I would like to propose a couple of changes to the
default controller settings.
The underlying reasoning is this: Obviously, the 3DS is not a device where you can actually have two people playing simultaneously. This is a crucial difference to the device we are emulating. It's a flaw, but on the other hand we gain so much.
The only way to pull off two (or more) people playing simultaneously is through Rosalina input redirect, utilizing a 2nd controller on Windows. You could even stream the screen action to Windows, but this is a bizarre scenario. If you want to play, let's say M.U.L.E. with 2+ people, the 3DS is for sure the last gadget choice you would consider. You would just launch VICE on Windows and be done with this. And hell, you could even use the
3DS as a controller on Windows!
I certainly have never found myself in the position where I wanted to use both joy ports simultaneously on the 3DS. Anyone? However, it has caused a great deal of confusion that there ARE two live joysticks by default, and having to re-configure them.
In other words, there is almost no scenario where two live ports are needed. Of course for the rare case where you want it, you should keep the option as a possibility (basically the way it is now).
Suggested changes:
- When swapping joystick ports (soft button, or in settings) you actually don't swap anything, and instead you activate as live joystick port either joy1 or joy2. Whatever input is assigned to the "ruling" joystick, will come live. It might be necessary to create a new default entry in the menu, "Settings of live joystick".
- The other port is disabled then. This will remove the annoying issue of joy1 interferring with keyboard inputs for good. If you really want both joy ports live for some reason, you need to change it in settings.
- As a result of this, we free up a couple of hardware buttons. There is only one fire button (A) for both joy1 and joy2. Furthermore, there is only one auto fire button (right shoulder). In an ideal future scenario (a GUI that has pre-defined settings for each game) you don't even think about this, because the game launches with the ideal settings, incluing correct joy port.
- The real issue, what a user wants to mess with ALL the time, is switching between the directional pads (C-Pad / D-Pad). Sometimes this feels better, sometimes the other. By default, D-Pad should remain as active because it feels most like a C64 joystick. The other pad should be activated by a different NEW soft button.
- (A) becomes the fire button, no matter which joy port is being used.
- (X) becomes (UP) for Joystick port 1 and 2. UP is the desperate attempt of the C64 to make "up" for the pathetic lack of a 2nd controller button (JUMP). I have tried it and it works well.
- Auto-Fire is fixated to the (R) shoulder button. There is no need anymore to waste precious real estate on the (never used!) auto fire button from the other port.
- The main two directional pads/joysticks on the left side will have an active joystick assigned to one of them, while the other one should be re-assigned to non-joystick default keyboard functions (like [Y]es or [N]o, or just be empty and available for re-programming. If you switch active joystick assignments, those other assigments would switch as well.
- The C-Stick (only available on N3DS) should definitely stay the way it is, as cursor input.
As a result, we would free three hardware buttons (B, Y and ZR) in exchange for one additional soft button. In addition, the non-joystick directional pad on the left side can be utilized with four inputs, and all this can be swapped between the two locations. I call that a win, especially since this is increasing user friendliness. The free buttons should be assigned to something by default. Space (B) comes to mind. Return (Y) could be another one. Run/Stop (ZR) because it's so commonly used. There is also the issue of tons of cracker intros forcing you to go through a dialogue where you have to say yes or no to various cheat options. This is a particular issue with all the cracks done by the German group "Remember". Their versions are always first choice. Fantastic creations, but they did not think about the limitations of the Nintendo 3DS (LOL).