New 360 controller with "improved" Dpad

[Dodger]

What are your thoughts on this? I mean it looks pretty sweet...the dpad that is. I just wonder if it will have the same "rocker" motion of the original controller, or if it will feel a little more precise.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/new- ... y-major-n/

[Zeron]

What are your thoughts on this? I mean it looks pretty sweet...the dpad that is. I just wonder if it will have the same "rocker" motion of the original controller, or if it will feel a little more precise.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/new- ... y-major-n/

I use a stick but yeah good riddance the original 360 d-pad is awful, its about time they replaced it people were forced to buy sticks due to how horrible the 360 d-pad was..

not that its a bad thing to buy a stick at all.


on a somewhat unrelated note

I find it funny how alot of people think d-pad stands for digital pad.

[captpain]

If it still moves like the original, I can't imagine (optionally) raised directions helping very much. The basic mechanism would have to be changed.

[bcass]

The main problem with the original 360 dpads is that they are so inconsistently made. I have a wired pad, and the dapd on it is God-awful, but the dpad on my wireless pad is actually pretty good. Unless they've also modified the way the pad is fitted, underneath the dpad, I can't see this having a major difference.

[Zeron]

The main problem with the original 360 dpads is that they are so inconsistently made. I have a wired pad, and the dapd on it is God-awful, but the dpad on my wireless pad is actually pretty good. Unless they've also modified the way the pad is fitted, underneath the dpad, I can't see this having a major difference.

Perhaps they are licensed out to various manufacturers?

[Acid King]

It'd be swell if they released a wired version.

[drunkninja24]

As long as it has that stupid restrictor on the edges still, I don't think it'll be that much different.

[Elixir]

As long as it has that stupid restrictor on the edges still, I don't think it'll be that much different.

This. I'm not holding out much hope and considering I can just use a Saturn pad, not much point in buying one.

I'm interested in the Razer 360 controller though, since I really like the feeling of their mice.

[DJ Incompetent]

I remember when D-pad was called the "D Button"

I was so very confused.
Fucking Genesis game manuals..

[cul]

It's pretty funny that the vidya press is "impressed" and "excited" about a design that should have been done in the first place ten fucking years ago when microsoft released its awful original xbox controller.

. The new D-pad is a trick new patented design that's just as we heard from Joystiq: it's a disc in the normal configuration, but a quick twist raises the crossbars about a quarter-inch, making it eminently more usable.

Wow. Just wow, we can just imagine how reliable it's going to be with the average quality of microsoft hardware products. I can already witness the mountains of 3 months old broken controllers because they got "too much twisted, here goes 65 more dollars, thank you bro".

[bcass]

The twist/raise design, to circumvent any copyright claims Nintendo might have, is pretty neat IMO. But one has to wonder if it actually addresses the real issue.

[BulletMagnet]

As long as it has that stupid restrictor on the edges still, I don't think it'll be that much different.

Yeah, I seem to recall that a part of the outer plastic casing was the main problem...someone here posted a link to a video of a guy who modded his controller for better feedback just by sanding off some of its edge. MS also released that "special edition" pea-green controller in Europe with an improved d-pad, but it looks pretty much identical to the original design...what did they alter on that one?

Also this isn't specifically shmup-related, so I'm moving it to OT.

[bcass]

MS also released that "special edition" pea-green controller in Europe with an improved d-pad, but it looks pretty much identical to the original design...what did they alter on that one?

It has 16-way switching, while the normal pads only have 8-way switching. Games had to be specifically programmed for it though IIRC. A complete waste of time IMO.

[evil_ash_xero]

I've read a couple of hands on articles(you can find 'em through google) that says it isn't much different, and still sucks.

[bcass]

The new one or the ltd green one from last year?

[Battlesmurf]

even if this limited edition pad doesn't turn out well, the sanding trick is awesome.

Open up your controller, make a little square sanding pad. Pop on Buffy the Vampire slayer on netflix and start sanding. If you just make a bunch of little circles and increase the 'hole' for that stupid ass restrictor thing it makes the pad infinitely better feeling.

I'm honestly surprised it sounds like so many people haven't done that yet. Bullshit that you have to spend $40 on a controller and then have to spend time sanding it- but if you like shooties and want an alternative to a stick it's a good idea.

[drauch]

Yeah, I'll believe it when I see--and play on it. I remember hearing that the overseas pads got a refurbish a few years back, and it seemed no different. I just don't understand how they can't figure it out in the first place.

[BulletMagnet]

MS also released that "special edition" pea-green controller in Europe with an improved d-pad, but it looks pretty much identical to the original design...what did they alter on that one?

It has 16-way switching, while the normal pads only have 8-way switching. Games had to be specifically programmed for it though IIRC. A complete waste of time IMO.

I got the feeling there was more to it than that...I recall a video of a guy comparing it to a "normal" pad, in which he pressed a direction on each, and the "click" on the "special" pad was more audible than that of the other. I'll hafta try to dig it up...

[Ed Oscuro]

I should probably pick this up because the wire on my old Mad Catz pad is only making intermittent contact...if I put something across the edge the light will blink ten times a second, no joke. I carried it in a backpack for years, which is the main reason for the trouble.

I'm not all that excited about the new d-pad; it mainly looks like they redesigned it so your thumb won't slide off, but the smooth design doesn't really give me confidence that each direction will stick surely, instead of just being mushy and with diagonals running into vertical / horizontal presses, though obviously I won't know until I tried it out.

[gameoverDude]

The original 360 d-pad, in one word, SUCKS. Just like the Megadrive "D Button", you get unwanted diagonal inputs too easily.

I'd like to see them get the size of the controller down a bit, maybe more in line with a PS3 Sixaxis/DualShock 3. Thank goodness the 360 controller isn't as big as the original Xbox Duke.

[Dodger]

If it still moves like the original, I can't imagine (optionally) raised directions helping very much. The basic mechanism would have to be changed.

Yeah thats what I'm kind of wondering...I'm sure it will be at least a little better with the raised cross pattern, but its whats under the hood that counts. If the mechanism is the same, $65+ ain't gonna be worth it.