Why did the GBA lack two buttons?

[Shadow#1]

https://powkiddy.com/products/powki...-kids-gift-3d-new-game?variant=40243638829236

 

[Creamu]

https://powkiddy.com/products/powki...-kids-gift-3d-new-game?variant=40243638829236

Its a good design worth copying

 

[Shadow#1]

Its a good design worth copying

It's not a prototype as was requested from u

 

[Creamu]

It's not a prototype as was requested from u

How is having 2 face buttons better than 4?

 

[JuanMena]

@Creamu ...

Are you... ... xxDarknessxx?

 

[Creamu]

@Creamu ...

Are you... ... xxDarknessxx?

I dont know who that is.

 

[Shadow#1]

How is having 2 face buttons better than 4?

Because it was designed around 2 buttons

 

[Creamu]

Because it was designed around 2 buttons

Please provide prototype with 2 buttons.

 

[Shadow#1]

Please provide prototype with 2 buttons.

I'll get right on that as soon as u show a gba prototype with 4

 

[AkikoKumagara]

Please provide prototype with 2 buttons.

OK.




The only known GBA prototypes that didn't have two face buttons had none. (There are buttons actually on the board but not proper finished buttons, but it's an equal amount of buttons to the finished product).

 

[Creamu]

OK.

Thanks for providing the prototypes

The only known GBA prototypes that didn't have two face buttons had none. (There are buttons actually on the board but not proper finished buttons, but it's an equal amount of buttons to the finished product).

Yes, this shows that they were conflicted with their decision of how many buttons to put in the final product. As other users have speculated earlier in this thread, it is a plausible assumption that 4 face buttons were on the table in discussions during development. A port of Smb2 snes verison was an early title, so snes ports werent an afterthought, making this assumption a pretty solid one.

 

[AkikoKumagara]

Yes, this shows that they were conflicted with their decision of how many buttons to put in the final product.

It doesn't show that at all. It shows the exact same buttons that were on the final product.

 

[Creamu]

It doesn't show that at all. It shows the exact same buttons that were on the final product.

Why did they not finish the buttons on that prototype?

Upon further inspection I have come to the conclusion that the buttons on the last prototype of those provided have 4 face buttons in a very close configuration as the snes face buttons.

In fact, the prototypes above seem to be pretty late stage prototypes since they are so close to the finished product.

I conclude with the following hypothesis:

The last of the provided prototypes is an earlier one with four face buttons, since the layout of the face buttons is so close to the one of the snes controller.

I'll get right on that as soon as u show a gba prototype with 4

Even four button deniers must recognize that this looks like a four face button layout on this gba prototype.

 

[AkikoKumagara]

Why did they not finish the buttons on that prototype?

Upon further inspection I have come to the conclusion that the buttons on the last prototype of those provided have 4 face buttons in a very close configuration as the snes face buttons.

In fact, the prototypes above seem to be pretty late stage prototypes since they are so close to the finished product.

I conclude with the following hypothesis:

The last of the provided prototypes is an earlier one with four face buttons, since the layout of the face buttons is so close to the one of the snes controller.

Even four button deniers must recognize that this looks like a four face button layout on this gba prototype.

The buttons above B and A are L and R on the board. lol.
Watch the video.

The gamepad attached there is an actual SNES controller that's modified to connect to the board, hence the 1992 copyright date.

There was NEVER anything to indicate we were going to get more buttons added to the GBA other than the L and R shoulder buttons.

 

[Creamu]

The buttons above B and A are L and R on the board. lol.
Watch the video.

I believe you. They might have conceptionalized a four face button layout initially.

The gamepad attached there is an actual SNES controller that's modified to connect to the board, hence the 1992 copyright date.

Yes, I put those two together as a comparison.

There was NEVER anything to indicate we were going to get more buttons added to the GBA other than the L and R shoulder buttons.

Yes, but this prototype might indicate that they initially were planning 4 face buttons instead of the shoulder buttons. And I think the fact that theyve ported snes games to the system early on is an indicator that a full snes layout was being discussed. I think that is plausible. Also look how they placed start and select just like on the snes controller.

Maybe during the developement someone on the team said:
"Hey the snes controller is so great that sony copied it more or less. And we want to port snes games on that system, why not make it like the snes controller."

And that idea could have looked a little like this:

The prototype even has SNES controller support.

OK got prototypes that has 4 buttons?

Thanks to @Sophie-bear I was able to provide a prototype that has 4 face buttons.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

was this originally in the eof or was it moved? if it was originally in the eof, then damn, you guys are kinda shit at telling when someone's joking

 

[Creamu]

was this originally in the eof or was it moved? if it was originally in the eof, then damn, you guys are kinda shit at telling when someone's joking

Yes, Im serious about this one and think it was moved.

Another point why the GBA is lacking the two buttons:

Ego shooters like doom. You really neetd LR to strafe and then your are only left with the a and b button to do other tasks. Thats not enough. The lack of two buttons holds the handhelds potential back.

 

[Deleted member 483379]

This thread is fucking gold

 

[Creamu]

This thread is fucking gold

Finally somebody appreaciates my work.