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E3 Controller Previews

Posted by timothy on from the wish-they'd-settle-on-kinesis-boards dept.

spides writes: "If you thought the original X-Box controller was huge, you're in for a rude awakening. At E3 this past week, Microsoft and Capcom unveiled their 40 button control station for the X-Box's 'realistic' mech simulator Steel Battalion. On the same day, Nintendo and Sega unveiled the new keyboard peripheral for use with the Gamecube version of Phantasy Star Online, which can only be described as the world's largest conventional controller with a keyboard stuck between the directional pad and the usual buttons."

3 of 263 comments (clear)

  1. Gear Shift? by kabir · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Um... what's with the gear shift on the far left?!? At least it looks like an automatic... though I guess it could be handy to be able to pop the clutch on my battle mech ;)

    --
    Behold the Power of Cheese!
  2. Cost issues? by Geeyzus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is it just me, or does anyone else want to avoid paying $30+ for a controller you can only use for one game, on top of the $50+ price tag for the game itself?

    I could see it if they had a "generic" keyboard controller you could use for any games with a keyboard... but having to purchase a new game (no doubt bundled with the new controller) over and over will become tedious, if it is the route consoles are taking.

    I would like to see an alternative to these... button/direction combos, or on-screen keyboards, however tedious they may be, simply so there is a lower-cost option.

    Then again these are the types of things you can always pick up at a super cheap price from used games stores like FunCoLand a year or so later, so maybe it's not all bad...

    Mark

    1. Re:Cost issues? by CaseyB · · Score: 3, Interesting
      it will be a totally different feel to play other games with this controller, if you are used to using the "normal" controller.

      looks/feels like it is supposed to drive a huge mech warrior, not throw passes or ride a snowboard

      That's the whole point, brainiac. This interface is *better* for these games. It'd be good for any sort of sim game, flying game, or even driving game.You think they're marketing it as a generic replacement controller?

      News flash! Light guns suck for fighting games! Steering wheel controllers suck for FPS games!