From Paddles To Pads: is controller design killing creativity in videogames?

Emerging Tech 2006 - Tom Armitage - Is Controller Design Killing Creativity in Videogames?

Iscontrollerdesignkillingcreativityinvideogames?

FromPaddlestoPads:

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[email protected]


TomArmitage,aged2.5

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Emerging Tech 2006 - Tom Armitage - Is Controller Design Killing Creativity in Videogames? 4

Current-genjoypads


Next-generationjoypad


New-lookshoulderbuttons!


RevolutionRemote


Thanksverymuch!

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Thegamesindustryisbig

‣Halo2:firstdayonsale:

2.38millioncopies

$125m

‣Spider-man:openingweekend:

$114m

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Thepowerofsequels


Thingswhicharethesame:

Itassumesyou’veusedajoypadbefore


What’swrongwiththis?

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NESpad

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SNESpad

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Playstationpad

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Playstation2pad

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Modernhandhelds

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Xboxpad

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Xboxpadbeingheld

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“Complexitylostthecasualgamer...”

NolanBushnell


“...Ifyoulookattoday’scontrollerwithtriangles,Xs,squaresandcircles,it’sscary.It’slikeakeyboard.Peopleareinterfacephobic.”

NolanBushnell


“Peopleareinterfacephobic”

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Snake-gamingonaphone

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Bricks-gamingonaPDA

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Solitaire-gamingonaniPod

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Current-genjoypads


Alex

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(notehappy,smiling

demeanour,priorto

playingHalo)


AlexplayingHalo

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Isitthecontrollersthatarescaringpeopleoff?

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Consoletake-upintheUS

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0m

12m

24m

36m

48m

60m

8-bit 16-bit 32-bit now

52m48m

42m

31m

Consistently:about31-32%ofhouseholdshaveaconsole


Currentjoypadsareaestheticallyuninspiring

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Singstar

http://flickr.com/photos/paalb/80551306/


Buzz


DonkeyKonga


GuitarHero

http://flickr.com/photos/mayoff/71389886/


SteelBattalion


Halo

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MetroidPrime


Killer7


MicroMachines2


MicroMachines2cart


Sameidiominnext-gen


Handedness

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Asymmetricpads

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DonkeyKongcabinet

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Eventhispadhasabias

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Entirelysymmetrical


Revolution“nunchuck”


Noincentivetousethesewell



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The“UncannyValley”

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PS3controller

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Controllerspecificsare

“nothingweneedtobeconcernedaboutasdevelopers”


Isthisthebestwecando?

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“Ifwecannotexpandthemarket,allwecandoiswaitforthe

industrytoslowlydie”

SatoruIwata


“Itisourresponsibilitytomakegamesforallskilllevels...includingpeoplewhoarenotplayinggamesnow”

SatoruIwata


Revolution


Controllersincomicbooks

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Controllersinfilms

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“Avideogameissomethingyouplaywithcontrols,usuallybutnotalwaysusingyour

thumbs.”

TomLangston


Arethesecontrollerswhatwewanttorepresentvideogames?


Gamesaremorethanthis


Thisisnottheendofevolution

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Thanksverymuch!

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[email protected]

From Paddles To Pads: is controller design killing creativity in videogames?

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Transcript of From Paddles To Pads: is controller design killing creativity in videogames?