Poll of the Day > Should analog sticks be arranged Diagonally or Horizontally?

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/d/df9791b9.jpg

or

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/4923b6ef.jpg

Optimally, the parts of the controller that get used the most often should be lined up with the most neutral position for the thumbs, which is generally the upper two quadrants. The problem is that different types of games focus on different parts of the controller, so there isn't really a blanket "this is best" claim that can be made. The WiiU's configuration of having both sticks in the upper quadrants is better for shooters and other games where you'll be using the right stick more than the face buttons, but worse for games that make extensive use of the d-pad and/or face buttons.

To try and make a blanket statement, I would say that most games worst best with an asymmetrical layout, but that's a suggestion that should be taken with several grains of salt because it'll depend on what sorts of games an individual likes to play.

You can get 3rd party controllers (which will probably just look like the official one), but the official controller(s) for a console will only have one button layout. So it's worth thinking about which button/stick layout you like the most

And of course the dualshock controller has an alternate layout from the Wii U Pro controller, but the sticks are still horizontally aligned:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e4ae1014.jpg

I've never noticed or cared about the difference.

I found the 360 controller fine. I find the PS4 controller fine.

If I was a fast-twitch hyper reaction time pro player maybe it would matter to me, but it's so slight of a difference that it never really matters in any of the games I play. It just takes a slight bit of mental adjustment when switching from one controller to another, but that holds true for pretty much every button as well.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

It just takes a slight bit of mental adjustment when switching from one controller to another, but that holds true for pretty much every button as well.

"Hey you know what would be fun? If 'X' was a completely different button on every major controller layout!"

For the left analogue stick it really doesn't matter.

For the right analogue stick, it should always be on the bottom. The Wii U pro controller arrangement is an abomination.

Either is fine, both are comfortable.

adjl posted...

"Hey you know what would be fun? If 'X' was a completely different button on every major controller layout!"

"Press X to Doubt"

~randomly flings self out the nearest window~


At the moment I'm actually swapping back and forth between three different games on a regular basis. And depending on the game, "sprint" is either on the RB, the LB, or the X button. Which causes absolutely no problems or awkwardness whatsoever.

Though I think the worst was when I'd switch between a couple different FPSes back in the day, where the sprint button in one game was the throw grenade button in the other. That certainly didn't result in any trouble at all.

My worst was trying to play Dark Souls on PC with a 360 controller and Monster Hunter 3U on the WiiU at the same time. B is the dodge button in both cases, but in a different spot, and the fact that the dodge button is needed on very short notice meant I took some significant, avoidable hits. That was a case where I ended up putting one of them down until I finished with the other.

Horizontally.

I've sworn by my 360 controller for PC gaming because of how great it feels, and I never realized why I get the same feeling from the Switch Pro controller until now. Asymmetrical sticks really are the perfect layout.

VioletZer0 posted...

For the left analogue stick it really doesn't matter.

For the right analogue stick, it should always be on the bottom. The Wii U pro controller arrangement is an abomination.

I've never played the Wii U, but looking at the layout it looks like a bad time trying to crab claw the face buttons while moving with the right stick. The sticks are meant to be used with the thumbs!

I don't give a damn