Trackball next step to improve controllers for console?

[dragonelite]

Was browsing on gaf and saw this video.
They have replaced the right stick of the 360 controller with a trackball.
Say that people got a 10% improvement in the cod 4 tutorial track.

Here's the video

And the paper
http://www.cse.yorku.ca/~dnatapov/Trackball2.pdf

What do you guys think is a logical next step to improve controllers accuracy.
Move is a nice concept and seems to work well. Or should the Hardware makers just let people use k/m.

Not really sure if this was the right section to post this

 

[Sigfried1977]

I heard good things about trackballs. I would very much like to check out that approach personally. It gives you a lot of added range while still fitting neatly inside a regular controller. I think the kb+m solution is simply ill-suited for most living room conditions (but I have zero problems if games offer it as an added option). As for all the waggling stuff: I just don't see it matching the speed, precision and responsiveness of traditional input devices any time soon. I also think it is the polar opposite of being immersive. Waving around, doing broad gestures with a wand, especially over longer periods of time, is just making most things a lot harder than they really need to be.

Hell, even Nintendo has run out of ideas apparently and went back to having the Wiimote held sideways like a classic controller for most games.

 

[AlphaWolf]

No question a trackball would be an improvement for shooters and RTS type games, but I'm not sure it works for every game type.

 

[makattack]

No question a trackball would be an improvement for shooters and RTS type games, but I'm not sure it works for every game type.

Yah, definitely won't work well for games like Geometry Wars / Super Stardust / Everyday Shooter, et al...

 

[Danalys]

They could be adapted to work though. You'd just be moving a reticle around to screen to control direction of fire rather than the present way.

 

[corduroygt]

This isn't anything new, and I'm curious why no one has bothered to implement it after that failed Bodielobus reflex controller:

 

[nightshade]

Was browsing on gaf and saw this video.
They have replaced the right stick of the 360 controller with a trackball.
Say that people got a 10% improvement in the cod 4 tutorial track.

Here's the video

And the paper
http://www.cse.yorku.ca/~dnatapov/Trackball2.pdf

What do you guys think is a logical next step to improve controllers accuracy.
Move is a nice concept and seems to work well. Or should the Hardware makers just let people use k/m.

Not really sure if this was the right section to post this

Sorry but I think trackball is just not the way to go, I certainly don't wanna keep resetting my thumb position everytime I reach around the edges (even more so while doing slower movement as seen around 00:22-00:28 sec in the video). Beside I can do it faster than that with the sticks

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Camera interfaces will be better for most ordinary trackball type control (pointing). Trackballs may work better for FPSes, but if you're going to learn those skills, learning a gun controller will serve you better. As an optional extra for specific gamers, or as part of a modular controller type (think Move sphere and navicon buttons and trackballs in interchangeable parts to construct your prefered mostrosity of controller), I can see it has a niche, but given the future is person tracking, I think the current dual-stick will be the end-point of default controllers. The evolutionary chain ends here as a new species becomes dominant.

 

[SG79]

I can see it has a niche, but given the future is person tracking, I think the current dual-stick will be the end-point of default controllers. The evolutionary chain ends here as a new species becomes dominant.

You mean an evolution of Kinect? Certain genres will have to disappear completely (fighters, action. anything meticulous) and I would think that games will have to be simplified for that to be a viable dominant alternative to traditional controllers.

I do agree though that this is where it ends for controllers. Analog sticks and d-pads are still more precise for a large variety of genres.

 

[Cyan]

I dont think it's the future, and it also looks a bit fugly.

Besides that, you lose 4 directions acting as buttons, which equals 4 more buttons --think of FIFA 11 . Or esentially five, given the fact you can press the right stick.

I mean, you can't hold UP, LEFT, RIGHT or DOWN.

If a very small trackball were integrated in between the right stick, then it would be welcome.

You mean an evolution of Kinect? Certain genres will have to disappear completely (fighters, action. anything meticulous) and I would think that games will have to be simplified for that to be a viable dominant alternative to traditional controllers.

I do agree though that this is where it ends for controllers. Analog sticks and d-pads are still more precise for a large variety of genres.

The advantage of controller interfaces like Kinect is the fact that it all comes out naturally and intuitively.

Your friends, mother, partner, etc, won't be asking you; "How do I jump" "How do I duck?" "How do I run?". It's like most people will play on equal terms.

Different people react in different ways :smile: but a lot people feel intimidated by complex combinations of buttons and stuff. Simpler controls will do gaming a world of good.

I still dont see how it can work with some games, like sports, but it doesn't have to detract from the simple to play difficult to master factor in other fun genres.

 

[SG79]

That much I agree on and the Wii's success is an indicative that that there is a market beyond the core. But overall I don't see it (Kinect type) being a dominant form when there are a number of genres that have complex... or rather more meticulous controls. You mentioned sports, and stuff like fighters or action like GOW, NG etc. won't work as they are.

In fact, for fighters, "archaic" sticks are still the preferred method of controls due to the technical nature of them (anything above casual or beginner level play)

I see co-existence but the Kinect interface itself certainly has a lot more potential well beyond gaming.

Track balls seem even more limiting and remind me a lot of Namco's PS1 specialty pads (negcon and jogcon). They'll do fine with a handful of games.

 

[Rurouni]

Why not a touchpad? less moving part, can function similar to a trackball, can be made multitouch and can be made pressure sensitive. A lot more versatile than a trackball.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

You mean an evolution of Kinect?

Not the the exclusion of controllers. That's where new interface developments will happen, with controllers for conventional gaming sticing where we are IMO, with proprietary controllers like arcade sticks for those who care.

 

[patsu]

Why not a touchpad? less moving part, can function similar to a trackball, can be made multitouch and can be made pressure sensitive. A lot more versatile than a trackball.

Yeah, compared to a trackball, I see more potential for a touch pad or touch screen -- primarily because they are already in use by casual gamers today.