The DS has no analog stick...

[Blaksmoke]

How do you think that will effect it over all? I know they did it so the thing could fold and close without any obstructions, but playing Mario 64 and Animal Crossing with a D-Pad could be.....annoying.

[Viper]

Mario 64 will be a bit different without it. I'll miss it.


Has anyone else noticed the PSP seems to be missing the analog stick as well even though it was a promised feature?

[Rabunis]

Fuck analog. Digital is the future.

[speed stick]

I really wanted it to have an analog as well. It makes games so much better. Easier on the thumb as well. Sure hope the finsihed DS will have one.

[Blaksmoke]

Good god. Nobody cares about the DS anymore. It's all Zelda Zelda Zelda.

[fishbonetaher]

no analog stick, not really important, whats the point of having 3 different controllers "d-pad, analog and touchscreen", touchscreen will most probably take the place of analog and will be more benificial, if it is so, Sony will most probably release a new version of PSP (after its release) with touch screen technology capable of use on its games.

[Bloodman]

what if instead of the thumbpad the analog could go in its place. Then they can make a small hole in the flipping part so the stick can slide right in there when u fold it? That would't be an obstruction.

[speed stick]

That would be a good idea. I really prefer the analog stick. Much more control.

and yes, people still do care about the DS. I do :)

[dork]

why the fruck would you want an analog stick when you got a bad ass stylus?

[speed stick]

Because it makes it better.

[BriSter1337]

Mario 64 will be a bit different without it. I'll miss it.


Has anyone else noticed the PSP seems to be missing the analog stick as well even though it was a promised feature?

The reason why they took it out is because the stick would screw everything up if you tried to put the cover on the handheld. Same reason for the DS. And the only way there could be an analog stick is if there was no cover, and imagine how awkward it would feel to put one of those in your pocket. Plus, the stick would get bent and damaged really easily. And they break really easily a lot. How many controller thumbsticks have gotten royally screwed up throughout your gaming lifetime? Well, it's no big deal when it's only a controller that costs $20, but what if it's attached to the actual gaming machine? You wouldn't want to pay another $300 for a new machine because the thumbstick on the other one broke, now would you?

[speed stick]

what if instead of the thumbpad the analog could go in its place. Then they can make a small hole in the flipping part so the stick can slide right in there when u fold it? That would't be an obstruction.

^^^^^^^^Brister

[Blaksmoke]

I was thinking some sort of control you could attach onto it....or something.....

[speed stick]

Losing it would become an issue for kids. Unless its not what I'm thinking.

[Blaksmoke]

No, you got it.

Meh. :/

[ScratchedAt]

In the matrix...there was no spoon.


It survived.

[speed stick]

^?

[BriSter1337]

^^^^^^^^Brister

Hmm...I didn't notice that before.

The problem with that is that the indent in the cover would have to be really deep, considering a reasonable size of a thumbstick. If you just had this tiny stub of a thumbstick it'd be insanely hard to control it. A reasonable size would have to be at least 3/4th tall...which then that'd mean the casing would have to be around an inch thick most likely. And that would add a lot of weight and totally defeat the meaning of "portable".

[bi0hazrd]

You know that analog stick get used with time.. You can replace a controller but the DS$$$ I think its better with just a D pad

[neo999955]

In the matrix...there was no spoon.


It survived.

LOL
Anyways they could easily put a analog in, like the PSPs, with a cover. All they have to do is have a small indent at the cover, I really don't understand why Nintendo didn't put one in, one thing PSP one ups it on besides graphics.

3-D games kinda require it, some of them anyway.

[BriSter1337]

Yeah like I said earlier sort of.

A D-pad never breaks. And if it does, it would only happen if you took a hammer to it. Analog sticks (or thumbsticks, whatever you want to call them) break all the time.

[speed stick]

^Yeah, they have to find more ways to make the sticks better.

About the stick, they could figure something out if they really wanted one in it.

[BriSter1337]

They could try and make it out of steel. Lol.

[speed stick]

Some kind of light strong steel that is soft on the end. Just something to make it better. I think its more something to do with inside. You know how the joystick begins to hang.

[majik ninja]

Won't bother me but it'll take some getting used to for sure.

[Rabunis]

Meh, analog is alright. But I don't really care either way. I like digital more. So let's get digital, digital

[speed stick]

Digital.....Digital is good!

[majik ninja]

Whats digital?

[Viper]

A D-Pad.

[speed stick]

I don't really know but digital always seems better. :)

[Viper]

A D-Pad....like the GBA has. The regular control pad.

[majik ninja]

Oh, GO DIGITAL

[neo999955]

analog is better, more control, both should be there really

[speed stick]

um....what is digital though?

[Rabunis]

Like a NES controller not a stick.

[speed stick]

I don't think NES is digital is it? Digital, then...

[Viper]

An example of a digital control pad.


http://gau.ca/images/systems/nes-controller.jpg

[speed stick]

I thought digital was going to be newer. Damn, joystick is better for control.

[Viper]

You're thinking in terms of audio and video. Digital is much better in that aspect.

Analog contained ambient noise in the signal and couln't be adjusted much. A digital signal is pure and can be manipulated very esily.

In controllers, digital means you are stuck with limited directional control. You push the d-pad up, an electric contact is made and the character moves up at a pre-determined speed. With an analog stick, it has 360 degree rotation and 100s of levels of depth when you move the stick even just a tiny bit. The system reads these signals and interprets them into game usable data; you pushed up 1/100th of an inch up and the character will move extremely slow up.

[speed stick]

Thats what I like about the stick. I still say Nintendo will know whats best. thx for the info!

[BriSter1337]

Well, I trust Nintendo on their decision to go digital too. They know more than I do.

However, a D-pad means that a character in every game will automatically move at a pre-set speed. You can't push up on a D-pad slightly and expect you'll move slow. You might lurch forward a bit..D-pads can't sense sensitivity. At least...not with the ones we have today.

[speed stick]

They might change that! I think there is a chance in a way because mario in mario 64 could move at different speeds.(I think) It would kinda suck to move at only one speed in a game in 3D.

But then again what you said, Nintendo knows more then us.

[Blaksmoke]

However, a D-pad means that a character in every game will automatically move at a pre-set speed. You can't push up on a D-pad slightly and expect you'll move slow. You might lurch forward a bit..D-pads can't sense sensitivity. At least...not with the ones we have today.

Exactly, which is why I have no idea how they're going to pull Mario 64 off.

[BriSter1337]

Yeah, I was thinking about that too. It is going to be insanely hard to fly, or walk on a narrow passageway, etc. Be prepared for lots of deaths in that game unless Nintendo has something up their sleeves.

[speed stick]

damn, never thought of those places. Getting me worried now.

[BriSter1337]

Yeah, me too. I hope Ninty's thought of this.

Man...it was hard enough on the N64 getting all 120 stars. Now it's going to be harder than Mega Man X for the GBA.

[Blaksmoke]

Maybe they have a "run" button or something to hold down. Still, that would be a pain...

[dork]

you know what really scares me? all the hideous DS accessories that mad catz and hip gear plan on releasing for it.

[BriSter1337]

Haha, they're going to make some bizzare "Double Worm-Light" thing because of the two screens I'd imagine. Even though it's backlit.

They released a wormlight for the SP, even though that's backlit. Why would anyone want two lights on their SP at once? It would probably wash out the color.

[Generosity of God]

whats the go with the lighting for DS? is it backlit or what? something of this calibur should definitely have back lit or at least a switch like the SP.

as for D-pad or analogue? it doesnt matter too much. developers will create their games to suit the controls well enough. if they dont then they get bad reviews and sales.

for some reason the DS seems like the next GB. i mean it is back compatible. (please dont reply telling me that its not because i know its not, i just saying it seems like it)

i cant remember reading in this thread if anyone knew why PSP doesnt have a stick. i remember reading in one of the articles on IGN that PSP has a thumb pad. i'm pretty sure thats their analogue stick. if this has been said b4 just ignore what i just said.

[Blaksmoke]

The DS will be backwards compatible with the GBA, and it will be backlit.

[Nights]

Hmmm DS and PSP

PSP revolutionary. Yes Analog Control for portable system. Wonderful Dpad for 2d fighting games etc.

DS (some of the games sytlish segments are aweful) Poor d-pad. Some games will be fun and new on the stylish... However I don't see 3d games were use to on consoles working with no analog control as well...

Call me crazy but both the DS and PSP have their own gameplay advantages now.

[Michael]

Since when did psp get a analog control?

Edit: I'm not trying to diss them or anything, but I saw then using a card based system for Metal Gear Acid...

[neo999955]

^ It's always had one, below the D-Pad

[Nights]

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/514/514135/e3-2004-psp-hands-on-20040512003026793-000.jpg

First things first -- no more glossing over details or going off of best word from the press sheet ... that little nub in the lower left corner of the system is an analog controller. It is not a trackpoint-type pointer, as some had guessed (OK, I had guessed), but an actual analog switch. It's got a good deal of give and, although it looks awkwardly placed, the heavy ergonomics of the system may end up having you hold the system in a way that this is actually comfortable. In our hands-on, with a unit bolted into the booth, we were not able to wrap our hands fully around the unit, but we were able to get enough of a feel to say that Sony wasn't crazy when they put one of the most vital inputs for the handheld in an odd spot in the corner. It actually felt right.

Second, lay your fears regarding the directional pad to rest for now -- it feels very, very nice. The rounded corners, recessed center, and separate-but-connected button feel of this pad is actually quite a bit friendlier than the current DualShock. It moved smooth, it was tough to slip off the edges, it felt friendly to fighters (a very good thing, since Capcom has already announced one of its 2D fighter franchises with Darkstalkers Chronicle.) Even the playable game demo was not one to make much use of the analog features (the analog stick was not active), so we weren't able to tell whether the buttons had any extra sensitivity like the DualShock2 (and since Sony's press release makes no mention of such a feature, we'll say now that it doesn't.) Button placement for the Triangle-Circle-Cross-Square buttons was also comfortable. This should make for a nice game pad.

The above information is from IGN's hands on PSP E3 article.