Ideas for next Gen Controllers

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Kyle Meadows

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Jan 2, 2011
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So, I was playing Skyrim on my PS3. As many of you who own it know, the circle button opens the menu. Well, perhaps it is only because my controller is damaged beyond repair, but I noticed that if I twist it the right way on the right side the menu opens. So then, I had a thought: What if this could be incorporated into a next gen controller? Think guys: to open the menu no longer takes a button. Merely twist either side of the controller. That means every button can be used for an action, thus optimizing the players experience. What do you think? And do you guys have any other ideas?
 

SinorKirby

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inb4 rage about gimmicky controllers

I think that future consoles should be upgradeable on the level of custom gaming PCs, that way they don't hold games back for 5 or 6 years like the 360, PS3, and undoubtedly the WiiU have/will. As far as controllers go....Some kind of hybrid mouse/keyboard/joystick setup. Possibly a keyboard with a joystick mounted somewhere on it to allow for analog movement, precision aiming with a mouse, and the flexibility for button setups that comes with a keyboard. Plus, since there would be a ~ key, console games could have dev console access.
 

Something Amyss

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Kyle Meadows said:
So, I was playing Skyrim on my PS3. As many of you who own it know, the circle button opens the menu. Well, perhaps it is only because my controller is damaged beyond repair, but I noticed that if I twist it the right way on the right side the menu opens. So then, I had a thought: What if this could be incorporated into a next gen controller? Think guys: to open the menu no longer takes a button. Merely twist either side of the controller. That means every button can be used for an action, thus optimizing the players experience. What do you think? And do you guys have any other ideas?
Sixaxxis menu controls?

I think we already sorta have that.
 

Shadowstar38

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Jul 20, 2011
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I want some kind of cleaver combination of a regular controller and a motion controller. It can fit in your hand comfortably like regular ones but it uses a PS Move-like thing that lets you do stuff without sacrificing a button (like the OT said with the menu). It also needs to have presser sensitive buttons so every button has two functions.

And I dont mean sixaxis. That thing is kind of shit to actually use.
 

Fusioncode9

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The 360 is basically perfect for me. Comfortable and all the buttons it needs. The only thing I would add would be pressure sensitive buttons and a better implementation of six axis. That way devs would have more to work with.
 

CrystalShadow

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Apr 11, 2009
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Shadowstar38 said:
I want some kind of cleaver combination of a regular controller and a motion controller. It can fit in your hand comfortably like regular ones but it uses a PS Move-like thing that lets you do stuff without sacrificing a button (like the OT said with the menu). It also needs to have presser sensitive buttons so every button has two functions.

And I dont mean sixaxis. That thing is kind of shit to actually use.
I always wondered why the Move controllers were designed the way they are.

I mean, I get the big ball on the top; That has a functional purpose.

But since the intent behind them is basically, make a Wii remote, but better...
I have to ask why they didn't think it through better.

Now, yes the motion control is more accurate, but let's ignore that for a moment.

Even without motion control of any kind, I actually rather like that the Wii controller + nunchuk is two seperate controllers, which you can hold in either hand, at more or less any distance the cable will allow.

However, both controllers are flawed.

The nunchuk needs more buttons, and the Wii remote could have done with an analog stick.

This would have meant that you could for instance use two Wii remotes at once, each with an analog stick and several buttons...
While using the motion controls and pointer at the same time.

You could then for instance create a shooter with dual analog control for movement, while simultaniously being able to use the motion controls as if they were your hands...

With the existing design, if you want any analog control you have to sacrifice the accuracy of the motion controls... (The nunchuk having neither a pointer, nor the option to use motionplus for increased accuracy. IT also has far fewer buttons. Even further restricting it's usefulness.)

With this in mind, the PS move controller strikes me as even more stupid, because it replicates the same problems of the Wii remote (No analog stick, and about the same number of buttons), and the 'navigation' controller doesn't have any motion-sensing capabilities at all...

Motion controllers have to be one-handed to be even remotely useful. I think that's pretty much been conclusively demonstrated at this point.

Yet I think sacrificing buttons and analog control sticks in the process isn't a good idea. Nor do I think the Wii remote is a particularly good shape overall.

But... I don't think any of this stuff is really going anywhere.

Motion controls are an interesting idea, but you can't really take them much further than they've already gone.

Improvements in accuracy are possible, but it won't gain you much.

Traditional controllers are also at their limits, because people just don't have enough fingers to do much more. There's a reason the game controller basically hasn't changed since the dualshock controller was created.

There's concepts from virtual reality that might prove interesting, but we don't seem anywhere near a reliable set of technologies to make that happen.

Touch-screens add some limited flexibility, but at the end of the day they're not much better than buttons. (And in some ways are worse.)

Novint seems to be working on a force feedback arm rig though. Which might prove interesting, in that it's basically motion controls with actual physical feedback on what you're doing...
 

Kyle Meadows

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Jan 2, 2011
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Zachary Amaranth said:
Kyle Meadows said:
So, I was playing Skyrim on my PS3. As many of you who own it know, the circle button opens the menu. Well, perhaps it is only because my controller is damaged beyond repair, but I noticed that if I twist it the right way on the right side the menu opens. So then, I had a thought: What if this could be incorporated into a next gen controller? Think guys: to open the menu no longer takes a button. Merely twist either side of the controller. That means every button can be used for an action, thus optimizing the players experience. What do you think? And do you guys have any other ideas?
Sixaxxis menu controls?

I think we already sorta have that.
No, I actually twisted the controller. I didn't use motion controls is what I'm saying. I twisted the right side ever enough to illicit that kind of reaction. But I could see six-axis being incorporated into the menu navigation.
 

Kyle Meadows

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Jan 2, 2011
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SinorKirby said:
inb4 rage about gimmicky controllers

I think that future consoles should be upgradeable on the level of custom gaming PCs, that way they don't hold games back for 5 or 6 years like the 360, PS3, and undoubtedly the WiiU have/will. As far as controllers go....Some kind of hybrid mouse/keyboard/joystick setup. Possibly a keyboard with a joystick mounted somewhere on it to allow for analog movement, precision aiming with a mouse, and the flexibility for button setups that comes with a keyboard. Plus, since there would be a ~ key, console games could have dev console access.
I like this idea. The only thing is I can't see what you see, so are you referring to something like http://www.amazon.com/PS3-Wireless-Keypad-Playstation-3/dp/B001ENPDJA but actually built into the controller?
 

Mr. Omega

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I actually think the WiiU has the right idea. WiiPlus motion controls, the standard four-button/dual-analog/four shoulder button layout in this gen and a touchscreen. Reports from people who actually have held it said that it's pretty good to hold. I just wish the thing was a little more pleasant to look at.

They key with this set-up, however, is that devs need to show restraint. Just because motion controls are there doesn't mean you need to shoehorn it in. If it works fine with the standard control layout, stick with it. If having a touchscreen would genuinely benefit the experience of the game, use it.
 

SinorKirby

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Kyle Meadows said:
I like this idea. The only thing is I can't see what you see, so are you referring to something like http://www.amazon.com/PS3-Wireless-Keypad-Playstation-3/dp/B001ENPDJA but actually built into the controller?
No, I mean like a traditional mouse/keyboard setup, just with a joystick attached to the keyboard somewhere to allow for analog movement like what you get with a controller.
 

Kyle Meadows

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SinorKirby said:
Kyle Meadows said:
I like this idea. The only thing is I can't see what you see, so are you referring to something like http://www.amazon.com/PS3-Wireless-Keypad-Playstation-3/dp/B001ENPDJA but actually built into the controller?
No, I mean like a traditional mouse/keyboard setup, just with a joystick attached to the keyboard somewhere to allow for analog movement like what you get with a controller.
Ah I see. Unfortunately, that defeats the portability of a controller. I can get up, walk around if i need to, hide it from children, make the dogs shut up, and all without letting go of the controller. Many gamers sit back and recline in their chairs and hold the controller on their laps, both hands firmly upon it. The mouse/keyboard setup is a might to bulky for these kinds of actions methinks.
 

Something Amyss

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Kyle Meadows said:
No, I actually twisted the controller. I didn't use motion controls is what I'm saying. I twisted the right side ever enough to illicit that kind of reaction. But I could see six-axis being incorporated into the menu navigation.
Sorry, I thought you meant twisted it as in "turned it in the air."
 

Kyle Meadows

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Jan 2, 2011
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Regnes said:
It's not exactly a controller idea, but I have this idea of a sweet console that will rock this world, it's called the PC.
Okay. Want me to tell you a secret. it involves me, a computer, and how its ten years old and I literally don't make enough to buy one. The ps3 was a gift as is, and was cheaper than a proper gaming setup. I don't have the money for a PC. Sorry that I'm poor.
 

Kyle Meadows

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Jan 2, 2011
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Zachary Amaranth said:
Kyle Meadows said:
No, I actually twisted the controller. I didn't use motion controls is what I'm saying. I twisted the right side ever enough to illicit that kind of reaction. But I could see six-axis being incorporated into the menu navigation.
Sorry, I thought you meant twisted it as in "turned it in the air."
Its alright! Misunderstanding happen :) I could have clarified it a bit more on my end.
 

Kyle Meadows

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Mr. Omega said:
I actually think the WiiU has the right idea. WiiPlus motion controls, the standard four-button/dual-analog/four shoulder button layout in this gen and a touchscreen. Reports from people who actually have held it said that it's pretty good to hold. I just wish the thing was a little more pleasant to look at.

They key with this set-up, however, is that devs need to show restraint. Just because motion controls are there doesn't mean you need to shoehorn it in. If it works fine with the standard control layout, stick with it. If having a touchscreen would genuinely benefit the experience of the game, use it.
I agree with your statement sir.
 

Kyle Meadows

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Regnes said:
Kyle Meadows said:
Regnes said:
It's not exactly a controller idea, but I have this idea of a sweet console that will rock this world, it's called the PC.
Okay. Want me to tell you a secret. it involves me, a computer, and how its ten years old and I literally don't make enough to buy one. The ps3 was a gift as is, and was cheaper than a proper gaming setup. I don't have the money for a PC. Sorry that I'm poor.
Hmmm, I'm sorry that you're poor, but I wasn't directing at you, I was reflecting on the entire industry.
But you came on a thread, that I made about controllers, to spread PC elitist sentiments that I couldn't care for. If we referenced PCs at all here, it was about how we could merge the Keyboard/mouse with the controller. If you want to talk about how PCs are the master platform, go make another thread. Don't start a flame war on mine. People can and will take that the wrong way, as you have already seen. The industry doesn't care about you're one post in a forum. I do. And it bothers me a great deal that you think its okay to do that.
 

lord.jeff

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Truthfully I'd just like to see the Wii controller but replace the small D-pad with a D-pad like the one on the PlayStation or the C-buttons from the 64, that way it could be used like a four button layout on regular controllers. also a usb on the controller so I don't have to sit right next to my TV to use a keyboard.