Why Can't All Video Games Have Fully Customizable Controls?

[Weekend_Warrior]

Am I the only one who has ever wondered this?

I mean, it's 2011. Is it really that hard for dev's to add fully customizable controls into every game - that way nobody could ever complain about awkward or shitty preset controls?

The reason I bring this up now is because I just read some reviews on Resident Evil 4 HD and some critics have bashed the newly swapped button commands for Run and AIM/Shoot. At the same time, I remember RE4 on the PS2 and Wii only having one or two control options, both of which didn't make much sense to me - such as the trigger button on the Wiimote NOT being your gun trigger in the game, but rather the A button on top

But yeah, there are countless other games I could think of that had lousy default controls that couldn't be changed, too. All the EA sports titles are another example. Devil May Cry on PS2 is another, etc...

What do you all think?

[flojocabron]

my guess is that is time constraints and programmers code.

the game company has to give that assinment to an employee and they have to back test it with the other parts of the game/program and see that it doesnt interfere with the games code.

Things like this cost money and the wages of the worker on it. Some companies have to budget themselves accordingly.

I'm sure its possible, but then it would be delayed more and that adds up to lost time and or revinue!

Which goes back to the eternal debate of "relase the game now and get patches for it" or take your time and pull out a full complete product.

[Hobie-wan]

Lazy programming. There is no excuse. Most programs and games are built with at least some premade code modules. Maybe a graphics engine or an input parser. There is absolutely no excuse for being unable to remap controls. Putting aside analog versus digital movements, if you want to map up to A, down to select, and fire to down, the game should let you. Mapping any sort of control scheme to suit your eccentricity, handicap, or injury should always be an option. Just like always being able to skip cutscenes and tutorials.

[TornadoCreator]

Today, I say there's no excuse whatsoever. All games should be fully customisable in this way, especially as we've discussed in other threads, as disabled gamers often can't use the controller the way they're intended. With earlier games, it made sense. The OP mentioned Devil May Cry, which is a good example, but in later games in the series this was changed and the controls now are customisable... not perfect but better. One bad example however is Portal 2. The original Portal was fully customisable in every way, but Portal 2 has a few pre-set controller layouts that you have to pick from, a total step backwards.

This is one of the things often overlooked and personally, it's one of the things I downrate games for. I get the feeling many of the things I consider when buying/reviewing a game are not what others consider, but then we all have our own needs. A good example of this is Final Fantasy 12. I will gush endlessly about the Final Fantasy series, but as far as I'm concerned Final Fantasy 12 is a 1/10 game. Practically unplayable. Why? Because it has real time combat but an inverted camera, you press left on the right analogue stick to swing the camera right. This is fine in flight-sim games sure, but usually even they have the option to turn controller invert off, but in an RPG it's stupid. This one control option made the game literally unplayable for me. I played less than 2 hours of the game because I wanted to kill people because of the stupid controls. I won't get used to it, I refuse, I don't care anymore square-enix, I hope you all die in a fire. I'm serious, if you have shitty camera controls and no options to switch of inverted controller set-ups, your game doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned. Final Verdict. Final Fantasy XII gets a 1/10 - EPIC FAIL!

[D.D.D.]

Today, I say there's no excuse whatsoever. All games should be fully customisable in this way, especially as we've discussed in other threads, as disabled gamers often can't use the controller the way they're intended. With earlier games, it made sense. The OP mentioned Devil May Cry, which is a good example, but in later games in the series this was changed and the controls now are customisable... not perfect but better. One bad example however is Portal 2. The original Portal was fully customisable in every way, but Portal 2 has a few pre-set controller layouts that you have to pick from, a total step backwards.

This is one of the things often overlooked and personally, it's one of the things I downrate games for. I get the feeling many of the things I consider when buying/reviewing a game are not what others consider, but then we all have our own needs. A good example of this is Final Fantasy 12. I will gush endlessly about the Final Fantasy series, but as far as I'm concerned Final Fantasy 12 is a 1/10 game. Practically unplayable. Why? Because it has real time combat but an inverted camera, you press left on the right analogue stick to swing the camera right. This is fine in flight-sim games sure, but usually even they have the option to turn controller invert off, but in an RPG it's stupid. This one control option made the game literally unplayable for me. I played less than 2 hours of the game because I wanted to kill people because of the stupid controls. I won't get used to it, I refuse, I don't care anymore square-enix, I hope you all die in a fire. I'm serious, if you have shitty camera controls and no options to switch of inverted controller set-ups, your game doesn't exist as far as I'm concerned. Final Verdict. Final Fantasy XII gets a 1/10 - EPIC FAIL!

I most certainly agree about all games needing customizable controls.

Final Fantasy XII... Exaggerate much?

[Ivo]

I think this is the kind of thing that should be implemented at an higher level so that the individual games can forget about it. You should be able to create profiles on your handheld / console / computer that change this with that. Then NOBODY would need to worry about this again.

I don't even blame the devs that much for being lazy because it does not make sense to reinvent the wheel, and placing remapping dedicated to each single game is going to be a waste of effort (at least looking at it on average, when probably the majority of people don't care - provided the default isn't outright horrible in which case the game possibly has bigger issues).

Ivo.

[alienjesus]

I find I'm happy with most default control schemes, and the more awkward ones ;let me remap anyway (Sin and Punishment 2 for example). The only thing that ever really gets me is when something important is mapped to those stupid clicky sticks 'buttons' the PS3 and 360 have. God I hate those things, and I really don't appreciate having to use them to duck or aim all the time.

[TornadoCreator]

Final Fantasy XII... Exaggerate much?

Oh yes definately. I'm aware I'm probably over-reacting and most people will find it an annoyance, but for me it really did completely ruin the game. I felt betrayed by this game. Final Fantasy X was ages ago. Final Fantasy X-2 was insulting fan-service bordering on porn, Final Fantasy XI was a shitty MMO WoW clone and now Final Fantasy XII was effectively unplayable because, of all things, bad camera controls... it really did ruin it for me. I couldn't play the game. I still own it and I've honestly spent less than 2 hours on it because I find it so jarring. I've tried to play it at least 4 times now, every time it's off in under 15 mins as I get more and more frustrated with it.

[Hatta]

Rayman 2 forced inverted airplane controls on me on the last level (or very very close to the end anyway). I was never a fan of inverted controls before, and I almost quit there. But I pushed through and it burned the inverted controls onto my brain, and I'm really glad it did. I far prefer inverted Y axes now.

[gtmtnbiker]

I think this is the kind of thing that should be implemented at an higher level so that the individual games can forget about it. You should be able to create profiles on your handheld / console / computer that change this with that. Then NOBODY would need to worry about this again.

I don't even blame the devs that much for being lazy because it does not make sense to reinvent the wheel, and placing remapping dedicated to each single game is going to be a waste of effort (at least looking at it on average, when probably the majority of people don't care - provided the default isn't outright horrible in which case the game possibly has bigger issues).

These are good points. Yeah, it all comes down to costing money (development & test work) and the perceived lack of demand for this.

I suggest that people write to Nintendo/Sony/Microsoft to request this.