Wii U Pro Controller announced - X360pad design, no screen, "for multiplatform games"

The 360 buttons are positioned at the natural resting place of your thumb.

Those buttons are the functional buttons aka "kill this motherfucker in front of me" buttons.
Not the "move the camera" stick.

It has no bearing on things you want near you in the heat of the moment.

Umm wouldnt that tend to be the triggers that are used to shoot?
 
Why would Nintendo want devs to utilize the Wiimote for WiiU games? I don't recall Nintendo including a Gamecube controller with the Wii.

The Gamecube controller didn't define the console, the Wiimote on the other hand is the essential component of what made the Wii, well the Wii. If Nintendo intended to focus entirely on the pad they would have abandoned the Wii brand and named the console something completely different.
 
There are probably some third party developers who threatened not to release their games without a proper controller, so I'm assuming Nintendo went out of their way and created this based on their suggestions. My point is, if Nintendo hadn't created this, we probably wouldn't have seen those third party games on the console. More third party support = better for gamers.
I think it's more likely 3rd parties pressured how it'd LOOK, but logically if 4 tablet controllers are too much then you're going to need to make a screenless version to get 4 players. Sure, there's the Classic Controller, but that's dependent on the Wii Remote and fails to have some of the same non-tablet features.
 
But again I have to add "why would I buy the wii u version if I already have the 360 or Ps3?" and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way and if we don't buy the wii u versions then third party support can start diminishing until history repeats itself, like the Wii. This is all hypothetical of course.

That's a problem I'm dealing with at the moment. If Nintendo does not show first-party and exclusive third party content that I'm interested in then I'll probably buy all multiplats on my 360 or PS3 and hold off buying a Wii U for a while.

If I end up buying a Wii U for great exclusive content then I'll probably end up buying multiplats on the Wii U as well (as long as their online is at least as good as XBL).

I think it's more likely 3rd parties pressured how it'd LOOK, but logically if 4 tablet controllers are too much then you're going to need to make a screenless version to get 4 players. Sure, there's the Classic Controller, but that's dependent on the Wii Remote and fails to have some of the same non-tablet features.

I don't think four tablets are possible on the Wii U from my understanding. It seems as if they were struggling to get two tablets working, so this Pro Controller is a must for offline multiplayer games because we know that 3rd parties are not going to use wiimotes. Also the classic controller doesn't have analog sticks or triggers, so it probably won't be compatible with a lot of upcoming third party games.
 
The Pro Controller looks really uncomfortable. As I'm sure people have already said, reaching Y and B seems awkward, and I can foresee many a hand cramp playing shooters with the right analog stick so close to the trigger. I hope this isn't the case. Was there a reason to abandon the design from the current CC Pro?
 
I'm sure it's been brought up but I'm not mad at the design, I just hate having to buy another controller that should come packaged in. Unless it does come with the system. I like the design.
 
So what do you guys think the face button mapping will be like? I mean, you think the 360 and PS3 version of Call of Duty will have the jump action on the "X" and "A" (bottom face button) while having it on the "X" button on the Wii U controller (top face button)?
 
Create a market that would support the type of audience that play Call of Duty.

Some ideas

1. Create a separate brand for edgier titles
2. Have Retro or some studio at Nintendo create one of these types of titles
3. Buy some exclusives/timed exclusives

Honestly though, if they can recapture the casual market where it is(f2p, social games, mobile) then it doesn't need these types of consumers. I suggest they try for both though.

In some ways they've already done #1: CERO C (15+) titles and up use a black game case to denote that it's a game intended for mature audiences. I'm surprised that to this day NoA hasn't adopted the approach, as it couldn't be too much of a cost-savings to use two different types of cases, but it makes it readily apparent to the consumer that they're looking at a E-for-everyone game or a 'core' game.
 
So what do you guys think the face buttons will be like? I mean, you think the 360 and PS3 version of Call of Duty will have the jump action in the "X" and "A" (bottom face button) while having it on top on the Wii U controller (X button)?

Doesnt matter so long as the games support remapping the button layout.
 
Pretty nice. One of my concerns about the WiiU is the tablet looks awfully uncomfortable to hold. I actually hope that a fair number of games allow this as an option as it definitely looks more holdable.

It also looks like this might of been designed with multiplayer in mind. Given that it would be potentially easier to make four player games using for "pro controllers" as opposed to one tablet and three wiimotes.
 
The 360 buttons are positioned at the natural resting place of your thumb.

Those buttons are the functional buttons aka "kill this motherfucker in front of me" buttons.
Not the "move the camera" stick.

It has no bearing on things you want near you in the heat of the moment.

Every shooter I've played in the past five or so years has put the shoot button on the trigger. It makes more sense to put the stick you aim your gun with at your thumb's natural resting place because aiming is more important than reloading or crouching. If you were talking about an action game or something, then I would agree.
 
Is it just me or am I the only one that thinks that the two "trigger" buttons aren't like 360 triggers, but are more inline with dualshock 2 shoulder buttons?
 
I honestly think the classic controller is the worst controller nintendo has ever made. You can tell it's something they threw together last minute. It's too small and awkward.

That being said, I am kind of surprised to see Nintendo actually copying the competition. It is smart of them though. I wonder what lazy developer excuses will be now?

It's shaped like the SNES controller, nothing wrong with that. I don't know why they just don't release an exact replica for sale, along with other old controllers.
 
Dual Shock being around for 3 generations now...kinda feels right. No complaints here about it honestly.

EDIT: It would be cool if the triggers were like Gamecube triggers.
 
Pretty much this.

I can't really blame Nintendo though since Microsoft's controller design is one of the best we've seen in several generations.

If anything, third parties are probably the ones who ended up designing the controller for Nintendo. IIRC Capcom designed the Classic Controller Pro (or at least suggested the design).
 
No.

That's pretty much a surefire way to have a tepid product.
Right now they're chasing Apple's dollar instead of being "unique" like Iwata claims they are.

You need to build your base and then expand upon it. BrainAge and Wii Sports were nice novelties that caught on but those are unsustainable business models.

Nintendo needs to adapt or die, IMO.

Are you saying they shouldn't go after both or that they should do one or the other?

The casual market isn't unsustainable. Apple stole those types of consumers by creating new better products. Social game developers stole some of those users as well.

I just don't see why Nintendo can't court both traditional games as well as social/mobile/f2p. Having a system like that would be unique outside of maybe the PC.
 
I honestly don't get the worry this is causing. You are regularly moving your thumb from stick to buttons, right? Up/down/up/down.

The only difference here is they swapped the layout. It's like having a light switch where "on" is up, but you're used to it being down! It still works the same, you're still using buttons, using the stick, swapping between, up/down/up/down. What's the deal?
 
Basically this. It's like asking every gamer to relearn where the right stick is.

I don't get what the big deal is with this. Left stick is in different positions for 360 and PS3 controllers and I have 0 problem going between those.

I don't see why all of the sudden people think it's going to be insane and ridiculous to do it with the right stick.

Nerds just bein' afraid of change.
 
But again I have to add "why would I buy the wii u version if I already have the 360 or Ps3?" and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way and if we don't buy the wii u versions then third party support can start diminishing until history repeats itself, and become a Wii. This is all hypothetical of course.

I do understand your point though.

What do you want Nintendo to do? If you force third-party developers to add unique U-pad controls, they'll just whine and not port the game. If you don't, the game itself no longer has any features unique to the system. There is nothing Nintendo can do short of bribing developers, and even that only has limited value.
 
To be honest I know I'll be buying at least one of these controllers, for local multiplayer, and I guess it's a good thing for third party support, but it worries me that they had to go down this road, it means third party developers are not too happy with the wii u pad idea.

Well, specifically for multi-platform releases, it probably came down to the tablet controller being an "extra" thing that they would have to provide content, or at least design some kind of use, for. It's much easier to release multi-plat games when you can maintain a similar control scheme across all platforms, and not have to tack extras on to one of the three.
 
This. The big selling point of the WiiU is the pad controller. Now it isn't, and yet it is. Make unique things, Iwata says, but here's a generic 360 pad clone. Provide new things, but here's something that it isn't. WiiU is all about the pad, except it's not because here's a 360 controller.

Mixed signals. Mixed signals everywhere. Muddies up their message and I'm left thinking like they're just throwing everything at the wall and sees what sticks instead of being confident in their concept. The U pad with all the buttons of a standard controller is more than enough. I have no clue what compelled Nintendo to go and make a controller that basically said "it's OK, third parties, you can make generic games and completely ignore the whole point of the console".

smh

So what? If I have multiple people playing, I don't want them to be forced to use the Wiimotes. Thank god for the actual controller. The Wii was terrible.
 
The Gamecube controller didn't define the console, the Wiimote on the other hand is the essential component of what made the Wii, well the Wii. If Nintendo intended to focus entirely on the pad they would have abandoned the Wii brand and named the console something completely different.

They have this new half DS as a controller that is so expensive that they wouldn't dream of asking people to buy 3 more of them and you think they want third party developers to make games for the Wiimote?

I don't think so.

The two important controller are the Upad and this new Classic Controller Pro. If they include another controller besides the Upad, it will be the new CCP.
 
Don't see the xbox360 design.

Classic controller 2.0

I would buy a cheaper wiiu if it came with this controller over the tablet. But it would have to be way more powerful than ps360 to buy multi platform games.
 
Every shooter I've played in the past five or so years has put the shoot button on the trigger. It makes more sense to put the stick you aim your gun with at your thumb's natural resting place because aiming is more important than reloading or crouching. If you were talking about an action game or something, then I would agree.

Not to mention the analog nub can be pushed for oh-shit actions like duck/melee.
 
Doesnt matter so long as the games support remapping the button layout.

I've never understood why most (all?) games on consoles don't allow me to remap the button layout completely.

But what I mean is, usually the X and A button on the 360 and PS3 is used for actions that require quick reflexes, in shooters it's usually the jump button. In these same consoles the triangle and Y button is mapped to actions that usually don't require fast reflexes (like changing weapons). Since the wii u buttons are on the bottom, wouldn't it be best to put these "fast reflex" button to the closest button on the analog stick? meaning the "X" on the Wii U pad.
 
They should have marketed this just for local multiplayer games but I still want my exclusive touchscreen features in single player games.

And you will.

Say the guys who will choose not to use the touchscreen were forced to do so. Do you really think their touchscreen implementation would be anything worth noting?
 
nice. this will be much better to play smash bros wii u on rather than the tablet controller. i wonder if the wii u pro controller will be backwards compatible with wii games?
 
IMO this standard controller is already an admission that their tablet controller has shortcomings. It's too heavy? It's awkward to hold for long periods?

Then, similarly to the classic controller for Wii, they go and throw in some baffling design choices with the buttons below the right analog stick. Who thought that was a good idea? Oh well, guess they can release a "pro" version a year after launch to fix the obvious mistakes of the first iteration. :/
 
They have this new half DS as a controller that is so expensive that they wouldn't dream of asking people to buy 3 more of them and you think they want third party developers to make games for the Wiimote?

I don't think so.

The two important controller are the Upad and this new Classic Controller Pro. If they include another controller besides the Upad, it will be the new CCP.

What does the Upad's expense have to do with providing developers with options? Nintendo probably doesn't give a damn what controller they choose to support so long as they publish what they make on their platform. Also, including another CCP in the box would be superfluous, it won't happen.
 
IMO this standard controller is already kind of an admission that their tablet controller has shortcomings.

In the sense that they share the same buttons and sticks, because they're both standard controllers?

In the sense that the Wii U pad can only do 2 with screen transmission per console, so they've supplemented 3 and 4 with a screen-free version?

smh gaf
 
Well, specifically for multi-platform releases, it probably came down to the tablet controller being an "extra" thing that they would have to provide content, or at least design some kind of use, for. It's much easier to release multi-plat games when you can maintain a similar control scheme across all platforms, and not have to tack extras on to one of the three.

This is what I don't understand though. They don't have to do anything with it gameplay wise. If they don't want to use 30 minutes to put a simple menu on it, just put some concept art there or something. Hell, just put the name of the game there. They don't have to do anything with it.
 
IMO this standard controller is already an admission that their tablet controller has shortcomings.

Then, similarly to the classic controller for Wii, they go and throw in some baffling design choices with the buttons below the right analog stick. Who thought that was a good idea? Oh well, guess they can release a "pro" version a year after launch to fix the obvious mistakes of the first iteration. :/

Wait until you try the controller.

The standard controller is at the very least, an alternative to buying a whole bunch of GamePads, which are probably understandably more expensive.
 
Except the Wii U will only support two of the tablet controllers, which really limits multi-player options.

This controller address that issue.

Yeah I don't think people realize that this is going to be more for multiplayer purposes than anything. It's necessary when you think about it because not all games are going to be able to support the Wii remote as a control option and you're not going to want to buy 4 Gamepads even if they were supported.
 
IMO this standard controller is already an admission that their tablet controller has shortcomings.

Well yes, similar to how Kinect was an admission that the 360 controller had shortcomings and Move was an admission that the DS3 had shortcomings. What kinda of idiot thinks that there's one controller to rule them all?
 
Of course the C stick counts as a second analog and I had no problem using the camera controls on the Gamecube. I never played any FPS games on the Gamecube but that's irrelevant, the sticks were positioned where they were positioned. Whether you liked the C stick or not isn't the point.

I already said camera controls worked fine. Anything that only needed 4/8 way precision worked fine, and the stick was functional as a replacement for the N64's C buttons. My point was that it was terrible for anything that took advantage of analog precision, like movement or aiming, and because of that the dual analog set-up was basically non-existent on the GC. It was technically an analog input but it sure as hell couldn't be used interchangeably with any contemporary stick. The GC controller was effectively used as a single analog controller, camera control aside, and if it was a dpad instead it would have hardly made a difference.

On other consoles it was common for games to use both sticks simultaneously during regular gameplay. The C stick was never used like that, aside from a handful of vain attempts (all optional methods, afaik). My personal feelings aren't relevant, but there's a damn good reason those control methods never caught on. Actually try using it to aim and you'll see why.
 
What's the chance this'll be packed in with every Wii U? If so, any splintering issues are null & void.

About 10%, I would guess. I wouldn't hold my breath, as it's the same thing as the Wii U, but without the screen and other features. They will put a Wiimote in before this if anything.
 
Top Bottom