Current controller designs have been improved enormously but they are still lacking in areas.
One controller seems to be better than the other and vise versa in key features. Trying to fix one area may not be the best for some genres
The PS4 controller in particular has a superbly accurate d-pad very conveniently placed for fighting games and 2D games. Basically any game that requires the D-pad
On the other hand the One controller switches this with an analogue for optimum functionality for first person games and games that use a similar control scheme. This is very inconvenient for the other type of games I mentioned earlier. The shape of the controller forces an uncomfortable position of the thump and the dpad and face button positions create a diagonal angle.
The question is does this switch (analogue with dpad) provide enough advantages to compensate? Since the PS4 dual analogue distance increased and ergonomical shape has improved it has also improved its level of comfortability and navigation with the sticks. But how much better is the XBOX analogue stick positions for these genres? If the XBOX provides substantial improvement in those genres and the PS4 provides substantial improvement for fighting games etc how can we get the best from both?
I believe that analogue sticks probably need to be tighter and have better material on the DS4.
The face buttons also appear kind of narrow on XBOX, they are placed up, they have a slight concave shape themselves, the area on which they lay on the controller also has some concave shape and I think they are slightly narrow. Again this serves great for games that use the face buttons as complimentary. But games that use them as primary extensive inputs feel less comfortable.
Then we ve got the trigger buttons. XBOX One triggers are ideal for racing games and for shooters, the PS4 R2/L2 have improved but are still not there regarding the particular genres. But the PS4's R2/L2 work great for other genres. Especially for games that require extensively fast paced, minimum inputs from R2/L2 like Devil May Cry or Street Fighter. There the triggers start to feel slow in comparison due to the widely low placement and much bigger distance to press fully in. Yet no one can refute the fact that XBOX triggers are ideal for shooters and control in racing game acceleration.
Then we ve got the shoulder buttons and R1/L1 buttons. There its the reverse problem. The tiny clicky shoulder buttons on XBOX are optimum for changing weapons in third and first person shooters and great for secondary uses like changing cameras etc. The clicky feel on the other hand is the opposite extreme of the triggers. They are too narrow for extensive use and the clicky feel does not give proper input back for genres that use them extensively having issues for the same type of games mentioned earlier. The DS4 controller on the other hand is probably too wide.
The PS4 controller's touch pad and light bar are also great underutilized ideas. The touch pad seems to be underutilized because the tracking area and accuracy is technologically limited. So I wonder how that could improve for future use.
In terms of shape and robustness the XBOX controller feels more firm, probably more comfortable than the DS4.
Currently the XBOX controller has a better approach to genres that used to be popular on PC (1st person shooters, third person shooters with similar controls and racing games) whereas the PS controller has a better approach to genres that are more popular on console.
And probably the reason why people argue which controller is the best is probably due to the genres they play the most on each console.
As an example playing dead space on a PS3 controller was a pain, whereas on 360 it was much better. But the opposite could be said for Devil May Cry or Street Fighter.
It would have been awesome if a controller was designed perfect for both worlds.
But can it be done?
One controller seems to be better than the other and vise versa in key features. Trying to fix one area may not be the best for some genres
The PS4 controller in particular has a superbly accurate d-pad very conveniently placed for fighting games and 2D games. Basically any game that requires the D-pad
On the other hand the One controller switches this with an analogue for optimum functionality for first person games and games that use a similar control scheme. This is very inconvenient for the other type of games I mentioned earlier. The shape of the controller forces an uncomfortable position of the thump and the dpad and face button positions create a diagonal angle.
The question is does this switch (analogue with dpad) provide enough advantages to compensate? Since the PS4 dual analogue distance increased and ergonomical shape has improved it has also improved its level of comfortability and navigation with the sticks. But how much better is the XBOX analogue stick positions for these genres? If the XBOX provides substantial improvement in those genres and the PS4 provides substantial improvement for fighting games etc how can we get the best from both?
I believe that analogue sticks probably need to be tighter and have better material on the DS4.
The face buttons also appear kind of narrow on XBOX, they are placed up, they have a slight concave shape themselves, the area on which they lay on the controller also has some concave shape and I think they are slightly narrow. Again this serves great for games that use the face buttons as complimentary. But games that use them as primary extensive inputs feel less comfortable.
Then we ve got the trigger buttons. XBOX One triggers are ideal for racing games and for shooters, the PS4 R2/L2 have improved but are still not there regarding the particular genres. But the PS4's R2/L2 work great for other genres. Especially for games that require extensively fast paced, minimum inputs from R2/L2 like Devil May Cry or Street Fighter. There the triggers start to feel slow in comparison due to the widely low placement and much bigger distance to press fully in. Yet no one can refute the fact that XBOX triggers are ideal for shooters and control in racing game acceleration.
Then we ve got the shoulder buttons and R1/L1 buttons. There its the reverse problem. The tiny clicky shoulder buttons on XBOX are optimum for changing weapons in third and first person shooters and great for secondary uses like changing cameras etc. The clicky feel on the other hand is the opposite extreme of the triggers. They are too narrow for extensive use and the clicky feel does not give proper input back for genres that use them extensively having issues for the same type of games mentioned earlier. The DS4 controller on the other hand is probably too wide.
The PS4 controller's touch pad and light bar are also great underutilized ideas. The touch pad seems to be underutilized because the tracking area and accuracy is technologically limited. So I wonder how that could improve for future use.
In terms of shape and robustness the XBOX controller feels more firm, probably more comfortable than the DS4.
Currently the XBOX controller has a better approach to genres that used to be popular on PC (1st person shooters, third person shooters with similar controls and racing games) whereas the PS controller has a better approach to genres that are more popular on console.
And probably the reason why people argue which controller is the best is probably due to the genres they play the most on each console.
As an example playing dead space on a PS3 controller was a pain, whereas on 360 it was much better. But the opposite could be said for Devil May Cry or Street Fighter.
It would have been awesome if a controller was designed perfect for both worlds.
But can it be done?
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