top 10 controller innovations: IGN

Typhoid · 09-06-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deejzguy

I believe "invent" as in the first to really get it done right.

Did Sega's controller not work or something?

because my wireless Sega controller worked perfectly fine.

And last time I checked something doesnt have to be marketed correctly to be "invented".

Swan · 09-06-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

Did Sega's controller not work or something?

because my wireless Sega controller worked perfectly fine.

And last time I checked something doesnt have to be marketed correctly to be "invented".

Oh yeah...I'll invent you!

DeathsHand · 09-06-2005, 10:04 PM

I don't think it's fair to credit the Wavebird with the 'invention' of wireless controllers...

Also just for kicks, I checked up on some other things with wikipedia...

"In 1982 Atari released the first controller with an analog stick for their Atari 5200 home console. However, the non-centering joystick design proved to be ungainly and unreliable, alienating many consumers at the time.

Also in 1982, General Consumer Electronics introduced the Vectrex, a vector graphics based system which used a self-centering analog stick, obviously a precursor to the modern design."

aaaand the D-pad

"A precursor to the standard D-pad was used by the Intellivision console, released by Mattel Electronics in 1980. The Intellivision's unique controller featured the first alternative to a joystick on a home console, a circular pad that allowed for 16 directions of movement by pressing with your thumb."

Though I've never played Intellivision so I dunno exactly how it compares to the D-pads we know today (other than having twice as many directions to move in)... But I guess because each of those examples are "Precursors" they don't count...

Typhoid · 09-06-2005, 10:05 PM

DH, shhhh, you're blowing the cover of this weighted Nintendo list.

Swan · 09-06-2005, 10:08 PM

There you go. I think.

GameMaster · 09-06-2005, 10:20 PM

This is a respectable list with a respectable innovative champion. Nintendo, I applaud thee.

Dyne · 09-06-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoid

Did Sega's controller not work or something?

because my wireless Sega controller worked perfectly fine.

And last time I checked something doesnt have to be marketed correctly to be "invented".

How long did it last though?

Typhoid · 09-06-2005, 10:39 PM

Until the day I sold it.

Dyne · 09-06-2005, 10:42 PM

I meant as in battery life.

Typhoid · 09-06-2005, 10:45 PM

Oh, it wasnt too bad. From what I remember it was actually alot better than I would predict it to be.

Jonbo298 · 09-07-2005, 12:55 AM

I trhink the list should be more read as "Companies that took these ideas and were accepted more publicly".

Intellivision may have had a D Pad first but it didn't become as popular until Nintendo utilized it.

"Analog" stick may have been on the Atari but Nintendo was the one that made it gain wide popularity/acceptance.

Same for Sega. First to implement some of these things but didn't get as widely accepted until another company used it.

gekko · 09-07-2005, 02:02 AM

Whoa whoa whoa, analog sticks and joysticks are completely different. Analog has many different levels of feedback that can be programmed differently. Analog sticks have 360 degrees of feedback and however many levels to the sides. Analog shoulder buttons on the cube have 256 levels of input, that you could theoretically program independently.

bobcat · 09-07-2005, 09:46 AM

I had an intellivision, and the controller

Bube · 09-07-2005, 12:03 PM

The analog controllers for the Atari weren't analog sticks. I'm sure the games didn't have analog control back then. I remember reading that somewhere.

Gekko's right, and Nintendo were the first to get an analog stick on a controller.

And about the Wavebird, the older wireless controllers all had infrared recievers. I think the Wavebird was the first on a console to use RF. That's probably the innovation.

DimHalo · 09-07-2005, 03:53 PM

i knowpeople have addressed the wireless controller issue but I wanted to throw in my two cents.

I had the wireless controller for the sega and for the super nintendo (actually I should say HAVE). They both have great battery life and although the range from side to side sucks, I like them well enough. So I would have to say that the companies that made them should be attributed for the wireless controller.