Top 10 Worst Game Controllers 263
Ant writes "IGN has a top ten list that focuses on some of the brilliantly terrible game controllers that shipped for game systems. Many of these were first-party, out-of-the-box concepts, while others were cash-in ideas from engineers that clearly either didn't have a sense in their noggin, or they simply listened too much to their marketing department. Either way, these controllers are a bad bunch."
Gyromite (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Roklan's 2600 'trackball' (Score:5, Informative)
Re:XBOX (Score:2, Informative)
About the Atari 5200 Controller (Score:4, Informative)
Re:XBox Fat (Score:3, Informative)
Re:XBOX (Score:2, Informative)
But, damn, those BUTTONS?? I've been a guitar player for over 20 years (finger and hand discomfort is something I have a very high threshold for) and the very thought of those things makes me cringe. It makes you wonder how these things get out of r & d and actually mass produced. I mean, who in their right mind would think that those buttons were not only decent, but a winner?
Re:Got it all wrong (Score:3, Informative)
Re:XBox Fat (Score:3, Informative)
Re:XBOX (Score:2, Informative)
and your right. The worst part of it had nothing to do with its size (which is apparently better for the hands and my brother who has some tendon problems can use it for much longer than any other controller.) it was to do with the buttons. Both with the black and white (which was only really fixed on the 360) and, the bunching up in a diamond shape, colours. It wasnt too bad for a lot of things but I play with my right hand over the top with all fingers on buttons, ala arcade machine play, for some games and it was just made impossible by that arrangement.
The original X-Box controller was no PS1 pad and the S was definately a big improvement but it just wasnt _that_ bad.
Re:N64. (Score:3, Informative)
My guess is that you played a lot of Mario Party. I say that because the spinning motion required for a lot of minigames really wreaks havok on the analog stick. What happens is the light grey plastic that actually makes up the stick and base rubs against the outer housing, causing it to slowly be shaved away. Those shavings then get in the way and the "grit" makes the analog stick tough to use.
IIRC, the common remedy for that used to be some light scrubbing with a dry toothbrush. After a while, the plastic will wear down to the point where it no longer grinds and you won't have that issue anymore. Until then, just scrub it out every once in a while.
I'm not trying to imply that this wasn't a real honest design flaw... but in case you wanted to play your N64 without buying a new controller, the above advice should help.