i agree with the innovation side of things with apple, i don't know about everyone else but i know how a gun works.

i guess the controller could be made easier to use with just casual gamers, by limiting the button use on the ps3 controller?

I dont think so!  My little boy is 3 years old and has memorized combos on the PS controller.  Anybody can figure out how to use a controller just like with a remote for your tv, a cell phone, and even the Wii.  It takes time to understand anything that is new to you.  I had to get use to using the Wii with every new game that came out for it.

ya Phil, because Iphone is the first device to use the touch screen... .. .

Well people who don't play games obviously aren't going to be skilled with controllers. I don't think people should be worried about those who aren't smart enough to handle an electronic device, because it's their loss. If the world thought about making everything easier for the people are too stupid to do anything, it would suck. Wii did that, and look how many people hate Nintendo for it.

i reckon the playstation controllers are perfect, fewer buttons and things would get harder with games tha apply abilities at the press of a button, oblivion for example, ok so oblivion, and ps3 controller no longer has the R1 button, i like being able to press just one button to draw my sword or staff-watever- than having to press two buttons at the same time, or tekken for example, it already has u pushing atleast 2 of the main buttons at a time to do higher class moves, and somtimes a direction al button aswell, but if the ps3 CT had LESS buttons, say, lacked the x button for example, means id prolly end up having to press 3 buttons just to do a higer class move for example, ps3 controller = not to many and not to few buttons, just perfect :)

"game controllers are too complex for non-gamers"

 

Now... Maybe I'm in the dark here, but I was always under the assumption that non-gamers, well, they dont play games.  And I was also under the assumption that game controllers were for gamers, which would not include, contrary to popular belief, non-gamers.  Perhaps it's just me... I guess the gaming industry is concentrating on non-gamers. I think every business should take this stand, why dont bars start concentrating on non-drinkers, maybe it'll boost their business!

 

my thoghts is that he tried to implement something "wii" like in ps3's "home" or something and it wasnt allowed since it would be like copying..so basically they didnt listen to his idea and he used that to quit...he prob has a bigger paycheck somewhere elese waiting for him

whats with him all of a sudden i mean did he just find this out? everybody at first doesnt know wat in the world they're doing on a controller but learn.  this guy might end up working for nintendo lol

Bmatt youre right, why is he talking about nongamers on a gaming console? Thats like saying that crackpipes are harder for nonsmokers to smoke out of. Of course, they dont smoke crack.There's not too many McGuyvers around here that can use everything they touch first shot.But hey I can actually fly pretty good in lair and didnt have a hard time beating Ninja Gaiden 4 orig. crapbox. XBOX suxxx.

kek, you shoulden't buy a PS3 if you aren't a gamer rly... so it's not like it matters...and even if it is "too complex" (which it isen't) then you'd soon get the idear of it.. i dare to say that a computer game is even more complex..

To Sony (in the low odds of them reading this): Do not change the PS controller... it's had the same shape for like...forever, and it works well.. 

Oh man, Phil really went bananas after his departure. Complex controllers? Maybe, sometimes, but isn't that normal with everything? New mobile phone? New keyboard? Car with automated gear?

 

Phil, please...

Ehh.. are they sure about that Atari thing? He sure sends a lot of roses to Nintendo at the moment.. I will miss him though.. he was always good for a statement that everybody could understand!

Hey Phill. Non Gamers. Don't play Games.

Hey Phill. Non Gamers. Don't play Games.

maybe he is mentioning it beause the ps3 is also marketed as the cheapest blu-ray player on the market. i know my parents have no clue how to use the ps3 when watching movies

@ #4

I-phone isn't the first device to use a touch screen.

1) You have PDA's that use stylus pens.. Those are touch screen
2) At restaurants, many of the computers used by the staff (mostly for tables/orders) are touch screen

shall we make a list or would you rather just start googling?

maybe the sh!tbox360 controller is too complicated but the reason playstation continues to dominate is the simplicity and comfortable feel of it's control pad. and as for getting 2 year olds to play games, it's ridiculous. they don't even have a job to buy games with. maybe harrison is wrong for once

well for me the wii controller is just too damnn hard i tryed using it and i cant get the hang of it for games like paper mario, only sprots games i liked it now that i liked .... me im gona stick too my ps3 controller it is awesome

who doesn't know how to use a playstation controller...........people who been living under a rock for the last 10 years

it's good that he gave up from sony

why can't non gamers just do what i did when i first picked up a controller - press each button and see what happens. that how i learn't to play every game

had a comment but apparently contained a banned word, be nice to know what tht word was! sort it out

HMM smacks of a man buttering up potential employers to me!!

People can use pretty much any electronic device if given the proper direction. First time I have read anything he's said and thought NUMPTY!

psn id: gingo.... i dont think pads are too complicated but new technology like the wii mote is very innovative and really immerses the gamer in the experience but i must say i really like having a traditional pad

Yeah same thing with the Wii mote. My friend who owns the Wii is very skilled with the mote but me and my friends that don't have one really suck. Have you tried playing Mario Strikers? It's easy to understand how it works but to actually be good at it you have to get really used to the controls!  I find it really hard to control the cursor in Wii games. That comment seems to make sense on the surface but as soon as you think about it a little bit you realize how dumb it sounds.

Hmmm ok Phil keeps licking Nintendos a*s i wonder where his new job is....?

I think that he is correct about the controllers.  My parents got a PS3 almost exclusively for Blu-rays and couldn't figure out (mostly because they didn't care to) the controller and so bought the remote. 

Yep, sounds to me like it was time for him to go....before he ends up on the evening news.  There's no way he could be THAT afraid of change.  I'm all for the controllers.....gives me more options.

imo they need more buttons! some games are losing one capability for another as for the lack of buttons...

I couldn't disagree more, most games give you on screen assistance before you actually start tackling the main missions. Its not as if the layout of the controllers has changed all playstation controllers have worked inthe same way so far.

Yeah the iphone is a cool looking phone. Isn't that how technology works, someone raises the bar and before you know it other companies follow suit and bring out better equipment.

Phil, are you one of these non-gamers?

I wonder if he would be making such statements if he still worked for sony?

Well,using a gun is pretty simple,u just pull the trigger and BANG!

It IS a good thing that console pads are more complex than a touchscreen,that learning curve helps u enjoy gaming on a whole new level,which can't be achieved by a "simple" design,that's why no flash game or Shockwave game,will EVER reach the level of a proper game.

I don't know why in the world Phil Harrison is concerned about casual gamers playing on the Playstation. The Playstation isn't a console for casual gamers and that's just the truth.

The Wii is a console for non-gamers that haven't played a game in their life. The Playstation consoles have had games that are pretty popular with casual gamers though.

Video games these days are more complex than they were back in the days of SNES and NES and they require more buttons on the controller in order for them to be played. For instance, there's no way in the world that you could play Metal Gear Solid 4 or any of the Metal Gear Solid games with just 4 or 5 buttons.

If the gaming industry wants to address this problem, they need to have certain developers that make games for casual gamers specifically and they need to make the game so that it uses few buttons as possible. For instance, they could make a game that just uses the X, O, Square, and Triangle buttons and the Shoulder buttons wouldn't be used at all.

As time as passed, games themselves have gotten more complex, so it's just natural that the controllers and controls would get more complex as well.

it looks like phil is heading to nintendo, his praising apple n nintendo now...this guy has just gone nutz, phil dude just dont say anything, thats the right thing for you to do, anything that you say doesnt really matter NOW!!!

Non gamers don't play games.

And for those looking for an introduction, an appealing game is all they need. Look at the amount of men who only play one game(Madden, Call of Duty).  Let the "non gamers" learn by taking their bumps. When we were kids, we were doing red hadokens, fatalities , friendships, the works.  If someone is interested enough they will figure it out. A standard must be maintained or gaming will go caput. I knew their was a reason that I despised Nintendo for so long and this is it. They have opened the floodgates to g*y*ss'd "make it fun and easy for everyone gaming". Loyalty to the hardcore gamers is a must.

wtf phil

yeah my  4 year old can use the PS3 controller just fine, and he can use the PS3 just fine, he knows how to find games and play them.

i reckon he's going to nintendo haha

I think what he's getting at is that while we have tons of games that cater to people like use who can pull of 15 hit combos or something and dont think a second about it because we're used to the controllers, they should also keep in mind simpler control schemes.

 

Look at Loco Roco, Katamari, Patapon, Everyday shooter; all very rewarding games that dont use half the controllers surface... granted these games are all very small and no where near the complexity of something like Uncharted but the people you want to get into games that arnt gamers arnt going to care as long as the games are fun.

 

But that's only if they havent been trained to play on simpler games to begin with. A d-pad and 6 buttons is all you need for Street fighter and that's what everyone I know grew up playing. Look how we all turned out.

phil's lost it. the ps3 controller is easy to use. and you get used to it fast. give it to a 2 year old and in a month he or she will handle it. and what wii controller is he talking about? the double controller, the normal controller, or the light gun?

Interesting. My analysis... The PlayStation controller is simply perfect. It's been that way since the dawn of time. Comments like this would definately lead me to believe that you need to hurry and leave, and maybe even go apply for a job with Nintendo. Final analysis... We love you Phil but I'm afraid your ship is about to depart.

Its always been the case of this as technology progresses, do you think people especially nongamers adapt to knew gameplay styles so fast. Of course not with the exception of the Wii's downright universal ie friendly wiimote usage. Son'y ought to look into how this controller is loved and why it is used so well in comparison to the SIXAXIS controls.

Sorry, I have to disagree. How many millions of people learn to use windows because there is something there they want to do.

If you really want to play games you'll learn how to use the controller. It's not that complicated, it just takes alittle training. I say make the controllers more "complicated". Design them to have more buttons & be more precise.

Now I'm all for redesigns for controllers. I think someone could do a mish mash of the Ps3 & 360 controller & come up with a great instrument of destruction.

I'm even all for exploring new ways to control a game like a glove or something wore on the hands & fingers. But, the wiimote is not what I want to play next gen games with.

I'll wrap this up by saying that no, controllers arent too complicated but there still hasn't been a controller that felt perfect in my hand. I like the XB360 & PS3 controllers but I have beefs with both.

Simply put, yes they are a bit complex for a novice non gamer. But my gawd they're going to enjoy themselves once they have invested time on learning the skill. They'll be able to take part in epic stories and battles and w/e that simplified machines, ala Wii, can't muster.

i agree with D3seeker here. the playstation controller is simply perfect. except maybe they could make the motion sensor more precise. like the wii controller. so you could play time crisis with the normal controller.

As previously stated by many of you,  using a controller is not very difficult to learn.  At almost any age.  The controller for PS3 is virtually the exact same thing as the Playstation controller.  The design is fine.  Of course there is always room for improvement, but as far as I am concerned, this controller fits well.

I think all electronics are to complex to use. This is just because nobody takes the time to make it simple and self-explaining. I praise Phils wisdom! And I have to check out Apple's iPhone now :) BUT its nothing wrong with the PS3 pads! They are a must have for those who ARE GAMERS! You can't make a game like UT3 to work wita a touch screen! But it would be a great idea to make accessory+games to the PS3 that uses other innovative ways to interact in the game just like the Wii controller's do.

He's going to apple or nintendo isn't he.

 

hope it's apple.

i think that if non gamers were not so phobic and took time to learn it wouldnt be so hard but he is right you have to show them its not that hard i think more comercials should show people playing the games like the wii commercials and i respect the wii because its expanded the market think of all the new gamers who are eventually go get something deeper and more complex like a ps3 i see the wii as a gateway system and what it is doing is good for the whole industry and phils right things like touch technology and simple gui like the XMB should be put in place in everything and sony is making leaps and bounds in this type of easy to use tech by integrating everything from tvs to psps computers and game consoles with home and psn  its really quite fantastic

iphone sucks.... over ratted...

uhh guns are as simple as knives almost lol

well this just sucks. Phil leaves and now he's talking sh**? Yes innovation is good. No touching the tv is NOT good. Who wants to watch a 47" TV full of smudges and fingerprints? Just because it works for the iPhone, doesn't mean it works for eveything else. I had an iPhone and sold it. I like the PS3 controller. It still has less buttons than a PC to configure. Personally I think Nintendo is really getting to this guy.....

The Wii-mote is too comlicated, Phil.  We all should just go back to NES controllers, or better yet, Atari 2600 joysticks.

The 360 and PS3 controllers feel right even to someone who never plays games ie. my dad.  I took my PS3 to his house when I got it to show him all the features and he picked up on Motorstorm amazingly fast.

---

And why are non-gamers using a game console in the first place?  Even casual gamers are still gamers.

i still dig phil but i really hope that he wasn't beefing with SCEJ over this controller thing. the ps3's controller is actually quite sound... even for "non crack smokers" lol is this a ploy to work with nintendo? really? humor me

Praising the wii-mote and touch screen (referencing the iPhone, but actually targeting the DS). Gonna miss ya Phil, but there's no denying where you're headed.

And I also have a 4 y/o son who has absolutely no problem whatsoever going from PS2/3 to xbox to gamecube controllers on the fly. Quite literally, he gets it. I've taught him well but he has a long way to go before challenging his old man...ps: he's gotten me so sick & tired of playing halo 2.

I agree with @Alpha2

 

We have an oversupply of FPS games that rely on knowing how to take cover and twitch reflex a head shot. We also have a big selection of beatem ups & shmups that require dexterity and memorised button control. But you dont necessarily need complexity & sore hands to have fun.

 

Nintendo & Apple are pretty clever because they know how to keep all the technology but hide it behind a simplistic interface. Easier to use makes it a pleasure to play with. Obviously the software people also have to be clever too... Unfortunately only Nintendo software has mastered the Wii so far...

 

I can understand Phils frustration because he probably see's Sony really missing the innovation train which is evident with the poor sales results of both consoles and software. SingStar, Buzz, EyeToy are not that great but at least its a step towards where the Wii & ipod / iphone has taken the market.

mmm but there's only one button on a gun... I mean trigger.

 

Lol, many two-year-olds can use a remote better than their parents.