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Gameplay or graphics? Presentation or content?
These factors are nothing without good use of the controller available. Button configuration is vitally important in making games fun.
For instance look at the N64 pad. On a game that uses the 3D stick, you cannot easily use the L button, so to have it set to a vital function would be stupidity!
When performing actions they have to become like second nature to you, with you being able to perform one thing after another, without accidently pressing the wrong one.
I noticed that between ISS64 and ISS2000 they've changed one of the tackle buttons from A, to B. Now I always press the wrong button, and wonder why my guy is just standing there! Things like this can become rather annoying.
Another little annoyance was the control method for RE2 on the N64. When I press left, I want to move left, not turn left. I'm a human character, not a car for Christs sake! Luckily, I discovered that you could change the control method so pressing left, turned and moved you left, pressing back turns you around and walks in that direction. However, having to mess around with the dodgy control beforehand, put me off the game a great deal.
The way you hold the pad, and where your fingers lie has to feel natural. On an N64 pad it's difficult to use A, B and Rat the same time. When would you ever need to though, you may ask. Well I'll tell you. In Diddy Kong Racing either A or B accelerates, the other breaks. R skids. Pressing skid and break at the same time makes you turn tightly. You then want to keep pressing accelearate to keep going. It just doesn't feel that comfortable to hold the pad the way I have to to perform this move!
A game can be graphically amazing, and the concept can be original and, in theory highly playable, but if it's awkward to control, with the many buttons on the pad performing different functions, but you always press the wrong one, then gamers won't like it, and won't play it! There has to be some natural flow through the buttons, so you're not going to discolate your finger to jump over a wall, or sprain your wrist to draw another weapon whilst running along!
These factors are nothing without good use of the controller available. Button configuration is vitally important in making games fun.
For instance look at the N64 pad. On a game that uses the 3D stick, you cannot easily use the L button, so to have it set to a vital function would be stupidity!
When performing actions they have to become like second nature to you, with you being able to perform one thing after another, without accidently pressing the wrong one.
I noticed that between ISS64 and ISS2000 they've changed one of the tackle buttons from A, to B. Now I always press the wrong button, and wonder why my guy is just standing there! Things like this can become rather annoying.
Another little annoyance was the control method for RE2 on the N64. When I press left, I want to move left, not turn left. I'm a human character, not a car for Christs sake! Luckily, I discovered that you could change the control method so pressing left, turned and moved you left, pressing back turns you around and walks in that direction. However, having to mess around with the dodgy control beforehand, put me off the game a great deal.
The way you hold the pad, and where your fingers lie has to feel natural. On an N64 pad it's difficult to use A, B and Rat the same time. When would you ever need to though, you may ask. Well I'll tell you. In Diddy Kong Racing either A or B accelerates, the other breaks. R skids. Pressing skid and break at the same time makes you turn tightly. You then want to keep pressing accelearate to keep going. It just doesn't feel that comfortable to hold the pad the way I have to to perform this move!
A game can be graphically amazing, and the concept can be original and, in theory highly playable, but if it's awkward to control, with the many buttons on the pad performing different functions, but you always press the wrong one, then gamers won't like it, and won't play it! There has to be some natural flow through the buttons, so you're not going to discolate your finger to jump over a wall, or sprain your wrist to draw another weapon whilst running along!
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No its not the case. I thought that there may not be enough room on the memory card to store button configs and save games for more than one game, but this obviously isnt the case.
> I dont have a PS.
I kinda figured that out. :-)
> ON N64 games like Goldeneye you have to select from some
> pre-set configs, on DC games you cant configure at all, not in the
> games ive got anyway.
Strange. Some PS games have presets, but many give you complete control over which functions are mapped to which buttons.
Have to say I'm genuinely surprised, as I'd assumed this was the case on all consoles.
I kinda figured that out. :-)
> ON N64 games like Goldeneye you have to select from some
> pre-set configs, on DC games you cant configure at all, not in the
> games ive got anyway.
Strange. Some PS games have presets, but many give you complete control over which functions are mapped to which buttons.
Have to say I'm genuinely surprised, as I'd assumed this was the case on all consoles.
Wòókiee Møn§†€R wrote:
> ?!?!
We've been configuring controls on PS games for years!
I dont have a PS.
ON N64 games like Goldeneye you have to select from some pre-set configs, on DC games you cant configure at all, not in the games ive got anyway.
> ?!?!
We've been configuring controls on PS games for years!
I dont have a PS.
ON N64 games like Goldeneye you have to select from some pre-set configs, on DC games you cant configure at all, not in the games ive got anyway.
?!?!
We've been configuring controls on PS games for years!
We've been configuring controls on PS games for years!
I would have thought that a games company like EA would do somthing like that.
I like games where I can configure my own controls, thats why i like PC games. Although now consoles will have hard drives they may be enought room so you can configure the controls for console games as well. That would be good!
I like games where I can configure my own controls, thats why i like PC games. Although now consoles will have hard drives they may be enought room so you can configure the controls for console games as well. That would be good!
Sounds like he's got extra long thumbs!
Another thing. In some games, recently Wayne Gretsky Hockey '98, I always press A instead of B. That's shoot instead of pass. Why can I just not get to grips with this?
I think it's some kind of familiarity thing, and some other similar game must use the buttons in the way I use them in this game.
For instance, say you'd just bought and played through Ocarina of Time. Then you go out and buy Majoras Mask. You can pick MM up straight away and really get into it, as you know what you're doing, but say they'd switched what the buttons did. Wouldn't that be frustrating!
I think all sports games on one format should follow a similar design, so in games like football and Ice Hockey, B should always be shoot. A should always pass. Things like that would be nice.
Another thing. In some games, recently Wayne Gretsky Hockey '98, I always press A instead of B. That's shoot instead of pass. Why can I just not get to grips with this?
I think it's some kind of familiarity thing, and some other similar game must use the buttons in the way I use them in this game.
For instance, say you'd just bought and played through Ocarina of Time. Then you go out and buy Majoras Mask. You can pick MM up straight away and really get into it, as you know what you're doing, but say they'd switched what the buttons did. Wouldn't that be frustrating!
I think all sports games on one format should follow a similar design, so in games like football and Ice Hockey, B should always be shoot. A should always pass. Things like that would be nice.
Ok, i know what you mean, ive sort of got into those habbits as well!
My mate holds the N64 pad by the 2 outside "prongs" and just reaches across with his thumb to use the analogue stick. Weird!!
My mate holds the N64 pad by the 2 outside "prongs" and just reaches across with his thumb to use the analogue stick. Weird!!
Yes, I know what you mean, but I think that I'm used to my funny way now!
Its just a suggestion, it seems to work for me...
I just hope i explained it properly enough.
I just hope i explained it properly enough.
I don't know. The thumb just seems to like to stick to the accelerator. I'm not sure if I could move it even if I wanted to....
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