Was the reduced number of buttons of the Wii controler good?

[Erik_Twice]

Do you think it was a good move on Nintendo's part? Did it make the console more accesible? Did it hurt game design?

Personally, I think that it's true that you don't need as many buttons to control most games, two are enough. Too many games give specific commands to each button instead of using directional inputs and a button to do it (coughfightinggamescough).

Any thoughts?

[o.pwuaioc]

Yeah, I think the XBOX and PS3 controllers have way too many buttons. I think the PS2 controller should be the max for numbers of buttons, and even then many it has too many for most games.

[Curlypaul]

I generally like controllers with lots of buttons personally, and while most wii manage just fine there are some examples that could really have done with another button near the 'A' button, mainly games that used the pointer which renders the wiimote useless for gesture input

eg The Conduit didnt seem to have a control setup that didnt require some gesture that would move the pointer across the screen at the wrong time in the game. Just one more button would have solved this.

[gtmtnbiker]

The Wiimote is very comfortable and well designed. Simplicity is good. I think the controls that were used for New Super Mario Bros Wii were just about perfect.

[Zing]

The plus and minus button are not out of reach. But, in general, two buttons plus the pointer are probably ideal for any game simple enough for a single remote. Anything requiring more control would use the nunchuck, which brings back the analog stick plus two buttons. The remote plus the nunchuck almost represents the entire GameCube controller. It is only missing the shoulder buttons.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

On its own, the Wiimote is a crappy NES controller. Coupled with the nunchuck, it ranges from so-so to great, depending on the game. The best games that use it are Metroid Prime Trilogy and Fragile Dreams. Oh Fragile Dreams is great.

[ZenErik]

Yeah, I think the XBOX and PS3 controllers have way too many buttons. I think the PS2 controller should be the max for numbers of buttons, and even then many it has too many for most games.

??? The only extra button the PS3 controller has over the PS2 is PlayStation button in the center.

And the only button the 360 controller has over that is the ability to press the d-pad in.

[Hazerd]

whyyyyyy cant Nintendo make a official SNES replica controller for the Wii!?!?!

[o.pwuaioc]

Yeah, I think the XBOX and PS3 controllers have way too many buttons. I think the PS2 controller should be the max for numbers of buttons, and even then many it has too many for most games.

??? The only extra button the PS3 controller has over the PS2 is PlayStation button in the center.

And the only button the 360 controller has over that is the ability to press the d-pad in.

I was thinking they have R3 and L3 (I don't actually own them) but now that's when you press all four R/L buttons together, isn't it? Sorry, implementation, not controller design. Still too many. SNES is perfect for me.

[gtmtnbiker]

whyyyyyy cant Nintendo make a official SNES replica controller for the Wii!?!?!

They have for Club Nintendo members in the past.