Comments on: Trackball Controllers for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo

By: xylenz

xylenz — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:14:08 +0000

Also, this is very much like diamond frame vs. recumbent, qwery vs Dvorak/Colemak, and piano vs Janko. Always the former inferior interface preceded the later improvement, ensuring its dominance though ubiquity, despite its inferiority. Once an interface becomes accepted an popularized it will NEVER become replaced*. Even 1000 years from now people will still be playing piano keys, despite the fact that there is a far superior arrangement. Likewise, the standard Game controller with its gimped right joystick will also me around as long as controllers are needed for games.

The problem with the white fusion / BodieLobus approach is that it ignored this reality and decided that game makers would simply have to spend time and money accommodating their controller. FAIL. They should have had the insight that they would need to map the trackball’s acceleration to joystick controls rather than expecting developers would make games for absolute positioning. Once someone does this they will be able to sell enough to stay in business. But even they will always be a small minority simply because most people use what they are given and dont think to look for better solutions.

(* Betamax was not an interface, it was a technology).

By: xylenz

xylenz — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:57:34 +0000

Aside from the hardware, all it would require is circuitry that detected the trackball’s acceleration and mapped it to joystick controls. Most track ball circuitry detects absolute position rather than acceleration. By tracking acceleration and mapping it to relative joystick motions it would be able to work with existing games.

By: King Midas

King Midas — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:44:07 +0000

I use both the game pad controller and a PC track ball mouse equally. There is no question in my mind that the trackball mouse controller has an advantage. My question is simple this. How hard would it be for someone to creat an interface/adapter for the game consoles that would allow a person to plug in a PC keyboard in and (Trackball) mouse to use in place of a game pad? I would rather not have to buy another accessory (i.e. Console Trackball) that doesn’t work as well and is more expensive than something I’m already using. Just something to think about. Peace Out!

By: qG Qore

qG Qore — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:13:46 +0000

I am totally with you Nick G, and i understand your feelings right now. Well i am playing Quake 4 on Xbox 360 and going to play UT3 for the xbox360, i would also like to play with custom pads, but its not allowed on Lan tournament. Its completely different in online leagues, because they cant see on what you are playing.
I would totally support that idea. Some Q4 mates are trying to solve this problem either. We want to play UT3 competitive, i prey for some big tourneys. Anyway i personally think that the console scene is new and there for there are still many distrustful people. I mean console esports is growing slowly, its at its beginning, right, but if some people would like to have more sense, why bothering them with such stupid arguments that they have got a big advantage. Just to remind you, consoles big brother PC, has also got adjustable input devices. My point is why cant someone play with the Trackball when he feels more comfortable with it. We are allready locked in a box, and cant change shit, so why not customizing the devices. I personally think that its nonsense and totally agree with all of you. Or can anyone in any other sports type, Football, for example say, oh dear… my opponent is wearing other shoes, he might have a little advantage, he could be faster. In Rally they even live with the differences its competitive. I just cant understand that way of thinking, the console community has. It will remain equal on the fairness.
It is totally a market gap, no doubt.
So if i or anyone of my quake 4 mates could help you with that, just let me know and catch me on MSN: se1z@gmx.at. or visit our clanwebsite: http://www.qualitygaming.eu

By: Nick G,

Nick G, — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:10:02 +0000

I do not think bodielobus is even in business anymore. I have written numerous emails, sent letters by mail (yes, REAL mail) and got crap. I really wanted this controller to happen, but it appears they went away. You cannot even pre order the controller anylong (site is down and now appears to be for sale).

Yes, this dream of a FPS controller has NO existence ANYWHERE on the net. I have looked 20 pages deep into google, ask.com, dogpile.com, hotbot.com I have called IGN I have called gamespot, I have called Microsoft, I have called ALL 3rd party MFG’s (ie madcatz, pelican etc) and NO ONE has ANYTHING to offer on this.

I believe this is most annoying (I am actually VERY pissed off at this fact).

grrrr im so mad.

By: Business Career Center

Business Career Center — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:59:03 +0000

Business Career Center

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting

By: Victor R

Victor R — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 23:22:33 +0000

I love the ignorant response from Sony, I quote from WhiteFusion.com about
Sony’s response to the idea of a good tracball controller: —-Fusion says “We do have working prototypes for current generation consoles that, as Sony has
told us, provide an unfair advantage over standard controllers”
–UNFAIR??!! I ask ….
MY reply to Sony is – Just because you have grandfathered in a lousy
controller system ,should we all refuse better?. If that were true , we
would still be fighting wars with rocks and sticks . Or . riding in horse and buggy because a car is an unfair advantage.
Right now . I understand Sony, because if you were to equip one player
with the new controller concept and the other player with the old, In a
Shooter ‘ in effect it will be like giving one guy a five foot long rubber
rifle and the other guy gets a high precision gun. So … who wants to be
fair??? I will get the new one and kick the crap out of the guy dumb enough
to stick with the old , just because it is there.
Anyway…NOTE to all: please go to these sites and support the developers.
I can’t wait for them to succeed! GAME ON!!

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:25:25 +0000

Robert, the latest press release form Bodielobus announces official support for PC, and also hints at future adapters for other platforms like Xbox360 and PS3.

By: Riley

Riley — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 03:44:03 +0000

Im in Australia and i saw a cheap version of the trackball controller for ps2/pc in an ALDI supermarket and it was sold out. Thats the only one i have found so far and it was $20. I was wondering if there are any of them in stores like EB games, game traders etc. in Australia.

By: robert

robert — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:35:43 +0000

I am just a fan and had a wuick question. I was hoping that it is in the works already but if you have plans to or have already made a controller for the PS3 or the Xbox 360? Thanks alot Robert