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The Controller
here you can get lots of info on the N-Cube controller:
Photos of the long awaited Nintendo Gamecube controller have been released to the public, the hardware itself demonstrated to attendees of Spaceworld, and there's been a great deal of mixed reception. Many fans are heralding the device to be the best thing since sliced bread, while some consider the joypad design to be a laughing stock of the industry. The truth is, though, if you haven't touched the controller then you shouldn't render judgment just yet. And once you have, you'll have no more doubts.
The controller was designed to feel good, Regardless, at first sight it does look more like a plush toy than it does a functional controller -- especially in its white incarnation (the silver and black models pictured in this story actually look a lot nicer than the "Fisherprice" like white one). But, when you slip it into your hand it feels very good, almost as if it was tailor-made for you. All of the buttons and analog sticks are very "so
ft" to the touch and it doesn’t feel like you're pressing down on hard, chunky plastic. Rather, it feels very consistent and fluid, especially the larger "A" button. A few Gamecube developers have said that you don't want to stop mashing the "A" button because it just feels so comfortable. Miyamoto even mused that he'd like to create a game that just uses the one button.
The Master Demonstrates
Maybe Miyamoto himself had doubts about the way that the press and the world would perceive Nintendo Gamecube's controller because he himself took to the stage to first demonstrate it. In an elaborate setup, Miyamoto played with the joypad and everything he did was mimicked through Gamecube via a real-time model of the controller displayed on a giant television screen behind him. Whenever the game god would press a button on the real controller, that button could be seen moving up and down on the display in the rear too. Using this setup, Miyamoto explained how the controller works in great detail, outlining everything from how the plastic mold is designed to feel good for everybody – people with big hands and those with small – to how a simplistic, but effective button layout is integral to Gamecube software.
The actual controls, as you can see by the picture, are set up in what Nintendo calls "systems." On the left you have the movement control with the D-pad and analog stick, and on the right you have what appears to be a confusing button arrangement. At this point perhaps you've been convinced the controls feel good, but you still question the functionality. Well, one must consider that by using the button-centric "A" button you simplify the controls. No longer will you have to feel your way over the top of buttons to make sure you're hitting the right one. In essence, the button layout is almost like a D-pad in its current formation. You have the center, left, up, and right buttons with the center “A†button acting as your home base. The control system is actually very intuitive, as after you get a feel for the main buttons, the shoulder buttons (L and R) are right at your fingertips. Although earlier controller designs lacked a Z-Trigger, Ninten
do added in a digital Z button on the top right side of the controller above the R button after several developers requested it. This is obviously there to allow the "Z-lock" camera mode for instance while continuing to support both an R and L shoulder buttons. This leaves the “C†camera stick for a variety of things. It may be possible to use the Z-trigger to lock the camera on your enemy upon where you may be able to freely swing the camera centered on your enemy. It all seems very confusing, but once you actually play it, the controller nearly melts in your hand.
The point is, until you actually touch the controller with your own two hands or hear many accounts either good or bad, try to remain neutral on the situation. Do not let the look of the controller sway your thinking. The stock controller which is a very plain grayish white with the colored buttons is somewhat misleading. Take a look at the other controllers that have some of the metallic finishes on them. They're definitely a lot more pleasant on the eyes. In the end, though, it's the layout and ergonomics of the controller that matter, and so far they are everything they need to be and more.
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