MDave
ZEQ2 Lite Developer
First of all, just want to say amazing work Pandora team! 
This post may come across as very nit-picky but I do not mean to come across as negative.
It goes without saying that the D-Pad design is a very important one for those that require accuracy and precision executing commands in rapid succesion in fighters such as the Street Fighter and King of Fighter games. This dosn't apply to fighters only either, as top down 2d shooters might also rely on such accuracy.
My concern is about how flat it is shown, and if the circular part of the D-Pad is also part of it and not the actual casing, in the press shot of the Pandora: http://www.openpandora.org/bigone.jpg
This could be a problem executing smooth circle like motions or just trying to do diagonal directions if the actual cross part of the D-Pad is the only part that moves which such a design. Reason being your thumb would press down on the gap, possibliy losing pressure between 2 directions. This ruins commands that require at least quarter-circle commands (down to left/right for example).
Examples where this has been a problem is the GBA SP, and the first generation phat DS.
Now, an example of a D-Pad that seems to be near perfect is a console that was praised for its excellent 2D fighters: Japanese Sega Saturn controllers. (or version 2 controllers that eventually came out everywhere else.)
http://www.shoryuken.com/review/100_0628.JPG
http://www.shoryuken.com/?page_id=52
The Sega Saturn's D-Pad has a design similar to that of the Pandora's in that it has the cross and the circle surrounding it. This whole piece could be tilted, providing exact direction control as well as comfort because of reduced friction. Reason for this is because there is a gap for it to tilt
Of course, on the Pandora there isn't a whole lot of room to increase the depth/height of the D-Pad. But! If the whole piece could be tilted, and there was at least a 2mm gap between the casing and the circular design of the D-Pad, you would have perfect control. Now I don't think this would be impossible or hard to do, as its just removing a little excess plastic too close to the D-Pad.
I realise it could be late to see about addressing a possible problem like this at such a late time in development stages.
It's my only wish to finally see good D-Pad design once again.
If all else fails, I'll just plug in a USB saturn adapter weee.
This post may come across as very nit-picky but I do not mean to come across as negative.
It goes without saying that the D-Pad design is a very important one for those that require accuracy and precision executing commands in rapid succesion in fighters such as the Street Fighter and King of Fighter games. This dosn't apply to fighters only either, as top down 2d shooters might also rely on such accuracy.
My concern is about how flat it is shown, and if the circular part of the D-Pad is also part of it and not the actual casing, in the press shot of the Pandora: http://www.openpandora.org/bigone.jpg
This could be a problem executing smooth circle like motions or just trying to do diagonal directions if the actual cross part of the D-Pad is the only part that moves which such a design. Reason being your thumb would press down on the gap, possibliy losing pressure between 2 directions. This ruins commands that require at least quarter-circle commands (down to left/right for example).
Examples where this has been a problem is the GBA SP, and the first generation phat DS.
Now, an example of a D-Pad that seems to be near perfect is a console that was praised for its excellent 2D fighters: Japanese Sega Saturn controllers. (or version 2 controllers that eventually came out everywhere else.)
http://www.shoryuken.com/review/100_0628.JPG
http://www.shoryuken.com/?page_id=52
The Sega Saturn's D-Pad has a design similar to that of the Pandora's in that it has the cross and the circle surrounding it. This whole piece could be tilted, providing exact direction control as well as comfort because of reduced friction. Reason for this is because there is a gap for it to tilt
Of course, on the Pandora there isn't a whole lot of room to increase the depth/height of the D-Pad. But! If the whole piece could be tilted, and there was at least a 2mm gap between the casing and the circular design of the D-Pad, you would have perfect control. Now I don't think this would be impossible or hard to do, as its just removing a little excess plastic too close to the D-Pad.
I realise it could be late to see about addressing a possible problem like this at such a late time in development stages.
It's my only wish to finally see good D-Pad design once again.
If all else fails, I'll just plug in a USB saturn adapter
weee.
