List of game controllers

Summary

The following is a list of game controllers. It includes input devices that are notable and whose primary function is to control how the video games are played. Regional variants and models containing insignificant changes are not included.

Controllers edit

Name Image Platform Specifications Original release date Refs
Magnavox Odyssey controller   Magnavox Odyssey Connectivity: Magnavox Odyssey controller port
Input: 3 knobs, 1 button
September 1972 [1]
Shooting Gallery   Magnavox Odyssey Connectivity: Magnavox Odyssey controller port
Input: 1 trigger, photodiode
September 1972 [2]
Atari CX40 joystick   Atari 2600 Connectivity: Atari joystick port
Input: 1 digital button, eight-directional digital joystick
1978 [3]
NES/Famicom controller     NES Connectivity: NES controller port
Input: 4 digital buttons, D-pad, microphone (Famicom only)
July 15, 1983 [4]
NES Zapper   NES Connectivity: NES controller port
Input: 1 trigger, photodiode
February 18, 1984 [5]
Master System controller   Master System Connectivity: Master System controller port
Input: 2 digital buttons, D-pad
September 1986 [6][7]
NES Advantage   NES Connectivity: NES controller port
Input: 4 digital buttons, 2 adjustable knobs, 3 toggle buttons, 1 switch
1987 [8]
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controller   Sega Genesis Connectivity: Sega Genesis controller port
Input: 4 digital buttons, D-pad
October 29, 1988 [9][10]
Nintendo Power Glove   NES Connectivity: NES controller port

Input: D-pad, A, B, Start, Select, Turbo Buttons

December 3, 1989
SNES/Super Famicom controller   SNES Connectivity: SNES controller port
Input: 8 digital buttons, D-pad
November 21, 1990 [11]
Gravis PC GamePad   DOS Connectivity: DA-15 game port
Input: 4 digital buttons, 2 switches, D-pad
1992 [12]
Menacer   Sega Genesis Connectivity: Sega Genesis controller port
Input: 4 buttons, 2 infrared transmitters
1992 [13]
Super Scope   SNES Connectivity: 2nd SNES controller port
Dimensions: 23 inches long
Input: 3 digital buttons, 1 switch, photodiode
1992 [14]
6-Button Arcade Pad   Sega Genesis Connectivity: Sega Genesis controller port
Input: 8 digital buttons, D-pad
1993 [9][15]
Sega Saturn controller   Sega Saturn Connectivity: Sega Saturn controller port
Input: 9 digital buttons, D-pad
November 22, 1994
PlayStation controller   PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 10 digital buttons, D-pad
December 3, 1994 [16]
Virtual Boy controller   Virtual Boy Connectivity: Virtual Boy controller port
Input: 2 D-pads, 6 digital buttons, power switch
July 21, 1995 [17][18]
Apple Pippin controller   Apple Pippin Connectivity: P-ADB
Input: 9 digital buttons, D-pad, trackball
March 28, 1996 [19]
Nintendo 64 controller   Nintendo 64 Connectivity: Nintendo 64 controller port, Controller Pak slot
Input: 1 analog stick, 10 digital buttons, D-pad
June 23, 1996 [20]
SpaceOrb 360
 
PC Connectivity: Serial

Input: 6-axis rubber ball, 6 buttons

1996
ASCII Sphere 360
 
PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port

Input: 6-axis rubber ball, 10 buttons, D-pad

3D Pad   Sega Saturn Connectivity: Sega Saturn controller port
Input: 9 digital buttons, 1 analog stick, 1 toggle switch, D-pad
July 5, 1996
Dual Analog Controller   PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 10 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks, 1 toggle button, D-pad
April 25, 1997 [21]
DualShock   PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 10 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks, 1 toggle button, D-pad
November 20, 1997
Dreamcast controller   Dreamcast Connectivity: Dreamcast controller port, 2 expansion sockets
Input: 1 analog stick, 2 analog triggers, 5 digital buttons, D-pad
November 27, 1998 [22]
DualShock 2   PlayStation 2 Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 8 pressure-sensitive buttons, 2 digital buttons, 1 toggle button, pressure-sensitive D-pad
March 4, 2000
Nintendo GameCube controller   GameCube Connectivity: GameCube controller port
Input: 2 analog sticks, 2 clickable analog triggers, 6 digital buttons, D-pad
September 14, 2001 [23]
Xbox controller
(aka The Duke)
  Xbox Connectivity: Xbox controller port, 2 Memory Unit slots
Dimensions: 6.5 × 5 × 3 in
Input: 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 digital buttons, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, D-pad
Mass: <16 oz.
November 15, 2001 [24][25]
Xbox Controller S   Xbox Connectivity: Xbox controller port, 2 Memory Unit slots
Input: 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 digital buttons, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, D-pad
2002
Xbox 360 controller   Xbox 360 Connectivity: USB, wireless (proprietary 2.4 GHz protocol), 2.5 mm headset jack
Input: 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 10 digital buttons, D-pad
November 22, 2005 [26]
Sixaxis   PlayStation 3 Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, 3 digital buttons, pressure-sensitive D-pad, accelerometer, gyroscope
November 11, 2006 [27]
Wii Remote   Wii Connectivity: Bluetooth, Accessory connector port (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 8 digital buttons, accelerometer, D-pad, gyroscope (Wii Remote Plus only), infrared sensor
November 19, 2006 [28]
Nunchuk   Wii Connectivity: Accessory connector plug (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 1 analog stick, 2 digital buttons, accelerometer,
November 19, 2006 [29]
Classic Controller   Wii Connectivity: Accessory connector plug (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 2 analog sticks, 2 clickable analog triggers, 9 digital buttons, D-pad
November 19, 2006
DualShock 3   PlayStation 3 Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers, 6 pressure-sensitive buttons, 3 digital buttons, pressure-sensitive D-pad, accelerometer, gyroscope
November 11, 2007 [27]
Classic Controller Pro   Wii Connectivity: Accessory connector plug (400 kHz I²C)
Input: 2 analog sticks, 11 digital buttons, D-pad
Early 2009
PlayStation Move   PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 Connectivity: Bluetooth, mini-USB port
Input: 1 analog trigger, 8 digital buttons, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
September 15, 2010 [30]
PlayStation Move Navigation controller   PlayStation 3 Connectivity: Mini-USB port
Input: 1 analog trigger, 1 clickable analog stick, 4 digital buttons, D-pad
September 15, 2010 [30]
Kinect for Xbox 360   Xbox 360 Connectivity: USB 2.0
Dimensions: 282 × 68 × 70 mm
Input: 1 RGB camera, 2 infrared depth sensors, four-microphone array
Mass: 1360 g
November 4, 2010 [31]
Wii U GamePad   Wii U Connectivity: Proprietary wireless, Accessory Connector port, AC adapter port, headset jack, near-field communication
Input: 13 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks, touchscreen, D-pad, accelerometer, front-facing camera, infrared transceiver, gyroscope, magnetometer, microphone, slider
November 18, 2012 [32][33]
Wii U Pro Controller   Wii U Connectivity: Bluetooth
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 13 digital buttons, D-pad
November 18, 2012
Ouya Controller   Ouya Connectivity: Bluetooth
Dimensions: 163 x 109 x 53.5 mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 analog triggers (LT, RT), 2 shoulder buttons (LB, RB), 5 digital buttons (O, U, Y, A, Menu), Touchpad, and Digital D-Pad
Mass: 275 g
June 25, 2013 [34]
DualShock 4   PlayStation 4 Connectivity: Bluetooth, Micro-USB, 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, extension port
Dimensions: 161 × 57 × 100 mm
Input: 9 digital buttons, 2 analog triggers, 2 clickable analog sticks, accelerometer, D-pad, gyroscope, two-point capacitive clickable touchpad
Mass: 210 g
November 15, 2013 [35][36]
Xbox Wireless Controller   Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Connectivity: Propriety Wireless, Micro USB (revisions prior to Elite Series 2), USB-C (Elite Series 2 and third revision), 3.5 mm stereo audio jack (after first revision), Bluetooth 4.0 (second revision), Bluetooth LE (third revision)
Dimensions: 153 × 102 × 61  mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 analog triggers (LB, RB), 2 shoulder buttons (LT, RT), 9 digital buttons (Y, B, A, X, Menu, Options, Home), 1 Share button (third revision) and Digital D-Pad
November 22, 2013
Kinect for Xbox One   Xbox One Connectivity: USB 3.0
Dimensions: 249 × 66 × 67 mm
Input: 1 RGB camera, 1 infrared depth sensor, four-microphone array
Mass: 1.4 kg
November 22, 2013 [31]
Steam Controller   Linux, Mac OS, Windows Connectivity: Micro-USB, wireless
Input: 2 clickable analog triggers, clickable analog stick, 2 clickable touchpads, 9 digital buttons, accelerometer, gyroscope
November 10, 2015 [37][38][39]
Joy-Con   Nintendo Switch Connectivity: Bluetooth; R: near-field communication
Dimensions: 102 × 35.9 × 28.4 mm
Input: Accelerometer, gyroscope; L: 10 digital buttons, clickable analog stick; R: 10 digital buttons, clickable analog stick, infrared motion camera
Mass: L: ≈ 49.3 g; R: ≈ 52.2 g
March 3, 2017 [40]
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller   Nintendo Switch Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth, near-field communication
Input: Accelerometer, gyroscope; 13 digital buttons, 2 clickable analog sticks
March 3, 2017
Google Stadia Controller   Google Stadia Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB-C, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2 (BLE), 3.5mm stereo headset jack
Dimensions: 163 x 105 x 65 mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers (L2, R2), 2 shoulder buttons (L1, R1), 9 digital buttons (Y, B, A, X, Menu, Options, Capture, Google Assistant, Stadia), and Digital D-Pad
Mass: 268 g
November 19, 2019 [41][42]
Sinden Light Gun Windows, Linux Connectivity: USB-A
Input: D-pad, 4 buttons
September 2020 [43]
DualSense   PlayStation 5 Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm TRRS (OMTP) stereo headset jack
Dimensions: 160 × 66 × 106 mm
Input: 6 axis motion sensing (3 axis accelerometer, 3 axis gyroscope), 2 clickable analog sticks, 2 analog triggers, 9 digital buttons, D-pad, 2 point capacitive touchpad with click mechanism (see buttons)
Mass: 280 g
November 12, 2020
Amazon Luna Controller   Amazon Luna Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB-C, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2 (BLE), 3.5mm stereo headset
Dimensions: 156.4 x 107.6 x 58.5 mm
Input: 2 clickable analog sticks (offset), 2 analog triggers (L2, R2), 2 shoulder buttons (LB, RB), 8 digital buttons (X, Y, A, B, Home, Action, Menu, Microphone), and Digital D-Pad
Mass: 281.5 g
March 1, 2022 [44][45][46]

Mice edit

The following is a list of gaming mice, mice which are designed specifically to play games:

Name Image Platform Specifications Original release date Refs
Super NES Mouse   SNES Connectivity: SNES controller port
Input: 2 buttons
July 14, 1992 [47]
PlayStation Mouse   PlayStation Connectivity: PlayStation controller port
Input: 2 buttons
December 3, 1994 [48][49]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Wolf, Mark J. P. (2008). The Video Game Explosion: A History from PONG to Playstation and Beyond. ABC-CLIO. p. 50. ISBN 9780313338687. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Margel, Michael (2013). Literature Review of Video Game Input Devices (PDF) (Thesis). University of Toronto. p. 2. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "Subject: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions". Utrecht University. June 11, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Parish, Jeremy (June 26, 2013). "Nintendo Gets Into the Game". USGamer. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Cunningham, Andrew (December 18, 2014). "Duck Hunt's Virtual Console debut, and why the original hates your new TV". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
    Serrano, Aarón Rodríguez; Núñez, Marta Martín; Catalán, Shaila García (May 4, 2020). "10 – Augmented Reality". Reimagining Communication: Mediation. Routledge. ISBN 9781351015417. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "Master System peripherals" (in Japanese). Sega Corporation. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Computer Entertainer, February 1987, page 13 Archived November 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Hanson, Christopher (March 8, 2018). Game Time: Understanding Temporality in Video Games. Indiana University Press. ISBN 9780253032843. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Heavy Equipment". Sega Visions. August–September 1993. p. 94.
  10. ^ Sega Archives 2016, p. 61.
  11. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 2.5, History; Technical Specifications.
  12. ^ Edwards, Benj (June 6, 2020). "How the Gravis PC GamePad Transformed PC Gaming in the '90s". How-To Geek. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "Menacer". Mean Machines (4): 82–84. January 1993. ISSN 0960-4952.
    Burrill, William (March 20, 1993). "Weapons for the zap-happy". Toronto Star. p. J4. ISSN 0319-0781 – via LexisNexis.
  14. ^ Super Nintendo Entertainment System Development Manual. Vol. II. Nintendo. 1993. pp. 4-1-3, 4-3-1, 4-4-3. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
    Slasher Quan (April 1992). "Super NES Pro Review – Super Scope". GamePro. Vol. 4, no. 4. pp. 62–63. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  15. ^ Sega Archives 2016, p. 92.
  16. ^ "NG Hardware: PlayStation". Next Generation. December 1995. pp. 39, 41. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  17. ^ Zachara, Matt; Zagal, José P. (2009). Challenges for Success in Stereo Gaming: A Virtual Boy Case Study (PDF) (Thesis). DePaul University. pp. 101–102. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ Edwards, Benj (July 21, 2020). "Virtually Forgotten: Nintendo's Virtual Boy, 25 Years Later". How-To Geek. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Obscura Machina – #8 Pippin". Retro Gamer. No. 94. September 15, 2011. p. 58. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
    Moss, Richard (March 24, 2018). "The Mac gaming console that time forgot". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  20. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.3, History; Technical Specifications.
  21. ^ Fillari, Alessandro (April 7, 2020). "How PS5's DualSense Fits Into The History Of PlayStation Controllers". GameSpot. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  22. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.4, History; Technical Specifications.
  23. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.7, History; The Accessories.
  24. ^ "Controllers and Peripherals". Official Xbox Magazine. No. Launch Special. 2001. pp. 56–57.
  25. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.6, History; The Accessories.
  26. ^ Loguidice, Bill; Loguidice, Christina (January 26, 2012). My Xbox: Xbox 360, Kinect, and Xbox LIVE. Que Publishing. ISBN 9780132832069. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
    Rudden, David (June 1, 2006). "Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller (Wired) review". CNET. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
    Block, Gerry (June 26, 2006). "Xbox 360 Controller Roundup". IGN. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Vincent, Luke (November 1, 2010). Bluetooth Sniffing and the PS3 (PDF) (Thesis). Australian National University. p. 11. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
    Takizawa, Osamu (October 9, 2007). "SCEJ、40GB HDDを搭載した新PS3発売決定 – 従来モデルは約5,000円の値下げ – 「DUALSHOCK 3」も11月11日発売" [SCEJ to release new PS3 with 40GB HDD – Previous model will be price cut about 5,000 yen – "DUALSHOCK 3" will be released on November 11th]. Game Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  28. ^ Jones, Steven E.; Thiruvathukal, George K. (February 24, 2012). Codename Revolution: The Nintendo Wii Platform. MIT Press. pp. 55, 58, 64, 67. ISBN 9780262300537. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
    Fletcher, JC (November 1, 2010). "Wii Remote Plus vs. Wii Remote". Engadget. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
    Lee, Johnny Chung (July–September 2008). "Hacking the Nintendo Wii Remote" (PDF). IEEE Pervasive Computing. 7 (3). IEEE Computer Society: 39–40. doi:10.1109/MPRV.2008.53. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  29. ^ Turner, Daniel (July 1, 2007). "Hack: The Nintendo Wii". MIT Technology Review. 110 (4). Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  30. ^ a b Shah, Sarju (September 10, 2010). "PlayStation Move: Inside and Out". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
    Sung, Dan (June 16, 2010). "Microsoft Kinect vs PlayStation Move vs Nintendo Wii". Pocket-lint. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  31. ^ a b López, Robert Pinedo (February 23, 2017). Interaction for creative applications with the Kinect v2 device (PDF) (Thesis). Polytechnic University of Catalonia. pp. 17–18, 24–25, 27. hdl:2117/102392. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
    Westlye, Christopher Benjamin (June 17, 2015). Petrel Software Usability Study: Using the Microsoft Kinect v2 for Workflow Execution (PDF) (Thesis). Norwegian University of Science and Technology. p. 13. hdl:11250/2352571. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  32. ^ Wii U Operations Manual (PDF). Nintendo. 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  33. ^ Grubb, Jeff (October 17, 2012). "What is the Wii U? Everything you need to know about Nintendo's new console". VentureBeat. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  34. ^ "Ouya". Ouya. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  35. ^ "Tech specs". Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  36. ^ Seppala, Timothy J. (October 31, 2013). "Official PlayStation 4 FAQ explains what the system can (and can't) do". Engadget. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  37. ^ "The Steam Controller". Valve Corporation. 2015. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  38. ^ "Steam Controller – About This Hardware". Valve Corporation. November 10, 2015. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  39. ^ Cap, Thomas (October 26, 2015). ""Steam Controller": Revolutionärer Ersatz für Maus und Tastatur?" ["Steam Controller": Revolutionary Replacement for Mouse and Keyboard?]. Der Standard (in German). Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  40. ^ "Nintendo Switch Technical Specs". Nintendo. 2017. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
    Gilbert, Ben (February 25, 2017). "Here's everything we know about Nintendo's new $300 console, the Switch". Business Insider. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  41. ^ "Stadia Controller". Google Store. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  42. ^ Stark, Chelsea. "Google Stadia launches November in 14 countries". Polygon. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  43. ^ McFerran, Damien (May 25, 2023). "Review - Sinden Light Gun - Old-School Arcade Blasting On Your Modern-Day TV". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  44. ^ "Welcome to Luna". Amazon. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  45. ^ "Luna Controller – The best wireless controller for Luna, Amazon's new cloud gaming service". Amazon. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  46. ^ Fernandez, Nick. "Amazon Luna: Everything you need to know about Amazon's cloud gaming service". Android Authority. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  47. ^ "家庭用ゲーム機専用マウスはボクたちになにをもたらすのか?" [What does a mouse for home video game consoles bring us?]. Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 189. July 31, 1992. pp. 8, 42. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  48. ^ Forde, Matthew (April 25, 2020). "Sony slip-ups: ahead of the PS5, we look back at the PlayStation tech that just didn't work". TechRadar. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  49. ^ Loguidice, Barton 2014, pp. 3.2, The Accessories.

References edit

  • Loguidice, Bill; Barton, Matt (February 24, 2014). "Microsoft Xbox (2001)". Vintage Game Consoles: An Inside Look at Apple, Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, and the Greatest Gaming Platforms of All Time. CRC Press. ISBN 9781135006501. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  • Sega Archives: The Ultimate Collector's Guide to Classic Sega. Imagine Publishing. 2016. ISBN 978-1785-463-723. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)