220°

Why the next Xbox doesn’t need a new controller

Ben Salter of MMGN: Nintendo slapped control sticks on a tablet. Sony jammed a ridiculous touchpad into its 16-year-old controller. Microsoft will, by all reports, ignore all of that nonsense and rehash its perfectly serviceable Xbox 360 controller for the next generation.

That’s totally fine. I’m actually happy to hear it and here’s why:

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360.mmgn.com
Snookies124039d ago (Edited 4039d ago )

"Sony jammed a ridiculous touchpad into its 16-year-old controller".

Obviously the writer of this article didn't care to see the other features that are good about the DS4. The fact that the triggers are now curved up slightly (not nearly as much as the 360's thank goodness), it has convex AND concave analog sticks, color coded light for which controller is which, the "share" button, which is probably my favorite thing about it, and a redone more Vita-like D-pad. It looks to be an all around improvement. If you're trying to say the 360 controller needs NOTHING to be improved, you're wrong. The 360 controller is good, don't get me wrong, but nowhere near perfect. If Microsoft doesn't even try to improve it, that'll just show me that they're not trying hard enough.

Y_51504039d ago

I agree with you, they can at least improve the D-pad. People might be disagree with you for numerous reasons. The share button has so much potential but instead the uninformed would think it's just for sharing stuff on Facebook, it's way more than that.

iGAM3R-VIII4038d ago

Agreed, personally I think Sony's DS4 controller is sexy and I cannnot wait until E3 to hold it and get some demos from it. I also think that the touchpad is an amazing new feature and if we are advancing in technology, why not advance the controller

Blackdeath_6634038d ago

also the battery pack that presses against your fingers needs to be gone actually just two days ago i went to a friends house to play fifa, we tried to turn it on what happened? no batteries and we had to go out and buy AA batteries. my reaction "are you f***ing kidding me". that is one area that certainly has to improve other than that i was actually impressed by how comfortable it was the d-pad is annoying as hell though and when playing fifa the tactics menu kept showing up which was irritating.

3-4-54038d ago

Controller is nearly perfect as is.

A controller has never fit better in my hands.

AngelicIceDiamond4038d ago

@Y_5150 either way if MS even thought about doing something similar like the social button or anything of that nature people would say "MS is copying" and defend what Sony's doing.

If it was MS say who showcased their next gen first instead and had a share feature on its controller people would bash, make fun of it, offend it, and say MS is losing focus with social and media.

It would be a totally different story.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4038d ago
konnerbllb4039d ago

I don't have a problem with the 360's triggers, they are concave, like triggers in fighter jets are. The ps3/4 doesn't have traditional triggers and I think it should.

Snookies124039d ago (Edited 4039d ago )

Well to be honest, I liked the 360's triggers at first. However, when a moment in gaming comes up that requires you to repeatedly press it as fast as you can... It gave me the absolute worst hand cramp I've ever had. The sharp upwards curve mixed with the amount of tension that needs to be applied to press it can be a real problem. That's why I'm optimistic about the DualShock4's approach which gives a bit of a curve instead of a whole lot. It goes for the middle ground, which is what I personally was hoping for in a console controller. The PS3 I will agree with. Its triggers weren't good at all, your finger would slip right off. However, if you look at the DS4, it clearly gives a curve at the end to prevent that.

sengoku4038d ago

that's exactly just whats with the x360 guys.
a trigger needs to be exactly like the ones in fighter jets and that's what they always should be compared to and be like.

well it might be good for fight sims or the like but those buttons should just a nicely fit into other games in which there might be goals another shooting and blowing up stuff.

unchartedxplorer4038d ago

Yeah maybe we should have an ejector seat with the controller, just like the fighter jets.
Oh and flares as well!

xPhearR3dx4039d ago

TBH, the only thing the 360 controller needs to fix is the D-pad. Everything else is perfect for me. All though, maybe some sort of grip on the triggers could be nice.

Snookies124039d ago (Edited 4039d ago )

Yeah, the main issue I have with the 360 controller is the D-pad. Everything else I'm pretty okay with. I just think that they shouldn't just be "okay" with their controller. Always try to improve, even if you "think" you've found perfection. That's what I want from a company if I'm going to buy their product. Which is why I'm a little concerned about Microsoft, if they end up not redesigning their controller even a little bit.

MikeMyers4038d ago

Not sure how good the controller was when they updated it with the spin style d-pad but the original wasn't that good.

They do need to update the controller but keep it fairly consistent with the original 360. I expect a few more tweaks and perhaps some new type of function. What I would like to see is some more personalization where you can apply whatever button you want for any game. Meaning if a game has the A button for jump I can make it so that every game I play makes the A button the jump button. I hate it when the developer forces button placements. I would also like to see it be linked to your account. Meaning nobody else can use my controller, don't touch! Just like don't touch my seat settings on my car.

MYSTERIO3604038d ago

So you like having to switching battery's and having to get rechargeable ones? As for me no sir-ry i've had my fun /s and don't want to deal with it again next gen. Plus i think it needs some sort of grip on it like the DS4.

Why o why4038d ago (Edited 4038d ago )

d pad and batteries. Everything else is fine

lol@ domination below regarding the madcatz lookalike. ...I hear ya. A sony pad that doesnt have that 'SONY' printed above the start and select just looks 3rdpartyish... I'm hoping they sneak it on there somehow...lol

MikeMyers4038d ago

"So you like having to switching battery's and having to get rechargeable ones?"

I don't like having to pay for extra batteries but it is really convenient to simply put in another pack or batteries and keep playing wireless. I imagine they will have rechargeable built-in like everyone else now.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4038d ago
DOMination-4038d ago

I must admit, I thought the DS4 looked like a cheap madcatz controller when I first saw it, but is has grown on me. I like it, but I have to say, that share button is kinda useless. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the features it provides, but why not just have the PS button and choose it from a menu? Does it really need it's own button? It's like having a button for turning subtitles on and off. Yeah it's kinda nice but it's not a big deal that I just pause and go into a menu. It just feels redundant.. if they were gonna add another button, it would have better having an additional button that can be used in proper gameplay..

As for the 360 controller.. if it stayed the same I honestly wouldn't be too disappointed. It's a very good controller with the exception of the dpad. But as with everyone else, I'm always excited to see new stuff so I hope they change it up a bit.

hesido4038d ago (Edited 4038d ago )

Sharing through the menu would also be sufficient for most cases.

That said, marketing-wise, it conveys the idea so much better, that being able to share your gaming moments is one of the under-lined features. Less people would be talking about the ability to share your game videos online if they just went: "Hey, you can push the PS button, select share -> select screenshot / video to share your screenshots / videos". The button underscores this feature so well.

Non-marketing wise: The button could be preconfigured to do screenshots, or simply start a video relay etc etc. Maybe press-and-hold would differ from a single press, marking the start of a video for storing a longer play than the last 5-10 minutes) which may be better for cases when you are playing multiplayer and don't want to fiddle though menus.

Also, it is not like it gets in the way, nor is it in a place that you could accidentally press it. It is also not in a place that you would want to be constantly pushing for gameplay, so we cannot say how it would be better if that space was used for in-game related tasks.

dedicatedtogamers4038d ago

Am I the only one who remembers the 360 crowd bashing the DualShock 3 because "Sony never updates their controllers"? Hahahha, but now it's a good thing when MS does it?

I miss what they did with the Xbox. Microsoft had multiple sizes of controllers, and that was really cool. They should go back to that.

Blaze9294038d ago

lol multiple sizes? They only had two bruh...

Nafon4038d ago

The share button is your favorite feature? wow. and those curved triggers help keep your fingers on

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4038d ago
aaron58294038d ago

I dont think i'm ready to game without controllers.

GribbleGrunger4038d ago

Because the recent rumours suggests it hasn't got a new controller and the author of this piece wants to play his hand early?

MasterCornholio4038d ago

The DPAD is garbage on the 360 controller. That in my opinion needs to change.

Even though I don't like the positioning of the analog sticks it isn't a design flaw just a preference issue.

Motorola RAZR i

Mr_Writer854038d ago Show
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Bethesda Needs to Reduce the Gaps Between New Fallout and Elder Scrolls Releases

Waiting a decade for new instalments in franchises as massive as Fallout and Elder Scrolls feels like a waste.

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gamingbolt.com
-Foxtrot13h ago

Microsoft have Obsidian but I feel it's Bethesda who just don't want to play ball as they've always said they want to do it themselves.

Once MS bought Zenimax in 2020 they should have put the Outer Worlds 2 on the back burner, allow Bethesda to finish off its own Space RPG with Starfield (despite totally different tone why have two in your first party portfolio with two developers who's gameplay is a tad similar) and got Obsidian for one of their projects to make a spiritual successor to New Vegas.

When the Elder Scrolls VI is finished Bethesda can then onto the main numbered Fallout 5 themselves.

The Outer Worlds 2 started development in 2019 so putting it on the back burner wouldn't have been the end of the world, they'd have always come back to it once Fallout was done and it would have been nicely spaced out from Starfields release once they had most likely stopped supporting it and all the expansions were released.

If they did this back in 2020 when they bought Zenimax and the game had a good, steady 4 - 5 years development, you might have seen it release in 2025.

We are literally going to be waiting until 2030 at the very earliest for Fallout 5 and all they seem bothered about is pushing Fallout 76.

RaidenBlack11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Its not just only Todd not playing ball.
Obsidian have made a name for themselves in delivering stellar RPGs, but most famous once have always been sequels/spin-offs to borrowed IPs like KOTOR 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Stick of Truth etc.
Obsidian wants to invest more in their own original IPs like Outer Worlds or Pillars of Eternity with Avowed.
Similar to what Bluepoint & inXile wants to do or Kojima is doing (i.e not involving anymore in Konami's IPs).
So yea, even if New Vegas has the most votes from 3D Fallout fans, Obsidian just wants to do their own thing, like any aspiring dev studio and MS is likely currently respecting that.
But a future Fallout game from Obsidian will surely happen. Founder Feargus Urquhart has already stated an year ago that they're eager to make a new Fallout game with Bethesda, New Vegas 2 or otherwise. Urquhart was the director of the very first 1995's Fallout game after all.
And don't forget Brian Fargo and his studio inXile, as Brian Fargo was the director of Fallout's 1988 predecessor: Wasteland

KyRo7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Obsidian should take over the FO IP. They're do far better with it than Bethesda who hasn't made a great game for almost 15 years

RaidenBlack1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

@KyRo
So, by 15 years, you mean Fallout 3 was the last great game Bethesda made?
You don't consider Skyrim a good game, which came out 13 years ago?
I'd consider Fallout 4 a pretty decent game as well. It's Story & RPG elements were a bit downgrade from New Vegas but the exploration and shooting on the other hand, were upgrades.
FO76 was disappointing and Starfield could've been better at launch I'll agree.

Duke197h ago(Edited 7h ago)

I disagree. Part of these games is the support for the mod community. If they move to releasing a "next game" every 2 or 3 years, the modding support plummets and the franchises turn into just another run of the mill RPG.

Make the games good enough to withstand the test of time, to keep people coming back to them and expanding on them with mod support.

--Onilink--4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

I dont think anyone is saying they need to come out every 2 years (not to mention almost no game is released that quickly anymore)

By the time Fallout 5 comes out, it will be more than 15 years since Fallout 4 came out (same with ES6 coming out 15 years after Skyrim). Even if you want to use F76 as the metric for the most recent release, that one came out in 2018. It will be a miracle if F5 comes out before 2030

The point is that for a studio that doesnt seem to operate with multiple teams doing several projects at once, that their projects normally take 4-5 years as a minimum, and that now they even added Starfield to the rotation, it becomes a 15+ years waiting period between releases for each series, which doesnt make sense. Imagine that Nintendo only released a mainline Mario or Zelda game every 15 years…

They either need to start developing more than 1 project at a time, let someone else take a crack at one of the IPs or significantly reduce their development times

Duke193h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Why should someone else take a crack at one of the IPs? Look at what happened to Final Fantasy as a recent example - there is pretty clear FF fatigue setting in because they are now pumping out titles in the franchise every few years. Pumping out more games faster doesn't always make a series better.

There are plenty of options to make new games, not just create more titles in the same universe at a faster pace.

-Foxtrot46m ago

"Why should someone else take a crack at one of the IPs"

He's literally just told you why

We're waiting like 15 years before a sequel comes out, it's insane

Skyrim came out in 2011, the next game is expected to come out in 2027 at the earliest so that's 16 years apart while Fallout 4 came out in 2015 and might not release until 2031, again 16 years.

We're fine with Bethesda trying new things and doing new IPs like Starfield but adding a new game to the cycle now means a bigger wait. Also Starfield didn't meet most peoples expectations, can you imagine waiting 15 years or so for a sequel and it's disappointing? It would feel even worse because you would have to wait another 15 years to see if they manage to come back from it.

They need to give it to another developer, we don't need main numbered titles but a spin off of Fallout and Elder Scrolls should be cycled in between the long gaps of the main releases.

Once again you are making out people want these games as quick as possible when all we want is a standard development time of at least 4 years or so rather than waiting 15.

mandf4h ago

Yeah I’m going to say it, who cares about the modding community when making a game? Half the time developers only tolerate modders because they fix there game for them.

Skuletor6h ago

Yeah, let's all advocate for smaller gaps between series' releases, then we'll probably get headlines about how the series have dropped in quality and they could have benefited from more time in the oven. Let them cook.

SimpleSlave5h ago

"how the series have dropped in quality and they could have benefited from more time in the oven" So every Bethesda game then? Got it.

Listen, I would agree if this was about From Software or something, but Bethesda?

🤣

C'mon now. What timeline are you from?

Skuletor3h ago

Think about it, they're already bug filled messes on their current schedule, can you imagine how much worse it would be if they rushed things?

-Foxtrot42m ago

@Skuletor

Who's saying to rush the releases? No one is saying that...

People just don't want to be waiting 15 years for a sequel, they aren't working on the game for that long, you do realise that right? The issue isn't coming down to them working on the game and us "rushing them", it's the fact they are working on other games like Starfield now meaning bigger gaps before they even get started on them.

I bet you any more Elder Scrolls VI only entered full development last year when Starfield was finished despite being announced in 2018.

Duke193h ago

I mean you aren't wrong. People are going to complain about anything

isarai5h ago

Hows about you focus on quality, just a thought 🤷‍♂️

Sciurus_vulgaris4h ago

Bethesda [or Microsoft] would have to reallocate internal and external studios towards fallout and elder scrolls titles. Bethesda has the issue of developing 2 big IPs that are large RPGs on rotation. If you want more Fallout and Elder Scrolls, development will have to be outsourced.

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