CONSOLE MAKER Microsoft is tinkering with the idea of a refashioned Xbox controller to appease fight fans.

This could be more than just the idea of a tinkering. In fact Joystiq's, sources are normally solid as a rock so we have no reason to doubt its veracity. They claimed that someone high in Vole towers - which we're guessing would probably be on the user experience team - is actually prepping the retooled hardware for this holiday season.

Joystiq's sources claimed that Microsoft will have a new Xbox 360 controller with a reconfigured D-pad. Apparently, the D-pad is going to be rotated through ninety degrees and raised about a quarter of an inch. But why, we hear you cry. The source reckoned the change was made to make the controller easier to use for fight game aficionados.

It makes perfect sense to us that the Vole would bring out specialised controllers for different types of games on the Xbox 360. Some games are just easier to play on different console controllers and fanbois who dedicate their miserable lives to their Xbox Live stats will want the best possible interface.

It's not like Microsoft hasn't got a history of retooling its controllers. When the first Xbox was launched way back when, the ridiculously over-size controller was so big that it was virtually impossible to use - even for people with big paws. But the poor Asian market had to get its very own Xbox controller because most users couldn't even reach buttons while operating the D-pad controls.

Microsoft also put out a specialised controller for footy fans in 2008 that was very ugly but probably easier to use. µ