Controller Hall of Fame

Just thought of a few more...

How about the oversized, light-up "door" and "dog" buttons on Exidy's Mousetrap? It's a very nice design because you can see the colors quickly and that makes it easier to locate the correct button in a darkened arcade environment.

Also, how about the oversized, light-up start buttons on late 70s Atari games like Canyon Bomber and Super Breakout? I always liked that they were more like "panels" than buttons, and they have that cool embossed "PLAYER ONE/TWO START" on them.

Kyle :cool:
 
As much as I love the classic Atari cone buttons and giant silver dollar sized flat buttons, I'm going to give a shout to something newer:

Dance Dance Revolution!

I've played it once for a minute, but think the controller on the floor that you get to stomp on is awesome.

And the mushy basketballs on Hoop It Up that you have to squish at just the right speed to blow the ping pong balls painted like bballs into the basket balls.
 

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I want to give a special mention to Burgertime's Pepper button. The pepper shaker holes are so smart. Always makes me smile.
 
The Tempest Spinner does it for me.

You can do so much with it in that game. It's like playing an instrument.

Takes lots of practice and you never master it...

I'm not sure it was ever used on any other game, but even if it was, it wouldn't feel the same as when playing Tempest.

:D
 
My two cents, aside from those already mentioned:

- Major Havoc dedicated roller
- Exidy Fire One periscope handle controls
- Atari Boxing prototype controls
- Street Fighter (first, original) force sensitive pneumatic buttons
- Boonga Boonga/Spankem's "butt" control
- Stompin's stomp pads (predates Dance Dance Revolution's)
- Xybot's left/right turnable joysticks
- Stern Moonwar's spinner
 
I'm going to induct he Trackball (or "Trak-Ball" as Atari called it). You can trace its lineage right up to modern day console controllers. It was the first truly analogue controller where the player controlled speed as well as direction.

Some history here.
 
I just have to second the Atari flight yoke. It basically made aiming the reticle an extension of your brain. So effortlessly intuitive. Contrast with the clumsy chore of aiming on Sega Star Wars Trilogy. It is the biggest reason why Star Wars is my most often played classic game.
 
This is the best controller ever, and better yet, it's removable from it's stand!

Thanks,
Jason
 

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Xybots twisting joysticks, brilliant I think and totally unique. I'm not really a fan of the rotary joysticks in other games, they don't seem that functional - its just easier to move the character around.. too hard (for me anyway) to focus on which direction the gun is pointed AND the character position at the same time. XYbots was perfect because the turning was used every two seconds, totally necessary, very functional, AND it allowed for the left and right to be used for strafing!

also i'm totally biased because Xybots was my first machine... I miss it :(

PS I think a database list of all the different arcade controls would be very useful. Which games use which joysticks, which ones are interchangeable with which other games for perfect originality. specific descriptions of each controller including how it works and what makes it different from other controllers. etc. etc.
 
PS I think a database list of all the different arcade controls would be very useful. Which games use which joysticks, which ones are interchangeable with which other games for perfect originality. specific descriptions of each controller including how it works and what makes it different from other controllers. etc. etc.
Dusting off an old thread... and yeah, I wish klov listed WHICH joystick/spinner was on each game.

I played Pepper II at galloping ghost tonight are sure love that coin controls joystick (even thought theirs is sloppy).
And the wico short skinny is another fave of mine.

Did we already say Mad Planets twisty flight stick?
I still love Discs of Tron's controls (played that tonight, too)
 
TRAK-BALL - Missile Command "big @$$" one (awesome; gives a good workout)
Invented for Missile Command, perfected on Centipede. Greatest arcade controller, no question.

Now, greatest controller ever? Has to go to Super Nintendo. The addition of 4 buttons onto the NES controller would've been awful. Instead, rearrange them and make a comfortable controller. In a time where no one had ever made a successful console sequel, damn was it good.
 
I really like the analog-ish joystick on Food Fight.

It's smooth and just has a very satisfying feel for that game. I can't think of any other coin-op game that uses a similar stick.
 
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