The evolution of video game controllers, illustrated IKEA style

Chris L

#1 – 10:03 AM December 15, 2008

As hard as I try, I still can't imagine how the designers of the N64 controller came up with that convoluted shape.

Anonymous Anonymous

#2 – 12:17 PM December 15, 2008

the N64 uses a digital joystick instead of an analog joystick like the newer controllers all use. It is about twice as big as the analog joysticks. It would be very difficult to fit that and the d-pad in the reach of a kid's thumb while still making the controller handle something that the rest of his hand could fit around and grip.

freshyill

#3 – 12:39 PM December 15, 2008

Huge oversight: The original Playstation controller, as well as the original Dual Shock and the PS3 Sixaxis are all missing.

Anonymous Anonymous

#4 – 1:02 PM December 15, 2008

They left out the Saturn and Virtual Boy

SC_Wolf

#5 – 1:22 PM December 15, 2008

No Atari Jaguar?

Scuba SM

#6 – 2:05 PM December 15, 2008

The N64 is by far the most comfortable controller I have ever used. It's the only one I've found that fits my hands, and the hand position on the center grip just feels *right* when you're playing FPS with "fire" mapped to Z.

SeppTB

#7 – 2:41 PM December 15, 2008

#3 - Freshyill,

I think the argument could be made that for the purposes of this graphic, the PSX Dual Shock, PS2 and both PS3 variants of controller are pretty much the exact same design. And the original PSX controller as well, minus the dual analogs.

The lack of Saturn and Jaguar is a bit odd, but I guess you need to make some cuts to get an even grid =). Maybe adding Saturn, Jaguar, NeoGeo, 3DO, Virtual Boy and throwing in the original PSX controller to add another full lines worth.

EKaltman

#8 – 10:28 PM December 15, 2008

Interesting that controller orientation did not substantially change until Nintendo came up with the Wii design. As I see it:

D-pad - NES
Shoulder Buttons - SNES
Reintegration of analog joystick - N64
Rumble - N64
Motion Control - Wii

They seem to dictate all the major innovations, or conversely the stagnation of controller design.

David

#9 – 12:02 AM December 16, 2008

That is so cool to see!

Anonymous Anonymous

#10 – 1:53 PM December 16, 2008

You forgot the Inellivision with its flat disk and keypad.

Anonymous Anonymous

#11 – 2:21 PM December 16, 2008

massive fail. if its about evolution then why two joysticks of equal stylings right at the beginning (tandy and the 2600)?

the disk on the intelivision may be a failed thing in of itself but I would want it here even if it was meant to be evolution.. what tree doesnt have dead end branches. I mean that many colecovision sticks??

then to have playstation 2 and not the first one? I was quite impressed when I first held a playstation one controller and its wierd to see things seen as decendants showing up before on this list.

and to end my rant. its not logging me in so I couldnt get away with saying this without being vetted.. heh too bad.

Anonymous Anonymous

#12 – 3:39 PM December 16, 2008

X-Box 360

1 D-pad
2 Sticks
4 buttons (6 if you could the sticks as L3 and R3)
4 shoulders
3 options (back, start and the XBOX button)

get with it brainiac.

historyman68

#13 – 4:06 PM December 16, 2008

@11 Anonymous:
So... they didn't use the "evolution" theme the same way you would have and left out a few of your favorites. I hardly think that qualifies for a "massive fail".

Anonymous Anonymous

#14 – 5:21 PM December 16, 2008

I like pizza.

Anonymous Anonymous

#15 – 5:59 PM December 16, 2008

Evolution is not the movement from simple to complex. The other Anonymous is confused. Humans could evolve back to simple rodent-like creatures in many millions of years, depending on what aids survival. Just sayin'...

Anonymous Anonymous

#16 – 12:13 AM December 17, 2008

The N64 controller is still one of the best controllers in console history. Works with virtually any game and outside of a PC, it's hands-down the best way to play FPS and flight games.

Nintendo: Always the innovator, never the imitator.

Anonymous Anonymous

#17 – 2:20 AM December 17, 2008

Can i call you fail and then tell you what you've missed?
Go on, all the cool kids are...

Good job, the N64 makes me smile. PD.

Anonymous Anonymous

#18 – 3:27 PM December 17, 2008

@#11

The way the Tandy and Atari controls operated while similar were very different. The Atari control had automatic re-centering while the Tandy control did not. Wherever you left the stick is where it stayed.

Anonymous Anonymous

#19 – 3:33 PM December 17, 2008

Missing the Intellivision controller is a major oversight. Its "disc" was really the precursor to the D-pad.

Anonymous Anonymous

#20 – 1:06 AM December 18, 2008

The original nes is still the best. You could huck that thing through a plate glass window and it would still work.

Anonymous Anonymous

#21 – 5:15 PM December 19, 2008

Nothing beats the mouse. No analogue stick will ever be that precise!

Anonymous Anonymous

#22 – 6:17 PM December 19, 2008

Uh-Oh Hot Dog!

Anonymous Anonymous

#23 – 7:50 PM December 19, 2008

Stop whinin' about what is on the list and what isn't, thing is that if you want it on there, make your own and shut up, no one on here really cares what another person posts on here

Anonymous Anonymous

#24 – 6:27 PM December 22, 2008

Technically, the Xbox 360 has 3 options (Guide button), but other than that, great pic!

Anonymous Anonymous

#25 – 7:51 PM December 23, 2008

I also agree with the superiority of the N64 controller. Fits like a glove.

Anonymous Anonymous

#26 – 1:18 AM January 3, 2009

I think that you should mention the addition of trigger buttons, as they feel a bit different from the other two shoulder buttons present on the 360and PS3 controllers. Also, I thin that the z button on the N64 and the B button of the wii controller should be considered triggers. You also forgot the PS and Xbox button as options. I found the lack of mentioning the PSone and PS3 controllers quite lazy, as there were quite a few modifications despite the similar design.

Anonymous Anonymous

#27 – 7:43 AM January 12, 2009

I get why there are three XBox controllers, size comparison... but why isn't the SIXAXIS also on this list? It adds motion sensitivity to the original controller design and has a few tweaks too, the back shoulder buttons for one.