Xbox 360 controller D-pad that bad?

[Wunderchu]

after reading all the praise for the Xbox 360 controller, I was somewhat surprized to read all the comments in this thread ( http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=84002 ) that the D-pad on the Xbox 360 controller sucks...

I do not yet have an Xbox 360 , but I do intend to get one eventually, so I am wondering if anyone here also thinks the Xbox 360 controller D-pad isn't very good.. .... if so, then all I can say is I hope that by the time I get an Xbox 360 the design of the D-pad is improved

 

[AlphaWolf]

nothing wrong with it as far as I am concerned, I like it better than the ps2 one, but everyone has their own preferences I've certainly experienced no problems like in that thread with either of mine.

 

[rabidrabbit]

Personally, I've never really got comfortable with those circular d-pads where the main four directions are not as easily selectable as in the cross-shaped ones.
They suck as I constantly fail to select the main directions reliably.
I think it has a lot to do also as to how much the cross shape is raised from the circle.
I think, that for example in Dual Shock, underneath the d-pad is in fact a similar type circular design, but only the four main directions are exposed to the player, so it's not as easy to accidentally select diagonals, while at the same time it's easy enough to press for example N + E if you want to select the northeast diagonal.

 

[dukmahsik]

it's okay and serve's its purpose, the controller is prob the best controller i've played with

 

[hey69]

if find it a bit on the stiffy side... could be better
but i prefer smaller lighter joypad. a cross between xb360 controller and a DS2 would be ideal

 

[[maven]]

if find it a bit on the stiffy side... could be better
but i prefer smaller lighter joypad. a cross between xb360 controller and a DS2 would be ideal

My problem is its accuracy, not stiffness (e.g. diagonals sneaking in unwantedly). That's why I got the Hori DoA4 stick (which should also be good for SF2 as soon as it becomes available).

 

[Squeak]

The best d-pad ever, is the NeoGeo one. Extremely fast to change directions, yet you can be sure it's the right one, and it's very easy to "roll" through the directions.

The problem with most d-pads is that the pivot point is not deep-set enough/to close to the surface of the pad.
This makes you have to roll your thumb way to much, causing unnecessary fatigue.
Now, I know it's hard to make that better on handhelds (like the Game & Watch where the modern d-pad originated) because you can't make a handheld too thick, but there is no excuse for this on a stationary console pad.

The thing rabidrabbit talks about, having difficulty getting the right directions, I can only see that happening if you haven’t learned to use a pad right.

In games where you rapidly have to roll through/change directions (beathemups and overhead games etc.) place your thumb in the middle of the d-pad and tilt is around (this is exactly why the Playstation d-pad sucks), the tactile feedback from the rubber domes collapsing, should be more than enough indication as to what direction you are pressing.
In games where you know you have to press one direction many times (such as platform games) just place you thumb on the main direction, and use that as home/reference point for the rest of the pad.

 

[Guden Oden]

that the D-pad on the Xbox 360 controller sucks...

Yeah, it's true. It's too big, you can't do fast changes of direction, and it's too concave too, making it hard to do rolling motions. For all intents and purposes, the pad is awesome except that the D-pad sucks when used as that. Four extra buttons - great. Used to control fighting - no friggin way.

 

[BlueTsunami]

I've also heard that the fact that the buttons are digital (on and off no type of pressure sensitivity) that people are starting to not like that either. I don't have the 360 myself so I can't say how it feels for me but thats a common complaint i'm seeing.

All I know is that I loved the pressure sensitivity in the DS2 for Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid and other various games.

 

[rabidrabbit]

The thing rabidrabbit talks about, having difficulty getting the right directions, I can only see that happening if you haven’t learned to use a pad right.

In games where you rapidly have to roll through/change directions (beathemups and overhead games etc.) place your thumb in the middle of the d-pad and tilt is around (this is exactly why the Playstation d-pad sucks), the tactile feedback from the rubber domes collapsing, should be more than enough indication as to what direction you are pressing.
In games where you know you have to press one direction many times (such as platform games) just place you thumb on the main direction, and use that as home/reference point for the rest of the pad.

Yeah, maybe I never learned to use it right. I had a Logitech wireless PS2 pad which had a circular D-pad and I did try to use it like a cross-shaped pad.

It never crossed my mind I should operate it by tilting my thumb instead of moving it.
With a circular D-pad being in the place it is in the DS I can imagine it could work well, but if the circular D-pad is lower on the controller, like it is in the xbox360 pad, I can imagine using it by tilting being quite hard because your thumb is no more in a position where comfortable tilting of the thumb is possible.

 

[chroniceyestrain]

I have the same problems as stated in that thred where the pad hits the chassis of the controller and is unresponsive. Its a POS. A downgrade from the first xbox.

The d-pad and the lack of pressure sensive buttons gives a cheap feeling to the controller compared to the first xbox.

 

[Carl B]

Well, I own the 360 controller for PC - aka the wired controller - and I have to say the directional pad is a decidedly poor experience. Maybe Squeak's right though that the problem is trying to use it as a 'conventional' D-pad. It still comes off as counter intuitive, but I'll try it with this new operational paradigm in mind.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

The SEGA Master Sysmte controller got dubbed a no-control pad in my household. Getting the NESW directions was very tricky. Very comfortable though and if you mastered it like I did, workable. Isn't the XB pad > 8 directions? Personally I think it better to differentiate between analogue and digital, and I think the cross pad is good for that. Though it's not good for rolling maneouvres like in Tekken. I guess ideally it ought to be 8 direction, full pad, with slightly raised or something NESW directions and a clear 'barrier' between directions so you can't accidentally hit a diagonal, but have to force the pad passed a resistance.

 

[valioso]

i have no problems with it..

 

[scooby_dooby]

it's the weak point of the controller, kinda a sloppy d-pad.

The only game you notice it is DOA4 though, maybe NHL2k6 sometime when you're calling on the fly coaching.

 

[Guden Oden]

Um, the 360 controller doesn't have pressure-sensitive buttons? Man, that sucks if true.

How are they going to do backwards compatibility with that feature missing since the previous box, and how come nobody's mentioned this before?

 

[rabidrabbit]

Did any xbox games really use the pressure sensitivity function of the face buttons? (I didn't know they were pressure sensitive, I thought only DS2 had them).
The shoulder triggers are still pressure sensitive, right?

Personally, I can't live with a D-pad that is not precise. As I use it primarily for selecting in the menus, it must have exact NESW directions.
The old Logitech wireless I had fro PS2 I gave away because games like Final Fantasy X, Dark Chronicle, SSX... where the D-pad is either extensively used for navigating menus or setting up moves during gameplay, were unplayable to the point of frustration.
I don't like to use the analog sticks for menu navigation because they are slower.

 

[Serenity Painted Death]

Mine doesn't seem to have any actual deficiencies though I also cannot stand the circular or "webbed" d-pad design. It just lends itself to being more imprecise.

 

[GB123]

I've also heard that the fact that the buttons are digital (on and off no type of pressure sensitivity) that people are starting to not like that either. I don't have the 360 myself so I can't say how it feels for me but thats a common complaint i'm seeing.

All I know is that I loved the pressure sensitivity in the DS2 for Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid and other various games.

That's what the triggers are for ..

 

[Richard]

I have no problems with it.