2-Face
Registered User
Posted by TheEditor on 16/09/2008
Several weeks ago at the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany, a new 360 pad was unveiled.
Redesigned for a more functional D-pad, based on the survey results from a poll on this site, several referees and I have been testing this controller on different games for the last few weeks to see if the changes really make a substantial difference to the game playing experience, or whether this is much ado about nothing.
I've predominantly tested the pad using PES2008. Switching between the old style controller and this luminous green beauty you can tell there's a slight difference in the diagonal movement of the players. Whereas with the old style controller you were more or less restricted to running either up, down, left or right, using the new controller diagonal movement is much easier, and it works as the original controller should have really.
The position of the D-pad on the controller is still in an awkward place for prolonged use of the pad, and I found myself naturally gravitating towards the analogue stick after the ball had gone out of play.
Overall, I couldn't see any huge change with the new controller, but perhaps as Eurogamer say further down this article, for the full benefits of the redesign to be appreciated, games must first be released which take advantage of the extra movement.
oldboiler says:
On view there appears to be no difference in the new enhanced 360 controller compared to the previous 360 version other than its unique colour. When compared to the PS3 pad, the 360 controller has always been larger in its dimensions, weight, and general strength of build…..that remains the same.
Some gamers may argue that they prefer their controllers to be light and smaller in size, and this would be a valid point, however as both a PS3 and 360 owner I’ve always preferred something a bit more substantial and sturdy, a pad that’s slightly weighty and makes me feel like I’m actually in complete control of the game I’m playing.
With the PS3 pad you can’t help feeling that everything is a bit cramped together, the d-pad flushed close to the left analogue stick, both analogue sticks have always felt like they need a few extra centimetres between them, and perhaps as if they need to sit on a separate axis to each other. To this day I still accidentally flick more than one button by mistake on the PS3 controller, notably the back and trigger buttons.
With sufficient but not excessive room between each controlling part, that’s never been a problem with the 360 pad, and again that also remains the same. As such, to the dedicated 360 controller fan, the new pad continues to be a good medium for all gaming platforms and in particular the benchmark pad for first person shooters.
In terms of the d-pad, it still protrudes slightly higher on the new 360 controller compared to its Sony counterpart. Personally I prefer this as the d-pad retains its own separate part of the overall controller, and provides a mechanism for my thumbs to fit perfectly into the grove of the d-pad compared to just resting on the PS3’s d-pad.
The d-pad on the 360 also seems to have more movement and flexibility in the various different directions compared to the PS3 d-pad, which at times feels slightly rigid. Regularly I finish using the PS3 controller feeling tiredness in the joints of my thumbs, whereas within the 360 pad there is that extra bit of fluidity for the d-pad to move with the direction of your thumbs as opposed to wielded into a set position within the controller.
Overall the PS3 pad is what it is, extremely practical, a sleek light design and small in terms of your standard controller. It does however feel rather flimsy, and perhaps in need of a cosmetic update. Comparing it to Microsoft’s latest brand new 360 controller with its distinguished lime green colour is very difficult, and no doubt gamers will have their own unique uptake on its comparison.
My thoughts are that using the new 360 controller feels like turning up on a Sunday morning for the local amateur pub football team wearing your newly purchased sparkling luminous green boots for the very first time. A footballing master stroke, these boots are finally the missing piece in that jigsaw that overnight is literally going to transform you from a footballing buffoon into a footballing god …. and in a strange way the feeling is the same for this pad.
It’s the pad that finally makes you stand out from the hundreds of other gamers; you’re the one they’re looking at…..”Illuminous green pad! he must be good”. When taking it to my mates this week for our regular PES and beer session, knowing that the d-pad directional buttons had been enhanced, it felt like there was a little bit more substance involved when telling them “lads, this is my new 360 pad…… be prepared to witness something very special today”
Farrmark says:
Plus Points
Massive improvement in responsiveness.
Can finally place my crosses where I want them to go.
Dribbling and using the "drop shoulder" and BFF moves are much easier on the new D-Pad.
Makes PES2008 actually playable with the D-Pad.
Minus Points
Hideous Colour
Having to use my Black Play and Charge Kit
The game that's improved the most from the use of this pad has been StreetFighter on XBLA. I can actually Dragon Punch etc when I want to now, rather than always missing and getting whupped!!
Eurogamer have also reviewed the controller recently
If you ask us, whoever designed the Xbox 360 d-pad in the first place was having a bad day. Or perhaps they didn't realise what it was for. But after a couple of days testing, it's clear that the replacement will need software designed to take advantage of whatever magical advances live beneath its bright green exterior, because while it feels a bit different beneath your thumb, the physical change alone is insufficient to improve your average Xbox Live Arcade game. Although for some reason we do like the colour.
You can read their full thoughts and opinions here
The pad is scheduled for release in October.
Competition
PESFan has a pad to give away to one lucky user, so for a chance to win a pad before it hits the shops, describe in 50 words or less why you deserve to win the controller.
To enter, just reply in this thread. Entries close midnight Friday 26th September. The winner will be picked over that weekend.
Good Luck!
http://pesfan.com/news/?id=7339273
