Comparison of console controllers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Comparison of video game controllers)
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2007) |
This is a comparison of video game controllers.
Contents |
[edit] Console controllers
This does not include the controls integrated into handheld gaming devices (unless they are designed to also act as controllers for another console). For that, see below.
[edit] General
Basic information about each controller.
| Name | Platform | First Released | Concurrent controllers | Expansion | Wireless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Generation Consoles | |||||
| Joysticks, Paddles, "Trakballs", 12-key "keyboard controllers" | Atari 2600 | 1977 | 2 (4 on 2800/Video Arcade II) | No | No |
| 2600 wireless controller | Atari 2600 | ? | 2 (4 on 2800/Video Arcade II) | No | Yes |
| Third Generation Consoles | |||||
| NES Controller | NES | June 15, 1983 | 2, up to 4 via Satellite/Four-Score | No | via NES Satellite |
| NES Zapper | NES | 1984 | Only in slot 2 paired with a controller | No | via NES Satellite |
| Master System Controller | Sega Master System | 1985 | 2 | No | No |
| NES Advantage | NES | 1987 | 2, up to 4 via Satellite/Four-Score | No | via NES Satellite |
| NES Power Pad | NES | 1987 | ? | No | via NES Satellite |
| NES Max | NES | 1988 | 2, up to 4 via Satellite/Four-Score | No | via NES Satellite |
| Power Glove | NES | 1989 | ? | No | via NES Satellite |
| U-Force | NES | 1989 | ? | No | via NES Satellite |
| Fourth Generation Consoles | |||||
| Genesis Controller | Sega Genesis | October 29, 1988 | 2, up to 4 via multitap | No | No |
| Genesis Wireless Controller | Sega Genesis | October 29, 1990 | 2, up to 4 via multitap | No | Yes |
| SNES Controller | SNES | November 21, 1990 | 2, up to 10 via Tribal Tap | No | No |
| SNES Wireless Controller | SNES | November 21, 1992 | 2 (up to 10 via Tribal Tap) | No | Yes |
| Turbopad | TurboGrafx-16 | August 29, 1989 | 1, up to 5 via Turbo Tap | No | No |
| Super Scope | SNES | September 1, 1992 | only in slot 2 paired with a controller | No | Yes |
| Menacer | Sega Genesis | 1992 | ? | No | Yes |
| Fifth Generation Consoles | |||||
| Jaguar Controller | Atari Jaguar | November, 1993 | 2, up to 8 via Team Tap | No | No |
| Saturn Controller | Sega Saturn | November 22, 1994 | 2, up to 12 via Multitap | No | No |
| Saturn 3D Pad | Sega Saturn | July, 1995 | 2, up to 12 via Multitap | No | No |
| Stunner | Sega Saturn | 1994 | ? | No | No |
| PlayStation Controller | PlayStation | December 3, 1994 | 2, up to 8 via Multitap | No | No |
| Sony Analog FlightStick | PlayStation | April, 1996 | 2, up to 8 via Multitap | No | No |
| N64 Controller | Nintendo 64 | June 23, 1996 | 4 | Yes | No |
| DualAnalog | PlayStation | April, 1997 | 2, up to 8 via Multitap | No | No |
| DualShock | PlayStation | Late 1997 | 2, up to 8 via Multitap | No | No |
| Name | Platform | First Released | Concurrent controllers | Expansion | Wireless |
| Sixth Generation Consoles | |||||
| Dance Pad | Various | Various | Various | No | Various |
| Dreamcast Controller | Dreamcast | November 27, 1998 | 4 | Yes | No |
| Dreamcast Gun | Dreamcast | ? | ? | Yes | No |
| DualShock 2 | PlayStation 2 | March 4, 2000 | 2, up to 8 via Multitap | No | No |
| Game Boy Advance | Nintendo GameCube/Wii | March 21, 2001 | 4 | Yes | No |
| GameCube Controller | Nintendo GameCube/Wii | September 14, 2001 | 4 | No | No |
| Xbox controller | Xbox | November 15, 2001 | 4 | yes | No |
| Wavebird | Nintendo GameCube/Wii | October 10, 2002 | 4 | No | Yes |
| DK Bongos | Nintendo GameCube | December 12, 2003 | 4 | No | No |
| Name | Platform | First Released | Concurrent controllers | Expansion | Wireless |
| Seventh Generation Consoles | |||||
| Nintendo DS | Wii | November 21, 2004 | 16 | via GBA port | Yes |
| PlayStation Portable | PlayStation 2/PlayStation 3 | December 12, 2004 | 32 | Yes | Yes |
| Xbox 360 Controller | Xbox 360 | November 22, 2005 | 4 | Yes | Yes. |
| Sixaxis | PlayStation 3 | November 17, 2006 | 7 | Yes | Bluetooth |
| Wii Remote | Wii | November 19, 2006 | 4 | Yes | Bluetooth |
| Wii Classic Controller | Wii | November 19, 2006 | 4 | No | Wired to Wii Remote |
| DualShock 3 | PlayStation 3 | November 11, 2007 | 7 | Yes | Bluetooth |
| Name | Platform | First Released | Concurrent controllers | Expansion | Wireless |
[edit] Input
Controller components that allow the user to control events in-game, such as D-pads, Analog sticks, and so on.
| Directional | Button Types | Button Location | Sound | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | D-pad | Analog stick | Motion Sensor | Pointer | Digital | Analog | Face | Shoulder / Trigger | Under analog stick | Other (Start, etc.) | Microphone |
| Third Generation Consoles | |||||||||||
| NES Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 4 | No | 2 | No | No | 2 | Japan only, player 2 |
| NES Zapper | No | No | No | Yes | 1 | No | No | 1 | No | No | No |
| NES Advantage | Digital stick with same function | No | No | No | 4 (+3 turbo) | No | 2 (+2 turbo) | No | No | 2 (+1 turbo) | No |
| NES Power Pad | No | No | No | No | 12 | No | 12 | No | No | No | No |
| NES Max | "cycloid" substituted for standard cross design | No | No | No | 4 (+2 turbo) | No | 2 (+2 turbo) | No | No | 2 | No |
| Power Glove | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 17 | No | 17 | No | No | No | No |
| U-Force | No | No | Yes | No | 8 | No | 8 | No | No | No | No |
| Master System Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 2 | No | 2 | No | No | No | No |
| Directional | Button Types | Button Location | Sound | ||||||||
| Name | D-pad | Analog stick | Motion Sensor | Pointer | Digital | Analog | Face | Shoulder / Trigger | Under analog stick | Start, etc. | Microphone |
| Fourth Generation Consoles | |||||||||||
| Genesis Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 4 or 7 | No | 3 or 6 | No | No | 1 | No |
| Menacer | No | No | No | Yes | 1 | No | No | 1 | No | No | No |
| SNES Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 8 | No | 4 | 2 | No | 2 | No |
| Super Scope | No | No | No | Yes | 3 | No | 1 | 1 | No | 1 | No |
| Turbopad | Yes | No | No | No | 4(+2 3 position turbo switches) | No | 2(+2 3 position turbo switches) | No | No | 2 | No |
| Directional | Button Types | Button Location | Sound | ||||||||
| Name | D-pad | Analog stick | Motion Sensor | Pointer | Digital | Analog | Face | Shoulder / Trigger | Under analog stick | Start, etc. | Microphone |
| Fifth Generation Consoles | |||||||||||
| Jaguar Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 17 | No | 3 | No | No | 2 (plus 12 numeric) | No |
| Saturn Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 9 | No | 6 | 2 | No | 1 | No |
| Saturn 3D Pad | Yes | Yes | No | No | 9 | No | 6 | 2 | No | 1 | No |
| Stunner | No | No | No | Yes | 1 | No | No | 1 | No | No | No |
| PlayStation Controller | Yes | No | No | No | 10 | No | 4 | 4 | No | 2 | No |
| Sony Analog FlightStick | Digital stick with same function | 2 | No | No | 10 | No | 8 | No | No | 2 | No |
| DualAnalog | Yes | 2 | No | No | 10 | No | 4 | 4 | No | 2 | No |
| DualShock | Yes | 2 | No | No | 12 | No | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | No |
| N64 Controller | Yes | Yes | Via TiltPak | No | 10 | No | 6 | 3 | No | 1 | Via Voice Recognition Unit |
| Directional | Button Types | Button Location | Sound | ||||||||
| Name | D-pad | Analog stick | Motion Sensor | Pointer | Digital | Analog | Face | Shoulder / Trigger | Under analog stick | Start, etc. | Microphone |
| Sixth Generation Consoles | |||||||||||
| Dance Pad | No | No | No | No | 6-8 | No | 6-8 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Dreamcast Controller | Yes | Yes | No | No | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | No | 1 | Via Microphone |
| Dreamcast Gun | Yes | No | No | Yes | 2 | No | No | 2 | No | No | No |
| DualShock 2 | Yes | 2 | No | No | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | No |
| Xbox controller | Yes | 2 | No | No | 4 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Via headset |
| GameCube Controller | Yes | 2 | No | No | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | No | 1 | Via Microphone |
| Wavebird | Yes | 2 | No | No | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | No | 1 | No |
| DK Bongos | No | No | No | No | 3 | No | 2 | No | No | 1 | Yes |
| Nintendo GameCube Microphone | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Game Boy Advance | Yes | No | No | No | 6 | No | 2 | 2 | No | 2 | No |
| Directional | Button Types | Button Location | Sound | ||||||||
| Name | D-pad | Analog stick | Motion Sensor | Pointer | Digital | Analog | Face | Shoulder / Trigger | Under analog stick | Start, etc. | Microphone |
| Seventh Generation Consoles | |||||||||||
| Xbox 360 Controller | Yes | 2 | No | No | 11 | 2[1][2] | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | Via headset |
| Sixaxis | Yes | 2 | Yes | No | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | No |
| DualShock 3 Sixaxis | Yes | 2 | Yes | No | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | No |
| PlayStation Portable | Yes | Yes | No | No | 8 | No | 4 | 2 | No | 2 | Yes (on 3000) or via headset |
| Wii Remote | Yes | Via Nunchuk | Yes (+ 1 via Nunchuk) | Yes | 7 + 2 via Nunchuk | No | 3 | 1 + 2 via Nunchuk | No | 3 | No |
| Wii Classic Controller | Yes | 2 | Via Wii Remote | Via Wii Remote | 9 | 2 | 4 | 4 | No | 3 | No |
| Nintendo DS | Yes | No | Via Motion Pak | Touchscreen | 8 | No | 4 | 2 | No | 2 | Yes |
[edit] Output
Feedback components of each controller, to alert the user to events in-game.
| Name | Visual | Transducers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haptic feedback | Auditory | ||
| Fifth Generation Consoles | |||
| N64 Controller | No | With Rumble Pak | No |
| Dual Analog Controller | No | Japan only | No |
| DualShock | No | Yes | No |
| Name | Visual | Transducers | |
| Haptic feedback | Auditory | ||
| Sixth Generation Consoles | |||
| Dreamcast Controller & Gun | 48x32 pixel monochrome LCD VMU | With Jump Pack | Piezoelectric Buzzer Via VMU |
| DualShock 2 | No | Yes | No |
| Xbox controller | No | Yes | With headset |
| GameCube Controller | No | Yes | No |
| Wavebird | No | No | No |
| Game Boy Advance | 240×160 pixel color LCD | No | Yes |
| Name | Visual | Transducers | |
| Haptic feedback | Auditory | ||
| Seventh Generation Consoles | |||
| Xbox 360 Controller | Some system specific signals communicated through light ring surrounding guide button. | Yes | With headset |
| Sixaxis | Some system specific signals communicated through 4 LED lights at the top of the Sixaxis. | No | No |
| DualShock 3 Sixaxis | Some system specific signals communicated through 4 LED lights at the top of the Sixaxis. | Yes | No |
| PlayStation Portable | 480×272 pixel color LCD | No | Stereo Speakers |
| Wii Remote | Some system specific signals communicated through 4 LED lights at the bottom of the Wiimote. | Yes | Yes |
| Wii Classic Controller | No | No | Via Wii Remote |
| Nintendo DS | Two 256×192 pixel color LCDs | With Nintendo DS Rumble Pak | Stereo Speakers |
