The control pad is an integral component of any games console. Being the players
“handle” on the games world through which all interaction with the
virtual time and space takes place. With that in mind, it astonishes me to discover that
many of the major companies’ progression in this area have been slow, to say the
least.
Nintendo, being the only company to employ games designers as well as the usual
team of style/ergonomic designers to develop their controllers have been leading the
market for some time. Having been the company that brought us the D-Pad, Shoulder Buttons,
Analogue control and Force Feedback, it’s no surprise they were also the first to
spring up with wireless input. The WaveBird appears to be a normal GameCube controller at
first, a little chunkier and without the Force Feedback, however, it’s not until you
play with the controller do you really understand it. It’s the sense of
freedom allowed – like passing your driving test and learning just how free you can
be.
 Microsoft seem to have taken
it upon themselves to update they’re pad half way through a generation – similar
to Sony’s launch of the Dual Shock system for the PSone. The original Xbox pad was
bulky, seemingly cast of the DreamCast mould it features triggers and mounted ports for
Memory Paks. The “updated” S-pad unfortunately seems to have been inspired
directly by the Dual Shock 2 controllers. With the Xbox requiring more face buttons than
the PlayStation2 it feels almost as if the Start, Back, Black and White buttons have been
placed aside almost purposefully – rendering beat-‘em-ups practically unplayable
on the system.
The market in the UK is clearly PlayStation2 orientated, which leads to many fans
comparing other systems to their favourite console. A gripe I often hear from PlayStation2
owners is that the GameCube and Xbox controllers are too weird or bulky, but when they
experience the distancing between face buttons on the GameCube controllers it becomes hard
to adjust back to the minimal spacing and symmetrical layout.
With these being only a small comparison of major elements of the pads I’m
never going to convince anyone through reading this article, however I urge to pick up a
copy of Soul Calibur II on all three formats, and discover for yourself how the
analogue precision, button placement and freedom experienced at the hand of the WaveBird
just cannot be beaten. |
