The evolution of video game controllers

Joysticks, pads, steering wheels, pistols, musical instruments and other types of controllers – see how these accessories have changed over the years?

With each new generation video game controllers they have become more and more complex, and at the same time more comfortable to hold and easier to use. Check out this cool infographic on the evolution of video game controllers to see how their functionality and ergonomics have changed.

A video game controller has taken many forms over the years. The most iconic controller that comes to mind when you think of a standard video game controller is the one with a movable component on the left (a joystick or four directional buttons) and a few action buttons on the right. The design of gamepads began in 1985 and has been continuously improved since then. Already the original Nintendo console and the Super NES used this project.

In the mid-90s, analog control was introduced with the addition of joysticks to the gamepad. The Nintendo 64 in 1996 had one of the most iconic controllers, with a centrally placed joystick in addition to the traditional gamepad components.

As consoles have grown in popularity and the types of games have changed, it has become evident that the joystick is the ultimate game control tool. The original Playstation came out with a dual analog controller in 1997, which was way ahead of its time. This paved the way for the next two decades of designing these devices

Xbox came out in 2001 with a joystick shift that seemed more intuitive to many. Nowadays, it’s rare to find any form of game controller without the dual analog setup that Sony’s Playstation pioneered. Even the handheld consoles have been manufactured for many years with the configuration of two analog controllers.

The visualization below also shows a range of specialized peripherals used in specific games. The most iconic is the Nintendo Zapper, used for Duck Hunt, and the Guitar Hero controller.
The advancement of game controller design is one component of technological innovation, functional design, and the changing demands of gamers around the world.

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source: Daily Infographic