Rumor: Microsoft Tinkering With 360 D-Pad [UPDATED]

[Treblaine]

Wow, did Microsoft not wait AS LONG AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD HAVE!

5 years, long enough for pretty much everyone who planned to to buy a second or third gamepad, now they are selling the "real deal" for $65 only in the US for now... rest of the world in limbo for 6 months.

God, Microsoft is being annoying this week.

And he didn't even demonstrate the obvious thing of is it possible to give an up-input while pressing only the side direction of the D-pad. Why it wasn't demonstrated, maybe shame at their old controller... maybe because they STILL haven't fixed it.

But this could ALL be solved if Microsoft would simply open up the Xbox 360 to accept all peripherals without needing explicit consent of Microsoft.

 

[Space Spoons]

That's great and everything, I really dig the black-and-silver color scheme, but if you're a fighting game player hurting for a d-pad, save yourself some money and nab one of these:

Half the cost and, in my opinion, twice as effective.

$65 for a controller, honestly...

 

[bjj hero]

If you like fighting games you will already have bought a stick/pad for fighting. 4 face buttons is awful.

I supose its better for player 2 though.

[edit] ninja'd

That's great and everything, I really dig the black-and-silver color scheme, but if you're a fighting game player hurting for a d-pad, save yourself some money and nab one of these:

Half the cost and, in my opinion, twice as effective.

$65 for a controller, honestly...

Mine has Blanka on the face...

 

[METC]

The grayscale buttons are the deterrer for me; my dad can't play the 360 because he's yet to memorize the locations of the buttons by name, only color. Plus, he's colorblind, but I'm fairly certain the lack of color would still interfere.

 

[ultimateownage]

$65? No fucking way mate, just for less colour coding and a slightly better D pad. That's basically the same price has that Razer controller that was so good it got banned from a professional competition!

 

[teutonicman]

I still don't understand what people are having a problem with. The D-pad on the 360 controllers I've used has always been fine. What is so bad about it?

 

[FollowUp]

I never really play 2d fighters, but I have noticed that on some controllers the d-pad really annoys me.

 

[superbatranger]

Yea, I don't see myself forking over 60+ dollars just for a newer D-pad.

 

[Optimystic]

Why did they discolor the XBAY buttons?

They should just copy the Sony D-Pad, really.

L/R Triggers >>>>>> L2/R2, so no.

 

[Danzaivar]

Why did they discolor the XBAY buttons?

They should just copy the Sony D-Pad, really.

L/R Triggers >>>>>> L2/R2, so no.

I wasn't aware the D-Pad had any shoulder buttons on it.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/d%20pad/AgentBBJ/microsoft-xbox-360-wireless-control.jpg

 

[nYuknYuknYuk]

Wow the gray button colors look awful. Did people complain about the colored ones or something? What was wrong with them?

 

[DeASplode]

The problem I found with the 360 D-pad is not the shape or size of it, but more so the actual position of it.

 

[Vykrel]

the d-pad truly was crappy... its a pain in the ass trying to send messages to people if you dont have that thumbpad attachment.

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

Seriously? I've never heard anyone complain about the D-Pad.

You don't spend a lot of time on the Internet, do you? It's easily the number one complaint about the 360 controller. There are always going to be the people who disagree over whether asymmetric (360, GC) or symmetric analog sticks (PS) are better, but even the people who do stand up for the 360 controller often say that the d-pad could be better.

For the most part, I like the 360 controller a lot, but the d-pad is complete junk, as far as I'm concerned. I'd take Sony's d-pad design over it, and I hate Sony's d-pads. They hurt my thumb after 20 minutes and give me blisters after a couple hours, but at least they reliably agree with you on which direction you're pushing. The 360's is mushy and unpredictable for me. I really just want the one from the SNES back. Most of Nintendo's newer ones have been too small (although they otherwise work great...I have big thumbs, though), and no one else has consistently gotten it right since then, either.

I'm not buying some $65 transformer of a controller to replace the one I already have, though. All the extra moving parts are just going to make it break/wear out quicker. Wake me up when they make one exactly like the existing one for the same price that has a d-pad that doesn't suck that doesn't try to solve the problem by doing something silly.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

On one hand, I'm glad they're finally fixing it. On the other, this crap costs more than a game! Also, whose bright idea was it to turn everything gray? It sucks.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

I still don't understand what people are having a problem with. The D-pad on the 360 controllers I've used has always been fine. What is so bad about it?

Whether you notice the problem may depend on if you play fighting games. It tends to be imprecise at times and extended use can hurt your fingers. My brothers are fine, but that's because they don't play fighters often and use the joystick anyway when they do. If you don't play fighters, then you also never use the d-pad outside of special functions. Or maybe you personally have a really high tolerance for your d-pad or your fingers are just perfect for it or something.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I can't say I've ever had a problem with the D-pad. None of the games I play use it enough for it to become an issue. Nice to see that microsoft is improving on an already great peripheral design.

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

Anyone feel as if Micro$oft is starting to milk the pasture?

Revamped Controller $65

Xbox Live Gold $5+

Halo:Reach so everyone will forget....Priceless

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

Anyone feel as if Micro$oft is starting to milk the pasture?

Revamped Controller $65

Xbox Live Gold $5+

Halo:Reach so everyone will forget....Priceless

Now can I interest in you a $150 Kinect?

The design is aesthetically alright, although I like my colored buttons. I cannot really say about the D-Pad change with the twisting idea because it looks like it would be one of those things to try in an actual game. I can definitely see where there is room for it break and you're out a controller. I've already had a regular one break and had to take it apart.

 

[ShadowDude112]

Looks like I'll be getting Sonic 4 on the 360 now. I was still gonna get it but this made me want to get it even more.

Wow the gray button colors look awful. Did people complain about the colored ones or something? What was wrong with them?

Because of the HARDCORE CALL OF DUTY PLAYERZ. They complained that it wasn't gray and had too much color.