Just how important is a controller?

[vision89]

In my opinion a good controller can make or break a system. Look at the Atari 2600, it had a simple controller that worked really well and anyone could just pick it up and use it. However, the Colecovision, Atari 5200, Intellivision etc. were different stories. While the controllers weren't bad (except for the 5200), they did take some getting used to, sometimes a lot of getting used to. Which system remained on top, the Atari 2600 of course. Time moves on. Now I'm not saying that the SMS had a bad controller, in fact I think it was pretty good, but it always seemed kind of loose to me when compared to the nes controller. The nes, then, does great. We move on to the Genesis and Super Nintendo. They both had good controllers, though I would say the super's was better. Although, a 6-button genesis controller with the soft directional pad was heaven on that system. Both systems did really well. So now we move on to the PS1 and N64. The PS1 has a pretty good controller, it works pretty well and has a comfortable feel. The N64 controller however, while a good controller, could really take some getting used to. It didn't have that isntantly comfortable feeling. So the PS1 moves ahead. Now I know there are a host of other things, involved to ensure that a system "makes it",like marketing, price, games etc., but I really believe a good controller weighs heavily on which systems do well. I'll never understand why during the Atari 2600 age a system didn't come out with a pack in controller that mimicked the arcade controllers, like the neo geo did. Could you imagine if the Colecovision had come packed with two arcade style controllers, it would've blown people away. The only thing I can think is that they might have thought it would hurt the arcades by making the home systems too much like the arcade.

[whoisKeel]

i'm definitely gonna have to agree with you on this one. i've never been all that good with a joystick for some reason, i always prefered d-pads on older systems. i could never stand the 64 controller (tho i never owned a 64), and now that i'm playing alot of gamecube...i can tell you that the controller really isn't that great. the z button takes awhile to get used to...and i'm playing my 4th gamecube game (metroid prime) and i often hit the wrong button which forces me to go into a ball and lose my targeting. this is frustrating. it is because the y and x buttons stick out further than the other buttons. you can blame it on my skills, fine, but i know that if it were the playstation controller this wouldn't happen. the xbox controller can just be too big and overwhelming (tho the analogue is just the sweetest thing ever)...but i hear this is fixed in s type controller. the ps2 is ultimate comfort and versibility, but i think the analogue is just a bit too lose and seems dated to me. so anyways, yes i think the controller is very important, but i don't think it would be a deciding factor in buying a new system.

[tholly]

i dont know if i can agree with this one. controllers never really factored in. back in the day, i just bought systems because everyone at school had them and said how cool they were. now, i just buy systems that i dont have, so controllers dont factor in again either. i will say that at first i wasnt too keen on the dreamcast because of the controller, but at first i didnt want to buy it anyway so i didnt (controller might have factored in if i was really considering buying a system at the time). now i own the dreamcast, and while i still think the controller is a little hard to use, i love the system.

[Felixthegamer]

I am not sure I would go as far as saying a controller is make or break, but you bring up interesting points. There are so many choices for controllers that go beyond what is packed in or official for a certain system though. There are a lot of alternative choices. I have been able to adapt enough to make the controllers feel okay or mostly comfortable in my hands. Gamecube still has a few awkward moments.

[Zubiac666]

a perfect controller is very important to me
just think of it like this :the controllers for consoles are the same as the tires are for the cars .......they are the only connection to the world u r moving on
good tires=better controll of car
good controller= better controll of character

[vision89]

I've never been real fond of the Dreamcast controller either, though I've also gotten used to it. I think I'm really trying to say that a good controller really just weighs heavily on how well a system will do. A system with a bad controller is dooming itself at the beginning. Saying that, I doubt the Xbox would have outsold the PS2 if it would have started out with a less bulky, and really good controller, but I do think it would have sold better, noticeably better. Does anyone here also think that a system coming out during the golden age with arcade type controllers would have done really well? You know, I think the analog controller is one of the best and worst things to happen to gaming. I will hate for the systems to go focusing purely on analog control when there are still a ton of games that work much better with the directional pads, on the same note though, there are a good amount of games that work much better on an analog controller. The analog controller and I have a real love hate relationship!

[vision89]

I know I began the discussion saying a controller can make or break a system, I mean it more like this. If every system out has a bad controller, and there is only one system with a good controller, the one with the good controller will probably win. This is something I think really factored in with the Atari 2600. I don't think the controller makes or breaks a system in every scenario, or even most scenarios. I just think it can, somewhat easily, make or break a system.

[YoshiM]

I totally agree that a controller can make or break a system, but that's my perspective. As long as a controller is fairly accessable people will adapt if the system has games worth spending the time to adapt. The Intellivision had its fair share of fans back in the day and its controller wasn't the best but people adapted. The Playstation is another good example of player adjustment-10 buttons which all pretty much get used on a regular basis (increased to 12 with the dual shock, 16 if the D pad is made into controls other than for moving). Not the most ergonomic piece of plastic and breaking away by assigning symbols to the face buttons probably didn't help veteran gamers get used to things at first. Personally I found that controller to be uncomfortable, with or without the sticks but others just fell in love with that system.

[MarioAllStar2600]

I agree. The start of a great gaming experience starts with a good, comftorable controller. That is the main reason I HATE n64.