29 replies to this topic

[Ze_ro]

So what do you guys think about the various rumble packs (or built-in rumble) for the various consoles out there? Personally, I always thought rumble was fairly lame. Shaking the controller never really made me feel any more into the game than I did before. In fact, the only game in which I actually thought the rumble action added to the game was Rez on the Dreamcast (Haven't played the PS2 version, so I can't compare), where it shook with the rhythm of the music.

Any other games where rumble was particularly effective? Anyone have an opinion on which systems have better rumble? When I first played on the Gamecube, I thought the rumble was much better than the DC or N64 rumble... but still not terribly great.

--Zero

[JB]

Ze_ro said:

So what do you guys think about the various rumble packs (or built-in rumble) for the various consoles out there? Personally, I always thought rumble was fairly lame. Shaking the controller never really made me feel any more into the game than I did before. In fact, the only game in which I actually thought the rumble action added to the game was Rez on the Dreamcast (Haven't played the PS2 version, so I can't compare), where it shook with the rhythm of the music.

Any other games where rumble was particularly effective? Anyone have an opinion on which systems have better rumble? When I first played on the Gamecube, I thought the rumble was much better than the DC or N64 rumble... but still not terribly great.

--Zero

I think it's a nice touch when used properly.

Whoever got the idea to, say, add Jump Pack suppot to Bust-A-Move 4 DC is an idiot, for example.
Same for the guy that decided the controller should rumble with your engine noise on some racing games.


But some games do it really well.

[Ze_ro]

JB said:

Whoever got the idea to, say, add Jump Pack suppot to Bust-A-Move 4 DC is an idiot, for example.

Well, I guess there's really no point in not supporting it at all... I mean, if the player doesn't like it, they can turn it off (most games make this an option) or take out the jump pack altogether. It's not necessary, especially for Bust-A-Move, but it's something at least.

I totally agree with you about racing games though. I remember playing Crazy Taxi with a jump pack, and it basically just shook constantly. What's the good of that? Shake when I hit something, or maybe if I'm doing a crazy slide, but not constantly.

I almost forgot about this, but Dance Dance Revolution on the Dreamcast actually supports the jump pack too... you can set it to shake when you miss a beat, or on every beat... or better yet, you can turn it off entirely, since it definitely will not help you in the slightest. In fact, I think it actually defaults to being off. Naturally, you can't use a jump pack with a dance mat either.

--Zero

[King Atari]

I've got nothing against rumble when it's built into the controller, but if it takes the place of a save card a la N64, it gets on my nerves.

[Tempest]

I HATE rumble packs. To me they just get in the way. Do I really need to feel the controller vibrate when I get hit? Why? To me it doesn't add anything to the game, and in some cases ruins the game. I always turn the rumble feature off.

Tempest

[joeybastard]

King Atari said:

I've got nothing against rumble when it's built into the controller, but if it takes the place of a save card a la N64, it gets on my nerves.

My sentiments exactly - I never use it on the N64 or the DC.

[liveinabin]

Yeah, Rumble is just crap. It doesn't add anything to the game. Often, especially at the end of a big boss battle (you know, where the big monster is crumbling into the ground or something) I just have to put the controller on the floor and let it get on with it.
I remember PSO with the rumble pack (or whatever Sega called it) was terrible, that Dragon battle actually hurt at times.
Give me true force feedback or nothing at all.

[JB]

Ze_ro said:

JB said:

Whoever got the idea to, say, add Jump Pack suppot to Bust-A-Move 4 DC is an idiot, for example.

Well, I guess there's really no point in not supporting it at all... I mean, if the player doesn't like it, they can turn it off (most games make this an option) or take out the jump pack altogether. It's not necessary, especially for Bust-A-Move, but it's something at least.

True. But in BAM4 it was jsut annoying. It was HORRIBLY implemented.

Quote

I almost forgot about this, but Dance Dance Revolution on the Dreamcast actually supports the jump pack too... ... Naturally, you can't use a jump pack with a dance mat either.

Awww, and I was already rigging a hydraulic platform for it...
"Dance Dance REVOLUTION! Extreme Sports Edition!"

[Clock]

Back in the PSX days the rumble really was something I just turned off, it was rarely used well and just made your hands feel funny.

But on modern systems they are far more effective and have better variable rumble amounts, Halo on the Xbox is a prime example of how to use the rumble feature to enhance the gaming experience

[figgler]

I think it usually sucks but it can be done brilliantly - Like in Zelda Ocarina of Time. Once you collect the Stone of Agony (or something like that) it causes your Pak to rumble when certain items are buried or hidden nearby. Using the Stone of Agony is the only way to get certain stuff unless you already know it's there via cheating.
That's about the best example of rumble I've seen so far

[Ze_ro]

It would be nice to see some kind of force feedback that could actually pull the controller in certain directions... like if you're in a racing game and you get hit, the whole controller will pull to the side or something. Of course, I have no idea how you'd actually make a controller do that without putting hydraulics or something in it

I've been in car accidents before, and it certainly doesn't feel like mild vibrating.

--Zero

[Ze_ro]

Oh yeah, I guess this thread couldn't really be considered complete without a link to the Xshok Controller Mod. Although I fail to see how electrocution works any better than vibration.

--Zero

[JB]

Ze_ro said:

Oh yeah, I guess this thread couldn't really be considered complete without a link to the Xshok Controller Mod. Although I fail to see how electrocution works any better than vibration.

--Zero

Now see, that's just dumb.

[Cropsy]

Add one more vote for lame. I really don't need the controller to shake while I'm trying to use it. The fact that new controllers are significantly heavier due to the hardware needed for the built in rumble feature doesn't impress me much either!

[Saturn]

I thought it was kinda cool/different for the first 10-15 seconds.(N64)

Chalk up another for lame, though.

[liveinabin]

get yourself a copy of PS1 Ridge Racer 4 and a Jogcon if you want to see how it should be done. The force feedback on that game is superb. When you take a really tight corner and run onto the rough ground (especially on 'Heaven and Hell') you really have to fight to get that car straight.

On the rumble thing, I do remember the very subtle use of Rumble adding to Rogue Leader. I didn't notice it until I turned it off, when the controller suddenly felt very detached from the action. So, I guess it's not all bad. BUT, if one more 'survival horrror' game rumbles my heart rate at me I swear I'll kill!

[liquid_sky]

i take it you wernt a fan of fatal frame then?

[hex65000]

I am also not a fan of rumble packs. It's just annoying to me. If I want that tingly feeling on my hands I'll eventually go mow the grass. While this is partially from a different thread, the most interesting thing to me was the Dreamcast VMU. I never got a lot of milage out of the stand alone games, but the mini display was just a good idea; an idea now emulated with the gamecube/GBA combo. As one of the few people who like the larger X-crate controllers, my only complaint is that huge green jewel telling me that I have an X-Box controller in my hands. That's good to know, but a hard wired LCD or _something_ would have been incredibly nice. Or a... MS-VMU!

Hex.
[Occasionally has to hug his DC and tell it that it is loved... ]

[RCmodeler]

Some games like Zelda: WW and Metroid Prime and Rez use the rumble very, very effectively.

Other games like FF10 or Kingdom Hearts is a complete waste.

So it depends on the game.

.

That said, I prefer Force Feedback like the steering wheels used in racing games. That makes it feel like you're actually DRIVING the car instead of just playing a game.

[Harry_Dodgson]

Comparing the only two I've tried (DC and PS), I think the PS dual shock is a better solution. Metal Gear Solid has some interesting effects. Gran Turismo also puts it to good use.

I turn if off for most of the Dreamcast games as it is just annoying. Many times I don't even slot it as it unbalances the controller. I do agree that it works nicely with Rez though.

[Brian R.]

Best use I can think of is for fishing games, like Sega Bass Fishing on the DC. Good use of the rumble feature.

[kisrael]

Mario Party uses it kinda well. (though it's annoying, because if a single person is using a wavebird without it, you have to switch to showing "!!" speech balloons for everyone)

And for some reason I like it as the "victory signal" in Smash Bros. Often it's faster to feel it rumble (or listen to it in someone else's hands) than to get the information from the TV display.

[PuddWakkr]

I actually like the rumble feature. Soldier of Fortune 2 when you fire the shotgun you know what weapon your firing . In games where it's annoying I just turn it off. Rumbling controllers are here to stay.... till the next thing replaces it.

[Ze_ro]

So what the hell? If pretty much everyone thinks that rumble is stupid... then why do companies still go out of the way (and make controllers more expensive) to include it? Do the Japanese really like this or something?

--Zero

[liquid_sky]

i turn it off in most games