Microsoft planning simpler controller?
By Evan Blass 
posted June 25th 2006 12:37PM
posted June 25th 2006 12:37PM
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.
John the tilt function means that we won't necessairly have to use both joysticks to play a game. The easiest example is an FPS. In the past it was two joysticks, one for movement and one for aiming. With the PS3, one can aim with the controller and move with a joystick. It still remains to be seen that this control style is actually easier, but I'd put my money on it. They left the old 2 joytsticks because some people might want to use that anyways for, say, an FPS, because they're already used to it. The advent of motion-sensing means there's just that many more choices to gamers.
I think that's taking it too far, James. The Xbox controller is great, but adding more would make it not great. Technically, the C and Z are still there, they're just Black and White now.
Why?
Games are getting more advanced, so they need more advanced controls. It's the way of life. They wen't from a stick and buton to a D-pad and 4 buttons, then all the way to the configuration we have now and the wii remote.
"Wave it like this to do this, stroke it like that to do that."
Controls aren't complex once you sit down and learn where everything is and how it works.
Am I the only one in the world that thinks all this 'xbox 360 controllers are too complicated' thing is absolutely retarded? I didn't hear all this fuss about the PS2 controller, and it's basically the same thing. Xbox added ONE button. ONE. The big green thing in the middle that lets you turn the console on and off from across the room, or go to the dashboard/mess with music and xbox live stuff. Pretty essential when you're building a whole gaming platform on it's online capability and interactivity with your own personal music and settings. I personally think all this motion sensor crap is going to ruin a lot of future games.. I don't want to swing my arms around when I play a video game.. and I don't want it to be as simple as A jump B punch. What do these people want? It's 2006 for gods sake. If the 360 controller is too complicated for you, then you need to drag out your old NES and worship Mario and Mike Tysons Punch-Out! some more. Nintendo hasn't been fun for me since I was 12.. and on the subject of controllers.. the N64 controller was a complete disaster. Psh.. dumbing down is the right word. Get in line or shut up is what I think. I thought the 360 controller was the best so far, a step up from the PS2. The ONLY difficulty I have is making the transition from the square triangle circle X back to the abxy thing.. and that's only because I never bought an original Xbox.