Wii U Pro controller hands on (video)

[TWRoO]

nitekrawler1285 said:

happydolphin said:

nitekrawler1285 said:
Am I the only one worried about the position of the action buttons(abxy) beneath and further to the center than the left analog stick? That seems awful awkward to me. I can see that being an issue when playing FPS or games that require use of the left analog and action buttons.

I am. Then again nobody reviewing it has mentioned anything negative about it, but neither have they mentioned anything about no force feedback, so... it's inconclusive.

At the same time, there seems to be a benefit to both analogs at the top it makes it more ergonomic for certain things. So, ... pros and cons??

Nice to know I'm not alone in that one.  I can't see how it make it more ergonomic for things though I'm sure someone will be able to point it out.  

I kind of explain it here (mostly in the 3rd paragraph): http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=4604627

Basically what it boils down to is that for controllers of this general shape the place your thumbs rest comfortably is about where the control sticks are on the UPro. And for ultimate control in a 3D enviroinment the dual analogue set-up has been proved to work best without getting too complicated (ie technology still isn't quite ready for the Virtual Boy 2) The UPro and Upad are the first controllers to put two control sticks in the thumbs default positions.

The practice of having buttons and a d-pad in the prime position dates back to the NES... that control scheme is designed around 2D gaming that didn't have analogue input. The N64 and the 2nd PS1 controllers (aka the Dual Analog) were attempts to tack on 3D control options onto a controller designed for 2D. Due to the oddity that the N64 controller is, the Dreamcast controller helped prove the control stick should be in the prime thumb position... and XB and GC took that and added it to the need for dual analogue.
Meanwhile the PS controller remains a 2D controller with added sticks... probably mostly because the PS1 sold so well Sony was hesitant to change anything.

As I also mentioned in the linked post... when your thumb is out of the prime position (bending it down towards where the sticks are on a PS controller) it is an easier action to press a button than it is to control a stick... kind of in the same way that it is easier to jump up and down on one foot than it is to balance on it.