Schloob1

Did a search and did not notice anyone posting about the below article on IGN
about the new Nintendo system's controller. In my opinion not a shock that they would be doing away with the directional pad, we all know how great the one on the Gamecube pad is. However, the big shock and very interseting to see what the controller will look like without and A or B button. Unless pictures leak, which they could, it looks like we will hopefully know more at E3.



http://cube.ign.com/articles/575/575714p1.html

PixyJunket

Possible to copy & paste the article? I can't see it from work.

Decker

Revolution Controller Breaks Tradition?
Japanese weekly reports next console controller does away with staple features.
By IGN Staff
December 23, 2004 - Earlier this week, the respected Japanese business magazine Shuukan Diamond reported in its 2005 Preview Edition that the Nintendo Revolution Controller will not feature a directional pad or A and B buttons.


If the news turns out to be true, Revolution would be the first Nintendo console to not feature a D-Pad and the A/B button combo. Nintendo has long said that it seeks to innovate with new control mechanisms, as evidenced by the inclusion of a touch screen on the Nintendo DS.
Given the focus of setting the A and B buttons on the GameCube controller apart from the now industry standard four-button layout, it will be interesting to see what new setup Nintendo is planning to bring to the table.

According to Shuukan Diamond, the wait will not be long. The magazine reports that Nintendo will debut GameCube's successor at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, May 2005.

None of the magazine's claims were substantiated by Nintendo, but given the publication's track record of accurate business reporting since 1913, we'd be surprised if Diamond's claims turned out to be false.

More soon.

Josh H

Can't wait to see what the controller is like. I'd like to see an analog stick and touch screen personally, as I really like the touch screen on the DS for things like aiming in FPS's. Anything that allows some new, innovative gameplay I'm all for as well.

spainlinx0

Some things you just need the D-pad for. I wish they would include just for quicker scrolling through menus and such. I always find it slow to use the analog sticks for that.

Draven

Considering that nearly every controller feature on the other consoles was originally a Nintendo innovation, I trust they will come up with something really cool here.

PixyJunket

Josh H

Bah, I never use a D-pad. It's only usefull in fighting games (and those are better with a Arcade Stick anyway) and 2D sidescrollers (which is a dead genre on home consoles) so I really don't see the need for it.

eton03

I remember Nintendo commenting on the current Gamecube controllers "Secret Feature" before it was released .... It ended up being the Z Buttons "Clicking" 2-stage trigger mechanism. Can't wait to find out what this will be...! There has been no real Controller "Upgrade" since Sonys Rumble Feature. "Hopefully" it will really be something.

Josh H

To be technical, Nintendo introduced the rumble with the Rumble Paks for the N64 controllers.

fujishig

What's the "secret feature" with the Z button? In all honesty, I hardly ever use that button...

JT_97Neon

So are we gonna have C and D buttons instead of A and B? ;-)

Draven

You beat me to it...

Outlaw

You must not play games on Gamecube then huh?

Josh H

He meant the L and R buttons and it was that they are analog, and then click when you press them all the way down, thus they're really four buttons as one can program the click to be a seperate function from just pushing a little.

jeffdsmith

We're gonna have a Revolution... yeah....

Centurion

The picture of the controller has already leaked out.
All the reports have been correct.
There is no directional pad and no 'A' or 'B' buttons.

Apparently the controller is also a wireless unit.

Here is the latest picture:
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Drexl

I really hope this is just a rumor, or that they will change their minds before the system is released. The Tony Hawk games and 2-D fighters control so much better with it. Some games use it for important functions, like giving orders to your wingmen in the Rogue Squadron games. Even if the gameplay doesn't require it, like Spainlinx0 said it's better for navigating through game menus than an analog stick.

Then again, this could just mean that instead of the traditional cross-shaped pad, we could be getting something similar to the broken-up directional controls on Sony's controllers. I wouldn't like that as much as the traditional pad, but at least that would be much better than nothing at all.

Michael Corvin

I always look forward to Nintendo's new controllers. They are always lightyears ahead of everyone else as well as more ergonomic.

I won't miss the D-pad. Good riddance.

Ralph Wiggum

This sure sounds like the end of 2D to me; I hope that isn't the case.

tek2k

whatever it looks like, i hope it is more comfortable than the gamecube controller. that thing is just a pain to hold

Outlaw

I'm always looking forward to Nintendo controllers as they are wonderfully designed, they are also the first one's to actually implement new innovations. i.e. the rumble pack (now standard on other systems), Analog stick (also now standard on other consoles). Now with the Gamecube they have implemented a wireless controller that works flawlessly. i'm interested to see what they have planned, though I would like a d-pad in case a new SF comes out. But to be honest, now that I think about it, I only use the D-pad on my gamecube in just a few games that use it like Metroid Prime 2. I don't use the d-pad at all on my PS2. But to be honest if the game is good enough I can deal with anything regardless of the controller.

Centurion

You can also add the placement of shoulder buttons on a controller to the list of innovations. However, I'm not 100% sure if Nintendo was the 1st to implement that (I think they were the 1st).

tanman

Yes they were the first to implement shoulder buttons. Virtually all controllers still utilize the same configuration of the original Famicon/NES controller. A directional device on the left and buttons on the right with navigational buttons in the middle.

For the next system I was hoping they would tweak the GCN controller as I love the feel of it. Just make the D controller larger and the C stick face pad larger and it would be perfect.

I personally would miss the D pad as I am particularly fond of it. I bought a Hori controller just because the D pad is easier to use.

lordzeppelin

All I can think of is the ORB 3d Controller that was out for the PC about 6 years ago...which actually wasn't too shabby once you got the hang of it. HEck I think I got mine packaged with "Forsaken" for like $20, and ended up selling it in 2000 for like $60...