Nintendo to Drop D-pad

pluke writes "Computer and Video Games reports that Nintendo plans to drop the humble d-pad from its next console along with the classic A and B buttons. Nintendo pioneered the d-pad on its 80's Game & Watch handheld games system."

Comments

They need to keep it

[00null00]

...upupdowndownleftrightleftrightBAselectstart is not so easy in analog. There are some good things a D-pad is needed for.

Ok, so what?

[mcnut]

I'm not really too surprised that as a symbol of their "revolution" that the traditional items of Nintendo will die... What I want to know, and what I think is going to be the only thing that matters is: how many games are there going to be on rollout, and will they for the first time since the SNES actually have a decent flow of games throughout the system life. I have a Gamecube that waits for the next Zelda or Mario (even another luigi game for god's sake). It gets used about once every 3 months when they come out with a new game, then it goes back away... Nintendo, the revolution we're looking for has a lot less to do with the hardware.. and a lot more to do with the games!

Re:Madness

[supersuckers]

Likely just dropping it in favor of the analog stick. Anyone remember the nes max controller? It had a, well, look at the picture. I hated it and would always use the outer black edge to control instead of the moveable thumb pad thing. I never used the dpad on my gamecube controller, but part of that is because I feel they made it too small. The xbox and ps2 ones have a better feel. Anyhow, I guess the only use left for the ol' dpad is on a belt buckle

Which games?

[ChibiLZ]

Rest assured that no matter what they replace the d-pad with, it will be pulled off very well, and will most likely change the face of video game controls for years to come.

And you'll get to use this control scheme to play yet another Mario Party game, as well as 2 new Pokemon games, 8 new Harry Potter games, but unfortunately only a couple really great Nintendo properties.

Don't listen to me, I'm just bitter that we don't have a Kid Icarus sequel. Bastards.

A little perspective, please

[alexo]

> I am deeply saddened by this news.

Somebody needs to get out more.

D-pad is necessary

[superstick58]

So 20 years ago the D-pad was a revolutionary new way to control and replaced the analog joystick. Now the analog joystick is the revolutionary new way to control and will replace the d-pad? The d-pad was created because it offered many benefits over an analog joystick:

Smaller space constraints

Better tactile feedback(push, click)

Better for navigating 2D environments (menus)etc.

I know I generally use the d-pad just as much as the analog stick on various games. It would be rather inconvenient to see it go.

Re:D-pad is necessary

[gozar]

So 20 years ago the D-pad was a revolutionary new way to control and replaced the analog joystick. Now the analog joystick is the revolutionary new way to control and will replace the d-pad? The d-pad was created because it offered many benefits over an analog joystick:

The d-pad actually replaced the digital joystick. Twenty years ago the only machines that I can remember having analog sticks were the Apple II and TRS-80. All the Ataris used digital sticks. Analog sticks didn't really come into their own until the release of the dual-shock controller for the PS1 and the N64.

Anyway, I'd like to see a controller based on the original iPod wheel. That way you can spin it for paddle games, but also use it for directional use.

Re:Contra is fair

[blighter]

But if you can play through without dying, what use are 30 free lives?

Especially since you only get them just after completing the game without dying...

That's like making the prize for finishing the 72 oz steak... another huge steak that you can only eat right then.

GBA compatibility?

[ksiddique]

If the Revolution will be able to play GBA games (which I have no idea if it will), dropping the D-Pad will be "teh suxx0rsz". I've got a GBA Player for my 'Cube and I'm so glad there's a D-Pad on my Wavebird. Playing GBA games with an analog stick just doesn't feel right.

Re:Madness

[Jane_the_Great]

Pardon me sir?

The NES Advantage was the best controller ever. End of discussion. The turbo features on it were inspired - you could actually control the amount of turbo you needed. Besides, the thing was sturdy as a brick. It was truly a controller ahead of its time.

Why Mario Thumbpits Of Course!

[blueZhift]

I would guess two things. First, whatever new control scheme Nintendo has in mind for their next console will be built with the next Miyamoto game in mind (another Mario perhaps). And the new controls will adequately replace D-pad functionality and add enhancements.

So I got to thinking about it and came up with analog thumbpits. The current analog game pad controls sit up like bumps on the controller and are a bit awkward to use as D-pad replacements. But imagine a soft rubber thumbsized pit. Your thumb would sit in this comfortably allowing you to naturally nudge it in a way analogous to moving the D-pad, but now you can do a lot more than the cross pattern such as pushing straight down and down at angles. So games could be developed where it makes a difference how fast or how far down you push with more freedom than the current analog sticks and buttons give.

I would also expect some kind of touch pad to be included on the controller as well. No strike that, it's not necessary. In typical Nintendo fashion, the new console would have a port/ports for connecting the DS. Then you would just use the DS touch pad. They may still put a pad on the controller though since the DS scheme may be too awkward for the next Mario game. The touch pad has some interesting possibilities. For one thing, as a program configurable control I could see it becoming a keyboard for online chat. Not as good as a real keyboard, but much between than onscreen keyboards. (They might throw in a built-in mike like the DS has as well.)

Finally, perhaps the next controller will have pressure sensitive grips. These grips would replace the buttons. Now each finger can provide input in what should be a more comfortable way, if engineered right. If even half of the above comes to pass, I'd expect the new controllers to be rather difficult to emulate by 3rd parties, which of course will mean more money for Nintendo.

Heh heh, if even part of this is true, there may be a knock at the do...

Re:Madness

[RevAaron]

I mean, they already have replaced the d-pad in favor of the analog stick. At least, in practice. The N64 and GC both have d-pads- but in most games in both cases you never even touch the d-pad.

Large Grain of Salt

[mushroom blue]

so Computer and Video Games is known to post not only rumors, but blatantly false information. they've had their asses nailed to the wall before for things like this, and I'm pretty sure this is simply another case of trying to get hits on their website.

so yeah. until you see something more official (at least more official than this rag), take this story with a HUGE grain of salt.

What about trackballs/mice?

[MobyDisk]

Certain types of games are better-suited to touchpads, trackballs, mice, cameras, etc. I am surprised that no aftermarket trackball controllers are available for home game consoles. Two types of games suffer from this limitation, and they are both types of games that do better on PCs than consoles:

1) Resource management / icon-based / menu-based games
- It is easier to move and click a mouse/trackball than with a joystick or d-pad.
- Examples: The Sims, Black and White, Warcraft, etc.

2) FPS games
- The ability to quickly aim and
- The ability to move with a different hand than the aiming hand
- Examples: Doom, Quake, Half-life, Unreal, and probably 50% of PC games

In general, a mouse/trackball offers higher-precision, greater feedback, and an infinite range of speeds over a d-pad or trackball. But it is bad with simple forward, backward, left, and right. But fewer games today use that model. Why do we continue to use these old-style inputs?

FYI: This is called multimodal input, where each device complements the abilities of the other. The keyboard/mouse paradigm is the most generally powerful multimodal combination discovered thus far.

OENOES

[m3g4t0ky0]

How will we live without the D-pad and A & B buttons? What's next, Nintendo? The E-pad and C & D buttons?