Lumines, you have (control) issues

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 19th 2006 at 10:30AM }

360 Fanboy reader, Franky Digital, whipped up a little Lumines comic this week (you never told us you had a webcomic!). Follow the read link to see the punchline. It brings up a good point though: is anybody out there having issues controlling Lumines Live? We haven't played it extensively yet, but the d-pad certainly has a bad track record (Street Fighter, anyone?). Frankly, our biggest problem is keeping track of everything on such a big screen (compared to the PSP). What do you think? Is the d-pad totally suXXorz?

Oh, and don't forget to stay tuned for the winner of the Lumines Live contest. It could be you.

Tags: lumines live, LuminesLive, webcomic

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

KineticOnline @ Oct 19th 2006 10:35AM

*Hopes the last comment was directed at him, cause doesnt want to fork out 1200 for whats basically a game demo*

Bennyishere @ Oct 19th 2006 4:35PM

I NEVER use the D-Pad if I can use the Analog Stick anyway.

Insomnious @ Oct 19th 2006 10:54AM

Are people ever happy? Jeeeeeeeeeesus.

BigNick @ Oct 19th 2006 11:00AM

You can use the left stick if the D-Pad doesn't work well for you. its not a perfect alternative but it works.

This is playing in the default control scheme.

Franky Digital @ Oct 19th 2006 11:04AM

I've since started to use the analog stick, and it's getting better. The problem is that I spent so much time on the PSP version (1 million points and 4 hours of commuting on a long summer day) it seems foreign to have control issues.

The big problem with the stick is that you have to ease up on it a bit so it can register the next move. Makes it a lot harder to perfectly place piece-after-piece when you're gunning for chained "All blocks deleted".

Samisa @ Oct 19th 2006 11:18AM

Never even considered the D-Pad, but I've been using the Left Stick and it hasn't been a problem.

Rye Clifton @ Oct 19th 2006 11:42AM

This really made me quite upset. I had such high hopes, and last night they all came crashing down. Not only did I get numerous error messages before I was ever able to download Lumines, but once I did I was left empty. The FULL version is anything but. The levels started over in a rotation (read: micropayments for additional levels). The lag on the multiplayer makes it nearly unplayable, and the control is simply bad.

The control feels soft and a little sluggish. The beaty of the PSP version is that once you put some headphones on, you are in control of everything in the Lumines universe... Your moves seem to dictate the music (which now seems more mainstream and less pulsating and entrancing than the PSP version) and blocks move and fall where you want them to. This version feels like the dancer who is a quarter step behind and just looks wrong.

I wanted this to be great, but the last 48 hours of XBox have gotten me a little more amped about the PS3.

Osiris @ Oct 19th 2006 12:24PM

Can you not use a USB keyboard? That would make sense to me.

If you can't, they should implement it, although they'll prob charge you an extra $5 just to have that option..

Tre @ Oct 19th 2006 12:29PM

I too noticed that the D-Pad wasn't too great for this game. It isn't terrible by any means, but it does make it harder to control when your trying move horizontal quickly.

As for the game itself... I like the music and the way your actions interact with it, and I love the versus mode. Battling for more space is an awesome dynamic.

However, the whole time I was playing, I couldn't help but think that I would rather be playing Tetris. This is the first time I have played Lumines, and I can see what people like about it, but it is just too easy. Versus battles tend to last only about 60-90 seconds (my fastest win was 49 secs) and the challenge mode takes way too long to actually become challenging.

waffle @ Oct 19th 2006 2:04PM

why no mention that one can use the left thumb stick to move the blocks left/right? jeez.

As for the screen size thing, I played for a couple hours last night on my 42" screen and didn't have any noticeable problems.
I got used to it pretty quickly and any issue I did have was a brain one, not a game one.

Even though i've been a huge advocate for this game on xbla, I think it's just cuz I miss my PSP version. :(

sadly PSP, you were traded in for a DS.

Tre @ Oct 19th 2006 12:39PM

@Osiris

I gave the keyboard a try... it doesn't work.

punkroyale @ Oct 19th 2006 12:46PM

I have Lumines on the PSP and its awesome. I have no issues making precise moves.

Playing Lumines on the 360... it's a lot harder because the d pad absolutley sucks and using the stick is nearly impossible to have the control needed when placing pieces.

Very disappointing. I hope they do something to correct it.

I also noticed that it clearly states that you cannot return Lumines Live after purchase. And frankly I'd like to return it.

Majikthise @ Oct 19th 2006 1:26PM

I use the analogue stick as I don't have a PSP.

However, I have 2 wireless pads, and the one that came with my launch console has a great d-pad, but my second pad (bought a week later sucks. Either the mould tools wore out quickly, or some mouldings are better than others. MS need to fix this.

King Keepo @ Oct 19th 2006 1:32PM

One of the pads that come with the 360 had a defective d-pad (it's tough to move right) but I didn't notice until I picked up Dead Or Alive 4. Now I'm stuck with it.

But yeah, MS d-pads have sucked consistantly. I guess Sony and Nintendo have all the patents on good d-pads.

intRvenous @ Oct 19th 2006 1:54PM

King Keepo - I had the same problem, maybe this will work for you: firmly, but not violently, press the D-Pad down in the center. While pressing, give a nudge up, down, left, right, repeat - almost like pressing your thumb into really firm clay.

Not only did this fix the Right direction, but the d-pad is actually very resposive now (!) I'm thinking the design of the d-pad isn't the problem, it's an inconsistecy in the manufacturing where the 'sensors' aren't in contact with the plastic of the pad. This 'smushing' technique did the trick for me at least ;-)