The 11 Most Groundbreaking Controllers of All Time (page 2 of 4)
- June 15, 2006 23:45 PM PST
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Wavebird
The Wavebird set the stage for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3's wireless controllers.
The Wavebird was the first successful first-party wireless controller to really make a statement with home consoles. The Wavebird looked like a regular GameCube controller and was constructed from the same material as the OEM controllers, though its bottom was slightly bulkier. But because the Wavebird used radio frequencies instead of infrared to connect to the GameCube, the controller could function at distances of more than 30 feet! There are reports of the Wavebird's signal negotiating around corners and penetrating walls without a noticeable effect on gameplay. The only downside is that Nintendo had to sacrifice rumble support because of the obvious drain on battery life. Drag.
SNES
More buttons = more options
Nintendo didn't always believe in minimalism. By moving to a six-button layout, the Super Nintendo controller tripled the number of face buttons of its predecessor, the 8-bit NES. At the time, this was a revolutionary move: few games used even three buttons, let alone six. But time proved Nintendo's wisdom, and as the fighting-game craze swept the 16-bit consoles, other companies were forced to release six-button controllers of their own. The SNES also earns the nod for introducing another, less glamorous innovation that we all take for granted: shoulder buttons.
Atari 2600 Joystick
Simple yet effective, the 2600 joystick was the choice controller for countless arcade ports.
Alongside the NES controller, the Atari 2600 joystick is still one of gaming's most historic hardware icons. The 2600 is the grandfather of console game systems, and aside from the NES, no other console had the staying power and recognition of the 2600. The joystick itself was simple yet effective, with a shaft and a single red button. That's it -- no fancy motion sensing, no tiny embedded portable gaming systems, and certainly no ergonomic handgrips. The 2600 emulated the arcade joystick experience at home, at feat that was considered revolutionary at the time because it made games like Asteroids, Centipede, Joust, and Space Invaders playable from the comfort of your couch.
