Since there is an XBox version coming up, I hope the Witcher 2's XBox Controller support will undergo a revision and see some improvements. So far, the gamepad works pretty well in some areas, but leaves much to be desired in others. I think the following improvements would certainly make a big difference:

Adding Rumble Support
Probably the most obvious shortcoming when playing The Witcher 2 with the XBox Controller is the lack of rumble. Apart from being a basic function of the controller, and a pretty much mandatory feature for a console game, rumble can enrichen the gameplay experience by involving your sense of touch in addition to the audio-visual sensation. It can also improve the controls, by adding another way to give the player feedback (e.g. when taking damage).
Of course, for people who prefer to play without it, there should always be an option to turn rumble off.

Proper Support for Analogue Control Sticks
While the analogue control sticks work fine during actual gameplay, some menus force the player to use them to tediously mimic the arrow keys. The most cumbersome one is the quick selection menu: let's say you want to select Aard. Signs are on the left, with Aard being on the upper left, so you'd expect to just tilt the stick to the left, then move it upwards and be done - quick, convenient, easy. Well, actually you have to to through the signs step-by-step, each time releasing the stick and tilting it again to mimic the pressing of some directional button. In fact, even switching to the Control Pad each time you use the quick selection menu is usually faster than using the ill-implemented control sticks.
Another menu that has the control sticks mimic arrow keys is the journal. Usually, you'd expect the text to scroll slowly if you tilt the right control stick just a little, and quickly if you tilt it completely. It actually works like this: If you tilt the right control stick downwards completely, the text will scroll one line, then pause for a moment, then slowly scroll downward at a fixed speed.
Of course that still works better than the left control stick, that does nothing at all. To scroll through the list of topics, you need to use the Control Pad, which also moves the selection, causing every exclamation mark to disappear before you even know it was there.
Adding proper support for the analogue sticks in menus, especially the quick selection menu, would make the controls much more convenient.

More responsible Triggers
Much like the control sticks, the analogue shoulder buttons are treated as entirely "digital" by the game: 100% input equals a button press. Problem is, giving 100% input on those triggers takes longer than pressing a button, it's a longer way to go. Sure, we're talking about split seconds here, but we're also talking about the thingie you use for blocking, where timing is pretty important. If those triggers would already "trigger" at 50% input, controls would probably feel more responsive.

Make use of the "Back" button
Maybe I just didn't figure it out yet, but the "Back" button seems to do nothing except for closing menus. Having a basically unused button in a game where you need to take a detour through some main menu in order to reach your inventory, journal, etc. makes little sense in my opinion - why not use it as a shortcut to the inventory or the map?


What's the opinion of other Gamepad-Users? Are you dealing with the same problems, or are you maybe facing entirely different issues?

I second all of it. I would like to add the issue of the forced pauses, but that's not controller specific. You probably only notice it more, when you're playing with the controller, since it generally allows for more fluid movement than MKB. So coming to a complete halt because you just took a deep breath, makes you feel like toppling over.

I finished the game with x360pad and had a great time, but I absolutely support this post and really hope devs will improve support in upcoming patches to add those functions. Rumble especially would make combat even more immersive and fun. And analog sticks should get sorted out.

Yes, I totally agree!

Notes taken, thanks for your input.

It could also be used instead or as an addition to the sound of the Witcher's medallion, so the player could use also his touch sense in discovering power spots etc. It could vibrate slightly when the medallion is giving you a hint (it actually vibrates, so the controller should too). Might add to the immersion.

thanks for making this thread. other threads just complain about the game this ones more productive and proposes solutions.

Sorry for offtop, but goopit - I prefered your previous avatar more! ;)

Agreed with all points.

Whats people opinion on the camera when using a gamepad? Would a chase cam suit it better?

I admit i dont play console games, and the only recent game other than racing games that i have used a gamepad with was Batman:Arkham Asylum on the PC.

Now that used what i think is called a chase cam where the camera tries to stay behind your character when you move. Personally when i started playing TW2 with the gamepad i thought the camera would be like that as it just seemed right that it to do that.

Maybe its just my lack of experience in console games along with the improved camera movement of using a mouse which makes me prefer a chase cam, i dunno.

Oh also, i think the menu screen when ingame and pressing start would be better if it was layed out in a circle (think DA2 and ME2) to make better use of the circular motion of the stick rather than the list style it has now.

Good post, Kibou. 100% agree with you.

Fantastic. Damn I am going to replay this game what, 6 times ? No, 10 times.

Thanks to everybody for the positive feedback! : ) That would indeed be a very nice application of a rumble effect, as it would improve atmosphere as well as controls. I don't think a chase cam would work well for for this game, since the direction Geralt faces changes often and quite quickly during combat, due to the rolling, switching between targets etc. A camera moving fast enough to follow all that movement would most likely confuse the user, or even make him feel uncomfortable after some time.

Stabilizing the controller so it doesn't spin and give you nausea as soon as you walk through a doorway would help.

Agreed 100% with this post!

I'd like to add variable walking speed to the right analog stick. I would like to walk faster, but not run. This would be an excellent addition!

I guess making the walking speed completely stepless would be too much work animation-wise, but having a third speed (walking quickly, between walking slowly and running) would be nice. Movement would feel more natural as there would be a more gradual increase instead of a sudden switch.