cringer8 on 01 August 2007
Technology has come a long way in such a short period of time. The pixel-perfect accuracy of such input devices as laptop touch pads, track balls, accelerometers, etc. has gotten me thinking: why are we still pushing sticks around to game? Imagine a SIXAXIS pad with no face buttons or sticks. Just a large track ball on the left, touch pad on the right, four shoulder buttons, and accelerometers inside. In a FPS, you could strafe by tilting side-to-side; move forward by sliding your right thumb forward (and holding it in the upper portion on the touch pad); control your view with the track ball (even pull off tight, accurate 180 degree turns as with a mouse); and all other controls mapped to the shoulder buttons (firing and changing weapons with right triggers, jumping and ducking with the left triggers). You could even map certain functions to touch screen taps. Just have the pad divided into four quadrants. I think almost all genres would benefit with a track ball over a stick. And a touch pad can act as four buttons and a directional pad seamlessly. But that's just my opinion.
Maybe you could think of a better way to do away with the antiquated thumb stick.
My End of 2008 Hardware Predictions (console only):
Wii : 50 million
360: 28 million
PS3: 24 million
These predictions were made on January 3rd and won't be revised
