PlayStation 4 General DiscussionPS4 

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sier_Pinski
  • 9,445 comments
  • 642,336 views
Cool infographic:
O7tfXSI.jpg


And LOL
SNvMawK.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'm happy with the layout of the controller. Why would Sony just outright copy the left stick position of their rival? It comes down to personal preference.
 
Why would Sony just outright copy the left stick position of their rival?

If it's not patented it's fair game. 'Copying' happens all the time, just look at the 360 controller. It bears more than a passing resemblance to the Dreamcast controller in my opinion... Triggers on the back, stick and D-pad placement the same, buttons the same colour (though arranged differently), same colour, similar-ish grips.
 
I'm happy with the layout of the controller. Why would Sony just outright copy the left stick position of their rival? It comes down to personal preference.

Because it's in a better location than it is currently? If it wasn't the dpad on the original controller would have been where the thumbstick now is. Unless you are saying they got the position of the dpad wrong in the first place?
 
I prefer the "Gamer" layout where the left stick switches with the D-pad for FPS games, it seems more precise...

I also prefer it for Skate. I remember trying the demo for Skate 1 on each system to figure out which I would buy it for... and I just didn't find it as fun with the DS3. But, if the sticks were reconfigured it probably would've kept me on the PS3. It just makes sense the other way, and feels better can't put my thumb on why :D.

I like playing Fifa a lot more with a PS3 controller for some reason... and Madden, and RPGs for some reason... I played the hell out of Demon's Souls, then I tried Dark Souls at a friend's house on the Xbox and just wasn't feeling it.

I like the DS3 for arcade type games more as well.

It comes down to this for me: if I'm primarily only going to use the left stick, I prefer the feel of the DS3 overall. But if it's a game involving both sticks, I don't like the two sticks being so near each other. It may just be a mental thing, but it seems harder and weird when both sticks are at brought together toward the center with my thumbs pretty much rubbing up against each other.
 
Personally if they did both pads I would stick with the Sony layout. I'm not a fan on the L3/R3 stick and the only game I use them for is CoD.

Everything thing else I use D-Pad and buttons, I tried GT5 with sticks and can't see how people play that way, it just felt sooo wrong!
 
I think much of the reason why they won't move the Left analogue stick is down to heritage. That how a Playstation controller should look and people instantly associate that design and layout with that console.

It one of the most powerful visual icons Sony have, ask most people on the street what this is and they will say a Playstation controller even if they know nothing about gaming. Its a very powerful brand tool.

And lets be honest its not exactly the most painful thing ever to use. I agree that the layout is rather dated but its far from being unusable.

Robin.
 
PzR Slim
Because it's in a better location than it is currently? If it wasn't the dpad on the original controller would have been where the thumbstick now is. Unless you are saying they got the position of the dpad wrong in the first place?

A better location for you yes, because that's your preference. Personally I muchh prefer it the way it is.
The design isn't definitively right or wrong, because everyone sees it differently.
 
Because it's in a better location than it is currently? If it wasn't the dpad on the original controller would have been where the thumbstick now is. Unless you are saying they got the position of the dpad wrong in the first place?

This isn't anymore the case then when you said it a few pages ago.
 
I get so sick of the fanboys of all consoles who claim black is white in the face of the facts. Carry on.
 
That's ironic for you to say, since you're the one assigning objective standards to a purely subjective concept.

So you are saying that historically gamepad designers got the location of the dpad wrong?
 
So you are saying that historically gamepad designers got the location of the dpad wrong?

No, I'm saying your little "if they had analog controls back then they always would have been where the D-Pad is" argument is meaningless. It basically amounts to nothing more than "Microsoft obviously did it for a reason, so Sony should to" in terms of relevance.


So please, tell me more about how ergonomics are objective and aren't based entirely on personal preference. I'd simply love to know how the way I hold a controller is equivalent to claiming "black is white in the face of the facts."
 
That isn't going to happen. There is a much simpler solution. Say you put a ps3 game in your ps4. The system verifies the disc and brings up a menu offering to take you to the streaming service. Take the disc out and you won't be able to play. It's simple, allows people to play the games they own and prevents people exploiting the system.

I had a similar thought. It can't rely go by trophies. I've got trophies from games I rented. Oh and then there is that problem, rentals.
 
No, I'm saying your little "if they had analog controls back then they always would have been where the D-Pad is" argument is meaningless. It basically amounts to nothing more than "Microsoft obviously did it for a reason, so Sony should to" in terms of relevance.


So plesae, tell me more about how ergonomics are objective and aren't based entirely on personal preference. I'd simply love to know how the way I hold a controller is equivalent to claiming "black is white in the face of the facts."

When you are marketing a product to the world the people who look into ergonomics look at what is best for the majority. So unless gamepad makers before the invention of the thumbstick got it horribly wrong, what is best for the majority is swapping the thumbstick and dpad. Hence why the overwhelming majority of new game controllers have done it, because it is better suited to the majority of consumers.

So it doesn't amount to Sony should because MS did, it amounts to, Sony should because it's what the majority of consumers want ;)
 

In my mind, "PC market"rams gaming mice and keyboards. They are MUCH less expensive to make.

Personally if they did both pads I would stick with the Sony layout. I'm not a fan on the L3/R3 stick and the only game I use them for is CoD.

Everything thing else I use D-Pad and buttons, I tried GT5 with sticks and can't see how people play that way, it just felt sooo wrong!

Have you ever flown an RCA plane or driven an RC car with a d-pad and buttons? Buttons are not a natural control method at all.
 
When you are marketing a product to the world the people who look into ergonomics look at what is best for the majority

I see. Now you're claiming the majority think the 360 stick placement is better so it is for everyone; in essence argumentum ad populum. Allow me to question your source for that information.


And then tell me why that means people who don't agree with the 360 stick placement are claiming "black is white in the face of the facts."


Hence why the overwhelming majority of new game controllers have done it, because it is better suited to the majority of consumers.

No, it's actually just been Microsoft. Nintendo has jumped around every generation with where they put it.
 
I see. Now you're claiming the majority think the 360 stick placement is better; in essence argumentum ad populum. Allow me to question your source for that information.


And then tell me why that is relevant to people who don't agree with the 360 stick placement are wrong for thinking so.

My source of that information is to look at the products on the market and realise that the vast majority do it the MS way. You think companies spend billions on market research per year only to ignore that research?

What is best for an individual and what is best for a product are two entirely different things. Companies looking to sell high volume of a product should look at what is best for their product not for individuals.

What if an individual decided he or she preferred the thumbstick on the back of the controller? Should the company base their decision on placement on the wishes of that individual or should they look at what is best for their product?
 
You think companies spend billions on market research per year only to ignore that research?

Not at all. Therefore Sony must have good reason for putting the sticks where they are.
 
Hmm, so they got their dpad placement wrong for all those years, dummies!

Excuse me?

I'm not sure I follow that. I just made the opposite point and you somehow take that as supporting you?
 
IMHO I think the optimum placement of the d-pad differs from game type to game type. So again IMHO this argument is a bit silly.
 
My source of that information is to look at the products on the market and realise that the vast majority do it the MS way. You think companies spend billions on market research per year only to ignore that research?
Products on the market, past 15 years (since analog control became a thing):

752px-N64-Controller-Gray.jpg

524px-Sega-Saturn-3D-Controller.jpg

800px-PS1DualAnalogController.jpg

765px-PSX-DualShock.png


Then last generation:
775px-Sega-Dreamcast-Cont-n-VMU.jpg

747px-PlayStation2-DualShock2.png

710px-Xbox-Duke-Controller.jpg

673px-Xbox-s-controller.jpg

696px-Gamecube-controller.jpg



Then this generation:
732px-Xbox-360-S-Controller.png

724px-PlayStation3-DualShock3.png

800px-Wii-Classic-Controller-White.jpg

800px-Gold_classic_controller_pro.JPG



'Dat vast majority of an equal distribution. Possibly a slight skew, depending on where the hell you put the N64 controller. Furthermore, you think Sony somehow doesn't do that research, or that Nintendo's research hasn't made them change their mind where to put the stick every time they make a new controller and they just keep doing it for kicks?




And before you bring it up, I don't particularly care what 3rd party controllers are set up like because we'd be here all day.




What is best for an individual and what is best for a product are two entirely different things. Companies looking to sell high volume of a product should look at what is best for their product not for individuals.
Aaaaaand still not seeing how swapping the sticks means it's best for the product.

What if an individual decided he or she preferred the thumbstick on the back of the controller? Should the company base their decision on placement on the wishes of that individual or should they look at what is best for their product?
Might as well say people who like controlling games with the third arm on their ass for all the relevance such an extreme exaggeration has.
 
Back