Nintendo to Drop D-pad

pluke writes "Computer and Video Games reports that Nintendo plans to drop the humble d-pad from its next console along with the classic A and B buttons. Nintendo pioneered the d-pad on its 80's Game & Watch handheld games system."

Re:Madness

[supersuckers]

Likely just dropping it in favor of the analog stick. Anyone remember the nes max controller? [axess.com] It had a, well, look at the picture. I hated it and would always use the outer black edge to control instead of the moveable thumb pad thing. I never used the dpad on my gamecube controller, but part of that is because I feel they made it too small. The xbox and ps2 ones have a better feel. Anyhow, I guess the only use left for the ol' dpad is on a belt buckle [nesbuckle.com]

D-pad is necessary

[superstick58]

So 20 years ago the D-pad was a revolutionary new way to control and replaced the analog joystick. Now the analog joystick is the revolutionary new way to control and will replace the d-pad? The d-pad was created because it offered many benefits over an analog joystick:

Smaller space constraints

Better tactile feedback(push, click)

Better for navigating 2D environments (menus)etc.

I know I generally use the d-pad just as much as the analog stick on various games. It would be rather inconvenient to see it go.

Why Mario Thumbpits Of Course!

[blueZhift]

I would guess two things. First, whatever new control scheme Nintendo has in mind for their next console will be built with the next Miyamoto game in mind (another Mario perhaps). And the new controls will adequately replace D-pad functionality and add enhancements.

So I got to thinking about it and came up with analog thumbpits. The current analog game pad controls sit up like bumps on the controller and are a bit awkward to use as D-pad replacements. But imagine a soft rubber thumbsized pit. Your thumb would sit in this comfortably allowing you to naturally nudge it in a way analogous to moving the D-pad, but now you can do a lot more than the cross pattern such as pushing straight down and down at angles. So games could be developed where it makes a difference how fast or how far down you push with more freedom than the current analog sticks and buttons give.

I would also expect some kind of touch pad to be included on the controller as well. No strike that, it's not necessary. In typical Nintendo fashion, the new console would have a port/ports for connecting the DS. Then you would just use the DS touch pad. They may still put a pad on the controller though since the DS scheme may be too awkward for the next Mario game. The touch pad has some interesting possibilities. For one thing, as a program configurable control I could see it becoming a keyboard for online chat. Not as good as a real keyboard, but much between than onscreen keyboards. (They might throw in a built-in mike like the DS has as well.)

Finally, perhaps the next controller will have pressure sensitive grips. These grips would replace the buttons. Now each finger can provide input in what should be a more comfortable way, if engineered right. If even half of the above comes to pass, I'd expect the new controllers to be rather difficult to emulate by 3rd parties, which of course will mean more money for Nintendo.

Heh heh, if even part of this is true, there may be a knock at the do...

Re:HOORAY!

[Anonymous Coward]

You're severely underexperienced with console gaming, and it shows.

Who knows, maybe you are an old-school PC gamer who can't stand consoles, but seriously, the last thing an actual console gamer would argue about is the handed-ness of the traditional controller layout, or the d-pad's inadequacy compared to a right-handed digital microswitch joystick with no travel (like the crap Epyx joystick that you posted). I've used that thing before, and it would be a poor substitute for a d-pad with almost any of the best console games over the past 20 years, save few.

Basically, the d-pad/analog thumb pad combo is great. I doubt this unconfirmed rumor about Nintendo is true, although the possibilities for new types of games that don't require the d-pad may also be exciting.