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!!!

[Slashdot Insider]

Ugh! Sony has a GREAT controller and they do not need to mess with it!

I would disagree with that. About the only thing Sony got right was the number of buttons (4 face, 4 triggers). Otherwise there is an awful lot to not like. Just so that I don't get modded as a troll, I'll list them (in no particular order).

• 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)
• 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
• (3 things) analog stick is too loose, rubbery surface gives no grip for your thumb, lacks the 8-way "insert" found on the Nintendo sticks
• 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
• "rounded" grips for holding comfort, unfortunately not round enough--makes me wonder why they even wasted the plastic if they weren't going to do it right

It would be a shame if Sony didn't mess with the dual shock design.

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:Smaller Controller

[raiderx]

Have you not heard of the Controller S? It's about the size of the Playstation controller and is quite comfortable. They also changed the slanted diamond of buttons and replaced it with a conventional square diamond, just like the Dual-Shock. Personally, I have big hands, so I had no problem with the original controller, but for people more used to the Dual-Shock, the Controller S is quite nice.

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?

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/

Improvements to playstation controller

[0x0d0a]

I agree that the Dual Shock 2 (PS2) controller is just about the best gamepad you could buy, unless you have *very* specific needs for one thing or another. If you buy one and a USB adapter from Lik-Sang, you have just about the best gamepad in existence for playing Game Boy, GBA, NES, SNES, Neo-Geo, etc games on your computer.

I do think that a couple changes could be made worthwhile.

People joked about the size of the X-Box controller. While I do think that the thing was a bit awkward (and it was unusual), it did teach me that larger controllers aren't a particularly bizarre idea. I *would* like to have larger grips on the PS2 controller -- thicker and longer.

If Sony can put triggers on the PS2 without ruining the balance, more power to them. One thing I'd like to see -- the triggers being *analog*, unlike the X-Box's ridiculous digital triggers. It's so frusterating to both have no feedback in a trigger to know when it's activated, no click or anything, and to lack analog control, which would make up for not having said feedback.

Controllers

[Deliveranc3]

I do think a new system should have new controllers. Being able to use a dual shock from a PS1 to a PS2 was a nice touch for some people though.

My favorite controller remains the dreamcast but the Xbox S controllers I have are pretty near and dear to my heart.

Some of my friends have ps2's and they can't deal with analogue, I guess the sticks are just too flimsy or something. Anyway we play fighting, FPS, and driving games(occasionally strategie).

Console controllers are terrible for all of these except fighter's, the driving games are what hurt the most because it would be so easy to just make the triggers analogue, all of the crappy physics could be negated with some analogue triggers and good force feedback. FPS's require triigers, they found that out with GoldenEye, granted it wasn't perfect but it was a lot closer, some of the more recent games have tried to offer more functionality with fewer buttons and have gotten burned(R6:Raven Shield, GTA:vice city[xbox]). Their success is due to the fantastic original design and they can afford to suffer from assbackwards menu's, when someone games on a pc they often have to deal with 20-25 buttons (proper voice and weapon binds) and mastering a game on a console means getting good muscle memory of controller layout. We can use more button's, your developers want them, what are you thinking?

My requests for next gen controllers (not listed above) are decent force feedback, and analogue sticks that are easy to use (Play station too loose, Xbox inside feels digital outside requires too much precision for casual gamers, Gamecube good god what were you thinking.

Analog Triggers

[Neuticle]

People keep complaining about the triggers on the ps2 or xbox, but I think the Gamecube triggers are great.
They are analogue, have a good range of motion and they have a digital click when you fully depress them and then push just a little more. It's great for precisely controlling speed in games like Rogue Leader so you can get behind a ship and tail them or boost away if you're in trouble. I don't understand why one would make an analogue trigger like the ps2's triggers. The range of motion would be so short fine controll would be way to hard.

Also, the Gamecube triggers are nice and comfortably curved so you fingers don't slide off or cramp while trying to hold them in place, it just kind of cradles your fingers where they should be. That, and Nintendo obviously made the right choice in putting the left joystick under the thumb's natural rest. I absolutely hate the left joystick on the ps2 controller, you have to angle your hand all janky, or the joystick sits under the joint of the thumb instead of under the nailbed like it should. Using both joysticks on the ps2 requires me to rotate both hands into an uncomfortable position, ugh. The triggers suck and those afterthought joysticks HAVE to move!

Sony vs. Nintendo Strategy

[Tetrad_of_doom]

I think it is very interesting that while Nintendo has been talking recently about simplifying gameplay and having games that use only a single button, Sony is making their controler more complicated.

I think the end result will be the PS3 appealing to the college and up crowd, and the Nintendo Hypercube appealing to the younger crowd, families, and old school gamers. In fact, very close to the current situation.

Fortunately, Sony has figured out that one of the best things Nintendo has done this generation is the Wavebird. I'm glad the default controller is rumored to be wireless.

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.