What games are you currently playing?

[Firewind]

I honestly do not like the 360 pad whatsoever. It feels cheap and clunky and the analogue stocks wear down too quickly so it's impossible to know where the deadzone is for the sticks after about a month of usage without plugging it into your PC. Plus the D-Pad is horrible and the vibration is way too powerful and distracting. I've had pads literally vibrate themselves apart because of this.

Then there's the battery life which is just ridiculous, even with plug and play. It's just everything about it screams cheap. It reminds me a bit of the Wiimote except that given it's a Nintendo product, I could more than likely throw the thing into a cement mixer and hit the block with a sledgehammer to break it out and the Wiimote will still function.

[Malacite]

The vibration is too powerful o. O?


I guess for older folks maybe

Actually, I've only ever seen 1 or 2 games (I forget which ones specifically, sorry) that had an option to adjust the level of the rumble, as opposed to simply on or off. Hmm, I've never seen that kind of durability with Nintendo products lol but I HAVE seen it with some of my Sony stuff. Like my old PS1 memory card, that accidentally went through a full wash cycle (forgot it in my jeans' pockets) and miraculously came out 100% intact - no damage to the card or my save files.

[Icemage]

Nintendo makes products built to last mostly (exception: original Classic Controller for Wii).

I'm not sure I agree with all of the criticism of the 360 controller either. I do think the batteries drain relatively quickly and have to be replaced more often than one might like, but the sticks and rumble seem OK to me. It doesn't feel any cheaper than the original PS3 SixAxis controller, tbqh. The PS3 DualShock 3 controller does feel sturdier than the 360 controller, however.

As for the Wiimote... those things survive collisions with TVs at high speed. I'm pretty sure they're the toughest of all of the controllers in the current generation (though ergonomically the worst by a landslide).


Icemage

[Malacite]

The sticks are pretty cheap, I mean they wear out fast and are prone to "sticking" where even if the stick is centered, the camera will keep turning in 1 direction. Never happens to me with Dual Shocks - ever. Only the cheap 360 controllers.

[Raydeus]

From my experience the quality of PS3 controllers is far superior to that of the lolbox controller I got. The only thing I like the design of in the 360 controller is the d-pad which moves very smoothly. But the rest? I'd choose a Dualshock 3 over a 360 any day.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

I don't really see a huge difference between 360 and PS3 controllers in terms of durability. As I had already stated, I find a game that asks you to wear down analog clicks to run to be the antithesis of sound game design. We've had run buttons since Super Mario Bros., if you think your other functions are so important that running gets relegated to something as awkward as pressing or pressing and holding an analog stick down you did something wrong.

And when you incessantly play shooters or other games that are demanding of that stick-click, you only have yourself to blame when the controller starts to fuck up. I chalk this up to not taking proper care of what you own rather then MS cutting corners on quality.

Dishonored, at least, gave me the option to change the click to stealth mode, which makes much more sense to me.

Also, as an aside, its been said that the Wii U Pro Controller has an 80 hour battery life. This means DS3 can now suck it.

[Raydeus]

Battery life matters little though, heck I play with my controller plugged in most of the time and I'd pick a DS3 over a Nintendo or Xbox controller if it wasn't because the PS3 driver for PC sucks. That's why I got the 360 control in the first place.

Nintendo controllers have always been made with kids in mind though, so they are definitely sturdier than those of other consoles. But for normal use DS3 is the way to go for me, the triggers and shoulder buttons are way better, and the grip is just perfect for my hands.

[Icemage]

From my experience the quality of PS3 controllers is far superior to that of the lolbox controller I got. The only thing I like the design of in the 360 controller is the d-pad which moves very smoothly. But the rest? I'd choose a Dualshock 3 over a 360 any day.

Funny, I despise the 360 D-pad, even the new "twist" one sucks. I like the rest of the controller well enough, but the 360's D-pad is inaccurate and wobbly. To this day I wonder what made Microsoft put digital inputs (U/D/L/R) on what is effectively a big flat analog stick. I also like the more trigger-like shoulder buttons on the 360 for shooters, though they feel more awkward for cases where you have to hold down a trigger to do something (Devil May Cry, for instance).


Icemage

[Armando]

(exception: original Classic Controller for Wii).

I'm getting dejavu here, but what makes you say that? I've dropped mine more times than I care to remember (the unfortunate consequence of tethering two controllers) and it's still in one piece. Buttons respond fine, sticks are still firm.

While we're talking about controller peeves, the placement of ZL and ZR in the original Classic Controller is annoying. Also, never noticed this.

[Malacite]

I don't really see a huge difference between 360 and PS3 controllers in terms of durability. As I had already stated, I find a game that asks you to wear down analog clicks to run to be the antithesis of sound game design. We've had run buttons since Super Mario Bros., if you think your other functions are so important that running gets relegated to something as awkward as pressing or pressing and holding an analog stick down you did something wrong.

And when you incessantly play shooters or other games that are demanding of that stick-click, you only have yourself to blame when the controller starts to fuck up. I chalk this up to not taking proper care of what you own rather then MS cutting corners on quality.

Dishonored, at least, gave me the option to change the click to stealth mode, which makes much more sense to me.

Also, as an aside, its been said that the Wii U Pro Controller has an 80 hour battery life. This means DS3 can now suck it.

Sorry but I'm calling bullshit on your argument, based on my at one-time almost fanatical playing of the DMC & Street Fighter series (well mostly MvC), on top of Resistance and other various shooters and games that require rigorous use of the thumbsticks.

Microsoft makes crap.

[Icemage]

I'm getting dejavu here, but what makes you say that? I've dropped mine more times than I care to remember (the unfortunate consequence of tethering two controllers) and it's still in one piece. Buttons respond fine, sticks are still firm.

The original classic controller is a flimsy hunk of junk. The buttons and sticks work and are serviceable, but the plastic is cheap and flexible. It feels like it's going to disintegrate on you if you look at it the wrong way. The CC Pro fixes a lot of those issues - it's sturdier and seems to be made of firmer plastic. That doesn't mean it's not durable, but it definitely doesn't FEEL durable.


Icemage

[Malacite]

Kinda like the PS2 slim lol?

I swear that thing felt like a twig.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Nintendo controllers have always been made with kids in mind though, so they are definitely sturdier than those of other consoles. But for normal use DS3 is the way to go for me, the triggers and shoulder buttons are way better, and the grip is just perfect for my hands.

I wouldn't say that. An unattended and undisciplined child can destroy anything.

When they made the NES, they designed to to appeal to American families. The front-loading design was inspired by the exploding popularity of the VCR and Betamax recorders of the time (a format war Sony because of pride and premium pricing, per usual). It was meant to compete for or share space with a VCR. The Japanese Famicom was a top-loader. The latter certainly proved to be more sturdy, but in the future Nintendo would opt for more efficient, durable and relatively dust-free designs than what the NES was.



And yes, there really are NES cart harmonicas.

[Armando]

I wouldn't say that. When they made the NES, they designed to to appeal to American families.

Shipments abroad have increased.

The completed product is now shipped. These days, more than half of production is exported overseas, mainly to the United States. In Japan, since 14.5 million systems have already been sold, it is estimated that sales will be led by overseas exports.

Still, 14.5 million systems being sold is uncanny. Assuming the population of Japan is 120 million people and there are four people to a family, that equals 30 million households.

Thus, after calculating, one finds that there is one Family Computer system in every two households in Japan. There has never been a toy or game in history that has spread like this.

Inspection of products for the overseas market is the same. The Game Boy and other systems are put under strenuous tests for durability, such as being able to withstand blows from hammers. One never knows what a child may do to their toys.

Source: Stars of Famicom Games -- Page 2

Also remember that in the US they marketed the NES as a toy, not a video game console. All the more reason it needed to be durable.

There's also the Iwata Asks on Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver where a developer dropped his Pokewalker and found it a month later in a muddy puddle, still functional. Iwata commented that it was only designed to be splashproof, not full-on waterproof.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Also remember that in the US they marketed the NES as a toy, not a video game console

Well, video games were mainly of interest to kids back then, but that does not change the fact there was a significant redesign to make what would be the NES more appealing to a western audience already enamored with the VCR and it wasn't just about being sturdy. Maybe this isn't known where you're from, but common slang - and its annoying slang that actually manages to not be entirely stamped out - is cartridges were commonly referred to as "tapes." The Commodore 64, Amiga, the VCR and Betamax are the origin of that. The NES was indeed seen as something like a computer or VCR. Cassettes were still fairly new and people were still holding on to 8-tracks.

Game cartridges looked like something along those lines. Nintendo shot for NES to land among these things and it worked because it got that thought in people's heads.

Trust me, there was a time I wanted to hit people because they were referring to CDs for Saturn and PSX as "tapes."