Microsoft considering modified Xbox 360 controller

NewsPosted 15/08/2006 - 11:34am GMT+1

Microsoft is investigating ways in which it can modify the existing Xbox 360 controller to enable more precise control.

Robert S. Walker, Microsoft product unit manger, hardware, has revealed that the company is currently looking into ways to fine tune the Xbox 360 controller - specifically the right analogue stick.

Microsoft wants to redesign the stick to better suit genres such as the FPS, where precise movement is a necessity. Whether or not a new controller will see the light of day is still very much uncertain, but should it make it to retail then it would be released as an optional peripheral, and would not replace the current controller.

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mike_mgoblue @ xboxer

Currently, my friends and I are conducting a very detailed professional analysis of the Xbox 360 controller. In particular, we are evaluating the D-Pad, because we believe that the D-pad is the only element that has a need for greater precision. The Left and Right Analog sticks are fine. The baseball diamond button configuration is fine as well. The Back, Start, and Guide buttons are also fine. The Left and Right Trigger buttons are fine.

I will post my detailed analysis of the D-pad for the Xbox 360 controller after I have gathered enough facts and analyzed them in a fair way that has been confirmed.

I should let you know, I thought the Xbox 360 D-pad was perfect until it came to precision when doing a dragon-punch while facing the left (the starting position of Player 2) in Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting. It takes a LOT of practice to perform a Dragon Punch under this circumstance, because you character often jumps toward the opponent rather than executing the desired dragon punch. The reason for this is because the Xbox 360 D-Pad has a counter-clockwise rotation. In other words, the top of the D-pad does not face "12" on a clock, if faces more towards the "11." If the Xbox 360 controller was in a balanced position where the top of the D-pad was focused towards the clock position of "12," there would be more precision while executing the Dragon-Punch while facing toward the left. Microsoft could also decide to use a Nintendo style 4-way D-pad that has a reputation for being precise.

I will write a more detailed report shortly.

Posted 02:27 on 16 August 2006