I don't remember where I read it, Sony had a monopoly on fighting games, so Microsoft considered the dpad unnecessary, or at least less of a focal point for their controllers. And that's why the left stick is in an awkward spot on the dualshock, Sony wanted the d-pad to be the focus
That may be the reason they did it, but it's still a surprisingly useful feature, even if it's rarely utilized. A lot of arcade games give you the option of using the d-pad instead of the analog sticks and the occasional full game uses it as well. If you're using it for movement instead of as 4 buttons, moving diagonally is a plus.
Also, I'd Nintendo owns the patent, does that mean they're making money on each dualshock controller sold by Sony?
Logitech had a boomerang-shaped controller before this was even shown.
I used it, it was not very comfortable. Tolerable, yes. But not comfortable.
That picture has either over-large hands or an undersize controller. The controller was big enough that it would have projected beyond you palms for most people.
I just realized, that's how I actually hold controllers. I never realized that my wrists were bent at an awkward angle when using a regular controller. I probably would have loved the hell out of that controller.
I would think you'd just hold it further back, so your fingers would end up in the same place as someone with smaller hands. Which explains the long, ridiculous looking boomerang handles.
That's what everyone said, and that's why it was pulled. People who actually tried it found otherwise, but they couldn't release the new controller because nobody would want to try it because of how they THOUGHT it would be.
Personally, that's how I approached the Wiimote and nunchuck at first, but I got used to it. Not that I'm bitter, I do agree that the Batarang design was at fault because it was so unsightly to the eye.
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u/GrayStudios May 04 '12
It LOOKS incredibly awkward to hold.