Maybe Nintendo can exchange my orginal NES controllers for the NES advantage joystick, because their original controllers sucked and hurt my hands.

This whole thing is like the problems with the original US Saturn controller. Sega had complaints about it and eventually replaced it with the much better Japanese controller.

I don't doubt some people liked the original US Saturn controller, but overall people didn't and Sega replaced it in future bundles with the Japanese one.

Its the same thing with the Xbox. MS feels the majority prefers the S controller and so they are going with that one in the future.

Do I think MS should replace millions of original controllers at a huge expense? No, the original is not defective and I'm thankful for two options. If the option was available to exchange it for an S controller though I would take it.

The original is actually my favourite console controller ever (for reference I hate the DC, don't like the GC, like the PS2). I haven't even tried the S and doubt I'll bother. A lot of people seem to like the original also. I think the results in the poll had something like a 1/3 of responses preferring the original over S which is pretty high considering the S controller is meant to improve on and fix the flaws in the original.

As for saying that MS didn't do adequate research when designing the original controller, well I think you'd have to be crazy to think that .

I agree it would have been nice if the 2 had been available at launch, choice is always good!

Chris

Well, if the polls are accurate then I would say that picking the controller that only 1/3 of the people prefer is pretty boneheaded. I read all these interviews last year about how they did all this research on what gamers want, and about the only concrete thing they mentioned was the length of the cord.

You know people who actually OWNED the Xbox were never very vocal. The ones who don't own the Xbox are the ones who always bitch about the controller. Just an observation. Maybe once you get used to it, people like it more?

GP, anybody can get used to any controller. I hated the Dreamcast controller, but I got used to it.

The point is you shouldn't have to get used to a controller, other than taking a little while to memorize where all the buttons are.

I think controller preference comes down to 3 things.

1. Hand size. People with smaller hands are less likely to like the original x-box controller, and those with large hands are less likely to like the GC or PS2 controllers.

2. Fanboyism. People that hate a system will be more likely to bash it's controller just for the sport of it.

3. The way the grip the controller. Responses in my thread were starting to support my observation, and from the post above it looks like MS found the same thing when making the type s. This is probably the most common thing as most gamers probably have average sized hands (as most people do or they wouldn't be an average size ) and most gamers aren't fanboys.

Maybe Sony should have replaced their original controllers with dual shock analogs...

Not the same thing.

Those were new controllers meant to take advantage of new types of games. Granted you had to buy new controllers, but only if you wanted to play games that took advantage of the new features. The Genesis six button controller is along the same lines.

Sega changing the Genesis to a Six Button controller and Sony added analog are totally different things from the Saturn and Xbox changing the style of the controller. Nothing new was added to the S controller.

Nevertheless, just because the design has changed on these new controllers, doesn't mean everyone should get a free tradein. If there was something defective about them, like they give you carpal tunnel.. But that's not even the case here.

Why are you two arguing?

Why shouldn't we be arguing? Dude, you're in the video games forum... When in Rome.

No, I mean look at his previous post. You're on the same side, dude.

well 1/3 preferred the original, slightly more than 1/3 preferred the S, the rest didn't care. Hardly conclusive proof that the original controller suxs and the S controller is the best thing ever.



Chris

Welp, they lowered the price on the xbox after I paid $300 for it, and then they introduced the S controller.....but they don't owe me squat.....I knew what I was buying, when I bought it....hardware involves, they are free to do what they like.
I have two orginal controllers, I think i'll pick up an s controller soon to see how well it works.

You can expect my analyses to be correct if you don't give me all the facts, son.

Ok I started all this and I have to say, I am surprised by all the responses that this topic wasn’t started earlier. Anyways, I don’t want people to think we who own the x-box are whining about everything. I truly think the x-box was the best console I have ever bought. I have recently gotten a PS2 as a gift and have yet to sit down and play a game on it (been playing Robotech and LOTR on x-box). I bought the s-controller only after I finished Robotech and LOTR and I can say that the old controller still got the job done, however I really would have liked to have the new one while playing robotech as the black button was needed quite a bit for switching lock on. Anyways, my hands are average size but hey, we all have had a bed that is good for sleeping, but have at some point got a new mattress that we could literally die on. I am trying to say that I just for the shear sake of "I wonder what would it have been like if...." Microsoft offered some trade in value or sent a coupon to registered x-box owners to entice them to try the new controller. It seems that they listened to people who wanted a smaller controller and perhaps this would have been cool. I also agree that, yes Microsoft probably doesn’t owe us anything. But a good company business sense would, I would think, try to get people to try out their new products by offering something enticing to get them to buy it. Obviously they seem to think the s-controller is such a good upgrade that they will bundle it with the system. So that's just my opinion. I really didn’t want people to argue and bash anyone's beliefs. I just thought it would be cool to have a discussion over this. I have to admit in my years of being a DVD talk member, this is the only thread I have started that I think went two pages, and has the potential for 3

I love this forum!

-Brian

PS My 4 year old son has never complained about getting to play daddy's x-box with the huge controller. He even prefers it over the PS2 or the old PS1. Of course he is like a little Borg, he just assimilates everything! hehe

I have both types of controllers, and I like the larger one by far.

No... Microsoft doesn't owe anything. The original controller is fine. I like it better than the S-Controller. My favorite is the $20 Interact controller that came out recently - it's between the original and the S in size, and it fits the hand perfectly... it also has the same button layout as the original controller. It boils down to taste and personal preference. The fact that the Xbox has so many different controllers available for it that vary so much in size and feel is just another reason why the Xbox is so cool... if you don't like the original controller, for another 20 or 30 bucks you can get one that suits your needs better. Other consoles don't really have that.

All the PS2 controllers look the same except for one or two 3rd party controllers that just suck (IMO) and the GCN has a few more 3rd party controllers, but they all feel about the same even though they look a little different... the main difference between controllers for the other systems is color. Xbox has more of a 'something for everyone' approach to it. I personally have 6 controllers - one original, one Interact, one S-type (got the Japanese one before the S-Type was announced), one Madcatz with the rubber grips, one madcatz without the rubber grips, and one Pelican Trick controller (which is almost as small as the S-Type, but has the original button layout). There are almost a half dozen more different types of controllers out there. I have 6 controllers and 4 ports because I like 3 for myself depending on which game (the Pelican, the Interact and the original) and 3 for guests (the Madcatz are for my roommates and the S-Type was for my GF)... everyone likes the Interact so much, I might just get 2 more and sell the Madcatz ones. I'm surprised there aren't a dozen different types of PS2 controllers... if there are, I've never been able to find them.

I was going to avoid posting in this thread because there were so many Gamecube people and anti-Xbox people giving their 2 cents (like the original question meant "free chance to rip on MS or the Xbox's 'huge' controller" and they jumped on it), but I figured it's silly to avoid threads because certain people were posting in them... I'm not talking about anyone in particular and don't assume you know who I mean. Anyway... as a PC gamer mostly who's used to a mouse and keyboard, the original Xbox controller is the best design ever. I can understand why people who never stepped far outside a nintendo or Sony console might dislike it, but I think it helped attract alot of PC people to the console market. I doubt Halo would be so highly praised if it were as difficult to control as Half Life or Medal of Honor was for the PS2.

I disagree. Both the GCN and PS2 have a wide variety of 3rd party controllers varying in size and feel. While I admit that I have only tryed 4 different types for PS2 and GCN, and 3 for xbox, they all were different in their own way in feel.

How many have you gotten to actually use? From reading your other posts I was under the impression that you didn't like playing console games on the other systems, so I would draw from that your experiance in trying 3rd part controllers is limited. Could be wrong.

In addition forgot not that the GCN has two types of controllers available two. The wavebird may not have a different button layout, but does provide a larger area in the back for super large hands.

Well... I have spent more time holding a PS1 and PS2 controller than any Xbox controller. I still don't like it much. I've only seen one other type of PS2 controller in stores and in fact I bought it as a gift for my roommate. It turned out to be a piece of crap... but that's Interact's fault (or whoever made it)... The only other variations of PS2 controller I've seen are different colors and clear plastic. The shapes are all exactly the same.

I haven't researched it thoroughly though, I just went to Best Buy and Circuit City and Toys R Us and CompUSA one day looking for different PS2 controllers. I only saw the regular dualshock kind (in various colors) and the funky looking one (which sucks as it turns out).

As for GCN - I spent plenty of time on it when my roommate came back from New Hampshire with it, but he took it back to his room one day and it has sat there ever since collecting dust and he's been hoarding my Xbox all day playing Outlaw Golf. My other roommate (the one who owns the PS2) has also been hoarding my Xbox beating all my racing games. I hardly get to play it lately. Past few days I've been either watching him play Final Fantasy 10 or 11 or whatever number the newest one was on his PS2 or I've been playing NOLF2, Longest Journey, Mafia, Battlefield 1942, etc etc on my PC.

As for the GCN controllers - I got to see a bunch of different ones at E3 and they all felt more or less the same to me. I even asked a few months ago if there was a larger GCN controller available. The wireless one seems to be the only candidate.

I mean - my whole point I guess is that there are nearly a dozen different types of controllers for the Xbox - and they are all different shapes and button layouts to suit different tastes, not just different colors. That's just really cool I think. The fact that people still complain about the original controller that's bundled with the machine (especially since there's awesome controllers available for 20 bucks) just boggles the mind - especially since most of the people complaining don't even own an Xbox.

The wavebird is under serious consideration here now - especially since the GCN controller cable is so short... maybe I'll get it for my roommate for a Christmas gift or something. We still have to finish Resident Evil... I really would like to, but it's not likely since Vice City is coming in a few short weeks. Thanks for the suggestion on the controller anyway.

You may think you've read that I don't like playing games on other consoles besides the Xbox - but that's hardly true. The only reason I'm a little more vocal about the Xbox is because 1. - it's the system that I own and 2. - everyone bags on it like it's a piece of crap and I feel the need to defend it for some reason. I think all 3 systems are great for different reasons - even the GCN, but I have my preferences just like everyone else. Sheesh - I'm no fanboy - if anything, I'm PC Gaming's bi***.

By the way - I don't have super-large hands... I can just barely palm a basketball. It's just the way I hold controllers, the smaller ones make my fingers cramp - Dreamcast is the worst followed by GCN.

There is no way possible to get a feel for a controller by holding it in the store. You actually have to spend some time with it. (that is for the fanboys that just want to gripe)

I think the worst controller of the past few years was the dreamcast. Not ergonomic in any way, shape or form. It's best Sega bowed out and let the DC die, if they stayed in a couple more years they would have some carpal tunnel cases on their hands.(pun intended)

I never liked the PS controllers either. Analogs too close.

X-box 1 feels okay, but I agree with someone above that mostly it is the button layout that blows. Everyone talks about that this is the joystick for people with large hands. BS. Hitting two buttons is a common occurrance, ESPECIALLY with large hands. They are too small, too close together, and shaped oddly. Except for the B/W buttons, those might as well have been placed on a seperate controller they are so far away.

X-box S, much better except for the menu buttons. They can't just put them in the middle, they have to have some cheesy logo plastered there. As if you are going to forget what system you are using.

GC - Almost heaven- Ergonomically speaking, it fits like a glove. If you sit and play with it you forget you are even holding a joystick. Truly amazing. Almost hell- The buttons. The Z button is the worst thing ever. Jellybean buttons? Huh?!?

And as far as a trade in on the X-box S... A rebate would have been nice. Or simply put not charge F'n $40 for a friggin piece of plastic with some buttons. This thread would never have come about if their Micro$oft's controllers were priced at $20 like GC and PS2.

And to turn away the fanboys, I own a DC, GC, and XB.

I totally agree on the DC controller. I liked the button layout, but the shape of the controller sucked. It made you hold your wrists at weird angles. I'm kind of glad I hardly play the DC anymore.

Didn't they drop the price to $30 a couple months ago?

Great post.

I LOVE the original controllers.