Related to the image, not the article: I find the asymmetrical thumbstick layout to be terrible, ergonomically - the layout on the Switch sometimes causes me physical pain. I’m very glad that Valve didn’t go that way.
Some like it, others don’t. It’s more important that consumers have options rather than absolutely everyone being forced to agree on one way being best.
this philosophy applies to many things, not just controller layout.
Valve and Sony are the only ones that did symmetrical. Symmetrical was actually first with the DualShock for the PS1, but the 360 controller being popular and commonly used for PC apparently made googly sticks more common. The Switch at least has a justification in that the joycons can be removed and used by themselves, necessitating the stick placement.
Oh, good point, I forget about that! They actually went asymmetrical first with the Gamecube, then symmetrical with the Wii pro controller. The Switch is asymmetrical out of necessity, and the Switch pro controller probably is because the joycons are. So it really is only Microsoft always preferring asymmetrical.
Related to the image, not the article: I find the asymmetrical thumbstick layout to be terrible, ergonomically - the layout on the Switch sometimes causes me physical pain. I’m very glad that Valve didn’t go that way.
Some like it, others don’t. It’s more important that consumers have options rather than absolutely everyone being forced to agree on one way being best.
this philosophy applies to many things, not just controller layout.
Absolutely. I’m happy that people have options.
Valve and Sony are the only ones that did symmetrical. Symmetrical was actually first with the DualShock for the PS1, but the 360 controller being popular and commonly used for PC apparently made googly sticks more common. The Switch at least has a justification in that the joycons can be removed and used by themselves, necessitating the stick placement.
Nintendo switched from symmetrical to asymmetrical after the Wii U
Oh, good point, I forget about that! They actually went asymmetrical first with the Gamecube, then symmetrical with the Wii pro controller. The Switch is asymmetrical out of necessity, and the Switch pro controller probably is because the joycons are. So it really is only Microsoft always preferring asymmetrical.
Insert “God: what the hell is this??!” meme with n64 controller.