CVG is running an article quoting XNA architect J Allard on the issue of what to do about complaints about the positioning of the white and black buttons on the Xbox controller. Readers may remember earlier mentions of this; the buttons are on the upper right on the standard controller, and on the lower right on an S controller. Earlier comments suggesting the buttons might be eliminated altogether. Halo uses them for switching grenade types and toggling the Master Chief's headlamp. From the article:

When we posed this to Allard in an exclusive interview at last week's GDC, Allard replied: "Some of the feedback is that black and white are in a bad spot, so they're tough to depend on for any kind of primary functionality - I think that's good feedback. Relocation [of the buttons] is an option; getting rid of them is an option."

When asked which option he favoured, Allard said: "What we're leaning towards is just listening. We've got to listen to what these game creators want and then build the right software so that they can realise their visions, and then we gotta make some hardware underneath."

Expanding on the button layout issue, Allard explained: "Another piece of feedback [we've had] is trying to navigate the six buttons with your thumb: it's kind of overwhelming without looking down, especially when using the trigger, as when you use the trigger you've locked your hand into a position that you just want to navigate around."

Well, since most Xbox owners are Halo players, and Allard says Microsoft is listening, what do you think they should do with those two buttons? Answer the question in our latest poll. CVG promises a longer interview with Allard later.