A few days ago I was reminiscing about the good old days when Nintendo and Sega ruled the video game industry. Eventually I ended up playing a flash based version of Double Dragon 2 on a website dedicated to preserving the games of the golden era.
As I looked down at my backlit MacBook Pro keyboard, with all its engineering and complexities, it got me thinking about console controllers. Originally, Double Dragon was released on the Nintendo – which had a brick of a controller with 4 buttons (start, select, A & B) and a D-pad. A marvel at the time indeed.
However the humble console controller has been around for far longer than the 80′s and 90′s. The first game controller (and first video game ever) was created in 1958.
Today, we’re taking a journey through history, looking back at how console controllers have evolved. This is by no means a complete list of every controller ever released, however I’ve tried to include most of the controllers of historical importance and major influence.
1958 – Tennis For Two
Tennis For Two is often considered the first video game ever made. It was developed in 1958 on a Donner Model 30 analog computer, which simulates a game of tennis or ping pong on an oscilloscope. Tennis For Two was widely unknown untill the early 1980s, as it was only ever released twice. Not be confused with Pong, Tennis For Two featured a side-on view (rather than top-down) of a tennis court. There was no representation of a player either. The goal was to use to the dial on the controller to angle the ball over the net. The controller featured a dial for aiming and a single button for hitting the ball.
1962 – Spacewar
Spacewar was a far more complex game than its tennis predecessor and was developed at the dawn of the space-race in the early 1960s. It’s a two-player game, with each player taking control of a starship and attempting to destroy the other. A star in the center of the screen pulls on both ships and requires manoeuvring to avoid falling into it. In an emergency, a player can enter hyperspace to return at a random location on the screen, but only at the risk of exploding if it’s used too often.There were actually a number of different controllers available for the game (depending on the system on which it was played), however the most recognised (below), featured two joysticks (for rotating and accelerating) and a button to fire missiles. Interestingly, the joysticks were two-directional making rotation a choice between either clockwise or anticlockwise.
1972 – Magnavox Odyssey
The Magnavox Odyssey is the world’s first commercial home video game console, predating the Atari Pong home consoles by three years. The Odyssey uses a type of removable printed circuit board, called a game card, that inserts into a slot similar to a ROM cartridge slot. Games were grouped onto different cartridges, with a total of 27 games released across 11 game cards. Although the console itself was digital, the controller was actually analog. The controllers were a strange design (particularly compared to others almost 10 years earlier) with two side-mounted dials and a single button on top.
1975 – Atari Home Pong Console
The take-home version of the game that started the arcade revolution. The Atari Home Pong console contained one of the most powerful computer chips in a consumer product at the time. The controllers were actually built into the console itself, with a dial to control the pong paddle.
1977 – Coleco Telstar Arcade
Perhaps one of the most extravagant examples of a console/controller, the Telstar Arcade was a beast. The console featured three different play functions – a steering wheel for driving simulators, two dials for the standard Pong tennis variations and a quick draw light gun.
1977 – Nintendo Color TV Game
While other console gaming companies were off trying to pioneer the next big thing, Nintendo in Japan created a radical set of consoles. The Nintendo Color TV Game (developed and released exclusively in Japan) looked amazingly Japanese, with dials buttons, sliders and all kinds of fancy wizz-bangs. There were 5 consoles released over a period of three years, with a variety of controller styles. Interestingly, these were some of the first controllers to feature the plastic style push-down buttons we’re familiar with today.
1977 – ATARI 2600
The first recognisable console joystick arrived with Atari’s hugely successful 2600. The console came bundled with a number of controller options, including two joysticks and a pair of dial controllers for paddle or driving games. This controller arguably gave birth to the joystick revolution.
1983 – Casio PV1000
Who knew Casio ever created a console? Well apparently they did (in Japan only) and the controller was a monster. The Casio PV1000 was one of the first controllers to feature a jet-style top-mounted button joystick. Just look at that beast of a red bomb dropper on the top, you know you want to press it.
1983 – Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
The single most important gaming console ever. The NES revolutionised practically everything about the gaming industry, from third-party licensed game developers, to the controller itself. The NES featured the first ever D-pad (which is technically the name for the entire controller not just the directional interface) developed by Japanese inventor Gunpei Yokoi. The NES controller was a revolution of ergonomics and set the standard for all controllers to come.
1985 – Sega Master System
The Sega Master System was the first of a number of Sega released consoles. With superior graphics and a remarkably similar controller, the Master System featured an eight directional ergonomically updated D-Pad. Like the NES, a number of different controllers were released for Master System including a phaser gun, joystick, and even 3D glasses. Interestingly the original controllers had their cords attached to the side of the controller, but were later changed to the top.
1988 – NES MAX Gamepad
Another revolution from Nintendo, the NES MAX was a controller released for the NES in 1988. Although not commonly known, the controller is actually the first to feature the ‘handlebar’ design (which is now used on practically every console controller). Other features included the addition of rounded turbo buttons and a super cool cycloid directional pad. A real pioneer of its time.
1988 – Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
As the fourth generation of consoles rolled out in the late 1980s, the console wars continued to funnel competition into a handful of manufactures, which meant less controllers. In the late 80s you were either a Sega or a Nintendo kid (unless you were rich enough to buy both). Nonetheless the Genesis/Mega Drive was one of the first real ergonomically designed controllers with a bulging shape that hugged the hands. The original controller had only 3 action buttons but was later released with 6 for Street Fighter II addicts. Interestingly, when compared to the Xbox controller, the two are almost identical in overall shape.
1990 – Commodore 64 Games System
The Commodore 64 Games System was the cartridge-based game console version of the popular Commodore 64 home computer. Although it didn’t share the same success of its big brother, it did have one hell of joystick with a trigger-style front-mounted button for power-hungry trigger-happy gamers. It also featured suction caps on the bottom, which was strange given most consoles at the time were played on a carpet floor or couch, rather than a desk. Nonetheless it was probably the last popular console to feature a joystick as its main controller.
1990 – Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Enter the king – The console to rule all consoles. The SNES featured a logically updated controller from NES and was the first to feature the now popular shoulder buttons. The controller was thin, simple in design, ergonomic and lasted forever. It also gave birth to multi-coloured buttons for easy recall. The early 1990s also gave birth to third-party controller manufacturers. If you were cool enough, you would have your own special controller which no one else was allowed to use.
1994 – Sony Playstation
The controller that introduced us all to square, triangle, circle and X, the Playstation controller is one of the best controllers ever designed. Released in the same year as the Sega Saturn, the controller is beautifully symmetric and ergonomic, fitting perfectly between two hands.
1996 – NINTENDO 64
Although the N64 was a hugely successful console, the controller was a bizarre design. With three pronged handlebars, under-mounted triggers, an analog stick, action buttons and a D-Pad, the N64 controller was a frankenstein of a gamepad. However, it was one of the first controllers to feature both a D-Pad and an analog stick designed specifically for next-gen games with 3D movement.
1997 – Sony Playstation Dualshock
Following the the release of next-gen 3D games for the N64, Sony needed to up its game. Enter the Dual Shock, an equally well designed controller as its predecessor. Smaller and easier to operate than the N64, the original Dualshock was released on the Play Station and set the standard for all subsequent Sony controllers. It also was the first to feature vibrating for an even better gaming experience. Furthermore, the Dualshock featured revolutionary touch sensitive action buttons.
1998 – Sega Dreamcast
With a logo that looked like it was designed in MS Paint, the Dreamcast essentially marked the end for Sega consoles. Although the console itself was actually pretty good with a number of features and adapters, it wasn’t very successful. The controller which featured a number of adapters and a visual memory screen, was copied by Microsoft on the Xbox with its pointed handlebars, dual-triggers and bulging shape.
2001 – Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo’s last attempt at releasing a serious console (sorry the Wii doesn’t count). The GameCube was the friendlier version of Playstation, with a toy-like controller that came in indigo as a default. Nintendo scrapped their tri-pronged N64 controller in favour of a more Sony like dual-handlebar variant.
2001 – Microsoft Xbox
Although the controller itself was well designed, it was just way, way too big, making gaming an annoyance. Most people ended up buying third-party versions due to poor usability. In Japan, Microsoft released a smaller version due to continued criticism – The Controller S, which later became a standard for the Xbox across the world.
2006 – Nintendo Wii
Although the Wii was hugely successful (in terms of sheer sales) – mostly because it was targeted towards a wider audience than other consoles – any console gaming enthusiast will tell you how much the controller sucks. Nonetheless the controller (Wii Remote) was considered an ‘innovation’ at the time, using a combination of built-in accelerometers and infrared detection to sense its position in 3D space when pointed at the LEDs in the Sensor Bar. It was aimed at turning gaming from a couch-potato male-dominated pastime to something everyone can enjoy.
Microsoft XBOX 360 S
Thankfully a lot smaller than its predecessor, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controller managed to perfect the DNA of Sony’s DualShock. A master-class in ergonomics, durable enough to last for years and a semi-smooth polish finish gave the controller the credit it deserved. It also featured a Rumble Pack which could be attached to the back. The action buttons (Y,X,B & A) were also enlarged and flattened on the top, making them much nicer to repeatedly press.
2013 Microsoft Xbox One
Tens of millions of dollars have gone into the development of the Xbox One controller and hundreds of mockups were created in order for Microsoft to nail the perfect design, without throwing out the much loved Xbox 360 design. The controller maintains the overall design of the Xbox 360, but features 40 minor and major design improvements, according to Microsoft that make the controller more comfortable and more intuitive. It’s a beautiful improvement from the 360.
Sony Play Station 4
The PlayStation 4 controller is sturdier than the light-weight PS3 design, buffed to a smoother, more comfortable finish. The most significant addition is a ‘capacitive’ touch pad. Also gone are the days of ‘Select’ and ‘Start’ – a staple of the last decade of controllers. Now it’s all about ‘Share’ and ‘Options’.
[All images via Wikipedia]
What was the first gaming console controller you ever used? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments.
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