Tunnels of Doom

Major Nelson’s latest podcast mentions a CNet article that tries to pinpoint the top five controllers of all time. The article itself admits it is completely subjective, but what they don’t explain is what they base their opinions on. Is it responsiveness? Adaptability? Comfort? What’s really odd is that when you look at the list, it’s like they aren’t taking any of those things into consideration. Here’s an overview of their list, with my opinions. Feel free to chime in.

Note, they listed them in chronological order, not via some kind of ranking order. I’m just mimicking their order.

Atari 2600

They must have used nostalgia for this entry because while I was only about six years old I recall this stick as being stiff, uncomfortable and imprecise. Historical, sure, but hardly “best of” worthy.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

I think this one was a little small; it worked for my little hands when I was in Jr. High, but I’d probably find it really uncomfortable now. I think it deserves consideration for adding the now-ubiquitous shoulder buttons and for paving the way for the diamond face buttons configuration, which is still being used three generations later.

Nintendo 64

Major Nelson and e both gripe about this and I couldn’t agree more that it’s a terrible addition. It did have some good innovations such as the analog stick, trigger underneath and the rumble “pak” which of course eventually became standard (until the odd exclusion from the PS3 Sixaxis). But the form factor was beyond awkward and the C buttons instead of a second analog stick was proven to be flawed pretty quickly.

Playstation 2 Dual Shock

e on the Major Nelson podcast gripes that the Dual Shock is a bit too dinky and I can see that, but I think it’s fairly small size helps make it lighter which is very important. Just ask anyone who had to wrestle with the original XBox controller.

XBox 360

This generation actually has some really great controllers no matter what system you choose (well, maybe not so much with the PSP, but it seems like CNet is sticking with the non-portables), but considering the odd lack of rumble on the Sixaxis and the necessary wild manipulations for Wii control, whose viability is filled with promise but we’re too close to be able to make reasonable evaluations, I’m thinking we gotta go with the 360′s. Wireless, alone, warrants strong consideration. The 360 controller—the wireless model at least—suffers from some mighty heft, but as far as general “hand-feel” and the broad level of control, it’s nearly flawless. I say nearly because I like to conveniently ignore the atrocity that is the D-Pad until it actively hampers my gaming experience.