Art of Control
Before anyone gets upset, the Wii U Gamepad is far from a bad video game controller. It’s innovative, easy to use, has tons of welcome capabilities, and adds many options to game development. Unfortunately, even with all its inherent greatness it still had a few drawbacks. You could only use one of these gems at a time on a single Wii U, it cost twice as much as any other controller, and for some people it was too uncomfortable to play with.
The NX needs to address these issues. Sure the Wii U’s Gamepad was one of a kind, but it is possible to reach the same results using other devices. Both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One provide second screen experiences using devices most people already own thus mitigating costs and allowing them to charge the standard $60 for a controller. There was no need for multiple options because they allowed other devices to fill in the blanks for them.
With Nintendo finally pursuing the mobile market, perhaps they can also provide second screen options via smartphones and tablets. This will allow them to focus on delivering one gamepad for the NX at a price point that doesn’t break the bank. The Pro Controller for the Wii U is a step in the right direction that puts them in line with what everyone else is offering. If the NX could deliver something along those lines, it would make the transition for fans of other platforms much easier.
