Entry 8, Due 11.6.2014
Terra System
Yoohoo (OMG A CHOCOLATE DRINK) Galaxy
Star Command Doesn't Even Read My Blogs
Hey look, I can do math (barely). But what do those numbers mean? Ah, yes, I'm referring to the design of the Xbox 360 controller versus that of the new Xbox One. You know, the "improved" version of the 360 controller. Microsoft surely meant inferior. They had to have!
So what made the Xbox 360 controller so great? Well, take a look.
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It is ergonomic in shape and the functions of each area are clearly defined. Heck, there's labels above the "Start" and "Select" buttons. Additionally, the joysticks are super smooth, especially if you "wear" them in (like you would a baseball mitt). They just feel right. Moreover, the whole controller layout is comfortable in your hands. You don't have to stretch any fingers to do anything. Plus, the materials that make up the controller are perfect. It's a pretty solid plastic (I think) that doesn't feel scratchy on your hands like some materials do (hello Macbooks). Add in the color coding for button functionality, and you have a piece of hardware that, combined with software, seems quite intuitive.
Now contrast the 360 controller with that of the new Xbox One.
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The first striking difference, besides color, is the angularity of the controller. What once was smooth has become a little rough and angular. Personally, I'm not a fan of this and I think it doesn't look natural. It doesn't feel natural either, which is the most important thing for a gaming controller. The areas around the joysticks are also inverted as well - what once had rings that rose towards the joysticks now has bevels instead. I'm indifferent towards this change because I don't think the inversion presents much change to the user experience. However, the elimination of text on the controller and fully colored buttons are major changes. From my perspective, it seems likely that Microsoft - shooting for simplicity - may contribute to new users not knowing which button is the start or select button. Unlikely, but it is possible. Additionally, I wonder what effect the elimination of colored buttons has on users. There is a population of colorblind users that use Xbox so it is possible that their experience may be slightly more complicated now, but I'm no expert. I personally don't think that such a change was desirable. However, I will state that the material design of the Xbox logo is a nice touch. Scratch that, it's an amazing touch.
I would have to disagree with you in saying that the 360 controller is better than the One. First off, the controller is a little more angular but I think it feels even better in the hand, more compact and less wide. The lettering in the buttons are still colored, so I don't think that change is very relevant to the overall design. Also, not labeling the controller does not seem like much of a problem - anyone using this controller most likely knows its basic functionality, and if not most games present controller layouts to make it clear what buttons do what.
ReplyDeleteOn top of this, the D-pad on the Xbox One controller is worlds better. It is more responsive, with a satisfying click in each direction. The D-pad on the 360 controller had little to no response and felt too soft when pressed down, making it difficult to know if you were performing specific tasks. The triggers on the back include vibration, adding an extra level of immersion and responsiveness to different actions like explosions and gun shots. Lastly, the battery actually fits in the body of the controller, rather than being attached to the back like on the 360. This provides a more streamlined feel and removes some of the bulk from the controller.