PSP deemed not Fighter Friendly

[AniAko]

IGN's article (http://psp.ign.com/articles/673/673821p1.html) covers IGN's views on the PSP D-pad, and the introduction to capcom's limited edition D-pad cover with the upcoming Street Fighter Zero 3 title. No word on the US getting this D-pad cover.

At the risk of appearing controversial, we'll say it: the PSP D-pad is smelly doo-doo when it comes to fighting games. Sony whipped together one hell of a system in the PSP, but fighting games obviously weren't its biggest concern.

[Vandenh]

>but fighting games obviously weren't its biggest concern.

or releasing games. Looks like "multi-media" is the hot thing for Sony at the moment (and frankly the PSP is not up to *that* task).

[TrackZero]

Not just fighters. Any damn game that needs the D-pad to *gasp* go diagonal.

[Adam Blue]

It's the same thing as the Playstation controller, and I have always thought it was a shitty design. Thank god for the special edition SF pads on the PS2. I play a lot of fighting games....and the Dreamcast is still king.

[Chiron]

The PSP pad is way worse than the PS2. At least the PS2 does diagonals :P

[Jacob Singer]

What's wrong with using the analog stick? Works for me.

[TrackZero]

The PSP pad is way worse than the PS2. At least the PS2 does diagonals :P

I swear to god, it took me 50 tries to pull off a Hadoken with Ryu on the PSP, it's THAT fucking hard to pull off because of the d-pad.

[TrackZero]

What's wrong with using the analog stick? Works for me.

That analog nub is not suitable for fighter games.

[AniAko]

That analog nub is barely suitable for anything really. Albeit, better than no analog control, my experience has been that the analog sitck in itself isn't really analog. Its precision threshold seems to be 2-3 milimeters. Considering the nub only moves about 15 milimeters or so, I seem to only get about 3 different positions in a certain direction. Not very good considering.

Does anyone know, or can anyone find the specs on the analog nub compared to a console analog stick?

[IndependentGMR]

That analog nub is barely suitable for anything really. Albeit, better than no analog control, my experience has been that the analog sitck in itself isn't really analog. Its precision threshold seems to be 2-3 milimeters. Considering the nub only moves about 15 milimeters or so, I seem to only get about 3 different positions in a certain direction. Not very good considering.

Does anyone know, or can anyone find the specs on the analog nub compared to a console analog stick?

I don't know of any specs, but I have to agree with you when you say the nub isn't suitable for anything. I try using it for Virtua Tennis, and it just sucks. It doesn't really feel right. The nub is basically on a flat surface, or so it feels that way; you can push it all directions, but you can't tilt it. Maybe they'll get it right on the PSP2, har har har! :p

[AniAko]

I don't know of any specs, but I have to agree with you when you say the nub isn't suitable for anything. I try using it for Virtua Tennis, and it just sucks. It doesn't really feel right. The nub is basically on a flat surface, or so it feels that way; you can push it all directions, but you can't tilt it. Maybe they'll get it right on the PSP2, har har har! :p

Wow, that's kind of amazing, I concluded my feelings on the nub after playing Virtua Tennis too! I got the same kind of response with X-men legends, GTA:LSC, and even Mercury.

As far as tilting, that may be a part of it. However I played Mario64 DS using the pseudo-analog functionality with the touch pad, and that felt pretty natural, although there was a short adjustment period. That was sans the elastic feedback of an analog stick as well.

[Jacob Singer]

I just don't have any problems with it myself. GTA, Untold Legends, Tiger Woods, X-Men, Death Jr., MedEvil -- all work fine for me with the nubbin.

[AniAko]

I just don't have any problems with it myself. GTA, Untold Legends, Tiger Woods, X-Men, Death Jr., MedEvil -- all work fine for me with the nubbin.

It's not a matter of not working. The nub works, but wouldn't you prefer the precision of a real analog stick to the nub? I know I would.

My point was that it's get's the job done, but not as good as a real analog stick, or the DS touchpad brought in Mario64 DS

[Jacob Singer]

Well, it is the first portable system I've ever owned, so maybe I don't have enough experience to make any real, valid comparisons. It's just that before I picked up a PSP I read of numerous complaints about that little nub, and I was honestly and pleasantly surprised by how well I thought it worked. Hell, if anything, I have more complaints about the hand-cramping shoulder buttons.

I guess I should also say that I never use the d-pad for fighting games even on regular-sized consoles, so it might just be that I'm an idiot. :)

[AniAko]

Hell, if anything, I have more complaints about the hand-cramping shoulder buttons.

I guess I should also say that I never use the d-pad for fighting games even on regular-sized consoles, so it might just be that I'm an idiot. :)

You're right about the shoulder buttons, same goes for them on the DS. I find it's more comfortable when playing the PSP while in the Logitech case.

It's no biggie using the analog stick for fighting games, it's a matter of preference. Some like the "Stick" feel as an arcade fighter. Either way, the analog functionality of the nub probably wouldn't matter in a fighter as they usually only care about digital signals anyways. I don't know if I could handle TRYING to play DOA on the PSP nub though.

[aversion2k]

...My point was that it's get's the job done, but not as good as a real analog stick, or the DS touchpad brought in Mario64 DS
The Ds stylus rocks, I'm suprised how easy it is to play metriod prime hunters with it. Better then an analog stick, not as good as a mouse.

In my opinion. I dont want to get into a Controller vs mouse war.

[Dracula-X]

Does anyone know, or can anyone find the specs on the analog nub compared to a console analog stick?
256 levels per X/Y axis, and unless my memory fails me it is like the consoles. Developers might tend to dither the zones down to 6 to 10 levels per axis for adequate functionality, as most games don't require the full precision. (the full range is there if needed, however - it is up to the developers how much precision is required. If you're only getting 3 levels in a direction out of a particular game, it is because it is programmed that way.)

Having said that I find working with the nub quite easy and it hasn't been a problem for me. The dpad could definitely stand to be reworked tho.

[AniAko]

256 levels per X/Y axis, and unless my memory fails me it is like the consoles. Developers might tend to dither the zones down to 6 to 10 levels per axis for adequate functionality, as most games don't require the full precision. (the full range is there if needed, however - it is up to the developers how much precision is required. If you're only getting 3 levels in a direction out of a particular game, it is because it is programmed that way.)

Having said that I find working with the nub quite easy and it hasn't been a problem for me. The dpad could definitely stand to be reworked tho.

Well if that's the case, then I can understand the lack of precision in the control. The developers most likely programmed the levels of control the way they did because of the limited range of motion for the nub. Otherwise the nub would seem overly sensative to touch; just as bad as control lag.

I'm not trying to make the nub out to be an EVIL nub, I do find it useful, I just feel they could have made it better.