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"Nintendo= Originality."

Nintendo certainly goes hand in hand with the word 'Innovation'. When they develop something, in particular Controllers for their system's, the world watches with interest and baited breath.

The first time Nintendo Perhaps caught the publics attention was with the Super Famicom Controller (Super Nes), being the first to use shoulder buttons.

With It's Y, B, X ,A Green , Red, Blue, Yellow layout. Not only was it colourful and a joy to look at then, but it was comfortable too.


In 1995, Nintendo released the only true 3-D system in the world: Virtual Boy. And with it came the Virtual Boy controller.
Perhaps what was striking then was Nintendo's use in including TWO D- pads on the controller, (digital) on the left side and right of the controller. What was also striking was for the first time ever, 'Prongs' where used a feature, to be picked up upon and used later on the Playstation.

But the 'Biggey' in terms of Controller releases had to have been the showing of the Nintendo 64 controller. Nintendo kept this baby under wraps for a good while, showing the console first because it was the final design. But not showing the controller for months after, in case of the usual copying back lash and stealing of Ideas.

The most unique feature of the Nintendo 64 is the controller itself. Which was first to introduce analog control, and was designed especially for the Game super Mario 64, a description of the buttons is below
C buttons: these buttons work in a group for changing camera angles and view in 3D games or work independently for other controls.
Control stick: Reacts to the slightest pressure or the quickest move. Designed especially for 3D games
A and B buttons: the primary buttons used for most games, larger size for increased player comfort
Z button: unique handle mounted button, allows players to use it like a trigger
L and R buttons: Special top mounted buttons for additional control

Perhaps the Gamecube controller is the ultimate evolution of the groundbreaking N64 Pad. With it's unique featues and playability looks, Nintendo is sure onto a winner.

However I haven't held the Gamecube controller so naturally I'm not going to give my opinion of it. But If reports are to go by, the Gamecube controller will be the greatest joypad EVER concieved from the illustrious headquarters of Kyoto and indeed, throughout the planet.

Let's sit back and watch as as Game Companies get beavering away at a controller in direct response to Nintendo's. The Results could be surprising or more than likely, not surprising at all (Dual Shock anyone?)

I think the PS2 controller is perfect. All the buttons are very easy to access quickly, and I've never had problems with it.

As for analog buttons, well that depends. For some games, it's useless, but for others it's well executed. GT3 onlyuses about 40% of the analog range, so it doesn't really work. Ridge 5, however, could use all 100% and it was sublime.

Poor game though...

Nintendo created the universe didn't they evilboris?

Ive held the controller, its sooooooo comfy , the coller buttons are alot wider that i thought and they wrap around the underside of you fingers, They move in about 1.5cm. Also they press stright down (unlike the DC triggers that curve in) they require less pressure thatn the DC triggers aswell. Both of the sticks are rubberised so no more sore thumbs. It was all great apart from one thing, the abcense of another z botten(there is one above the R butten) because your fingers are in different places I found that i counldt quite work out how to hold it, I wasnt sure whether I should use my index finger on the L button or the finger next to it. But it was still the comfiest controller i have ever held. Infact it put thes PS2 pad to shame. Anybody who says its a rip off of teh PS pad is soo wrong, Sony nicked the Snes layout added prongs (another nintendo first) and 2 more coller buttons .

Turbonutter wrote:
> No, they were just triggers. The Sony buttons are actually PRESSURE sensitive.

It's called analogue and is as old as the hills. The triggers on the DC are analogue and actually work - the PS2's analogue buttons are a joke as they have no travel.

There's been analogue control on the PC for years - it's not a technology Sega, Nintendo or Sony can claim to have "invented".

It's strange that you make a post about Nintendo's influence and innovation in game's control yet fail to mention their most lasting and influential development - teh D-Pad. First seen on the Game and Watch systems, now still standard on every console.

Controllers...what may at first look like the most uninteresting part of the console can quickly become the bullet that will kill or miss the console. A console needs a good controller, without this vital ingredient its just all going to go downhill. Who cares if you ave original games if you can't actually play them with any degree of control?

Take Metal Gear Solid for example. Great game, great controller which almost seems designed for it. With the Playstations pad control over Snake was sublime and you never felt that when you died it was the controller to blame. This is how it should be. Games that are good, deserve to have a controller for you to be able to control the game the exact way you would want to.

If MGS isn't a good enough example, what about Zelda? Great game, once again a great controller enabling it too be played with great ease. Take the C buttons......item select....great decision. Z to lock on? Another wonderful desicion on the part of the gamer. Its tings like this that allow the game to evolve into what the developers want it to be. They don't want you screaming at the screan saying "why on earth did I die"? They want you to be able to play the game with a sense of greta control over their character.

Mind you, without a good controller this is never going to be possible. I mean take for example a game with bad controls, you may blame the developers for taking a break and not properly tweaking the controls to suit their game, but have you ever thought that maybe its the actualy pads fault? I know I haven't but I am sure sometimes this is a problem. Sometimes I am sure that the developers have trouble getting the pad to control how they want it to.

NOw we come to the X-Box pad....one hell of an ugly pad, but looks aren't everthing, control is everything. But unfortunately I haven't been getting a good vibe from it. Reports of it being uncomfortable, too big and it being inpossible to rapidly tap buttons are just going to make designing a control system around it very difficult indeed. OKay it has a second Analogue stick, which will enable you to position the camera more than likely. But the camera should come second place to actually being able to move the heroine around the levels of the game.

On another note consoles and FPS tend to cause concern for me. Whilst Perfect Dark and Goldeneye have great control systems and across the console wall so does Timesplitters, Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament. But there is stil cause for concern. A pad is just never going to do the job of a USB keyboard and mouse. This is the ULTIMATE control system for a FPS, enabling you too look, jump and move all at the same time whilst still making sure you have complete control. A great achievement if you ask me. How are consoles going to compete with this? More 3rd party Keyboards and mouses I think.

Okay, the Dreamcast has the option for this control system, but really, honestly, how many of us play our Dreamcasts at a desk? Not many I bet. Now tis is a problem.....make consoles more office friendly and turn them into an essential part of the office or instead devise an even better control system, but one which is able to be controlled in your hands. Is this possible, to be honest I haven't got a clue, but we are just going to have to see.

VKTR

Well, I'd go for PS2 (obviously).

Depends what games you like, really.

With the PS2 and Gamecube you know what ya are getting. x-box could be dodgy cos its new and ting.

I'm undecided what console to buy next year.
PS2 with large back catalogue and guaranteed future.
The GameCube - guaranteed good games (probably), or
XBox - with new and fresh vibes.
Don't know yet.

The PS2 is indeed the funkiest DVD player on earth :-D

ALso dreamcast doesnt have a decent football or WReslting game.