Forbes: "Why the most talked about console may not be the winner"

[Doppel]

All of this is true. Hori makes the best classic gamepads of all time, and NES/SNES are super close to that level of quality. Exposed diagonals = nightmare for precision play. Good for slop, but terribad for anything where you care about pressing exactly the right direction OR diagonal at all times.

Too see Microsoft 'get' this is awesome.

Yes! That must be the problem more than making it from a single piece of plastic.

 

[TreVader]

I'm lost when you guys talk about the D-Pad and it being anything but something i use rarely and even then for only a couple odd functions.


But I guess I'm not into fighting games.


Anyway I really wonder if MS is going to try to make an OS that somehow utilizes the hardware better. I WANT to love the XB1 but it keeps giving me reasons not to. I'm gonna wait until I can use the DS4 controllers. If they are good for FPS then I'll prob get a PS4 *sigh*

 

[American Gunner]

Anyway I really wonder if MS is going to try to make an OS that somehow utilizes the hardware better. I WANT to love the XB1 but it keeps giving me reasons not to. I'm gonna wait until I can use the DS4 controllers. If they are good for FPS then I'll prob get a PS4 *sigh*

I played a lot of shooters, and only on Xbox due to the controllers. I went and picked up a ds4 for my ps3 and played some shooters on it over the last week, and it is really good. Still took a bit to get used to the sticks not being offset, but they are way more precise and the triggers are awesome for shooter. Just my two cents.

 

[MrCoyote]

DS4 does not work on PS3. Lol. I think you meant DS3 on PS3.

 

[American Gunner]

DS4 does not work on PS3. Lol. I think you meant DS3 on PS3.

You might want to get your facts straight. It works just fine as long as it is plugged in, it can't run wireless.

 

[cmdrdredd]

DS4 does not work on PS3. Lol. I think you meant DS3 on PS3.

No, it does work in some capacity.

I held the XB1 controller today side by side with the DS4 and I did not really like it as much. The analog sticks are small, it doesn't feel really solid, it has a weird clicky feel to the LB and RB, it kind of has a wider stance in the hands, and is not rounded off in the handles as much. Obviously I'll get used to it once I get my XB1 system, but I do prefer the DS4 on initial feel. My friend commented that he thinks the XB1 controller will see a redesign over time. I don't know. It's very easy to get used to controllers for me.

 

[GoSharks]

The DS4 triggers are horribly mushy compared to the 360.

 

[HeXen]

Once games moved into 3D the analog stick was born from necessity. It was no longer acceptable to have an on or off button for movement. The only place where a D-Pad is significant is fighting games. Microsoft is pushing Killer Instinct and being a fighting game you have 3 choices. Use a fight stick of some type which is ideal, use the analog which IMO is last resort, or use the dpad which should be ok. However what I am hearing is the D-Pad on the XB1 is less than ideal for fighters. It's better than the 360 but doesn't seem to be what is needed. Most games today don't use the dpad at all, or only as you mentioned for secondary actions.

Seems all the PC gamers find it perfectly acceptable with their preference of KB's over analogue.
However I never found the Dpad of any console controller to hinder me at fighting games or cause me some inability to do combo's. I built my own arcade using pro sticks and the fighting games don't seem to be any different other than my lack of getting used to them so I don't really follow what this science of Dpads is or what exactly the handicap is for everyone.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The DS4 triggers are horribly mushy compared to the 360.

Actually it's quite the opposite. The DS4 has heavier springs and there is a solid stop at the end. The DS3, as in the PS3 controller has mushy triggers with no noticeable stopping point. At the end of the arc they push in more. The new DS4 or PS4 controller is not at all the same.

 

[American Gunner]

Yeah I'm not feeling "mushy" triggers at all, which surprised me.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Seems all the PC gamers find it perfectly acceptable with their preference of KB's over analogue.
However I never found the Dpad of any console controller to hinder me at fighting games or cause me some inability to do combo's. I built my own arcade using pro sticks and the fighting games don't seem to be any different other than my lack of getting used to them so I don't really follow what this science of Dpads is or what exactly the handicap is for everyone.

Keyboard movement for tank walking FPS games is fine when you use the mouse to aim the crosshair. For 3D platform and action games the keyboard is terrible to put it mildly.

 

[Doppel]

Seems all the PC gamers find it perfectly acceptable with their preference of KB's over analogue.
However I never found the Dpad of any console controller to hinder me at fighting games or cause me some inability to do combo's. I built my own arcade using pro sticks and the fighting games don't seem to be any different other than my lack of getting used to them so I don't really follow what this science of Dpads is or what exactly the handicap is for everyone.

PC games don't use digital movement where it counts most, which is aiming. I remember playing need for speed on a keyboard. It kind of sucks in retrospect!

I know a guy who's a hardcore gamer--though I suspect not a hardcore FPSer based on this: He uses an xbox controller when playing games like CoD on the PC. Although he acknowledges the inferiority of that controller for aiming, over a mouse, he finds the movement much better. Mouse + keyboard is still better, but a keyboard is still not an ideal solution to movement.

 

[GoSharks]

Actually it's quite the opposite. The DS4 has heavier springs and there is a solid stop at the end. The DS3, as in the PS3 controller has mushy triggers with no noticeable stopping point. At the end of the arc they push in more. The new DS4 or PS4 controller is not at all the same.

The DS3 was horrible. I didn't find that the DS4 triggers that I tried at Fry's were much better in terms of feel when you depress them, and based on that I still prefer the 360 triggers.