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Microsoft revising Xbox 360 d-pad? News
Xbox 360 News by Tom Bramwell
Microsoft is set to release a new Xbox 360 controller with an upgraded d-pad, a third-party publisher has told Eurogamer at Games Convention.
The controller, which looks exactly the same as the old one, will be able to register 32 directions through the directional pad, we were told.
Our men on the ground sent back these photographs, which don't exactly shed much light, and report that the d-pad "feels looser".
Apparently the controller is in use on Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 stand at Games Convention and will also be supported by Street Fighter IV.
That should help the Capcom beat-'em-up overcome concerns that the d-pad will be insufficient to put up with its thumb-crushing combos.
We've contacted Microsoft for comment. (Update: Microsoft has confirmed that the pad exists and says it is a limited-edition promotional item designed to work with PES 2009.)
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Comments: 1-45 of 45 in total
Poster
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Triggerhappytel
20/08/08 @ 12:45
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I would hope so. The poor d-pad is the only weak link in otherwise probably the finest first-party controller ever released.
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SeesThroughAll
20/08/08 @ 12:45
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Good.
I recently tried playing SC IV at a shop with a friend, and the d-pad made the game nigh unplayable. Change the d-pad, it's about time. |
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asphaltcowboy
20/08/08 @ 12:45
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Indeed, it is the only letdown in what I consider to be on the of best pads I've used :) It is possible to shave a bit of the plastic off your existing controller around the dpad, but that's hardly ideal. It's good they're finally addressing this... Was considering buying an arcade stick for SFIV's release - we'll see how this pans out first.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 20/08/08 @ 13:47
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Vice.Destroyer
20/08/08 @ 12:47
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That is potentially the best news ever. But those pictures look as if the d-pad hasn't changed? If they could licence the nintendo d-pad, I would be a happy man.
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Vice.Destroyer
20/08/08 @ 12:58
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The GC dpad was awful because it was just so tiny. But the N64 and SNES ones were genius.
first and foremost a d-pad should be able to do the basic four well - something the current pad doesn't do. +1 |
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bloodflowers
20/08/08 @ 13:06
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Oh dear - this is going to make so many games so much harder to play. Idiots.
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Hopefully they improve the d-pad response, as many others have pointed out, the d-pad is the weakest link in an otherwise excellent controller.
However, the problem wasn't that the old controller didn't register enough directions, the problem was that it registered the 4 directions poorly. I've had to get a Hori arcade stick for fighting games on the 360, and the stick on that is actually mapped to the d-pad, so it only outputs 4 directions (plus it can register 2 of those directions at once for diagonals, for a total of 8), and that is enough to easily input quarter circles, half circles and dragon punch motions. I could do all of those easily enough on the the PS2 pad's d-pad, which was also just a 4 way input. |
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Der_tolle_Emil
20/08/08 @ 13:11
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As many dpads I have tried the ones by Nintendo are always the best.
I am glad though that MS wants to do something about the pad because games like SF IV will be much better with a proper dpad. Still the announcement comes a week too late because I already ordered an XFPS so I can use my PS2 peripherals on the 360, mainly the fighting stick for SC and especially SF IV. |
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nickthegun
20/08/08 @ 13:12
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It doesnt need to sense 32 directions. It just needs to be able to reliably find the 8 it already uses, hateful piece of shit that it is.
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The_Inquisitor
20/08/08 @ 13:20
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Respect To MS for doing something about it at last. Sony changed theirs out of desperation but MS didn't need to do anything from their point of view.
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illusiondance
20/08/08 @ 13:44
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ha ha, anyone try the shortcuts on Oblivion?
ouch. Hopefully MS will look to the sega's excellent pedigree for D-pads. Its still pretty shocking how they made such cheap crap for both xboxes. (Though i suppose they thought old school fighters would be a thing of the past.) |
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farticusmaximus
20/08/08 @ 14:14
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I prefer the PS style of D-pad, i.e. 4 separated buttons. Makes it slightly harder to do diagonals, but much more positive control for the main 4 directions.
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I did the math.
69% of the comments are from PS3 users, who posted just to say PS3 SFIV is da bomb and stuff. Good job! But the Prize goes to "uncool_ dude", with the pearl: "Doesn't matter, i'm getting SF IV for the PS3. Plus there are better joysticks out for the PS3 too. "
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 20/08/08 @ 17:17
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Surely its function is to move stuff in directions. Being able to move stuff in 32 directions means it's better than 8 or 16. We went through this shit with bits centuries ago.
...ok. Stop, and try again: what is the function of a D-pad on a controller that already has two omni-directional sticks? |
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@evilxfox:
"evilfoxhound 20-Aug-08 17:50:19 DjFlex52, and you'd complain about them even if they gave you a million pounds for free. In fact, you're an 360 owner, why are you even in this Sony thread? *Looks at other's profiles* hold on, most of you are xbots O.o. No wonder PS3 threads are always full of hate. Edited 1 times. Most recently by evilfoxhound at 17:51 on 20/08/2008 ignore poster "
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 20/08/08 @ 18:01
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I predict a 32-direction pad will actually be WORSE. It already goes left/right when I press up/down.
Get the 4 basic inputs right, then make it handle any 2 directions at once. Just the same as an arcade joystick. Problem solved. Or buy a load of old SNES pads and retrofit that baby into the 360 controller! |
Comments: 1-45 of 45 in total
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