The Xbox One controller cost $100,000,000
- Thread starter EvB
- Start date
Microsoft has made something a standard for Windows users? Wonder how they managed that, must be the R&D costs.
But they really didn't intend for it to happen that way
They made a high quality product that was very well received (due to R&D) and eventually developers started porting over the UI and same control schemes
This made the 360 pad widely adopted because it just worked. No fucking around with stick sensitivities... No fucking around with button assignments. No more "hey why is my analog stick not registering?" Through the help of everyone, controllers became very viable again on PCs.
That extra R&D is sure to help make sure they have the continued success going forward.
They made good drivers.
If there were similar drivers for DualShock I would never pick a 360pad over it.
inb4: motionjoy sucks.
HomerSimpson-Man
Member
Yeah, I'm glad I can just connect the 360 pad to my PC and a lot of games just work instantly if there is a console version.
A gaming PC with KB/mouse and 360 pad = win.
My favorite controller this gen. Only issue is the d-pad and the build quality; the analog sticks started suffering from analog drift after only like 2 months, it's not to much of an issue, thought it rears it's head when I mess with emulators and the right analog not always being centered is extremely apparent.
Microsoft really seems to be using the whole smartphone strategy of really hammering on describing the little details like it's a gourmet meal on a menu. The button isn't just a button it's a light pipe with brushed aluminum to redefine buttons. lol
Controller looks good though. Trigger feedback sounds awesome.
Controller looks good though. Trigger feedback sounds awesome.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
I...what? Jesus, did they order the molds for every single sketch?
LyleLanley
Banned
Does it need to look significantly different?
All that value right?
While this seems excessive, that's what big companies do, their institutionalizing means having to throw a lot of man-hours at something that could be done in less time, by fewer people. In the end, it doesn't harm them, they have the funds. I don't think the controller will be any worse/better for it.
There are people who work on design
There are people who work on ergonomics
There are people who work on the hardware tech
There are people who work on the software tech
There are people who work on the impact testing and wear
There are people who work on focus testing (for many iterations)
There are people who manage these individual teams and source materials
There are people who specialize in materials, manufacturing, etc
This is one of those things you need to make sure you don't fuck up
If you had one guy working on it, you could end up with a boomerang
LyleLanley
Banned
Watch the video in the OP. It may look like the same controller but there are a bunch of improvements.
Why? They'll make it back in additional controller sales in the first year. If they make a profit of $20 dollars a controller, all they need to do is sell an additional 5 million units. If people by 2 extra controllers (this is obviously a huge variable) they could do that on selling 2.5 million consoles.
It really isn't that much money to them when you look at all the other spending they are doing for the system. Also, it really isn't all that much money in a corporate sense.
Or an Ouya controller.
Garrett 2U
Member
Or built in speakers
Because there's no middle ground between 1 guy and whatever size team it takes to blow through $100 million in 2.5 yrs.
Just for some perspective, if it was a team of 100 earning an average of 100k/yr each, all dedicated full-time to this project (highly unlikely), that'd be $25 million. Is 100 not enough? We still in boomerang controller territory with a team that size, or are we at least approaching something like a MadCatz controller?
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
after all that, still requires AA betteries
Betteries are better than batteries. ;-)
I've a feeling this post will be picked apart before long.
Uno Venova
Banned
Has anyone shed light on what the usual cost of R&D for a controller is? I don't see any reason why people shouldn't be shocked by such a big number.
ShinMaruku
Member
People should not be shocked by that number from a company the size of microsoft. Unlike most marketing budgets this is probably well spent. From what I hear about the controller 100 million sounds about right. R&D ain't cheap.
100 million? Whaaattt?? Jesus I would kill for money like that...in the middle of some medical research now and it's damn near impossible to secure even 300,000-400,000 grant funding. The things one could do with 100 million!!! Man I bet you could bail out Detroit with this 
Looking forward to trying it when it comes to windows.
Looking forward to trying it when it comes to windows.
staticneuron
Member
I have. And personally when you use it, it doesn't feel like it is that much better than the 360' s controller. It isn't worse either, just solid without being remarkable.
Really? That's like $0.60 per transistor
The_Killah29
Banned
So they move the XBox dashboard button an inch and half and to change the d-pad into an actual d-pad instead of a wonky control stick?
Yeah, that was totally worth $100 mil.
Yeah, that was totally worth $100 mil.
God, at least try and troll better.
Or better yet, read about what went into the controller and everything they tried out. Speakers, touch screens, odor emitters, the lot.
Reminds me of the Skullgirls debacle.
You really don't see why people think is way too expensive to being made?
You are just trolling or truly blind.
The 360 controller sucks for fighting games, that alone does not make it the best.
Are YOU trolling?
What gamer serious about fighting games uses a controller? If you're not using a fight stick, you're not that interested in fighting games.
I'm not even into fighting games to,anywhere near the level I was in the 90's and I own 2 arcade sticks for my 360.
You should probably stop here. Some of the best players in the world at various games use pad.
You act like a product that will be on the market for the next ten years won't easily recover those costs. $100 million is a drop in the hat here to engineer something that will be comfortable and durable without having to redesign it in 5 years. The Xbox One project is easily a multi billion dollar investment and this is a small cost when compared to other things.
after playing around with it a bit... i LOVE the new sticks... the little ridges around the thumbstick makes it feel great (like a high end motorcycle grip or something) both this controller and the PS4 controller feel fantastic... and both feel better than previous controllers.
the clickyness of the d-pad feels similar to the Vitas dpad
the clickyness of the d-pad feels similar to the Vitas dpad
How do the new triggers feel?
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
If the dpad doesn't blow chode then it was all worth it, as far as I'm concerned.