Xbox 2 Controller Loses Two Buttons, PS3 Gains One?

sbszine writes "Gaming rumors site C&VG is reporting that the the black and white buttons will be removed from the Xbox 2 controller, according to an un-named source. This would seem to support the reports of no backwards compatibility in Xbox 2. The site also has some interesting PS3 controller rumors: wireless control as standard, and a dedicated 'trigger' button for FPS games (in addition to the existing shoulder buttons)."

Comments

Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[reiggin]

Ugh! Sony has a GREAT controller and they do not need to mess with it! More is less and less is more. I know this is controversial and up for debate, but I really do think that a good thing should not be tampered with. Heck, I still like the cramps I got from my NES pads.

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[strateego]

Nintendo Controllers have gotten better with time. Just becuase they look funny doesn't mean the feel and play great.

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[ottawanker]

Just becuase they look funny doesn't mean the feel and play great.

Umm, did you mean to say 'Just because they look funny doesn't mean they feel and play great?' or 'Just because they look funny doesn't mean they don't feel and play great?'? I assume the latter..

Either way, I hate the way the analog stick on the Nintendo feels.. just too flimsy.. Not only that, but my friends with Gamecubes have had to replace all their controllers at least once, because the analog stick just stops auto-centering.. Not that I haven't seen this happen to playstation controllers, but it doesn't seem to happen as much.

Why do the companies feel the need to change controllers all the time? You get used to a playing with a freaking crazy-weird X-Box controller, use it for a couple of years, and then WHAM!, now there's a new crazy-weird X-Box 2 controller.

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[Jarlsberg]

Why do the companies feel the need to change controllers all the time? You get used to a playing with a freaking crazy-weird X-Box controller, use it for a couple of years, and then WHAM!, now there's a new crazy-weird X-Box 2 controller.

My guess is that it's a marketing thing. You don't want to sell a new system with an old controller because you don't want the buyer to think he's getting less than he paid for.

Anyway, I really like the original X-Box controller (not the slimmed down one). It's a great fit for my hands, unlike that supertiny Gamecube pad and the poor PS2 pad (sorry, don't like that one). Too bad the Xbox 2 pad will probably be a lot smaller than the original...

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[illuminata]

Anyway, I really like the original X-Box controller (not the slimmed down one). It's a great fit for my hands

The size worked very well for me, too. My only problem was the diagonal slant of the buttons in combination of them being right above the right thumbstick. Instead of being able to actually grip the controller, I had to kind of let it relax in my hands, otherwise my thumb would keep moving the right thumbstick. And, since I couldn't actually grip it, it didn't feel as if I had as much control. Because of this, I had to switch to the controller S.

If Microsoft would have just put more space in between the buttons and the right thumbstick by removing the diagonal slant, I wouldn't have any complaints.

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[0x0d0a]

analog face buttons that feel just like digital click switches--WHY?? (really, they should have made the 4 triggers analog, although they would have probably still ended up being cheap feeling)

I agree, generally. There are a few games that use these usefully, but I don't get a whole lot of good out of these. You just don't have enough control over the small drop in the button to do too much with them.

I'd like to see the new triggers either be analog (the digital X-Box triggers were quite annoying) or to have feedback (a "click" or *sudden* drop in resistance as passing the press point)

poor positioning of the analog sticks (because they were after thoughts only put in due to the N64), not only do they cramp thumbs, but they make it difficult (if not impossible) to hit the start/select buttons without either hitting the sticks or contorting your thumb

Mmm...the start/select buttons usually do not need to be hit suddenly in games. And while I see what you're saying, there isn't much room for two analog sticks *unless* you stick them there.

(3 things) analog stick is too loose, rubbery surface gives no grip for your thumb

I would have liked the analog sticks to be a bit tighter as well, but that might have been fatiguing. I disagree with the thumb grip -- I found that the PS2 controllers have *excellent* grip, and that grip is a major reason why I like the pad so much...the analog sticks don't feel cheap, light, and plasticy like some other consoles.

the broken up d-pad (killer on the thumb) which I do not understand because it's actually one piece of plastic under the surface

That weirded me out at first. Then I used a fully joined circular Logitech pad. It's *much* easier to accidently roll the controller to a diagonal without the separation.

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

I assume you haven't tested the GC controller. Ever noticed how its buttons have a unique layout and each button has a different shape? I really have to hand to the guys who thought of that particular feature. You *never* have to look down from the screen to find a button.

The ps2 or xbox controllers feel different, because it's more difficult to locate a particular button based on symbols. On these consoles I constantly have to check where a button is located because all the buttons feel the same (doesn't apply to the shoulder buttons, of course). Granted, for someone who's very familiar with the controllers, this may not be a very big issue, but for casual players it can be quite difficult to instantly remember where the triangle-button is located.

Now it may just be me, but I find the button layout of the cube controller more intuitive than any other modern console controller out there. Try it out, and you may see my point.

Re:Don't go the way of Nintendo!!!

[iainl]

"Soul Calibur is an excellent example of this. Designed for a Dreamcast / PS controller type with four buttons in diamond, it relies on hitting 2 buttons simultaneously to do many moves."

I see what you're saying, but SC was actually designed for a four-button arcade stick setup. I can't possibly recommend purchasing the Hori SC2 stick from your regular Japanese Import place enough. Its far, far better than using either a Gamecube or PS2 pad for the game.

Alternatively, get used to using L as the block button, and you don't need to move your right thumb from the AXY triangle - rapid blocking is essential to get far at Soul Calibur II.

Keep your wrist jokes to your self.

[August_zero]

I really hope they change the shape of the PS3 controller, neither the cube nor the x-box controllers (neither x-box, the canned ham or the smaller one) give me any problems, but the PS2 controllers give me a sore hand. Its those little tails, they dig right into the palm and while it isn't a lot of pressure, I get sore after awhile.

Then again I may be some kind of mutant and could be the only one with this problem, but Sony has had the exact same controller for 2 generations now, would a change not be good?

Re:Oh a trigger button? Sounds familiar...

[ziggles]

The analog shoulder buttons on the Gamecube are trigger-like. Your finger naturally rests in them while holding the controller.

What about madden nfl

[Seahawk]

I'm not sure I really like this change to the xbox controller.

Sure - the black and white buttons arent that handy when in action, but they are very usefull in a game like madden nfl where you have ALOT of things you can do pre snap.

I have a hard time imagining how to do without these two buttons and have the same amount of options! :o/

Who the heck cares?

[dstillz]

Who the heck cares? These are unfounded, unconfirmed rumors. For all we know, the PS3 and XBox Next could use psychic control.

Why mess with everything that WORKED?

[tprime]

I don't get it.. xBox was far from a perfect system, but the things they are changing are not the ones that need to be changed. While the original controller that shipped with the xbox couldn't have been much worse, the s controller was very comfortable and functional. The original b/w buttons were a long way away from where they were usable, the S controller made them great auxillary buttons for things like audibles in sports games or potions in ActionRPGs. The size fits nicely into many people's hands, in fact, I now prefer my S controllers to my Dual Shock controllers (long play cramps my hands on the Sony joysticks). The S controller should be refined, not destroyed and rebuilt. Then again, with the xbox Next seemingly changing everything else that worked or made sense (hard drive for downloadable content, caching and game saving, No backwards compatibility, etc.) it wouldn't surprise me. It would just be nice to have the triggers be analong...

Even though I said that the Dual Shock controllers give my hands cramps after hours of playing, I still think they are some of the best controllers I have ever used. They are simple. Minor enhancements to these controllers would help, but don't make it into an N64 controller. The changes kind of scare me, but I AM looking forward to the wireless.

I thought the same thing about the Nintendo controllers that everyone cracks on them about.. Then I played my brothers Gamecube for a few hours. While the layout of the buttons is really funky initially, after a few hours of play, it is obvious a LOT of thought went into its design. The buttons just FEEL like they are in the right places when you need to press them. I am sure that a Gamecube owner can probably explain it better than I can.

Go ahead, flame me.. I know I just jumped into a console holy war.