Xbox 360

Microsoft just released the new Xbox 360 controller, in the color green. The special thing with it is that the D-pad is enhanced, supposed to give more directional options than before. More info inside!

The new D-pad supports 16 directions, instead of the old 8. The only game released supporting that feature is PES09, and since I just got the game I haven't had too much time to try it. I've used it for a couple of weeks in other games though, and what's import to point out is that it *feels* exactly the same as the old ones when you use it.


My biggest complaint with the original D-pad is that it feels uncomfortable for the thumb to use it in longer sessions. After using it in PES, it was a complete relief to go back using the stick in the game. The problem with the stick is that you don't have anywhere close to the same responsiveness, taking on defenders was suddenly a bigger pain.

It's hard to tell if there is much difference in PES compared to the old D-pad. Though I've heard people saying that fighting games are a tiny bit easier to play with this, as well as using it for changing weapons/tactics in FPS. Those old games doesn't support the new 16 directions, but the controller might generally just be more responsive.
The color itself isn't half as bad as I first thought when I saw images of it, I personally absolutely prefer it to the white ones.


For me, the important thing for me was to see if there was any difference in the general feel when you push a direction, and as I said there isn't. That's my biggest disappointment, even though the new D-pad may come in handy when the developers starts using the 16 directions. How this all works is hard to know since Microsoft has been really quiet about the controller, except for stating that it's an "enhanced D-pad and a new color". I'll just continue dreaming of a completely new D-pad, or the courage to grab a piece of sandpaper and go wild on the old ones.

Green Xbox 360 controller

  • The green Xbox 360 controller - Green Xbox 360 controller
  • The green Xbox 360 controller - Green Xbox 360 controller
rob230
rob230
Commented on 2008-10-23 16:30:49
Sadly from all the reviews i've read it doesn't improve things very much at all
In reply to
adget
adget
Commented on 2008-10-23 16:41:40 In reply to rob230
This message is in "Boulet Time" (TM), If you still *really* want to see it, click here
Posted by rob230
Sadly from all the reviews i've read it doesn't improve things very much at all
It's a controller..its the same damn controller they came out with at launch..only green..I can't even believe there are "reviews" on it..
Shikashi
Shikashi
Commented on 2008-10-23 16:49:30 In reply to adget
Posted by adget
It's a controller..its the same damn controller they came out with at launch..only green..I can't even believe there are "reviews" on it..
It's supposedly better, why wouldn't there be reviews of it?
In reply to
bramski
bramski
Commented on 2008-10-23 17:23:52
Enhanced my arse! enhanced would be a D-Pad that also acts as a rotary dial that would allow you to scroll through options and weapons, Zoom in-out, Whatever. But hey, it's green, I like green, so I'll probably get one.
In reply to
Foo
Foo
Commented on 2008-10-23 17:56:56
Does it have the same bumpers as the red one (which is said to have enhanced bumper buttons)?
In reply to
ZeroEx
ZeroEx
Commented on 2008-10-23 18:06:52
So wait....
Games have to support the "16" directions?
In reply to
Manager - Shemale
Manager
Commented on 2008-10-23 18:25:41 In reply to ZeroEx
Posted by ZeroEx
So wait....
Games have to support the "16" directions?
To be honest, they've barely said anything about the controller - all I got was a short mail stating "it's an enhanced D-pad and green color". I haven't seen any official PR about it either. It's hard to know if any developer actually will use it.
In reply to
Baleur
Baleur
Commented on 2008-10-23 18:25:59
Uh................................. So its only the green one that has the enhanced d-pad? And only the red one that has enhanced bumper buttons? Why dont they just... Like... Upgrade ALL controllers built from now on?

Surely this is the case, not just a specific color, right?
"Oh i want a better d-pad, so ill get the green one. Or do i want better bumper buttons?" LOL.. Surely all of the enhancements are applied to the future manufacturing of ALL controllers.......... ?????
In reply to
Manager - Shemale
Manager
Commented on 2008-10-23 18:27:19
From what I've read, this is a limited edition and will only be on sale for a short while. But I read as you say, that the red one doesn't have the enhanced D-pad.
In reply to
broman
broman
Commented on 2008-10-23 21:27:59
I doubt you could call this d-pad enhanced. It looks exactly the same. Why do they have to keep using that horrible round design? Make it more similar to the face button layout, like Sony does. Fighters and classic games are impossible to enjoy on 360 without a joystick
In reply to
Archaos
Archaos
Commented on 2008-10-23 21:33:04
I wish they'd release all these different colours at launch..

Meh, I need a new controller anyhow. Might as well be a funky green 'un.
In reply to
stevensmith
stevensmith
Commented on 2008-10-23 21:45:30
Oh cool! That will fit nicely with my brown Zune!
In reply to
sixtoo
sixtoo
Commented on 2008-10-23 22:25:16
Pssh, that green looks ugly.. I think the black one is still the best :P
In reply to
pythxvii
pythxvii
Commented on 2008-10-23 23:25:07 In reply to broman
Posted by broman
I doubt you could call this d-pad enhanced. It looks exactly the same. Why do they have to keep using that horrible round design? Make it more similar to the face button layout, like Sony does. Fighters and classic games are impossible to enjoy on 360 without a joystick
I partially agree, but I think it just needs to be less bulky. With a normal old school dpad its hard to have the 16 degrees, but the 360's dpad being raised and huge is annoying. It should be just rigth on the controller, only slightly raised up, and just be smaller.

Also, green=WIN And am I the only one that yhiks this is even more pathetic then the elite? Seriously,. just update the controlers, dfon't release a seperate "better" one that only relaly has a tiny thing different+ a paintjob.
In reply to
sarias
sarias
Commented on 2008-10-24 07:35:52 In reply to pythxvii
Yes. You are.

It's a business. If slapping a different paint on top of the controller drives profit up, they'll do it. I think this is very profit oriented currently.
In reply to
2PintsOfInsulin
2PintsOfInsulin
Commented on 2008-10-24 11:10:04 In reply to pythxvii
Posted by pythxvii
I partially agree, but I think it just needs to be less bulky. With a normal old school dpad its hard to have the 16 degrees, but the 360's dpad being raised and huge is annoying. It should be just rigth on the controller, only slightly raised up, and just be smaller.

Also, green=WIN And am I the only one that yhiks this is even more pathetic then the elite? Seriously,. just update the controlers, dfon't release a seperate "better" one that only relaly has a tiny thing different+ a paintjob.
Count your lucky stars they didn't ship the 360 with the *Hamburger Mit* Xbox1 controller. I've still got one of those at home, it should've come with a screen!!!

Crap colour though. Would go with nothing I own.
In reply to
Archaos
Archaos
Commented on 2008-10-24 12:55:30
^^Don't mess with the duke!
In reply to
tid
tid
Commented on 2008-10-24 17:08:09 In reply to 2PintsOfInsulin
Posted by 2PintsOfInsulin
Count your lucky stars they didn't ship the 360 with the *Hamburger Mit* Xbox1 controller. I've still got one of those at home, it should've come with a screen!!!

Crap colour though. Would go with nothing I own.
I loved the old-school massive controllers, still have mine too. I don't even have big hands
In reply to
2PintsOfInsulin
2PintsOfInsulin
Commented on 2008-10-24 17:41:09
^^I suppose it was Microsoft's idea of how to bring the family together (like Wii).

You could assign members of your family to certain groups of controls.

:o)
In reply to
hiscore
hiscore
Commented on 2008-10-25 10:58:19
My biggest complaint is that Xbox 360-hardware (even more than its predecessor) isn't reliable: RRoD, responsiveness of controller pad buttons + D-Pad, the fact that it makes more noise without a disc than my PS3 with a disc inside, the DVD-drive bay problems, etc. Rushing your stuff onto shelves one year ahead of your opponent (PS3) is one thing, manufacturing faults still apparent after 3 years is another. Ok, there's the waranty... but seriously.
In reply to
tampanda
tampanda
Commented on 2008-10-26 03:55:40
It's all business my friends. Do the smart thing, wait and read reviews before you blow your money on something that isn't justified by your want/need ratio.
In reply to
PlumbDrumb - Still drinking
PlumbDrumb
Commented on 2008-10-26 04:14:44
So the real problems with the d-pad have been ignored.

Saves me 40 bucks.
Thanks Manager.
In reply to
SimonM7 - The other mod's bitch
SimonM7
Commented on 2008-10-26 19:30:08
I dunno why every dpad these days is made out of hard plastic. The saturn model 2 dpad is prolly my all time fave and that's actually somewhat rubbery.
In reply to
BarfHappy
BarfHappy
Commented on 2008-10-27 06:49:27
my biggest problem with the dpad was in GRAW, it wouldn't register my order correctly, often thinking i pressed left or right when i wanted up.
In reply to
PlumbDrumb - Still drinking
PlumbDrumb
Commented on 2008-10-27 07:05:41 In reply to SimonM7
Posted by SimonM7
I dunno why every dpad these days is made out of hard plastic. The saturn model 2 dpad is prolly my all time fave and that's actually somewhat rubbery.
I don't think it was really rubbery, it just had a sandy finish.
Or was it? I can't remember now that I think about it.

I'd probably eat these words, but I loved that little stick attachment for the SMS controllers. I seemed to do a lot better with those.
I also liked the square shape opposed to the crosshair.

These are niggles though, the basic fundamentals of the 360 d-pad are completely f*cked. Fix that and then we can get fun with it.
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