The first thing I thought when I saw the Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller was just how similar it looks to the Xbox 360 controller.
Aside from the reversed joystick and buttons on the right side of the Pro Controller it's awfully similar to the competitor.
"And you could say that our competitive controllers look a lot like our controller," Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told Kotaku.
"Fundamentally, ergonomically, it's driven by what feels good in the hand. The controller has been in development for quite some time, and it's based on feedback that, for certain games and for certain experiences, that type of controller offers a richer experience."
That's really all that matters is the player comfort. I don't care if they all look the same; I mean, how many different ways can you create a controller. You are still always limited to your two hands (unless you count those god awful Kinect, PlayStation Move, and Wii Nunchuk devices). Let's just be glad Nintendo had the brains to mimic its competitors and we aren't stuck with something like the Gamecube controller.
The fact of the matter is that there is only so much variation you can have with a game controller. Once someone finds something that works, people tend to stick to it. You don't see TV manufacturers pissing and moaning that all television remotes are rectangular.
Besides, it's not like Nintendo isn't attempting to redefine the industry. The Wii U comes equipped with its own innovative tablet controller which no other console offers anything like. The Wii U GamePad offers a fully functional touchscreen with built in NFC technology, motion and gyro sensors, and it's incredibly light to boot.
[Kotaku]
