310°

Rumor: Microsoft prepping new Xbox 360 controller with improved d-pad for the holidays

We've got it on good authority that sometime this Holiday season, Microsoft will launch a new Xbox 360 controller with a rather unique d-pad.

Why o why5015d ago

one of the 360 pads weakest points

Playerz85015d ago

Who was stupid enough to make a d-pad like that? I love my good ol' Dualshock.

Baka-akaB5015d ago

seriously , and to think they released a serie of pads even before going ino consoles .

The sidewinder pad had the same dumb d pad design .

zeeshan5015d ago

Much needed change! Fighting games suck on 360 controller because of the d-pad. I am sure that this change will be welcomed by the majority of 360 owners including myself!

-MD-5015d ago (Edited 5015d ago )

The D-pad is its only weak point. I hope this makes the controller perfect.

Disagrees? What other part of the controller is bad?

TheBand1t5015d ago

Most of it is preference, but I'd like the sticks to be symmetrical and the L1/R1 buttons to be a bit bigger.

iamnsuperman5015d ago

People have different preferences I prefer the Dualshock controller due to its symmetrical analog controls (Btw i didn't disagree)

WengYong5015d ago (Edited 5015d ago )

For me its the size, years of DualShock use has my hands tuned to its configuration. Unfortunately for fighting fans the 360 controller will never suffice. Its size and triggers are a nuisance for fighter fans. The DualShock dpad and button layout is the better option. Won't matter if you own a Fight Stick though.

Will wait to see if it is better, as for the games I play on 360 the controller is perfect as is.

EDIT: And ill agree with you, it its weak point for sure

MrLife5015d ago

It is indeed perfect. All the PS fanboys will tell you otherwise cause they like their symmetrical analog sticks.. LOL

Venatus-Deus5015d ago

Actually Mr Life I do prefer the symmetrical analog sticks, however a perfect controller would probably be an amalgamation of both the PS3 & 360’s controllers strong points.

Naughty Dog5015d ago

the other weak point is the battery pack which makes it heavier.

Why o why5015d ago

The battery back isnt very ergonomically positioned. It rests on sensitive part of the fingers. Hard to explain. Still a great pad but like many have said, its a preference. No pad is perfect for everybody but if that makes it perfect for you then fair enough who are we to argue with that.

mcnablejr5014d ago

'Disagrees? What other part of the controller is bad?'

this is n4g. the place where ps3 fanboys come while they neglect their beloved console.

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Garrus_Vakarian5015d ago

Most definitely. I don't use it if I can avoid it.

mac_sparrow5015d ago (Edited 5015d ago )

Indeed it is, you know you've got a bit of an issue when you watch a large and varied sample of customers using one at a demo pod; and using the analogue stick on the virtual keypad as with the D-pad they can't get to the letter they want.

However, as an observer, it's damn funny.

We used to use the stick to enter the serial numbers when wiping traded in machines too.

Other than that, though personally I prefer the DS3 layout of sticks, there are no problems with the pad for me. It's versatile enough, comfortable enough, and functional enough (as I said, aside from the D-pad).
Change the D-pad and leave well enough alone.

r1sh125015d ago

they should have also tried to find a way to get the fat battery pack off the back to.
With those 2 changes the xbox controller would have been the best.
The d-pag its complete sh*t, but I still like my xbox controller.
The ps3 controller is a little too small and I prefer it for sports games.
Shooters and racers its the 360 controller.
I do have both consoles.

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FreeFalling5015d ago (Edited 5015d ago )

I'm more accustomed to the analog stick for fighting games anyway. It works sorta like a joystick. I can still play fighting games just as well as I did on the D-Pad on the PS3. But maybe its just me.

WengYong5015d ago

My brother is the same, except he uses the DualShock. Funny thing is we got him to use the 360 controller and he couldnt! Meh Fight sticks all the way for Street Fighter, DS3 for Tekken

HydraxFFx5015d ago

Fix the Bumper buttons as well, the RB on 3 of my controllers has broke.

Xx Ziyad xX5015d ago

never seems problem to me , dont fix anything ex the D-pad . while i dont use the D-pad much

ndibu5015d ago

The vibration function is not for those purposes. We spoke about this when your first one broke!

TheLeprachaun5015d ago

I love the 360 controller. Best controller I've ever used. Feels like butter in my hands.

That said, the D pad is a bit bad, but I rarely use it. It's mostly just for changing weapons etc... in most games though isn't it?

JohnApocalypse5015d ago

Personally, I don't have any problem with the D-pad

WengYong5015d ago

To be honest the one game I had trouble with using the D-Pad was Bioshock, when you have to hack those machines using the pipes and stuff. Very inaccurate input. Easily forgiven as Bioshock was such an amazing game at the time I didn't mind so much. I play most of my shooters on the 360, where the D-Pad is rarely used.

But again thats just me

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150°

Microsoft to Add Copilot AI to Video Games

Microsoft recently revealed its plans to incorporate Copilot directly into video games, with Minecraft being the first showcased example.

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xpgained.co.uk
Fishy Fingers3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

F*** AI

"Hey Copilot, what's a good meme to prove I dislike AI".... https://giphy.com/clips/sou...

Einhander19723d ago

Two trillion dollar company that just can't wait to put as many people possible out of work as fast as possible.

It feels like every single thing they do is making gaming worse and destroying the industry.

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darthv722d ago

....you know it takes people to program the AI.... right? It isnt like it is sentient. We haven't reach skynet level of situation or anywhere close to the matrix just yet.

That's next Thursday.

Einhander19722d ago (Edited 2d ago )

It takes a people to program the AI then that AI is used for who knows how many games eliminating countless jobs which only grows as AI is used for more and more game creation functions.

What you're saying is so ridiculously short sighted and truly larking any kind of understanding and foresight.

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CaptainFaisal2d ago

Why all the hate? Im actually excited about this! Always wanted this kind of immersion, and an AI companion with me all the time helping me out knowing the status of my skills/inventory/progress and giving me tips on the best approach or how to craft something specific is game changing for the industry.

Hate all you want about AI, but this is just the start and I can see the potential already. You wont be complaining in the next 5-10 years about this, but rather complain if a game hasn’t implemented it.

MrDead2d ago

Yes we can't wait for the work of others to be used without the need to pay them so that MS can profit even more from the people they fire.

I_am_Batman2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

There is no chance I'd ever use something like this, especially if it's not part of the core game design, but a layer on top of it. It's way too much handholding. Many games already feel like busy work, because they don't let the player figure things out on their own. Having a real-time interactive guide defeats the purpose of playing the game in the first place in my opinion.

If this were to become the standard like you predict, we'll see more and more video games get away with bad design, because people will just be used to ask for help from the AI companion anyway.

Number1TailzFan2d ago

Well Nintendo don't need this with some of their games these days, with invincible characters, items, easy bosses etc.. they do the hand holding built in

helicoptergirl2d ago

Takes "hand holding" in games to a whole new level.

BlackDoomAx1d 14h ago

Because human nature xD Almost every new technology had these kind of comments.

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70°

Activision team is opening a new game studio in Poland 'Elsewhere Entertainment' to build new AAA IP

Microsoft's Activision subsidiary announced today that it is opening a new game development studio to take advantage of the huge talent pool growing in Poland. It'll be the second Activision studio based in the region, joining Infinity Ward Krakow, although this studio is, in fact, not working on Call of Duty.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
Psychonaut856d ago

They’re not working on Call of Duty? Give it time.

380°

Microsoft's quest for short-term $$$ is doing long-term damage to Windows, Surface, Xbox, and beyond

Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's plans to increase every department's margins.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
Brazz8d ago

"The plan to move Xbox games to other platforms is codenamed "Latitude" internally, and I know there's debate and unease at Microsoft about whether or not this is a good idea. More upcoming Microsoft-owned games slated for PlayStation are already being developed. At least for now, they're potentially obvious games you'd most likely expect. And yes, while it's true Microsoft is a prolific publisher on PlayStation already, it has typically revolved around specific franchises like Minecraft. From what I've heard, Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's mandate to increase every department's margins. "

Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware.

Xeofate8d ago

"Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware."

It's for the best.

Quit stringing along xbox fans and screwing over PlayStation owners.

crazyCoconuts8d ago

Take good care of those Xboxes if you have 'em ...

outsider16248d ago

An Xbox game on a Playstation. Never in my years of gaming did i ever thought this was gonna happen.

jznrpg8d ago

It is dying anyway so doesn’t make much of a difference

VersusDMC8d ago

No way can they get rid of the hardware as probably 90% of game pass subscribers are hardware users.

Highly doubtful those users will move to PC or Cloud to subscribe there and the competition (Sony and Nin) will never have gamepass on their system.

If they want to keep the current subscribers, they need to keep releasing new hardware.

PSPSA7d ago

I'm not convinced, why then announce that they're actually working on the next-generation Xbox with “the largest technical leap”, and also looking into handhelds now?

Rols7d ago

Not like MS don’t drop things a hot potato if it is not performing. Look at MS history to see products or platforms discontinued. Xbox is not a charity for MS, it needs to make money and the ABK was the last roll of the dice for Xbox.

purple1017d ago

Xbox hardware team members have been incorporated into surface team

This perhaps shows they are not expecting big things from Xbox as a separate entity

Abear217d ago

Seems like they are planning to win next gen. All the acquisitions were this generation and nobody except Xbox fans expect games from the acquisitions any time soon.

I’m sure Microsoft can afford to lose money on the short term, pretty sure they do risk assessment when acquiring many companies and spending billions, they’ll be fine lol.

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gold_drake8d ago

i think it will kill off the xbox brand. windows will be fine.

but there is and would be a chance that xbox might be killed off in the future. if they fail to make the money they put in. imo.

S2Killinit8d ago

They wont kill it, but they will go fully PC while keeping xbox as a brand, and go multiplatform for the most part. They will also work tirelessly to diminish console gaming’s importance.

PRIMORDUS8d ago

It would be best if Xbox goes the way of Sega, just make and publish games. I know I myself will not support them at all with buying games from them, you all can. 🙃

ChasterMies8d ago

The Xbox brand will live for the games. I don’t expect Microsoft to entirely drop out of gaming hardware. They make Surface tablets and laptops. They’ll make Xbox branded hardware for those that want it.

shadowT8d ago

"Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation"

Forza and Starfield next?

Skuletor8d ago

Starfield would be no surprise and there's the rumor that it will come to Playstation after the Shattered Space DLC, Forza (along with Halo and Gears of War) I find less likely but I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually end up on PlayStation too, especially if Xbox give up on hardware and go the Sega route.

shinoff21838d ago

Not to worried about forza. I'd rather see others like what inxile and obsidian are working on. Starfield sounds like it needs more time in the oven so let it cook first imo. If starfield and it's a small if does release on ps it'll be in the fall around the time for dlc or right at the dlc and come packaged with it.

-Foxtrot8d ago

In the words of Phil Spencer when he was talking about Nintendo last year

“It's just taking a long time for Microsoft to see that their future exists off of their own hardware"

S2Killinit8d ago

Yup. MS are a cancer to console gaming.

Aloymetal8d ago

100%!!
I wonder what happened to that dude that was always here posting those court articles with cartoons about MS spending all those billions in studios. He suddenly disappeared, I guess he doesn't like bad news when the green brand is in trouble. No new articles from him as of late...

PRIMORDUS8d ago

Yup, and it's only going to keep spreading.

Outside_ofthe_Box8d ago

Phil Spencer's words always comes back to bite him lol

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