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"You blind Ninty monkeys"

You think you're so smart with your nice new GameCubes. Happy with them are you? I know you are, you've told us enough times. Especially "Oooh, this controller is fantastic, it's much better than all the other controllers I've used".

Bollards.

Why can't you see it's exactly the same as the DualShock 2 but with less features? Let's run through this:

· D-pad - check
· Two analog sticks - check
· Four main buttons - check
· Shoulder buttons - check
· Rumble - nope
· Full analog on ALL buttons - nope
· 4 shoulder buttons - nope
· Analog sticks as sensitive as the DualShock 2 - nope
· Ability to drop for storeys and still work perfectly - nope

Excuse me if I'm wrong but surely if it's the SAME shape with the SAME layout but with less functions, that makes it worse? Oh no, sorry, I'm missing out the facts that it's purple and made by Nintendo, that automatically makes it far superior, I'm terribly sorry.

I dare any of you to prove to me that the GameCube controller is better than the DualShock 2 - and saying that "it's more comfortable" is a cop-out.

½pint wrote:
> I can only see the PS2 pad being comfortable for children with tiny
> hands, since if your hands are big its amazingly uncomfortable

See, this is what I see as nonsense. And before you jump down my throat, let me explain...

At 6' 3" and 17 stone, I am a big guy, with big hands (I'm talking 'pick up a football with one hand' big), and I most certainly do no find the DualShock uncomfortable.

Although I like the Gamecube controller, the grips are narrower than those of the PS2. Therefore, surely it follows logically that smaller hands would be marginally more comfortable with the GC controller?

And the Xbox controller. It's great for Halo, but cramp-inducing for me on DoA3. Switching the right thumb between the A/B/X/Y buttons and the left stick rapidly induced RSI and cramp in my right hand, so much so that I returned the game.

But this is just me, and cannot be applied to anyone else.

But what it comes down to is that none of us are right, and none of us are wrong. Some people with large hands like the Xbox controller, while others like the DualShock. Others with smaller hands have some preferring the Gamecube controller above all else, while others like the larger Xbox controller.

No two people are alike (if anyone mentions twins they'll get a kipperin'), and everyone has difference tastes. The very fact that everyones hands are slightly different and unique to them means that whatever company makes whatever shape of controller, someone will dislike it.

There *cannot be* a best over-all controller. At least, not until we discover organic technology that adjusts and moulds itself to the shape of each individual who holds it.

I believe that this discussion has a lot of bias in it. Owning all three machines, I've given what I consider to be an unbiased opinion. As have a few others. I'm primarily a Sony fan, true - but I've said that I do like the GC pad, and given the reasons why I just put DualShock marginally ahead - and those are genuine reasons, not just because Sony make it.

Others who own all three machines have drawn different conclusions, which I have no quarrel with.

But I can't help thinking, given some of the responses, that some people are saying that X is better than Y and Z simply because they like a particular manufacturer and must be seen to support them at all costs, regardless of what they *actually* think.

The true test:

Name 1 game that wouldn't work with the Duel Shock that works with the GC pad.......

I've already named 2 series of excellent games that will never work on the GC because of the pad - Tekken and SF2 (both because they need the d-pad to be accessible and generic buttons). There are more too...

Dringo, If you're not going to use the d-pad, then why is it there? To look good? You are saying yourself that it is useless? At least we agree that the D-Pad on the GC controller cannot be used to any effect.

The Duel Shock d-pad is very usable. For games that have distinct 2, 4, or 8-way directions instead of using analogue. e.g. SF2, mortal kombat, bust a move, ALL the rythmn games etc.
Trust me, I could name loads of good games that need access to the d-pad - it is still necessary in modern gaming. Not all games are going to benefit from analogue direction.

The thing is, that the left analogue stick on the duel shock IS useable in this lower position.

The buttons are not in a generic layout, so they will be excellent for some games, ok for others, and absolutely useless for others too. I refer back to my tekken and sf2 examples as games that wouldn't work with the GC pad.

in short - The GC pad is more limited than the Duel Shock.

Your Honour wrote:
> The Xbox pad is the most comfortable pad around, simple.
>
> Shame the rumble feature is so bloody noisy though...


I agree. It is the only pad that can be comfortable for people with big hands and small hands. I find it comfortable in that it is supported by all my hand - my entire palm, and all my fingers. The GameCube controller, to me, is the best, but thats only because it is just right for my hands.

I can only see the PS2 pad being comfortable for children with tiny hands, since if your hands are big its amazingly uncomfortable and mine, which are medium in size, its not strenuous to use, but it certainly isn't comfortable. Sure, I can handle extended playing sessions, but not in perfect comfort.

But the Xbox has the only pad which is likely to appeal to everybody, and unless your hands are the size of a newborn's meaning you can't wrap them round, it will fit fine. It also shows that meatiness doesn't mean crapness, and it results in a very varied 'comfort' zone. If you know what I mean.

I haven't seen such a topic as this that has attracted so much attention in the forums for ages.

Gamecube tomorrow!!!

Ha! The D-pad is in the corner as we don't use it anymore... well we shouldn't, the different sized buttons are vital for every game, accelaration in racing games, shooting in shoot 'em ups, jumping in platformers, there is a dominant button over them all and the meatiest, biggest button is the important one... hence the various sizes it works a treat especially with the clever cresent placements of two other buttons around the large A.

You Nintys know I speak the truth.

In my opinion, both the GC's D-pad, and the Duel Shock's left analogue stick are not ideally placed.
I feel the D-Pad is almost useless on the GC pad, at least the left stick on the PS2 is actually usable! Using the GC's D-Pad for a Street Fighter game (or any other)??? I don't think so.
I'm also finding it difficult to understand the significance of the different shaped/sized buttons on the GC pad. What's the point? It's basically just limiting the pad.
Imagine Streetfighter, or Tekken - the button placement is so bizarre that it would be impossible to map the high/low, weak/middle/strong combinations.
What if you, the user, wanted to change your button configuration to a more comfortable position? It's limiting you too.
Obviously, they are both comfortable pads. But surely a developer looking at the GC pad would immediatly think of the limitations mentioned above compared to the Duel Shock??
Only my opinion remember!

But what about gamers that like circle instead, like almost everyone from Japan? Or games where a dominant button is useless, like first person shooters, fighting games and flight sims?

I disagree with your D-pad comment, as I like the dual analogs where they are. They're symmetrical and just as comfy.

But even if I do conceed your point, whihc I probably won't, it's still one in so, so many.

Whitestripes wrote:
> I wasn't even alive in 1984, and I always envisioned an Atari as being
> like an Amiga...anyway, thank-you for correcting me and I promise not
> to post anymore stuff unless I know for certain it's true.

That's all I ask!