Design issue question regarding XBOX controllers

[TheMeadow]

So I started working on my latest project, which I'm not yet ready to discuss too much info about. But it started to occur to me that not being an xbox player myself (don't have one nor have I played much of one) that I don't know too much about which buttons controls would be best for etc. (Note: I'm using Xbox360 controllers for their easy ability to work in a PC etc)

Background info on the game:
3D isometic style game where 4 characters roam around levels collecting things and dodging/attacking enemies. Sort of.. Castle Crashers but more platformer than spamming buttons. Idealing looking at more teamwork to get better bonuses etc. Camera will follow the player, so don't need to use controls for that.

So I'm wondering which would be the best buttons that most Xbox360 players would use or anything I may have over looked.

I was thinking something like...
A - Jump
X - Normal Attack
B - Character Special
Y - Special Attack?

Left Analog Stick - Move

Any 'input' is appreciated (hehe a pun!) thanks!

[theslothman]

What's the difference between character special and special attack?

If there's not much of a difference, yeah I don't see how you could make it any better. Depending on what they do, who knows, it might be better to swap those.

[<SI> Josh]

I was thinking something like...
A - Jump
X - Normal Attack
B - Character Special
Y - Special Attack?

Left Analog Stick - Move

This is where playtesting is. Try a few and see which ones work.

However, the current set up is probably how I'd do it. That way, thumb can sit on X button, jump button is covered by thumb, so easy to access, and specials are just a roll of the thumb away.

[Acaila]

Sort them by usage, will the characters jump more than they attack? If so put attack as A and Jump as X etc..

Some other things to consider: Using the Right Trigger and the Attack button to perform a special.

Think about what abilities are going to be used the most (or in conjunction with each other) and assign the buttons appropriately.

In general I find the order of ease of use the buttons as:

Right Trigger
Left Trigger
A
X
Right Shoulder
Left Shoulder
B
Y
Right Thumb
D pad
Left Thumb button
Right Thumb button (Pushed down)

Most people would probably come up with a similar listing, use it as a guide when designing your layout. Then use it for an extended period to see how it holds up

[theslothman]

You said to put attack as a if jump is used more, but then said a is easier to use.

Was this right?

[Acaila]

You said to put attack as a if jump is used more, but then said a is easier to use.

It was an open ended question designed to get him to think about what abilities are used more often, the actual assignments is irrelevant in that example.

[<SI> Josh]

Sort them by usage, will the characters jump more than they attack? If so put attack as A and Jump as X etc..

Edit:Oh, whoops, I had it the other way around (Attack is more frequent so set it to A). Oh well, I'll leave this here anyway. It's useful none-the-less.
I had written this down, but removed it. The reason; Attack will be a spam sort of button. No matter whether the game is spammy or not, never-the-less, the user will spam it. If you assign X to attack, they can spam it, but they also have very easy access to jumping, as they can jump without repositioning their thumb.

Some other things to consider: Using the Right Trigger and the Attack button to perform a special.

I haven't used a 360 controller (have normal xbox though). How many triggers do the 360 controllers have, and are they buttons or full triggers like on the xbox controllers? If triggers, then I'd steer clear of them for attack and jump sorts of abilities. However, if they're buttons (ie, on the psx controllers), then yes, they are perfectly valid choices (I'd probably go right trigger-attack, left trigger-special attack, A-jump)

[TheMeadow]

I believe jumping would probably be required over attacking...

Also the main different between special attack and character special.. might be something like a character setting up a position to act like a boost/box for another character to get up to a higher place... where as special attack might just be a fancier attack

I have pretty much the gameplay stuff in my head/written down and trying to piece it together, thought I might get peoples thoughts on controller layouts to help (and yes josh.. I will be playtesting to find out little things like this etc )

Ta everyone... also Acalia that list is handy, Thanks. Be nice if people could give me more opinions like that *hint hint wink wink*

[theslothman]

I woulda thought jumping would be used more for this kind of thing. Leave it on a.

[André Axe'm]

Configurable control layout?

[TheMeadow]

Configurable control layout?

For what I am coding it in and the functionality of it. I deemed this completely outside of the scope of the project. For future versions etc (if they exist) yes. But for this, no chance in hell I will be able to get that to work properly.

[André Axe'm]

I thought it might be.

[Slazza]

I was thinking something like...
A - Jump
X - Normal Attack
B - Character Special
Y - Special Attack?

Left Analog Stick - Move

I'd use those controls.

[TheMeadow]

This idea has been put on hold, ta for the input guys. Made alot of help in my latest idea that is moving forward faster than a speeding car