I think the gaps are part of what make it more comfortable for my thumb to move around from one input to another. That they're indented near the center also helps. And lastly, but perhaps most importantly, the position of the D-pad is very important. So to me it seems they made a conscious decision to place the analog in a 'good' position, and the d-pad in a 'great' position. |
I'm sorry but the DS d-pad was never done because it was some ergonomic breakthrough in terms of d-pad design. At that time, the d-pad was done that way because of certain patents. Sony got around it with that contraption. And now we accept it because the PS1 was successful, despite the controls not because of it.
Why I think the d-pad is awful. You can't slide your thumb comfortably cause:
- The edges will wear your thumb when rocking it back and forth. The rocking motion on the d-pad is needed for many games, not just for games that require individual taps on a single direction.
- The plastic separations are noticable when you rock the d-pad or try to press it diagonally between the usual directions. First you have a gap (I think only the Saturn and some other SEGA controllers have this perfect) then you have the plastic separation making it uncomfortable.
- It's stiff.
- The middle gap is the biggest offender. When I use a d-pad, I like the rest my thumb on it, usually on the center. So with the DS d-pad, when your press it, you get an x-shape imprint and it does not sit on actual soft plastic. With Nintendo's and Xbox's d-pad there is something physical to put my thumb on and it will not wear as much.