Controller evolution

[Fenreil]

There's certainly room for improvement. I only use 4 out of my 10 fingers while using a 360, so maybe we could add more buttons or remap the existing ones. It's kind of a waste when you think about it.

 

[Colonel Alzheimer's]

More buttons might be good, because it could encourage developers to add more features to a game so as not to waste buttons. But if you can't seamlessly integrate the buttons on to the controller, I say not bother.

 

[Spitfire175]

I'm perfectly happy with my keyboard&mouse combo. Kills bad guys and does paperwork.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

There is, and will, be more buttons and analog sticks as time progresses. And if you ask me that's fine, as long as the controls are still workable.

 

[Sebenko]

I'm perfectly happy with my keyboard&mouse combo. Kills bad guys and does paperwork.

And allows you more commands than "run" "shoot" "pause", which a controller doesn't offer.
Unless the controller is the steel battalion one. Man, that was cool.

(there's a reason PC games have so many controls, it's because they don't have to fit them onto 14 buttons, so they can go wild).

 

[rokkolpo]

eventually they'll just remake the gamecube controller for everything because it worked so damned well.

 

[F-I-D-O]

I like the current PS3 controller. Its got enough buttons, (17 if you count start,select, and PS buttons) but the motion control is meh. If they refined that little bit of motion, I think it would be better than the "move", Natal, or the wiimote.
I'd rather tilt the controller than flail my arms.

 

[Sikachu]

eventually they'll just remake the gamecube controller for everything because it worked so damned well.

Apart from the useless d-pad.

 

[spartan231490]

I think they're pretty good as is, you could maybe add one or two more buttons for some games, but if you add buttons, I think that they shouldn't be included in games that don't need them.

 

[rokkolpo]

eventually they'll just remake the gamecube controller for everything because it worked so damned well.

Apart from the useless d-pad.

it could be used as an alternative to the joystick thingy.
no one ever used it but it was just an alternative, people like having choices.

 

[Davey Woo]

I think the next step for game controllers would be to make them more like the thing they're supposed to be, like the attachments you get for the Wii controllers.

I can imagine a lot of people would find it amusing playing an FPS with an actual gun as the controller.

 

[JEBWrench]

Here you go:

Spoiler: Moar buttonz!

 

[oktalist]

If anything we need fewer buttons, or developers will continue to be tempted to overdesign abominations like this (from Penny Arcade [http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/6/8/])

If you need more buttons than that, you're developing a PC game.

Spoiler: And another thing...

'Nuff said.

 

[Sikachu]

eventually they'll just remake the gamecube controller for everything because it worked so damned well.

Apart from the useless d-pad.

it could be used as an alternative to the joystick thingy.
no one ever used it but it was just an alternative, people like having choices.

I don't mean that it was redundant, I mean that it was terrible at being a d-pad. The Sony controller has been the only one with a good d-pad for a pretty long time now. I do really like GC controllers though, particularly the wavebirds.

 

[War Penguin]

No, I don't think we need more buttons. Hell, with motion control, I don't think we're gonna get any more buttons either.

 

[teutonicman]

I don't mind if they add more buttons as long at the controller still feels natural to hold and use. Also I don't want to see anything like the N64 controller. EVER.

 

[neoontime]

Wii remote needs a damn c-stick

 

[gigastrike]

The Wiimote just needs better button arrangement. It's a stretch to reach anything other than the A button, B button, and the bottom 3 buttons on the D-pad.

 

[eyedonutkair]

Screw that controller stuff. I want to play Gears of War with a command line interface. I want a seamless integration of intense action and unix.

... GEARS OF SLACKWARE!!!!

lolwut win. GO UNIX

 

[eyedonutkair]

Agreed. People always said 'more buttons is too much', yet they kept coming. first it was the shoulders, then the sticks, with a whole new controller shape (n64 mostly, xbox was a nightmare, ps3 excluded-ish) then pushing the stick in, yada yada yada. If the buttons are placed in a way that feels natural, I think a few more COULD happen. unlikely, sure, but it could. Remember the PS single hand controller, meant for rpgs, and power glub rofls a plenty. don't forget the foot controller...