Comment Re:Dreamcast (Score 1) 765
I've got my own controller opinions about the three consoles...
First up is XBox. I really despise their giant controller, but it's not so much the giant-ness that gets me, it's the button placement. For starters, the Start and Back buttons are jammed right in between the D-pad and the right analog stick. Unfortunately for people like me who habitually press the Start button with their right thumbs (I even did it on the N64), this means that in order to push that button I either have to stretch really far with my left thumb or do an awkward dance to lift my right thumb _over_ the right analog stick. This is just plain uncomfortable.
The black and white button placement I have no issues with... they're auxiliary buttons, and they're not particularly difficult to reach when you do need them. The clicking analog sticks are also kind of convenient, especially when they're used logically (sniper rifle zoom in Halo, for instance), although I do occasionally move when I wanted to click and vice versa.
The triggers on the big controller are a little on the heavy side, but they're workable and they do have a good feel (although a tad sluggish due to weight).
But what I hate the most about the big controller (and really what does it in for me) is the ABXY grid of buttons on the right there. For starters, they're just terrible buttons. They don't feel like they're on a natural controller; they feel to me like strange unresponsive alien controls. Oftentimes while playing I'll find myself uncertain of whether or not I actually pressed one of them. But worse than their feel is their terrible arrangement. They're really close together, and the awkward diamond practically ensures that anyone with human hands is going to mess up.
I find the smaller controller a far better option. For one, it has none of the 'features' of the larger controller which I so loathe. The button diamond is far more intuitive (especially to someone like me who played a lot of SNES) and the buttons themselves are more responsive, and I don't have to summon rain whenever I want to pause the game. The triggers are also a bit lighter, which makes them more responsive to my playing style (I generally use very little force to push controller buttons).
I also find it a bit more ergonomic... about the right size (I don't think controllers should be too big, although my hands are certainly not tiny), and comfortable to boot.
The PS(2) controller is next... and in general, I like it. But I always have some peeve or another, except possibly with the SNES controller. Anyway, my biggest bitch about the PS(2) controller is that the D-pad is actually four separate buttons. Meaning, of course, that it doesn't comprise one item on the outside... it's four separate buttons. From my personal experience, I have always had a hell of a time using those four separate buttons. The direction transfer wasn't smooth... I had problems, for instance, running diagonally and clutch-switching to another direction.
On the other hand, I really liked the shape buttons and the L and R shoulders. They were really responsive and excellent.
The analog sticks I found well-placed but a tad lacking. I always found them a bit unresponsive and not quite sensitive enough... and I had to do my XBox rain dance to hit the start button, unfortunately (even worse if I wanted to turn the analog off! that button was really soft and awkward to press... maybe for good reason).
And finally, the controller for the Gamecube. Let me start by saying that in general I love the GC controller. For the most part it's excellent.
I love the analog stick on the left. It's got those wonderful little grip circles on it, and it's light and very responsive. I've never had problems with it.
On the other hand, the undersized D-pad on the left wing (I call those little extensions 'wings') is a bit problematic. With a good part of nintendo's target audience being younger children, I guess they didn't see the need to beef up the d-pad a little for older hands like mine. It can sometimes be hard to press the proper direction when you're not actively looking at the controller. On the plus side, with my hands being the size they are, I have no problems reaching it.
The ABXY and the C stick on the right are also very good. I find the C stick a delight to maneuver, if it's a bit less sensitive than the d-stick on the left. The layout of the four buttons is also good... A, being in the center, is larger than the others, and they're all easy to press and very responsive (A is particularly well-suited to high-speed mashing).
But there are always things I _hate_, and on the GC controller these take the form of the shoulder buttons. Yes, all of them. The L and R buttons are just bad, and Z is no better. To begin with, the L and R are just so damn deep. In order to 'press R', you've got to suplex the thing into submission. I feel like I'm operating a telegraph every time I want to press either one (which is frequently). And don't get me started on MASHING either of these horrid buttons (*scowls at Paper Mario*).
Finally, the Z button. I get the feeling that the folks over at Nintendo just put in the Z button so that the GC controller would have more buttons than N64 without dropping any (if you count the C stick as all four C buttons). Regardless, it is a highly unresponsive button and very awkward to use, since the aforementioned horrible L and R buttons 'feature' a finger contour which requires you to perform the all-too-familiar XBox rain dance to get your finger to the Z button.
First up is XBox. I really despise their giant controller, but it's not so much the giant-ness that gets me, it's the button placement. For starters, the Start and Back buttons are jammed right in between the D-pad and the right analog stick. Unfortunately for people like me who habitually press the Start button with their right thumbs (I even did it on the N64), this means that in order to push that button I either have to stretch really far with my left thumb or do an awkward dance to lift my right thumb _over_ the right analog stick. This is just plain uncomfortable.
The black and white button placement I have no issues with... they're auxiliary buttons, and they're not particularly difficult to reach when you do need them. The clicking analog sticks are also kind of convenient, especially when they're used logically (sniper rifle zoom in Halo, for instance), although I do occasionally move when I wanted to click and vice versa.
The triggers on the big controller are a little on the heavy side, but they're workable and they do have a good feel (although a tad sluggish due to weight).
But what I hate the most about the big controller (and really what does it in for me) is the ABXY grid of buttons on the right there. For starters, they're just terrible buttons. They don't feel like they're on a natural controller; they feel to me like strange unresponsive alien controls. Oftentimes while playing I'll find myself uncertain of whether or not I actually pressed one of them. But worse than their feel is their terrible arrangement. They're really close together, and the awkward diamond practically ensures that anyone with human hands is going to mess up.
I find the smaller controller a far better option. For one, it has none of the 'features' of the larger controller which I so loathe. The button diamond is far more intuitive (especially to someone like me who played a lot of SNES) and the buttons themselves are more responsive, and I don't have to summon rain whenever I want to pause the game. The triggers are also a bit lighter, which makes them more responsive to my playing style (I generally use very little force to push controller buttons).
I also find it a bit more ergonomic... about the right size (I don't think controllers should be too big, although my hands are certainly not tiny), and comfortable to boot.
The PS(2) controller is next... and in general, I like it. But I always have some peeve or another, except possibly with the SNES controller. Anyway, my biggest bitch about the PS(2) controller is that the D-pad is actually four separate buttons. Meaning, of course, that it doesn't comprise one item on the outside... it's four separate buttons. From my personal experience, I have always had a hell of a time using those four separate buttons. The direction transfer wasn't smooth... I had problems, for instance, running diagonally and clutch-switching to another direction.
On the other hand, I really liked the shape buttons and the L and R shoulders. They were really responsive and excellent.
The analog sticks I found well-placed but a tad lacking. I always found them a bit unresponsive and not quite sensitive enough... and I had to do my XBox rain dance to hit the start button, unfortunately (even worse if I wanted to turn the analog off! that button was really soft and awkward to press... maybe for good reason).
And finally, the controller for the Gamecube. Let me start by saying that in general I love the GC controller. For the most part it's excellent.
I love the analog stick on the left. It's got those wonderful little grip circles on it, and it's light and very responsive. I've never had problems with it.
On the other hand, the undersized D-pad on the left wing (I call those little extensions 'wings') is a bit problematic. With a good part of nintendo's target audience being younger children, I guess they didn't see the need to beef up the d-pad a little for older hands like mine. It can sometimes be hard to press the proper direction when you're not actively looking at the controller. On the plus side, with my hands being the size they are, I have no problems reaching it.
The ABXY and the C stick on the right are also very good. I find the C stick a delight to maneuver, if it's a bit less sensitive than the d-stick on the left. The layout of the four buttons is also good... A, being in the center, is larger than the others, and they're all easy to press and very responsive (A is particularly well-suited to high-speed mashing).
But there are always things I _hate_, and on the GC controller these take the form of the shoulder buttons. Yes, all of them. The L and R buttons are just bad, and Z is no better. To begin with, the L and R are just so damn deep. In order to 'press R', you've got to suplex the thing into submission. I feel like I'm operating a telegraph every time I want to press either one (which is frequently). And don't get me started on MASHING either of these horrid buttons (*scowls at Paper Mario*).
Finally, the Z button. I get the feeling that the folks over at Nintendo just put in the Z button so that the GC controller would have more buttons than N64 without dropping any (if you count the C stick as all four C buttons). Regardless, it is a highly unresponsive button and very awkward to use, since the aforementioned horrible L and R buttons 'feature' a finger contour which requires you to perform the all-too-familiar XBox rain dance to get your finger to the Z button.
