Your dream controller or accessory ideas

[Samurai Ghost]

Hey guys, been really busy these days and unable to post much, but I had a question for you all. If you could design any kind of controller or accessory for the current generation of systems (including handhelds) what would it be?

The reason I ask is that I work for a work for a major 3rd party accessory maker (HORI if you're curious, who have made a few controllers for the PCE in the past) and we have meetings with the main designers every month to pitch new product ideas for the US and European market. These days we mostly make fighting sticks, controllers, cases, and screen protectors, but anything is game! Especially stuff for the Wii U. I'll pitch any good ideas to them and who knows, maybe your idea will be manufactured and available in stores one day! If it is I'll be sure to send you a free sample.

I know this sounds like I'm trying to get you guys to do my work for me, but I figured I'd ask here since you guys are pretty creative and know your stuff!

[HercTNT]

I want a turbo duo controller with small vibration motors. would like some switches to select on and off operation, and maybe even vibration strength. such a controller could add some depth to shooters and fighting game. would also like to see such a mod made for the express's and gt's.

[Duo_R]

Depending what happens with the Wii U games, a little mini arcade cab for the Wii-U would be sweet, especially if games could be played just the controller. Not sure if that is possible since I haven't been reading up on that much.

[Nando]

A Saturn like pad for smart phones and the ability to dock the phone to the pad. Mainly for home gaming, not so much portable.

[esteban]

I want dual-rotating joysticks so I can play Time Soldiers properly.

Hey, you said I could dream.

[esadajr]

Give me a Holosuite !!!

[Tatsujin]

Lol, I'm living like 5mins. from hori japan away

[Deletion]

Make this a reality.

[bartre]

well hori already makes loads of arcade sticks, why not making them with something like this built in?
http://www.focusattack.com/akishop-ps360-multi-console-joystick-pcb/

I'd personally be a lot more willing to buy an arcade stick that works on more than one system.

[Ji-L87]

It probably exists but...a 360-style controller with that particular stick placement but with a PSP-style d-pad for the PS3/360/PC would rock. I don't mind wires.

[RegalSin]

There is no current generation, just a bunch of idiots, who are going to spend the rest of their lives in fail. Keep buying this, jiber-jaber stuff.

Remember that scantron game system? In China and other Asian nations, they had football scantrons, along with infared scantrons. I would make an interactive device, that combines the usage of these original devices. This way we can have a universal, online card, digimon, game system. Not release after release. They have one for the PS3, and PC, that are interchangeable, right now.

[KnightWarrior]

a Saturn like Controller for the PC Engine/Duo

[Deletion]

well hori already makes loads of arcade sticks, why not making them with something like this built in?
http://www.focusattack.com/akishop-ps360-multi-console-joystick-pcb/

I'd personally be a lot more willing to buy an arcade stick that works on more than one system.

Good idea. I have the Qanba Q4 that works on the 360, PS3 and PC. Giving Qanba some competition would be great.

[bob]

The Joycard Sansui for NES killed it. Turbo buttons, great shape, and a stereo in port with headphone jack.

[GohanX]

I'm not sure how profitable it would be, but one thing I would like to see is super high end gaming accessories. Things like high quality leather handheld system cases and high quality metal styluses for the 3DS XL (like the ones that used to come with $400 Palms and Pocket PCs, I hate the plastic ones.)

Also, controllers. Most controllers are made of plastic, some better than others. How about a luxury controller? Super comfortable, with the exterior being made of some kind of soft rubber or something to make it feel good and not just a hunk of plastic. Think of the difference between driving a BMW and an old Ford Escort. I got that idea from my car, actually. I updated the interior from vinyl to sexy leather, and noticed my shift knob isn't much larger than a Sanwa ball top, and I wondered how a soft leather joystick would feel.

Yes, I know all that would be expensive as fuck, but hey, Hori released the VLX line of sticks, so they understand there is some small marked for super awesome high end stuff, but I am unsure if that actually brought the company any profit.

By the way, if you happen to know any of the guys who designed the 3DS XL screen protectors, tell them that they fucking rock. It fit perfectly, the new weird way of applying to the bottom screen made it a snap to install, and it seems invisible once applied. Best screen protector ever.

[Samurai Ghost]

Thanks for the comments JKM! I agree that our screen filters are top notch. And I'm happy HORI keeps the quality high and would love to see some luxury sticks and controllers. I think HORI sticks are some of the best money can buy, and the VLX Premium sticks are just amazing peices of kit. It's really like someone just dropped a Japanese arcade cabinet panel in your lap. Too bad they are out of production at the moment. I hope more stuff like this comes out, but as for now I have to say the Fighting Edge sticks are pretty damn awesome. They just reek quality and are amazing to use, not to mention looking slick as hell. Not to sound like a commercial here but I just love them. If the Edge does well in the US we can expect to see more top of the line sticks in the future.

Make this a reality.

It's funny but when I was reviewing all of the past product proposals, one of the design guys at the Japanese head office had proposed this! A boob controller. I pushed for it but I don't think it will see the light of day unfortunately.

As for the dual mod issue, it's not possible due to legal issues. Almost everything HORI makes is officially licensed by Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Namco, etc., so it's just not possible for us to make sticks compatible with multiple systems. Qanba just doesn't give a crap about any of this and does whatever it wants to without regards to licensing issues or legality, but I agree it would be convenient to have a stick that works on multiple systems without lag issues from converters. I had an XBOX/PS2/GC compatible Soul Calibur 2 stick but it was a piece of crap. So at the time I just bought converters for my homemade PS stick.

Would love to see a Saturn style pad out for the current consoles. There's something in the works that is along those lines though so I hope it garners enough interest with retailers to go into production.

[CPU64]

What that person is doing... on the t-shirt picture.. I'd love to try that someday.

Back on topic, I wish some of the audio in games came through the headset. Like radio transmissions in Battlefield, or whenever Cortana talks to you in Halo campaign

[Nando]

Would love to see a Saturn style pad out for the current consoles. There's something in the works that is along those lines though so I hope it garners enough interest with retailers to go into production.

That would be bad ass.

So can Hori not work as a DBA or with another company to manufacture top of the line converters? Some folks with multiple systems but not enough resources to buy multiple sticks for their systems would buy them. Obviously lots of bidness research would have to be done to see if it would be profitable/legal.

Anyway, not sure if Hori does it yet but what about controllers and interfaces for kids with disabilities?
http://www.ablegamers.com/Disabled-Gamers-General-News/ablegamers-2012-children-s-grant-program.html

[soop]

A Saturn like pad for smart phones and the ability to dock the phone to the pad. Mainly for home gaming, not so much portable.

That was the first thing I was gonna say.

How about this; say you had a SNES pad with a lead (or wireless maybe) to go to a certain system.  Now, you know those circles on the SNES pad, where the buttons go?  Imagine you could turn it a quarter circle and pop it out, and then put in a 3 button module in the Genesis layout, or pop in a 2 button rapid-fire unit for PCE games.

Something like that would be perfect for virtual console releases (though I'm not sure Genesis buttons would fit in the space of a SNES's).

I haven't really thought this through much, but I guess what I'm thinking is that people get their favorite base controller, and then swap around buttons for different systems.  IDK.

BTW, here's a SNES earring I made out of Fimo:

[Samurai Ghost]

Back on topic, I wish some of the audio in games came through the headset. Like radio transmissions in Battlefield, or whenever Cortana talks to you in Halo campaign

We generally don't make headsets, and I never use them myself, but it's true audio doesn't come through them? That seems odd to me.

So can Hori not work as a DBA or with another company to manufacture top of the line converters? Some folks with multiple systems but not enough resources to buy multiple sticks for their systems would buy them. Obviously lots of bidness research would have to be done to see if it would be profitable/legal.

Anyway, not sure if Hori does it yet but what about controllers and interfaces for kids with disabilities?

Well generally I don't think it would make sense for us to make converters with the licensing issues it would create and the fact that we would rather sell more controllers than a cheap converter. There are plenty of converters out there though! As for controllers for disabilities, we've been approached by people regarding that before, but unfortunately I think it's just too much of a niche market to be practical. I'm sure some custom controller maker/modder could do something like that though!

How about this; say you had a SNES pad with a lead (or wireless maybe) to go to a certain system.  Now, you know those circles on the SNES pad, where the buttons go?  Imagine you could turn it a quarter circle and pop it out, and then put in a 3 button module in the Genesis layout, or pop in a 2 button rapid-fire unit for PCE games.

Now that's an awesome idea! I've been trying to push for the retro style controllers as you know I'm a fan. HORI made an SNES style controller for the GC, and there could be one in the works for the Wii/Wii U, but it just depends on how much interest it would garner. I think it would be a great product, and if you could customize the button layout that would be great!

[kazekirifx]

How about a carrying case for a portable game system with space to keep a few games, where the games don't fall out every time you open the case?

[soop]

Wow, I didn't know that about the gamecube controller, but I guess it does sum it up pretty well.

[bartre]

yeah, i've used on of those GC controllers, and the button swapping idea is pretty sweet, the only problem i can see is how you'd connect the button circle thing.
perhaps something of a pressure contact? like put the contacts on a spring panel that gets pushed down when the button pad is on top?
or maybe just have 4 spots or so that get connected when the circle bit locks in place?

[soop]

Yeah I was thinking pretty much like a lightbulb.  But I'm sure Hori would be more than capable!

[Nando]

An Oppai controller!!   


;)

[Nando]

Here's another what about a cradle that lets you output to a TV signal? are those available yet?

So along the same lines as the NeoGeo X - mount your phone, connect to S-video/AV/HDMI and a bluetooth controller.  So like the Ouya as well.