Nintendo's love for the D-stick

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: This is really starting to become annoying. Back in teh N64 days, Nintendo already started moving total control to the Dstick. While ingame this isn't much of a problemm the annoying part came when the stick had to be used for menu's or even *shudder* soft-keyboards.

Now having Mario Kart Double Dash!! in and Nintendo STILL seems to love their stick more than the actual controls. I FUCKING HATE moving around menu's with that 'abysmal' stick! It's not even possible to use the dpad as it's just plain ignored! Why do they do this? WHY!? Even Retro got it right in Prime!

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

The true reason of Edge's 5/10 finally uncovered...

Bit dumb to block out the d-pad for navigating through menu's and softkeyboards. I also prefer using the D-pad for stuff like that.

[Cyhwuhx]

The true reason of Edge's 5/10 finally uncovered...

Bit dumb to block out the d-pad for navigating through menu's and softkeyboards. I also prefer using the D-pad for stuff like that.

.::: Well I wouldn't go that far. But ever since FFVIII I've learned to use the stick for walking and the pad for menu's. On teh N64 switching between both pad and stick was a little impractical so ok, stick only then. But now the two are next to each other.

Beyond Good & Evil also suffers from the stick-only appraoch. Although it has a few very clever menu's to make up for it.

[kamrantaz]

I never even thought about the dpad to be honest.

The stick is perfectly acceptable.

[acidforblood]

I never even thought about the dpad to be honest.

The stick is perfectly acceptable.

Same here.

[DarhkFox]

yeah i prefer the "dstick" as you call it.

Some games do use both the stick and the jpad too.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: Wel I prefer the dpad in menu's. If you have to navigate past a few selections using the stick can feel sluggish (it becomes even worse when developers make it single-movement so you cannot move past multiple selection by holding down the stick or pad).

Animal Crossing is also highly annoying at this point. Menu-navigation could have been a lot quicker if they would have added dpad support.

[redbloodcell]

I'd be happy enough it they just did away with the D pad on the GC personally. It's too small to be of any practical use and the Analogue stick is so lovely anyway there's no point to it.

[northy]

Not allowing the stick for menus is just plain wrong on the GC pad. However, I've noticed that a number of Xbox games allow digital control with the D-pad which is even more of a crime when the contols are clearly analogue. The D-pad should only be used for menus, secondary functionality (Metroid Prime vision filters etc.) and 2d games. Though I found myself playing the Zelda I / II ports with the analogue stick. Whether this is out of habit or that it's more comfortable, I don't know.

[Kelthink]

The Cube pad's d-pad is horribly stiff and awquad to use most of the time.

The analogue stick is fine for most menus anyway.

[Stroker Ace]

The Cube pad's d-pad is horribly stiff and awquad to use most of the time.

It's alright once you've broken it in a bit.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: I'm having absolutely no problems with the dpad (use it in Viewtiful Joe and others all the time). Then again I usually cover the entire dpad with my thumb and more or less 'rub' it into the right direction.

Xbox Controller Duke has THE worst dpad of all time (except maybe for the Dreamcast which was horrible considering left and right needed different pressure and throw). The S is better but I still don't get enough feedback from it. Even worse it often goes left or right when I 'rub' up or down (I know what you're thinking now).

The PS2 dpad is not really right or wrong, but it does work.

The AirStyle PS2 dpad is probably the best I've encountered. Sizable and a nice throw.

[mr. fancypants]

Why do you call it a d-stick? It's not digital, it's analouge.

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: D stands for 'directional'.

[mr. fancypants]

D'oh!

Always thought it stands for digital.

[hungry joe]

i fucking wish i could use the D-pad in MarioKart DD. and hop. idiots.

[Lovelyman]

I never even thought about the dpad to be honest.

The stick is perfectly acceptable.

I also like the stick. It goes well up my spoot!!!

[rjpageuk]

i fucking wish i could use the D-pad in MarioKart DD. and hop. idiots.

Play the SNES version.

[Mitchell]

.::: Wel I prefer the dpad in menu's. If you have to navigate past a few selections using the stick can feel sluggish (it becomes even worse when developers make it single-movement so you cannot move past multiple selection by holding down the stick or pad).

Also, you can't select the last menu option by going up. you have to go down, down, down, down....

God, we're so picky.

[Alex W.]

I really hate using sticks on things like on-screen keyboards. It's too difficult to tap quickly with them.

[auntyclimax]

Twitch gaming cannot be played on a stick.

But then perhaps MK:DD isn't twitch gaming

[Cyhwuhx]

.::: Wel I prefer the dpad in menu's. If you have to navigate past a few selections using the stick can feel sluggish (it becomes even worse when developers make it single-movement so you cannot move past multiple selection by holding down the stick or pad).

Also, you can't select the last menu option by going up. you have to go down, down, down, down....

God, we're so picky.

.::: I've cursed many a GUI-designer for such things....