The following letter to SKIRMISHER, from a reader who calls himself Moloch, makes some very good points about the sort of computer game peripherals that are (and are not) available these days. Anyone who wishes to respond to the author or to address this subject themselves can e-mail us (in which case the reponse will be posted here).

O.K. so this idea may not be truly innovative, but it has become obvious to me that gaming peripheral manufacturers are forgetting to design one the most popular forms of tactile game controllers. I'm talking about a game controller that would include a four-axis stick combined with a bank of buttons similar in quality and size to the arcade hits of the early 80s.

When I say "stick," I am referring to a controller that is nothing more than a simple post or rod with a spherical end top. A stick that will give you tight, precise control, without flopping around and causing unintentional movements and distractions. I find this problem has been built into the design of today's so-called "modern" PC game joysticks.

What do I mean by a bank of buttons? Again, I would like to take you back to the days when games like Defender, Galaga, Track and Field, and Donkey Kong owned the gaming industry. These games, and many others, had groups of large buttons that were spaced far enough apart to accommodate two to three fingers on every button. The design is further enhanced by setting an appropriate height and angle to the average comfort level of the target players. The buttons should also be engineered well enough to take a considerate pounding when played. Ever try playing Galaga or Track and Field on a PC? The experience isn't what it used to be. The speed and fury, not to mention the accuracy, are gone. Ever try to play any of the PAC-MAN games on your PC? The little guy just won't listen. Within the explosion of interest that is pouring into the emulation market alone, there are hundreds of thousands of potential customers waiting to be completely satisfied.

This controller would also lend a great deal of playability to all of the modern games. Imagine Mortal Kombat or Tekken combinations. Once again, you could have lightning fast and accurate response times, just like at the arcade. How about a 3-D shooter like Hexen or Blood? Most gamers that I know are playing these games using the keyboard. Why? They believe that they get the best control over the game this way, and they're right! While this is convenient, it is pathetic that the ultimate 3-D experience is controlled by a keyboard. All players want control over the game, but with modern PC controllers, it often feels like the game wants control over the player.

Why not build a tactile gaming surface that can replace your keyboard when you are playing a game? Putting your keyboard to the side isn't any more trouble than unraveling gamepads on your N64 or Playstation, and we all know how well these systems are doing. A rectangular surface around 8" X 12", with the game stick on the left, and the bank of buttons (at least four) on the right would be perfect.

The base of the unit should be tall enough so that it can be angled toward the player. Since the monitor is placed on a desktop, the height from the floor to the controller, in relation to the player, would almost be personalized. Also, if in one instance or another, the height were not ideal, then because the unit is so large and robust, it could be placed on the lap for support. Incorporate modern (this is more sarcasm) amenities like programmable logic, rapid fire switches, and suction cups, and we have truly created the ultimate in gaming comfort and playability.

This Christmas season I have been searching for this very product, but to no avail. I have seen just about every other type of controller out there, steering columns for racing simulators, flight sticks for flight simulators, analog, digital, etc., etc. All of these controllers, whether they are designed specifically for a particular genre, or are intended to be used as an all purpose controller, can not re-create the arcade experience. I would pay good money for such a device. I believe a product of this type and quality could easily dominate the entire controller market, and at a price as high as $50. I hope that someone out there has enough ingenuity to recognize this giant hole in the controller market. If you know of something like this out there, or are interested in communicating further, then by all means e-mail me.