DS: it's SO uncomfortable to use the buttons! • Gaming • General Gaming • Eurogamer.net

Deleted user 13 January 2006 00:51:54

Got Mario Kart today. Much as I love the other DS games I have for it, this game is the first one I've played that's totally button controlled, and the buttons could not be worse placed as far as I can tell. The shoulder buttons are particularly misplaced, and overall the buttons are far too close to the outside edge of the machine, and too near the bottom, for its vertical size.

Anyone else feel the buttons should actually be at the bottom of the top screen? Try holding the machine so your hands are in that area and see what I mean.

Grrrrrr. Ah well.

Edited by Owen-B at 00:53:04 13-01-2006

ChocNut 13 Jan 2006 01:20:28 2,471 posts
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Here's hoping the DS redesign rocks!

Toonster 13 Jan 2006 01:32:39 6,930 posts
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It's a little strange, but I was surprised at how well I could control the kart with that D-pad. Once you get used to it, it's not really that noticeable.

Ignatius_Cheese Moderator 13 Jan 2006 09:19:23 11,104 posts
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Can we rename this thread "My fat fingers won't let me play the DS properly"...?

/walks away

SirScratchalot 13 Jan 2006 09:20:08 7,921 posts
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Ignatius_Cheese wrote:
Can we rename this thread "My fat fingers won't let me play the DS properly"...?

/walks away

Shhh... All DS threads are friendly... Don´t break that feeling...

Threshall 13 Jan 2006 09:22:41 222 posts
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You'll soon get used to it - I used to get cramps in my hands when first playing MK, but now its absolutely fine.

Just keep playing!

Huntcjna 13 Jan 2006 09:23:26 13,890 posts
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Well I was trying to play GTA last night on my shiny new psp and I couldn't get through ten minutes without it giving me repetative strain injury.

The DS design is like a giant cotton wool ball compared to the PSP design.

Retroid Moderator 13 Jan 2006 09:25:48 45,464 posts
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Huntcjna wrote:
Well I was trying to play GTA last night on my shiny new psp and I couldn't get through ten minutes without it giving me repetative strain injury.

Then you should stop wanking!

Honestly...

Whizzo 13 Jan 2006 09:27:39 44,810 posts
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You're not holding the PSP correctly then, I've played GTA in multi hour sessions without problems.

knif3r 13 Jan 2006 09:28:58 54 posts
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can't be worse than a standard PS2 controller

Ignatius_Cheese Moderator 13 Jan 2006 09:32:01 11,104 posts
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SirScratchalot wrote:

Ignatius_Cheese wrote:
Can we rename this thread "My fat fingers won't let me play the DS properly"...?

/walks away

Shhh... All DS threads are friendly... Don´t break that feeling...

That WAS said with a definite scent of sarcasm, my dear...

Hicksy 13 Jan 2006 09:32:08 2,677 posts
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It's not a perfect design granted, but it's not a bad design either

I get on well with it, only every getting discomfort with 2+ hr sittings which is not really what it's designed for so I can live with that

ed 13 Jan 2006 09:35:40 260 posts
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I just wish you could swap the A and Y buttons round in mario kart. It shouldn't be that big a deal for a developer to provide a couple of control schemes, just like mario 64 DS!! Instead the worse than useless "change map" button is right where the thumb should naturally rest.

Awesome game though!

[maven] 13 Jan 2006 09:38:23 5,799 posts
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ed wrote:
I just wish you could swap the A and Y buttons round in mario kart. It shouldn't be that big a deal for a developer to provide a couple of control schemes, just like mario 64 DS!! Instead the worse than useless "change map" button is right where the thumb should naturally rest.

I completely agree. It's not fat finger that's the problem, it's LONG fingers...

Leela 13 Jan 2006 09:55:09 485 posts
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I find the shoulder buttons a little awkward when playing for 1/2 hour or more and I start getting cramp in my hands. Gamecube controller is a lot more comfortable, but as Hicksy said, it's what they're designed for. I don't think the DS would work with a gamecube style controller!!!!

Edited by Leela at 09:55:25 13-01-2006

Huntcjna 13 Jan 2006 10:01:47 13,890 posts
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[maven] wrote:

I completely agree. It's not fat finger that's the problem, it's LONG fingers...

I think thats what crippled me last night with the psp tbh, hopefully I can get used to it.

Hicksy 13 Jan 2006 10:05:46 2,677 posts
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Another probelm I get is if say I'm lying on the bed you naturally tend to lift the DS (or PSP) into a chest height position, leaving the hands high up with lessened circulation, leading to discomfort. Find myself forever reminding myslef to lower the hands a few inches!

Deleted user 13 January 2006 10:32:53

I'm getting sore fingers from Advance Wars. Could do with the DS being bigger not smaller. Failing that i need to get about half an inch removed from each thumb and i should be ok. Anyone know any doctors who'd perform such a procedure?

tiddles 13 Jan 2006 10:36:22 3,555 posts
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Huntcjna wrote:
Well I was trying to play GTA last night on my shiny new psp and I couldn't get through ten minutes without it giving me repetative strain injury.

The DS design is like a giant cotton wool ball compared to the PSP design.

Don't forget you can swap the digital and analogue controls in GTA if they're giving you trouble.

Huntcjna 13 Jan 2006 15:01:47 13,890 posts
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tiddles wrote:

Huntcjna wrote:
Well I was trying to play GTA last night on my shiny new psp and I couldn't get through ten minutes without it giving me repetative strain injury.

The DS design is like a giant cotton wool ball compared to the PSP design.

Don't forget you can swap the digital and analogue controls in GTA if they're giving you trouble.

Didn't realise that cheers tiddles

Deleted user 13 January 2006 15:02:23

otto wrote:
I'm using the buttons in AC:WW, so much so that I've actually left my stylus somewhere and I can't remember where. I really don't have any problems with the button layout, though it has to be said I'm not using the shoulder buttons in AC.

Am I the only one who uses the stylus then? It's a damn site more comfortable than the buttons, but I hate how my hand obscures the screen sometimes if I'm running right. (I'm left handed).

ChrisOTR 13 Jan 2006 15:05:45 1,670 posts
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Whizzo wrote:
You're not holding the PSP correctly then, I've played GTA in multi hour sessions without problems.

Or, the less inflammatory and more useful answer - people are different. Personally I find the DS comfortable and the PSP mostly so (took me a while to get used to the analog stick spot) but I know people who find both difficult.

If you can't get on with a machine and you've tried for a while, it's just one of those things, I think! But persevere for a while as your hands may get used to it.

ChrisOTR 13 Jan 2006 15:06:43 1,670 posts
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By the way as a fellow lefty I get that problem too - covering the screen as most games are designed for right handers.

mal 13 Jan 2006 15:08:43 29,326 posts
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The shoulder buttons are uncomfortabe for anyone with normal or larger sized hands, I reckon. But I'm a big fan of the rest of the buttons. It's worth knowing that the Y, sorry, X button does the same as L in MK, so I tend to use it in preference for firing things (though I use L to hold things).

mal 13 Jan 2006 15:10:46 29,326 posts
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ChrisOTR wrote:
By the way as a fellow lefty I get that problem too - covering the screen as most games are designed for right handers.

I have that problem too, and I usually use the stylus in my right hand. Sometimes I end up holding the stylus unnaturally far from the end which makes it inaccurate.

Still, for games where you actually touch to interact, or where the bottom screen's not the main screen, it's fine. It's just useless for running around in AC.

ChrisOTR 13 Jan 2006 15:10:53 1,670 posts
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Sigh. I'm sure they're uncomfortable for you, but, to reiterate my point, that doesn't mean it's the same for everyone - it's personal. I've got big hands and don't have a problem.

People are different!

(Please read the above in a cuddly voice. Don't want no fightin')

Edited by ChrisOTR at 15:11:49 13-01-2006

Leela 13 Jan 2006 15:11:03 485 posts
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mal wrote:
The shoulder buttons are uncomfortabe for anyone with normal or larger sized hands, I reckon. But I'm a big fan of the rest of the buttons. It's worth knowing that the Y, sorry, X button does the same as L in MK, so I tend to use it in preference for firing things (though I use L to hold things).

I have small hands compared to adult males!