Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, who you may remember
hating for his
shockingly-worded preference of 2D
Metroid, still really likes
Metroid Prime 3. In fact, he likes it so much he came up with an alternate button placement on the Wiimote for ideal
Prime playing, one that puts the - and + buttons around the A button like the GameCube's layout. He even suggested, during the same discussion that sparked the original outrage, that Nintendo could have shipped such a 'special edition' Wiimote with the game. He backed up this discussion with a Photoshopped Wiimote that Newsweek put together.
We think that's a pretty fun idea, despite being a collector's nightmare. If the function of the thing doesn't really change, why
not let people spend their money on weird one-off controllers? It's no different than, say, the
Guitar Hero controller or the $200
Steel Battalion doodad, except that it could still be used with other games.
{ Oct 3rd 2007 at 2:00PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
vidGuy @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:07PM
No. Absolutely no. This is a horrid idea on so many levels I don't feel like typing the whole essay out.
Matt @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:47PM
I wouldn't mind it personally. I thought they were terrible on the Cube controller, but for this, it's reasonable.
On the other hand, those 1 and 2 buttons...I'm still not sure if I'll ever be able to use them holding the Wiimote in the Wiimote + Nunchuk style, without shifting my hand entirely...Granted, that would remove the concept of turning the Wiimote on its side for gaming, but hey, who am I to say? I just think 1 & 2 are useless for regular games that don't orient the controller "classic style".
Sonic_13 @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:20PM
Why do we keep listening to what this person (Croal) has to say?
First he rips MP3 (and 3D Metroid games), then he says he still likes them?
And no, I don't really like that idea either.
comtar @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:46PM
I think the control scheme for Metroid Prime 3 is pretty awesome, but for some reason I keep accidently hitting the + key when I want to switch to Flight Control Visor, I think I got so fast hitting - for scanning I somehow have told myself + is for Flight Control...
But ever since I got the X-ray visor, I suddenly don't have that problem.
Thanks X-ray visor!
Almadi @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:55PM
Why stop there? add a couple of buttons on the bottom and make it NeoGeo/SNES VC friendly.
TWOO DEE @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:39PM
Haven't read the article but I thought his only gripe on multiplayerblog.mtv was firing missles but the space between 'a' and the d-pad are still the same on this new wiimote?
Anyway, I prefer the look of the actual wiimote and don't have a problem using it as I've got fairly large hands.
mian @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:32PM
Honestly, move the 1 and 2 buttons up there too, or duplicate them so they're in both positions.
Dan @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:45PM
I still maintain that if there are any problems with MP3, it's not the 3D. They could have fewer hints, less scanning, more jumping, more freeform, and still do it in 3D -- if that would float your boat. (I like the game as is.)
Larson @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:47PM
This wouldn't even work that well for Metroid Prime 3, haha. Because every time you went to fire a missile you would accidentally hit either the + or - button, or both. Meh... I like it how it is. :)
AzaMcWazza @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:16PM
I had no problem with the - and + buttons, it's the 1 and 2 that are a pain to use. If you moved the - and + to where N'Gai suggests, then you'd want to move the 1 + 2 to where the - and + were.
You also need to be aware of when the unit is used on it's side. the - and + could get in the way if they're near the A button, and if you moves the 1 + 2 you're in trouble, you'd want to add other buttons there.
Hirsbrunner @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:46PM
I like Croal's submission for redesign. I'd much prefer the + & - up there. I'm with #6, too, put those 1 & 2 buttons up there a little closer.
Mr Khan @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:50PM
I would place all four buttons around the A button like that, then you would have space to add 2 others down below (like X and Y maybe)
I envision that will be the next-gen Wiimote, or something like it
Lianne @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:05PM
My biggest problem with the MP3 controls is actually holding Z when I'm using the spider ball. After a while it really hurts my hand. However, I do think this redesigned Wiimote would be a lot better for Metroid. It would make it easier to select missiles.
mian @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:13PM
11: you don't want them surrounding the A button at all near the bottom, else pushing it would lead to mispresses. You just want them generally close enough to reach.
I tend to use button presses rather than motions for reloads in MOH Vanguard--in my opinion, it's the IR camera, not the accelerometer that makes the wiimote awesome. Motions should be thought out, well-executed, sparse, and optional (just in case the other conditions weren't met). Buttons should be reachable w/o having to disjoint your thumb.
Duplicating 1 and 2 eliminates any concerns about games that use the wiimote in wheel position. Hopefully 3rd party controller makers will have some freedom to move stuff around.
01 @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:55PM
I actually like the redesign...my main problem with the MP:3 control scheme was that I was hitting the "-" button for the visor, but I was pressing it with the middle of my thumb, which felt a little awkward. In this scheme, I could easily slide my thumb up to tag the visor/hypermode buttons without losing anything significant from the gameplay or controls.