Pimp your Controller

posted by Damn Boris

Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 11:31:37 PM EST

I saw the post asking how to best mod your 360 and controller with sweet looks, but that isn't what I'm talking about.  What I am refering to is customizing your controllers to suit your style of play.  On several posts I have seen comments from gamers lamenting their fumbling with control sets between games or just wanting to tweek this or that button.  I have suffered the same fumbling. So, why do we have to suffer these structured control sets?  I mean really, there all just buttons.  Grant it, the sticks are fundamental so I'll not go there, but really, can't we pick and choose what everything else does?  I know the game developers go to great lengths to map their controls, and for some, it just makes sense, but shouldnt we be the final judge?

At the end of the day, shooters are all doing the same thing.  Some games add an action, the mysterious "x" button for Halo 3, or the game adds a new unique feature, like active reload in gears, but even that could be mapped to an alternate button.  And, if the game isn't a shooter, then mapping your own buttons helps you handle the situation.

How about this argument.  Pretty soon, console players are going to be competing with PC players.  PC players are going to have a more flexible control scheme and may even have the choice to map buttons for operations that console gamers won't.  Consoles will need some means to customize in order to eck out whatever advantage a gamer can.  Maybe once Shadowrun hits we will have a chance to see true comparisons between consoles and keyboards.  Then, if rumors are true, we will see Gears on PC.  When that happens, we may see either a trend of PCs competing against consoles, just like MicroSoft (MS) has been leading up to with 'Live Anywhere'.

If you say this can't be done, just because, then I need more convincing.  MS has created a gaming platform and given game developers criteri to fit the platform and meet basic xboxlive expectations.  So, why cant' they require game developers to allow gamers with full control of their button mapping?

 

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Poll

Should all games allow customized control sets?

75%12 votes
12%2 votes
6%1 votes
0%0 votes
6%1 votes

| 16 votes | Vote | Results


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Comments Disabled | 14 comments

  •  just saw (none / 0)

    that microsoft is coming out with a version of the xbox 360 wireless controler that you can use on your pc as well has the 360.

    by Dan Foster on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 02:10:12 AM EST

  •  full customization is a must (none / 0)

    i got RSI in my trigger finger and i cant do anything about it, dammit :(

    by naveeda on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 02:42:05 AM EST

  •  Calibrating your sticks. This is (none / 0)

    the extent to which we should be able to "customize" our controllers:

    http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=15321

    "Gears2 has legs, and they go all the way up!"

    by 3Suns on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 04:10:49 AM EST

  •  Outstanding (none / 0)

    Was this your presentation to gametrailers?  Very straight forward with a clear message.  Damn good.  

    Ready to finish all the Fights!

    by Damn Boris on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 09:45:01 AM EST

    •  Thanks! It was mine. (none / 0)

      I actually have hopes that people at MS saw it because I told Bungie's KP about it, and he sent the link around both to people in Bungie and to some engineers in MS.  Shortly there after, and over the course of a week or two, I got over a 1000 hits.  My hope is that  it was a topic in a few meetings.

      I've heard nothing more since, and I think that chances are the engineers and designers would say that it is more trouble than it is worth (only a handful of people would take advantage of the option).  I am definitely in that handful.  What are you gonna do? You hang your balls out there, and hope that someone notices.  ;)

      "Gears2 has legs, and they go all the way up!"

      by 3Suns on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 06:14:56 PM EST

      [ Parent ]

  •  I think (none / 0)

     not only should they leave it an empty canvas with button mapping, but they shold have "kits" to customize your controller.  Like "the little red button" on the lower back where your middle finger rests, or battle switches to cover an eject button for a mech game.  That would be cool.  And it could run macros.

      Then maybe we would stand a chance against the PC gamers.

    Let's get it own!

    by Macaface on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 10:01:06 AM EST

  •  yes! (none / 0)

    i totally agree on the calibration... tiger woods took me a while to get used to.  I have to hold the controller differently just so i can swing straight.

    But, talking about customization... try being a lefty who cut his teeth playing halo and halo 2 with the left controls.  Some games don't let you swap the sticks and/or triggers... pain.  That on top of all the button settings i pretty much can only play a game or 2 at any time.

    by d0m1n4t3 on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 10:56:28 AM EST

  •  I think.... (none / 0)

    Halo 3 will have a fully reconfigerable stick, at least that is what I think I read last week or so in their weekly updates.

    As for me I don't re-map the stick very often, except I can only play inverted, thank god they let you switch that, I would be lost with it.  

    Wizard's First Rule: People are stupid! Things perceived as real are real in their consequences.

    by Major Dan on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 11:37:00 AM EST

  •  It's wierd (none / 0)

    because I use Legacy on FPS and use default on Third person shooters.  That's trippy.

    Let's get it own!

    by Macaface on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 12:03:39 PM EST

  •  I'll hopefully be on... (none / 0)

    I wasn't feeling well last night (Thursday) but took the day off and am now feeling a lot better.  

    I'm also CST outta Texas, so if I continue to feel well, I'll be on late.

    I will host a game unless we have enough hosts already!

    It's game time!!!

    Leader, Masters Few www.MastersFew.com

    by Master Pre on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 01:45:50 PM EST

  •  i said no (none / 0)

    only because, some games NEED to have a certain set of controls in order to keep balance online or to keep fundamental gameplay. I DO think though, that the amount of customization should be meaty in all games, and that some should have complete.

    Not all who wander are lost

    by Zoso Fan on Sun Feb 25, 2007 at 09:35:07 PM EST

Comments Disabled | 14 comments