The "Start" Button - Replaced for the Newest Consoles

[Ashtonx]

So um.. how the hell do i access start menu then ?

 

[Hadrian]

Nintendo will keep them forever, even if it's purely for the retro stuff.

 

[Ashtonx]

Just took a look at ps4 controller.. so they removed it to add 'share' button ? ... omfg and for xbox guessing by the icon it's something like an alt+tab... well at least one of them is useful

 

[emigre]

I'm surprised people actually give a shit about this. As long functionality is retained, who actually cares about he number of buttons?

 

[Arras]

Just took a look at ps4 controller.. so they removed it to add 'share' button ? ... omfg and for xbox guessing by the icon it's something like an alt+tab... well at least one of them is useful

A Share and Options button. The Options button basically does what the start used to do.

 

[chartube12]

in saints row 3rd/4 the start button brings up the save/quit menu. While the select button brings up a menu for several different things, such as your map and quest list. If the game gets ported over at some point, I guess more "apps" will be added to the saint's phone or the save/quit menu will be made as another choice in the select menu.

 

[Mythrix]

I guess it makes perfect sense to remove/rename the button(s). After all, no games actually depend on the Start button to start the game anymore (if ever). Or to use the Select button to select anything. It's like that old Windows joke, "Why is it that you have to press the Start button to stop the computer?"

So yeah, renaming is fine. Rest in peace! You both had a good run and will be remembered with fondness.

 

[chartube12]

I made an account just to tell you that Xbox is not an acronym and is not all capitalized. It is stylized as such because of the font choice, but it is not... spelt that way. It is Xbox.

Oh no it is a grammar NAVI...Worse then Link's normal Navi

 

[TehCupcakes]

I love the start button, but if you think about it, it doesn't really make sense anymore. If anything it is more appropriate to call it "menu", as that is usually what it ends up being. I think Nintendo made a good choice in using + and - in that they are no longer associated with one specific purpose. A "start" button implies that the only thing it does is start the game and then it is entirely useless. A "menu" button is just the opposite, where it opens or closes the menu and that's it. By calling the buttons something more generic developers are open to use it however they want, although many will stick to the conventional uses of the old start button.

As a side note, + and - was a good idea for backwards compatibility, but in the future I see no reason for a minus (or "select") button as this is pretty rarely used.

 

[Qtis]

So I guess for older games that are "ported" over you will use a short press for start and a longer press for select or something like that? Or perhaps they will make L2 select and R2 start?

They have a big touch pad on the controller. If it's needed to have a select button for a game, it can be easily mapped on the pad. It's even a clickable pad.

 

[The Milkman]

I made an account just to tell you that Xbox is not an acronym and is not all capitalized. It is stylized as such because of the font choice, but it is not... spelt that way. It is Xbox.

Such substance to your life, no?

 

[Veho]

Such substance to your life, no?

Maybe she is a Microsoft employee.

 

[Deleted member 473940]

Like mentioned already, Wii U has "+(Start)" and "-(Select)" button. It even says it on the controller.

 

[Hop2089]

The PC Engine had a run button instead of start, I'll manage.

 

[Hielkenator]

The Sega MasterSystem never had a start or select button.....

 

[nl255]

I'm surprised people actually give a shit about this. As long functionality is retained, who actually cares about he number of buttons?

Well have you ever tried using just your phone's touch screen to play Super Mario Brothers or Pilotwings? After all, as long as functionality is retained who actually cares about the number of buttons, right?

 

[nl255]

I guess it makes perfect sense to remove/rename the button(s). After all, no games actually depend on the Start button to start the game anymore (if ever). Or to use the Select button to select anything. It's like that old Windows joke, "Why is it that you have to press the Start button to stop the computer?"

So yeah, renaming is fine. Rest in peace! You both had a good run and will be remembered with fondness.

Though for older games brought over having to use a short press for start and a long press for select is going to be a pain (and no, you can't just map the "share" button to start or select because that is used for sharing). Or I guess they could map select to L2 and start to R2.

 

[Subtle Demise]

Complexity in gaming seems to progress in an arch and not so much of an upward trend. We hit the peak during the xbox/PS2/gc era and since then everything has been getting more streamlined and losing complexity in every iteration. In about 10 -20 years, we'll have gone back to a knob and maybe a button (or more likely a touchpad). At least the games will be prettier.

 

[calmwaters]

Yup.

And they have a new technology too. The Boner-Tech feature. It activates automatically whenever you grab the remote for maximum gaming experience.

Yeah, the rumble feature is really immersive; I think it might be better than the PS3's.

 

[Smuff]

I genuinely couldn't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut.

You are welcome.