Well Malstrom isn't posting right now, but I think this is relevant to some of his points.
There is currently a petition for button mapping to become standard, for the reason that disabled gamers can make game controls that they can better work with.
Now I'm not asking you to sign it, that is up to you. The point is the industry reluctance, which includes lines like:
"We want to give users the best possible option for the game we made. A gamer might, by remapping, make the game less enjoyable/playable."*
...
...
...
Did they even read what the petition was about? This is about making it MORE comfortable, not "might make it less".
How is this relevant to Malstrom? Such a line actually comes from his arguments that developers are wanting to shoehorn the gamers into playing the games a certain way, instead of offering them choices.
Bad mapping isn't an excuse since a player can always, you know, remap if it turns out bad. It just smacks of the developer chosing what control fits what they think is the best experience for the game, regardless of whether that fits for everyone.
The other line is about the idea that it would take more testing and development for mapping, which might be valid, except there is a perception it would do this, not that it actually would. Is that really about tech or about laziness?
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs
