Xbox controller
PAL : March 14, 2002 | |
Input |
|
---|---|
Connectivity | Xbox controller port |
Successor | Xbox 360 controller |
The Xbox controller is the primary game controller for Microsoft's Xbox home video game console and was introduced at the Game Developers Conference in 2000. The first-generation Xbox controller (nicknamed "The Duke") was the first controller bundled with Xbox systems for all territories except Japan. A smaller and redesigned variant, called "Controller S", was sold and bundled with the console in Japan. It was later released in other territories and by the end of 2003 had replaced the first-generation controller worldwide. The larger original controller remained available as an optional accessory.
Design
The Xbox controller features dual vibration motors and a layout similar to the contemporary GameCube controller: two analog triggers, two analog sticks (both are also digitally clickable buttons), a digital directional pad, a Back button, a Start button, two accessory slots and six 8-bit analog action buttons (A/Green, B/Red, X/Blue, Y/Yellow, and Black and White buttons).[2] Project leads J Allard and Cam Ferrari aimed for a controller with every feature the team liked from preceding ones: slots from the Dreamcast controller, two sticks from the PlayStation's original DualShock and six frontal buttons from the revised Sega Genesis controller.[3]
When the physical design of the controller began,
Duke and original Japanese Controller S controllers made in Malaysia featured a dark green cable. When the Controller S was released in the West, early models featured the green cable, however later Controller S models switched to a black cable and were made in China.
The Duke's digital directional pad is visually similar to the digital directional pad on Microsoft's previous game controller, the Microsoft SideWinder. However, the Controller S dropped that design and replaced it with a plus shape on a disc.
Models
The Duke
Seamus Blackley was a video game developer for Xbox and helped design an early prototype controller. The first-generation Xbox controller, originally nicknamed the "Fatty"[5] and later "The Duke",[6][7] was originally the controller bundled with Xbox systems for all territories except Japan. According to Blackley, the Duke name came from Brett Schnepf, the project manager of hardware for Microsoft during the Xbox's development, whose son was named Duke.[8]
The controller was oversized and was not very well received. While the product was being announced some audience members threw objects at Blackley on stage.
Over fifteen years later Seamus Blackley contacted
Controller S
The "Controller S" (codenamed "Akebono"[13]) is smaller and lighter, designed for users with smaller hands.[14][15] After the original controller had received much criticism, and initial sales of the Xbox were very low, the "Controller S" was later released in other territories by popular demand and in 2002 replaced the first-generation controller in the US Xbox's retail package,[16] and Europe in 2003,[17] with the larger original controller remaining available as an accessory.
Memory unit
An 8 MB removable
It is also possible to save an
See also
References
- ^ a b Seppala, Timothy (March 23, 2018). "The story of the Duke, the Xbox pad that existed because it had to". Engadget. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ "Inside Xbox Controller". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ Wesley Yin-Poole (November 17, 2013) [14 December 2012]. "Why Xbox failed in Japan". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ "Why Xbox Failed In Japan". YouTube. CNBC. October 8, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ "Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Tour". IGN. May 13, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
the original "Fatty" Xbox controller didn't have a specific public name
- ^ "Xbox's original beast of a controller making a comeback?". CNET. June 15, 2005. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
Anyone who purchased the original Xbox during its launch window quickly came to know its behemoth of a controller, now nicknamed "The Duke".
- ^ "Microsoft - Timeline Photos". Microsoft. May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
Hi, I'm Amy Stevenson, the official Microsoft archivist. Need a CD-ROM of 500 Nations? An ActiMates doll? An old Duke controller from the original Xbox? I've got 'em all, right here in these boxes. Explore the Microsoft Archives here.
- ISBN 978-0-429-78983-0. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ^ Owen S. Good. "The Dukes return to Xbox redeems the original designer". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- ^ Games of 2001. Game Informer (January 2002, pg. 48).
- ^ "Top 10 Tuesday: Worst Game Controllers". IGN. February 21, 2006. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ Joseph Knoop, May 18, 2018. "How A Twitter Joke Brought The Xbox 'Duke' Controller Back To Life – IGN Unfiltered". IGN. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Ninja Beach Party. Official Xbox Magazine (October 2002, issue 11, pg. 44).
- ^ Christopher Buecheler (June 24, 2008). "GameSpy.com - Hardware: Xbox Controller S". Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "Xbox Retrospective: All-Time Top Xbox News". Gamer 2.0. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ Sam Parker (October 14, 2002). "New Xbox bundle with Sega games". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ Sam Parker (April 23, 2003). "Controller S becomes Euro Xbox standard". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
Further reading
- Hall, Charlie (September 21, 2017). "The Duke, Xboxs biggest controller of all time, will be in stores soon". Polygon. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- Good, Owen S. (January 13, 2018). "Get your tiny hands on The Dukes reboot soon (corrected)". Polygon. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
- Good, Owen S. (March 10, 2018). "The Dukes return to Xbox redeems the original designer". Polygon. Retrieved March 11, 2018.