gaming market in the RPG-any-decent-storyline sector.
Much like Sega in the 90s, Xbox is appealing more to sports and high-intensity gaming. And there's nothing wrong with that. But they might be up against the wall this winter when the Wii is released.

[AN @ Jun 25th 2006 10:43PM]

My guess is that this has nothing to do with playing the latest mega-game, and everything to do with the casual gaming they're trying to promote with XBox Live. With Live, you can buy an XBox for the teenagers, but Mom can play Bejeweled when they're not playing. But if Mom is completely intimidated by the controller, that's not going to happen.

So you make the same controllers you've always made for gamers, and you make a simple controller that Mom can use, you're good to go.

[Guruboy @ Jun 25th 2006 11:27PM]

You didn't get my point Longshot. In the new days of PS2/Xbox/GC, the learning curve to use the Xbox controller was longer, partly because it was brand new, mostly because it was huge and had so many buttons. The PS2 had the same controller as PS1, and the Gamecube controller was new and different (and admittedly not that good), but it at least fit in your hand.

I wasn't insulting the Xbox 360 controller, nice try. The 360 controller is a big improvement over the original one, but that's not saying a lot is it? lol. The point is that people are still confused with current controllers and the fact that there's just too many buttons! The Playstation controller might have the same number of buttons, but it's been unchanged since the original, save the rumble feature and analog joysticks. This means zero learning curve for PS3 users who have ever owned a Playstation (which I would assume to be a lot). The 360 controller is the same as the old, except the loci of the black and white buttons has been changed, and there's a headset jack. Plus obviously it's much smaller. Want to know why it's getting such good reviews? Because they made the right changes. I mean come on, how hard can it be to produce a good controller? Look at the Xbox/360/GC controllers and tell me how much industrial design expertise had to go into it.

If Microsoft releases another controller with any different set of buttons than the current 360 controller, what does that mean for games? How can two different controllers cater to the same game? Does this mean the current controller will become obsolete? Will our newly double-jointed thumbs for turning on the flashlight in Halo 1 and 2 go to waste? Does anyone realize that Microsoft is moving closer and closer to the button layout of the Playstation controller?

Who knows...

[Mathew @ Jun 26th 2006 12:03AM]

I think one of the reasons I don't game as I used to is because of the complicated controllers. Really a controller should not need instructions. I knew I was in trouble when I bought Rocky Legends for the Xbox and had to keep referring to the manual just to throw certain punches. Needless to say I gave up on the game after a couple of nights just like the previous five or six I had bought.

[whitesprite @ Jun 26th 2006 12:19AM]

X360 controller is one of those controllers that you need to play with for a long time to get used to... Unlike PSone, PS2 and the future PS3 controller which pretty much anyone can pick up and play a game with it and be confortable and not confused while doing so.

[Mark @ Jun 26th 2006 12:33AM]

I love the way people are saying that motion sensors are going to tire them out. If that's the case, you must be connected to the couch or as big as one.

At any rate, simpler controllers and controls are great. I have such a super busy life, that its just frustrating to learn a new playing scheme for a sixteen button controller. Damn, I want to play games, not live them. Its about time they make these games simpler.

[Jeffrey M Foster @ Jun 26th 2006 1:02AM]

sounds like MS is just trying to make excuses for why they're going to release another Wiimote knockoff. instead of saying "damn Nintendo did something nice and we're copying it" (what MS has always done and been "good" at) they're trying to spin it in such a way to make it sound like it was their idea.

whatever. MS controllers have always sucked, and at heart, all controllers are basically elaborated Nintendo controllers. (If you can tell me the PS controllers are anything more than just an elaborated SNES controller, you're lying to yourself.)

[Emceay @ Jun 26th 2006 2:00AM]

How about a good first party arcade stick like nintendo used to make back in the day. One that's reasonably priced and not flimsy. That's simple enough.

[Emceay @ Jun 26th 2006 2:06AM]

I dunno about you guys, but sometimes I want L4&R4 and pentagon & rhombus buttons.

[Mokkan88 @ Jun 26th 2006 2:14AM]

I do believe "intuitive and innovative" means they get to throw an extra $20 on the price tag?

[Ben Hobbs @ Jun 26th 2006 8:07AM]

Everyone seems to be of the opinion that the Wii controller is automatically going to be the new gold standard. I get sore thumbs as it is, do I really want to give myself RSI, wrist sprain, I often game for 2-3 hours at a time - Wow I can imagine that being a lot of fun if I have to wave the controller round my head like an idiot for the whole time.

[Sukato @ Jun 26th 2006 9:56AM]

Yes Longshot, those games did admittedly have great storylines. However, Half-Life was for the PC. Not Xbox. Another example of a great game that Xbox doesn't have. Nintendo has great franchises and memorable characters going for them too. All Xbox has is Master Chief, and he can't hold the entire company by himself, I don't care how genetically altered he is. And the Wii hasn't been "officially" confirmed at that price, but at E3, it was announced to be somewhere in that range.

Nintendo has done really well in their goal of changing how we play games. They were the first console system (not counting Atari as a console). They first introduced the control-stick type of controller, they are the forerunners of games today, as the gaming industry is now becoming almost as big as movies and TV as a form of entertainment. People give Nintendo way more crap than they deserve, as pretty much nothing else would be around without Nintendo's innovative ideas.

Also, I really see nothing wrong with the current Xbox controller. I find it easy to learn, and everything is within easy reach. If you're not smart enough to figure it out, don't play it. I doubt you'd do to well in the games anyway.

[EatingPie @ Jun 26th 2006 11:31AM]

I didn't notice anyone commenting on what *I* interpreted Peter Moore as saying... "We don't have motion control... Um... Hey! controllers are getting to complex." IE, "We're not adding motion control (until it's popular at least) so here's some damage control."

I just got a DS Lite. It ADDED a controller -- the stylus -- over the GBA. This SIMPLIFIED Metroid Prime Hunters Immensely! You use the the stylus for 3-D look and jump. The D-Pad for motion, and the L-Button for shoot. Very intuitive.

This beats the hell out of "Hold A-X-B, L-Button, and Start to ENGAGE POWERUP."

IMHO, IT'S NOT THE NUMBER OF CONROLS, IT'S HOW YOU USE THEM THAT COUNTS.

-Pie

[Molnek @ Jun 26th 2006 11:37AM]

I don't undetstand why some people have such a huge problem with controllers all I ever had to do to get used to one of the many controllers I have played with (from nintendo and genisis to 360 and wii and all the ones inbetween) was just pick it up and play one game sure I've had issues like when first using the n64 controller i held it at both ends instead of the middle and right side, and with the gigantic xbox controller i had to get used to the size but nothing else, the argument that people are intimidated by a controller with alot of buttons doesn't just apply to people who havent been playing games for as long as i have sure the first time i saw the playstation and n64 controllers after sticking to my SNES i thought that the companies had gone crazy but in the two second it took me to try the controllers everything was then fine, people just need to try things before they say that too many buttons frightens their feeble minds, and carple tunnel syndrome will get you if you pick up the controller.

[macdeth @ Jun 26th 2006 12:05PM]

It's funny how you guys keep saying "I don't understand what you mean by 'over-complicated controllers'. I had no problem getting used to my 360 controller". Key phrase: "getting used to". What they mean by "less complicated" is that there shouldn't be ANY "getting used to" period. "Intuitivity" ideally means that you pick it up and you're ready to go.

As for the Wii controllers not working very well at E3, it's already been reported that UbiSoft has already tightened up the controls since the E3 version. For those who say that the mouse and keyboard is the best way to go, I think your time of Multi-platform FPS game dominance (ala Quake and Unreal) is almost over. I have a funny feeling that the Wii-mote will be much more responsive and accurate.

[Sukato @ Jun 26th 2006 12:22PM]

In my experience, the best way to be good with any controller is to play PC games forever. I grew up only playing PC games where you had to be pushing multiple keys at once. After that, I could pretty much have a console controller down in five minutes. PC games are a lot easier to control now, just 'cause the games have all taken advantage of the mouse, but they didn't used to be. Console controllers are way easier to use than PC controls were, so you can pretty much handle anything once you've mastered old-school PC stuff.

[James Carroll @ Jun 26th 2006 3:14PM]

Excuse me, but I doubt Peter Moore is any good at Halom and he better not be redesigning my controllers to adapted to the hands of 14-year old girls. I can understand if he wants a wider variety of controllers, but I don't get the impression that these people actually even play games very much anyway. Take for example... the "Duke" controllers that came with the origianl 1.0 Xbox's way back in like 2000. Who the hell designed those?! And they had the nerve to say that those controllers where designed based on suggestions and feedback from real gamers. Gamers that are 85 years old and live in nersing homes MAYBE. There's nothing complicated about the Xboxs' controllers. They're really good, and if anybody wants to redesign them, they should be adding more to it, not taking away from it. BTW, whoever's idea it was to remove the "C" and "Z" buttons should be drug out in the street and shot!

[John @ Jun 26th 2006 7:56PM]

Hey, um how come everyone is praising the PS3 controler (well, ok not everyone), when it is more complicated!! It has the exact same number of buttons AND motion sensing!!! I don't know about you, but I have been playing video games for around 6 years now, first on Playstation, then PS2, then XBOX, now 360. All the controllers are practically the same!!! 2 joysticks, a D pad, a four button configuration under the right thumb, two main triggers, and two other buttons! it has been that way for ever, still is, but now Sony adds MORE to it, the motion sensing, and gets praised, but Microsoft just makes it easier to use and scolded!

What is up with that?

Does no one else see this?

Personally, Since i have been playing with nearly the exact same controllers for 6 years, I DO NOT want to get the Wii due to its new technology with the controllers. I am VERY used to the controllers, and have always been able to use them easily.

But I can see why Nintendo is being praised. They have made a monumental development in the video game department. I just personally do not like the technology.

However, my argument is not between the 360 controllers and the Wii Controllers, and they are obviously completely different. But the 360 controllers and the PS3 controllers are very similar.

Yet the 360 is scolded for being "too complicated" when it is more simple than the PS3, which is getting thumbs up!

Why? Why might I ask is this so?


(P.S., I know, I repeat myself alot)