Support NeoGAF

[Arklite]

If I recall correctly didn't the original Xbox controller have pressure sensitive buttons? Like the harder you pushed down the button the larger the degree of input was. I remember in Fable the amount of draw back on the bow was matched to how hard you pushed the button.

Why did they remove this from the newer controllers? I thought it was really cool.

I don't remember Xbox pads having that, but PS2 and PS3 pads did. The problem is that they introduce input lag which can impact responsiveness. Neither the Xone or PS4 pads have this feature anymore.

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

Wow, AA batteries have become so old that the cost of production is increasing, eh?

 

[IRAQcitizen]

i don't know does bluetooth license cost alot of money?

im sure bluetooth is the reason behind the batteries.

 

[Yoshi]

Weird priorities.

Weird priorities? The controller is the thing you play all your games with and (barring the unlikely event that a new Banjo game will release) it's the only reason I'll be very very likely buying an Xbone over a PS4 although it has worse tech for a higher price and I'm not interested in Kinect nor either so-far announced exclusive line up. What would you rather spend this money on?

 

[Bsigg12]

i don't know does bluetooth license cost alot of money?

im sure bluetooth is the reason behind the batteries.

Say wha? They aren't using Bluetooth.

 

[Snapshot King]

How do you hold your controllers? Do you use your index finger to get both the trigger and bumper or do you use the index and middle fingers to get each button?

I'll switch depending, I can do either. That's not the problem. It's the thickness. The biggest change feels like the underside, which you never see in photos.

 

[Vorg]

Everything about this console is excessive. Its story would probably make a great Verhoeven movie.

 

[mocoworm]

It will be worth it.

$100m well spent.

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

This controllers differences are subtle, and I'm almost disappointed they didn't try anything crazy... but at the same time, it looks really nice.

Removable Batteries > Built-in Batteries.

Agreed. The only downside is needing to buy a battery pack separately, but I'll live.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Concerning Battery and controller life of Dualshocks. I just buy a second controller and in turn triple the life span of both controller by alternating between them and not putting all that stress on one controller.

Triple?! By my calculations you'll add 50% to its lifespan, unless you mean you buy two spare controllers?

 

[ec0ec0]

they used it to move the buttons closer to each other, it was worth it. I still cant understand how everyone loved the 360 controller when the button position was a 0/10, the dpad another 0/10, the.. i should stop.

 

[joesiv]

Triple?! By my calculations you'll add 50% to its lifespan, unless you mean you buy two spare controllers?

Probably means he is recharging the one while it's not in use.

 

[Penguins&PolarBears]

The IR LEDs hidden inside the controller are the most interesting aspect. It essentially turns the Xbox One controller into a more advanced Wii mote.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

The IR LEDs hidden inside the controller are the most interesting aspect. It essentially turns the Xbox One controller into a more advanced Wii mote.

No. I think that's just to determine where each player is sitting. I'm pretty sure the new dualshock does feature that functionality though.

 

[cbox]

I actually find all this science behind a game pad interesting.

I mean, at first I would think, "It's just a pad, so what? You just want it to work."

But then they talk about comfort and making the controller more responsive and reactive for immersion. Then I realized, you're holding onto this for thousands of hours, it really is important to get right.

There's lots of ignorance towards industrial engineering. The feel of every gadget you own goes through this same process. It's incredibly important. It's as important as "mouth feel" in the food industry.

 

[Penguins&PolarBears]

No. I think that's just to determine where each player is sitting. I'm pretty sure the new dualshock does feature that functionality though.

Which is good because developers are more likely to support the functionality if it is available on both consoles.

Kinect being able to communicate with and track the controllers while playing is potentially a very nice advancement. Anything that gives developers new toys to design gameplay around is good in my book.

 

[Curufinwe]

I don't remember Xbox pads having that, but PS2 and PS3 pads did. The problem is that they introduce input lag which can impact responsiveness. Neither the Xone or PS4 pads have this feature anymore.

And pressure sensitive buttons suck for that reason. I'm glad Xbox never had them, and Sony has gone back to digital buttons for the PS4.

 

[Bsigg12]

No. I think that's just to determine where each player is sitting. I'm pretty sure the new dualshock does feature that functionality though.

Only if you have the PS Eye. The IR emitters are being used to detect the controller and they have said rather than using added sensors, they'll be tracking motion through the Kinect. If there are 2 or more IR emitters you could easily track position and rotation of the controller.

 

[CadetMahoney]

I just want to know all the wacky prototype models they invented during R&D.

I have to say the 360 controller is pretty much perfection. If the Dpad wasn't so sloppy, it'd be perfect.

Unless you're playing fighting games the d-pad I can do without being as responsive as it could be.

 

[unholyrevenger72]

Triple?! By my calculations you'll add 50% to its lifespan, unless you mean you buy two spare controllers?

The sixaxis that came with my PS3 lasted about a year and a half, I used that one controller exclusively, Aug 2008 to early 2010. Sticks were sticking, 2 hour battery life. It was dead . Went out bought two DS3's It's now 2013 and the two controllers are still mint. 16 hour battery, life sticks are still good. I'll probably get more than triple with the PS4 coming out and a further reduction of stress placed on my DS3's

 

[Regiruler]

Did Nintendo even put a fraction of that into the gamepad?

That seems like a ludicrous amount for a simple controller.

 

[bootski]

yes the number seems high for what on the surface looks like a few button moves and a slight shape difference. keeping in mind that they probably redid the entire electronic internals a few times in testing, this 100m doesn't seem so bad though.

for reference MS spent almost 19,000,000,000 in R&D from 2011 to the end of 2012. so the 100,000,000 we're talking about is about .5%. for the controller that's gonna be in the hand of every console owner and following in the footsteps of the 360 controller, it almost seems like not enough.