The 11 Most Groundbreaking Controllers of All Time (page 4 of 4)
- June 15, 2006 23:45 PM PST
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Dual Shock
The Dual Shock -- one of the most imitated controllers of all time.
One of the most iconic video game controllers in the entire world, Sony's Dual Shock officially ushered in the PlayStation Age. Though not the first official controller released for the PlayStation, the Dual Shock was easily the best, combining unparalleled rumbling capability with two solid, capable analog sticks (which each acted as buttons of their own). The Dual Shock had a streamlined feel, too, with its oversized L2 and R2 shoulder buttons and ergonomic grip.
In fact, the original Dual Shock was such an overwhelming success that Sony has been fearful of making too many drastic changes. Later revisions added analog buttons and an analog directional pad; the PS3 model due out this fall drops rumble support in favor of motion-sensing capabilities, as well as adding much larger analog triggers.
Mouse and Keyboard
Real men use a mouse.
The gold standard of video game controllers, thanks to its unprecedented precision and flexibility. Every modern controller -- from the PlayStation's Dual Shock to Nintendo's new Wii -- is, in reality, attempting to simulate the natural usability of this elegant input device. Though it requires a flat surface and two hands, the mouse and keyboard is often considered to be the "gold standard" of game controllers against which all other controllers are judged.
First invented in 1963, the mouse didn't gain widespread acceptance until Apple adopted it as a standard input device for their first Macintosh computer in 1984. Since then, the mouse and keyboard has dominated computer interfaces around the world. Its success in PC gaming caught on in the mid-90s thanks to the rise of two prominent game genres: 3D first-person shooters (such as Quake and Unreal) and point-and-click simulation titles (the SimCity series).
NES
Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start!
Easily the most well-known game controller, as well as one of the recognizable pieces of electronics hardware of all time, the original NES controller is a pop-culture icon. It put compact, handheld controllers on the map, and though it wasn't exactly the first controller to implement a d-pad, it was the first to make it a staple for console systems. And, unlike the ugly Famicom controllers, the NES controller was much easier on the eyes, with its distinctive design eventually inspiring t-shirts, cheap rip-offs, and even cell phone modifications.
