All About the PlayStation 1's Design
Sony designer Teiyu Goto discusses the system, the controller, and the weird symbols on the buttons.
Teiyu Goto, who joined Sony after graduating from technical school in 1977, has worked on the external design of every PlayStation console, as well as their controllers and other accessories, for the past 17 years. In an interview with Famitsu magazine this week, Goto divulged the internal process that went into crafting some of the most iconic images in video games.
As Goto put it, he first got involved with the PlayStation project in the spring of 1993. "My boss at the time asked if I was interested in some game console work," he recalled. "I liked games and PCs a lot and messed around with them in my spare time, so it was great for me to work on what I liked doing the most. So I started traveling to the Aoyama office and talking with [Ken] Kutaragi about assorted things, and before long I began work on the design of the system."
Goto began his design work at around the same time the development staff put the final touches on Dinosaur, the first PlayStation tech demo. "It was a huge shock to me," he said. "I couldn't tell you how neat it was to move the dinosaur around as much as I wanted. Having the hardware behind that get sold as a home game console was revolutionary to me -- if this actually happened, I thought, there's no way it wouldn't be a hit."
Since game systems were a new category for Sony, Goto was given carte blanche to go in any direction he wanted with the design. "I thought up assorted designs for the console, but we wound up going with a very simple one in the end, a basic box with a circle on top for the CD-ROM," he said. "The console itself was a relatively easy design process, but we went through a great number of stages with the controller."
What was so hard about coming up with a controller? "The Super NES was a huge hit at the time, and naturally we wanted SNES gamers to upgrade to our system," Goto said. "That's why the management department didn't want the controller to be a radical departure -- they said it had to be a standard type of design, or gamers wouldn't accept it."
Ignoring management's request for a flat, Nintendo-like pad, Goto came up with a design that had grips on both ends and showed it to Norio Ohga, Sony's president at the time. "I still clearly remember him saying that 'the control stick is the most important part of any game,'" Goto recalled. "Ohga flies airplanes and helicopters, so he used the term 'control stick' to talk about the controller. He really liked the grips on the controller because it let him get a 3D-style grasp on the situation."
Management, however, was still pretty hostile. "They told me that the grip design was simply no good, that gamers wouldn't like it," Goto said. "We did wind up switching to a flatter controller design, and that survived all the way to the point where it was time to start making molds. Just around then, though, we had a 'creative report,' an internal presentation where assorted groups showed their current in-progress work to the top brass. During that report I showed off the flat controller design, explaining that this is how game consoles work right now, and Ohga was totally livid at me. 'This is no good! Change it! What was wrong with what you showed me earlier?' It was a huge boost for me, him saying that in front of everybody -- it made me feel like I had it right all along."
"Despite that," Goto continued, "management's opinions didn't change at all. They showed Ohga the flat controller again later and said that this is what they wanted, but Ohga was about to throw the model right back at them. I was there and I didn't want him to break the model, so I stopped him, but looking back, I think that was Ohga's way of saying 'Hang in there, Goto' to me. Management was still pretty peeved, but they felt like they had no choice but to follow him."
That explains how the controller got its look, but not how the buttons got their rather unique names. "That was also pretty tough," Goto revealed. "Other game companies at the time assigned alphabet letters or colors to the buttons. We wanted something simple to remember, which is why we went with icons or symbols, and I came up with the triangle-circle-X-square combination immediately afterward. I gave each symbol a meaning and a color. The triangle refers to viewpoint; I had it represent one's head or direction and made it green. Square refers to a piece of paper; I had it represent menus or documents and made it pink. The circle and X represent 'yes' or 'no' decision-making and I made them red and blue respectively. People thought those colors were mixed up, and I had to reinforce to management that that's what I wanted."
Looking back, Goto sees his work on the PlayStation controller as the sort of chance that comes once in a lifetime. "Getting to use such simple symbols in a design is an extremely rare opportunity, and it was really a stroke of luck to me," he said. "When you think of the Madonna in painting, most people come up with the same image of the same woman in their minds. In a similar way, the combination of those simple symbols has come to represent both the PlayStation and the fun of video games, and being able to communicate that is a great thing."
There's little doubt that he's been successful -- not every designer can say that his work shows up in 100 million households worldwide, after all. "I was at a PlayStation party in Los Angeles once, and a man came up and asked if I was the designer of the PlayStation," Goto said. "I said yes, and he said 'I develop games for a software company, but we started supporting the PlayStation because of the system's design.' I was really moved by that -- I thanked him and shook his hand as strongly as I could. That moment made me really glad to be involved with the design. Being able to launch a new brand and have people around the world use it can make a designer very, very happy."
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Comments (70)
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A Really long statement and also a reply to TulioMan
Posted: Apr 05, 2011 12:00AM PST by mcdudeman
Well, I think the sticks were made so long ago and not long after the first one that i kinda dont see it as being a real change, as it became the standard for all of the models (DS1-3) but what you didnt mention was the new L2/R2 TRIGGERS that came when the PS3 was introduced along with the removal of the analog toggle-switch and in its place put the PS button.
***Plus dont forget about SIXAXIS! though its not really a big design change as far as looks went.
I mean nintendo and microsoft (sega has sort of been absorbed by many companies and will probably not make a new system again) cant keep a controller design through a system generation without it being totally different! (granted Wii did let you use the GC controllers though only for GC games and some Wii games)
That means you have to learn a new controller with each system whereas Sony has kept things nice and simple by keeping the layout the same and is the reason why the DualShock is regarded as the standard and is used on things like TVs and such as a sort of 'clip art' picture of what looks like a dualshock.
And to really point things out in conclusion... Have you ever noticed that A B X Y as buttons have been used by many companies besides nintendo! look at xbox... and sega... and yeah then look at your Dualshock. notice how it stands out with its use of symbols not letters and also being the first mainstream controller to have 2 function buttons (Start and Select)! microsoft basically said 'hey we need to have that extra button too!
Now if you really think you know controllers... then answer this:
True/False: Both the Dualshock and xbox controller have the same number of buttons (meaning anything that can be pushed, squeezed, and otherwise triggered).
If you said true, then you are right. microsoft needed to copy that because they knew that if they were going to have cross-platform games then they would need to have the same number of buttons.
So, think--Facts dont lie, 1 in 3 homes have a PS2 based on the number sold in U.S. and hey, I can bet that EVERY gamer who is an xbox fanboy played PS2/PS1 before the xbox came out!
ALSO heres another fact regarding console lifespans: Here is a direct-from-wikipedia quote about the xbox (ORIGINAL!!!)
"The Xbox was discontinued in late 2006, although the final Xbox game, Madden NFL 09 was released in August 2008. Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009; any in-warranty repair now needed will not be undertaken and faulty consoles will be replaced with an Xbox 360 instead. Xbox Live support was discontinued on April 15, 2010" " It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America"
So in the end... The xbox had a lifespan (being sold as new in stores) of around 5 years.
Games were made for it for around 8 years.
Warranty support lasted around 8 1/2 years
Online support lasted about 10 1/2 years
****And as for the Gamecube....
It lasted from 2001 to 2007 when it was discontinued. Though with the fact that the Wii plays gamecube games and usued its hardware, controllers and memory cards are still being sold. Though games have not been made for it anymore.
Now.... The real moment of truth! THE PS2!
And its really quite simple, it is still being sold!!! and heres proof:
"The PS2 is the best-selling console of all time, having reached over 150 million units sold as of January 31, 2011.[1][2] This milestone was reached 10 years and 11 months after the system was released in Japan on March 4, 2000. Further, Sony said it currently has 10,828 titles available for the system and that 1.52 billion PS2 titles have been sold since launch.[6] In late 2009, with developers creating new games and the console still selling steadily a decade after its original release, Sony stated that the life cycle of the PlayStation 2 will continue until demand ceases."
So... There you have it! Sony really pioneered gaming history in the 21st century with the PS2 and more!
***EDIT***
Wow.. this really is a really really REALLY Long post... I think I will show it to someone!
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Web: MikesMIDIS.Webs.Com
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it doesn't matter, as long as it's not terribly invasive
Posted: Sep 03, 2010 12:00AM PST by Mitch722
When the PSX launched I scoffed at the awkwardly shaped grip laden controller... then grew to love it. When the N64 launched I couldn't imagine anything more insane than a mini 'joystick' on a controller... now I can't imagine gaming without 360 degree sticks. When the XBOX launched I was appaled by this gigantic hunk of plastic in my hands, but 5 minutes later I was immersed in Halo and didn't have one single thought about what I was holding in my hands. In the end the controller would have to be quite debilitating to be on my mind.
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@cartman414
Posted: Sep 01, 2010 12:00AM PST by osebass
i know this is board is here so we can voice our opinion, but to say it a shitload of times to people that think the ps's control design is alright is starting to get annoying.
yes we all know you do not like the ps's controll design, so can you move along an stfu
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Controllers
Posted: Aug 30, 2010 12:00AM PST by Vehement
PS controller has the best D-pad and button pressure for fighting, side-scrollers, and other games that requires sequence-based directional command. Analog works fine with every other genre, but a bit too loose when it comes to fps.
360 controller has better analog and LT+RT for first person shooter (tho mouse/keyboard works the best), and racing games, but terrible when it comes to fighting games. The D-pad feels like an afterthought (hence why its commonly used for switching weapons/items).
I use both D-pad and Analog for different premise, so they both should feel good when needed to be switched around.
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d-pad
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
Sony's d-pad is among the worst for those genres on account of the segmented d-pad, so I dunno. I'd much prefer the Saturn d-pad.
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I completely agree.
Posted: Sep 04, 2010 12:00AM PST by RedRum6x3
It's very comfortable. I'll admit that the 360 controller feels better in your hand, but the PS3 doesn't exactly give you cramps either. Overall, it's the most superiour controller out there. All the buttons are pressure sensitive, which makes it the most precise controller to date, something that has been incorporated since the PS2.
I DO NOT understand how people can complain about the D-pad. IT IS NOT SEGMENTED! I only LOOKS segmented. It is a single, unitary piece, people. You can even tell if you just manipulate it a bit. It is definitive, I have no trouble using it for 8-way movement, oh, did I mention that it was pressure sensitive?
Fanboys (you know who) keep praising the 360 controller. Ok... It's not horrible, but it isn't so great either. The buttons are to highly raised and is tougher to press. There's a reason why the Sony controller has survived three generations, and Xbox has now created 4 controllers within just two (one being VERY short lived) generations of consoles. Face it fanboys, you're just mad because Microsoft couldn't "buy" the design away from Sony...
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Best controller ever besides SNES
Posted: Aug 29, 2010 12:00AM PST by Knightbayne
Personally I've always preferred a Dualshock over Nintendo or XBox pads. I have'nt played a lot of Gamecube or N64 but their controllers always looked and felt awkward to me. Original XBox pads are good for First person shooters and a few other gametypes whereas A Dualshock works great for pretty much every genre. Try playing GTA 3 or Vice City with an OG XBox pad and you'll see what I mean On a PS2 controller you held R2 or L2 and pressed circle to do a drive-by (A very useful move in those games) and on the XBox you pressed the Right Analog left or right which took your fingers off the face buttons. Not having the shoulder buttons really hurt plus having those tiny white and black buttons did'nt help either. I can see why the 360 added the bumpers. Unlike some people, I've always found the Dualshock to work fine for FPS's although pressing a shoulder button lacks the visceral feel of pulling a trigger in an XBox shooter. Size seems pretty subjective to me and depends on if you have Bigfoot-hands or not( which I don't ). Button or Analog Stick placement have never been a problem for me as I can switch between my XBox\360 pads and PS2 controller without becoming confused or disorientated. I do find the N64 and Gamecube analog sticks kind of unwieldy though. Mostly I mess up when the developers make unusual button mapping placements like in Gears of War or Halo 3 where you press RB to reload or when you have to press Y to jump in Oblivion and a few other games. Also I'd just like to say that Its not a fanboy thing with me as I've spent time with almost every controller out there(the ones that are packaged with the system at least) and Playstation controllers seem to be the all around best for multiple genres. One last thing,..I do have problems with the 360's D-pad from time to time, mostly when I'm trying to scroll down a list in the marketplace it likes to lean to the left or right and change the category I'm browsing. Does anyone else find it too sensitive?
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Did you never try the Controller S?
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
Was far, far superior to the Dual Shock, lack of secondary buttons aside. I will agree the 360 d-pad is problematic, but then I've never cared for Sony's segmented d-pads either.
I actually prefer Nintendo's analog sticks, as the indentation is far superior to the too rubbery surface of Sony's sticks.
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Troll?
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by shake_zuuula
I don't post here much so I don't know if keith.burgun is a regular comedy persona or something, but I'm just going to go ahead and call him a moron anyway.
keith.burgun, you're a moron. That's a PSX dual shock controller.
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God
Posted: Sep 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by IAmChristinaAguilera
Does it make me really old now to actually know this or something? The original Dual Shock was gray, like the rest of the Playstation 1. When they shrank it and it became the psOne or however that's supposed to be spelled/capitalized, it was off-white-ish.
Black Dual Shock is the Dual Shock 2 for the Playstation 2. So yes, if the intention was to stick to the design of the PS1 and its controller, this was the wrong photo.
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What is wrong with you guys?
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by keith.burgun
Why is there a picture of a PS2 controller? For those not "in-the-know" yet who are also "in-the-game-journalism-field", here's a picture of a PSX controller.
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Love the article - great!!
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by MrShoop
Great article - love the history!
One question though. He mentions that management thought he mixed up the colors, and it does seem confusing. If x and o are no and yes, wouldn't it make more sense to make the o blue (affirmative), and x red (negative)? What was the thinking behind making o red?
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Thanks
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by thecookiesnatcher
I didn't realize the creator's intended symbolism for the triangle, square, circle, X design. That's kind of cool, I never thought about it like that. For many the original PS controller sans analog stick represented the pinnacle of 2D style control, and featured an unparrelled D-pad whose ability to shoryuken never faltered. To think that some small guy somewhere fought to ensure the controller was more grip style than flat (clearly a large contributor to the PS controller's slight superiority to the SNES pad) is sort of comforting to know.
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Anything but...
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
The segmented d-pad is IMO antithetical to good fighting control. Chafes on the thumb after not too long. The Saturn pad had the best d-pad.
As for the grip style, Sony's handles have always been too short to make it work.
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Good article
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by BlueBowser7
I don't mind the PS/PS2/PS3 controllers but they are not my favorites at all, the idea of symbols for the buttons was not as good as letters, unless you have played PS games for a looooong time it's really hard to remember where each button is placed, it's kind of frustrating sometimes. Other than that it's pretty good, but I think the Gamecube controller was always a little more comfortable
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This was a great read
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by Mr.Sauce
I found this story to be really interesting and the orgins of the buttons and what they represented was profound.
For me, the Playstation controller is the best controller created. The design has stood the test of time and has become a staple in the gaming industry. I'd have to disagree with previous comments of how the D-Pad is no good for fighters because, I have been using it from my MK Trilogy days and throughout my Tekken days and I pull off moves without a hitch. I will also say that the 360 design is really good but has the WORST d-pad I have ever used. Analogs are great but that stiff ass pad just sucks. I'm so-so on the bumpers but that isn't a breaking point for me.
I always thought the best d-pad was on the Sega Genesis 6-button as well as a good layout for fighters. The Gamecube controller's divot type design in the shoulder buttons were the absolute best. Give me a controller with Playstation design, Genesis d-pad, and Gamecube like shoulder buttons and I'd say it was the Ultimate stick ever made.
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Don't like the analog stick placement
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by Dann_The_Man
I prefer using a gamecube or xbox 360 controller because they feel a lot more comfortable.
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Yeah.....
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by Gold_Ultima
Analog stick placement and the use of shapes instead of letters is kinda annoying. I always forget which side is circle and which is square. It's not a bad controller, but it's definately the worst of the current ones.
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Mainly though...
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
The grips on the controllers are done just right.
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really interesting....love origin stories like these!
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by vorhese187
maybe thats why I love winkipidia so much lol but yeah love learning tidbits like this makes you appriciate the hard work that we usually take forgranted
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And of course an interesting story turns to fanboyism
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by GunnyMcSword
A great inside look on the creation of an icon. There is a reason why the design remained relatively the same over three iterations. It just works and feels great in the hands I have both systems because I like to play excellent games and it just so happens each system has some great exclusives. I'm a gamerfan and I get my jollies no matter which system they are on. I believe I can safely say I'm unbiased, but the PS3 controller has the edge. The shoulder buttons are the main reason if I had to name one. I feel much more comfortable playing shooters pressing the L1 over the L Bumper. The idea of having a battery powered wireless controller also irks me if I had to pay for them (but I get them for free) instead of just usb headed console charged PS controllers. Though I do prefer the heft of the Xbox controller, overall I'm just more comfortable with the classic PS design.
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I would argue...
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
That it's one of gamers not wanting change. Sony wanted something different with the "boomerang" controller for the PS3, but it didn't help that it was too out there for its own good in a way. I think it would help it they lengthened the handles a bit to make them grippable by the entire palm like the competitors' controllers are already, and drop the segmented design for the d-pad.
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Hope There Was More To The Interview
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by PlayingWithPixelsINC
Not that what was said wasn't enough-actually it was very insightful and fun to read-but I guess I just want more of a "good thing".
I'm glad Goto and Ohga stuck w/ the design that's become famous now; I really can't see the PS controller being any other way. And the explanation for the symbols is genius: now I guess I know they have a purpose and it's very logical. Simple yeah, but that works for Apple, right? In some ways I guess Sony was going that route ahead of them.
Maybe some day Famitsu or someone can get an interview w/ a lead member from the team of the original 'Play Station' (space intended) project for the SNES; I've read a lot about what happened btwn that and the PSX, but hearing it from someone who was there would be a lot better imho :)
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The Sony controller is my favorite overall....
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by San_Andreas
...they're all essentially the SNES controller with two more buttons and dual thumbsticks, but the SNES was a great controller anyway. That controller design does pretty much everything.
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what helped me the most with the playstation controller.
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by RobotechRyan
parappa.
With the need to know where the buttons were, you had no choice but to learn the controller.
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Guess I am the minority...
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by cameron_toste
I can never remember the damn buttons for my PS3. But I owned an NES, Genesis, N64, GameCube, 360, and a Wii before I got a PS3. Other than that I only played Playstations at friends houses.
Personally, while the controller design is certainly iconic, I find it rather uncomfortable. Every other system, even the Gamecube's PS-style controller, has the left analog stick where your thumb is in a resting position. On the PS controllers, you have to contort your thumb inward the whole time (unless on a fighting game). Hard to describe, but if you have large hands, and you try to use the shoulder buttons and both analog sticks, it really feels like you are forced to "clasp" the controller, rather than just holding it. Just looked at my controllers while typing this, and the Dual shock is nearly an inch shorter than the 360's overall, but it's shoulder buttons are spaced 1/2" and 3/4" higher from the sticks/buttons...
My favorite controller to date is the 360's. (And this isn't meant to be a 360 vs. PS3 thing...)
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The issue...
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
Is the short handles of Sony's controllers. The controllers of their competitors don't have this problem because the handles encompass the palms of the player's hands.
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Great story
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by NorthernTorch
Loved the part about fighting with managers over the design and Ohga laying the smack down.
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Most overrated IMO
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
Between the fragmented d-pad and the too short grips. The Xbox S/360 and Gamecube/Wavebird controllers, by contrast, have had superbly ergonomic handle grips that provide the perfect amount of separation from the base of the controller that make it so there is no need to cramp your hands in order for your fingers to reach the controls. The Sega Saturn controller, meanwhile, has the best d-pad ever, with the Super NES one coming close.
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Opinion
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by PlayingWithPixelsINC
Personally I'm w/ you on the D-pad argument; it *almost* makes it impossible to play 2D fighting games w/ the controller (until you use the analog stick, but there's not the sense of physical feedback w/ that method versus a d-pad or arcade stick).
Whether the controller feels uncomfortable or not really comes down to what games you tend to play and how often you play them. I haven't found the PlayStation controllers to be uncomfortable during extended periods of play, but again that's only my opinion.
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Re: Opinion
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
It's perfectly fine to disagree. I just find the Cube/Wavebird and the Xbox Controller S/360 handles to be just the right size, so that the controllers conform perfectly to my hands so there's minimal work reaching between the pad/sticks/buttons for the sticks for my thumbs to do. Haven't tried the Classic Controller Pro yet though.
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Great story
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by Patchinko
Really interesting to hear about how the physical design came into being. A lot of people were skeptical of the PSX controller design at first, but I think it has since become regarded as the epitome of controller design. Each other system has different controllers with each generation, but the PS controllers have remained by-and-large the same (albeit with upgrades--dual analog, dual shock, trigger button changes, SIXAXIS). Very interesting to hear about the button symbol choices, too!
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What a wonderful story!
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by internisus
I've long appreciated the simple symbols of the Playstation controller over arbitrary lettered competitors, but I never would have guessed that they were one man's struggle like this. As Goto said, the design has become ubiquitous; not only was it a once in a lifetime chance, but it is a great fortune that he happened to be the man in that position.
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Origin of the PlayStation's symbol buttons
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by tekunoloji
Wow, so that was how the origin of the circle, x, triangle square of the PS1's buttons came to be. Incredible read.
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I don't get why he seems to be talking about the Dual Shock
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by Pandareus
as if it were the original PS controller. It wasn't. But he mentions control sticks and all that.
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Final Say
Posted: Aug 26, 2010 12:00AM PST by EKGTrooper
The Xbox 360 controller is the most comfortable. It molds in your hand really well and is the absolute BEST controller for action and racing games. It has a crappy d-pad.
The Playstation controller has the best d-pad in the business. The controller is well designed, but with crappy triggers that do not work well with first person shooters.
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PS design
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by scatteredshores
Is number 1. Most comfortable, probably most ergonomic, the symbols are excellent. It would have been interesting had the X been red and the circle been blue...would it have changed history?
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You are very wrong
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by PLERGOTH
The PlayStation controller is one of the most stiff and unconfortable to the hands right after the Sega Saturn and Genesis´. The best controller to grace a gamer´s hands is the controller S for the first XBox. It had its flaws,like the D-pad, but it certainly is a better D-pad measured against that of the PS controller. Th D-pad on any DualShock is so terrible for fighters, the flaw is in the way it has a peice of stiff plastic on top of it as it has an "X" shaped portion of the face plastic to hold it in place. It really feels like a piece of shit. They should re-think their D-pad and use one that feels like a whole peice not the actual one, it feels like 4 independent (one for each direction) peices. But I don't mind using it. In the current generation, DualShock 3 is the best controller!
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DUMB ASS
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by VICray2
PLERGOTH- you're a retard. "Th D-pad on any DualShock is so terrible for fighters, the flaw is in the way it has a peice of stiff plastic on top of it as it has an "X" shaped portion of the face plastic to hold it in place. It really feels like a piece of shit. They should re-think their D-pad and use one that feels like a whole peice not the actual one, it feels like 4 independent (one for each direction) peices."--------so, you've played fighting games with pieces of shit, ey? the Dual Shock 3 is the definitive fighting game stock controller on any system. PERIOD. I don't care if you like the Dual Shock 3 or not, the D pad of the dual shock pad takes the fucking cake for fighting games for life (arcade sticks not included).THIS IS NOT AN OPINION BUT A CLINICAL FACT. And learn how to spell, "Spermsloth".
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I like the Xbox controller better
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by Scoob79
But I would have to disagree with Plergoth. The PlayStation D-Pad is easily the best for fighting games. I had no problem controlling characters like Zangief with the 360 rotations. Then again, I always had arcade sticks anyway.
As far as ergonomics, the Xbox S and 360 controllers are the best, hands down. But it's to be expected, as the design is much newer, whereas the PlayStation controller has been around for 16 years. I don't know why Sony has yet to bother innovating their controller. Having the D-Pad still be the prominent control stick, even since PS2 is a pretty odd move. The shoulder buttons don't feel like they are in a natural position either.
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VICray2
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
I have to go with PLERGOTH regarding the d-pad. The fragmented design is one of the most dubious design choices in the history of controllers, and really is a travesty for fighters and other arcade style games. Really, the thing chafes on the thumb. The best d-pad? The Sega Saturn, with the Super NES arguably a close second.
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@ VICray2
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 12:00AM PST by PLERGOTH
It's so ironic how you can call anyone a "DUMB ASS" while sporting that face of yours over your shoulders... But anyway, I just said the truth,the PlayStation copntroller's D-pad is unresponsive while playing fighters, even the GameCube's D-pad is more responsive though it's no good. I've been playing games since I was 3 years of age and have experienced all the evolutionary changes in console controllers up to this point. Now I will spare you the embarassment of saying it your self, I know you're just a PS gen shit-bag trying to defend his choice as if it matters something to anyone but himself. There you go, now go suck a beef pole while spying your mom while she takes a shower. HAVE A NICE DAY :-)
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He is right
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by EKGTrooper
to be so proud of his work. The original Playstation design is pretty iconic to a lot of gamers today. Sure us older gamers also look back fondly on some of the Atari designs and the NES, but the original Playstation really brought in a whole new era of 3D gaming for your living room and his design is always going to be associated with that.
The Playstation 2's design was just as good, and the PS3 is just plain sexy. This man knows how to keep up with the times.
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why wasn't the dpad 8way?
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by Rolento
this always bothered me.. Making fighters hard to play with the 4way
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@VICray2
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by cartman414
Again, it's an issue of ergonomics. The PS stock fragmented d-pad absolutely fails in that department.
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I found the Sony d-pad...
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by San_Andreas
...much more palatable than Microsoft's bottlecap D-pads. Mind you, I was used to Nintendo's, and so there wasn't any difference for me.
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Revolutionary
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by JewUnit
Considering the Playstation was born from a fallout between Sony and Nintendo, it's not surprising that the Sony executives wanted a Nintendo-style controller. The Playstation controller was unique for its time and is definitely the best controller of the current generation of games.
I think the justification for the symbols was a little odd though.
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The PS controllers.....
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by MicroGates
Are some of the best designed controllers out there. Congrats Goto! ;)
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It really was a good system.
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by steelerzfan101
I really did prefer the PS1 controller over the flat NES controller too. I really wish that I did not sell my PS1 a while back. One of my favorite games on it was Gran Turismo. Oh well.
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I've always been a fan of the PS controller.
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by Chunkylilman
The buttons and grips feel just right. The analog sticks have perfect sensitivity. The D-pad is the best I've ever used. However after playing with 360 controllers I do wish the left analog stick on the ps controller was switched into the dpad position.
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Interesting stuff
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by botcocker
It's nice to hear the story of one of the industry's unsung heroes. It's a pretty big thing he did, really; the PS is probably the most iconic controller design ever(excepting the original NES pad)if only because they've stuck with it so long where others have continued to change.
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You can't control ME!!!
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by KrazyFace
I'd say that after holding on to a PS pad for so long now, it's second nature. But when I first saw the thing I was freaked out big time! I was like;
"What the HELL is this THING!?, how am I supposed to use this, how am I supposed to remember which buttons do what, there's so many!?"
With that said though, I still think the best ergonomic design for a pad has to be the N64 controller, the 'Z' trigger was genious!
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Z trigger
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by MegaUltraGuitarSkateCapWearing90sGuy
I always forgot it was there and while playing a game I'd be shouting and swearing because I had to use it but forgot the button even existed lol
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N64 FTW
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by Mace_of_Spades
I agree. Still my favourite controller ever. Despite how painfully ugly it was.
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Oh yeah it was totally the best...
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by GuyIncognitus
Except for that useless third grip and D-pad. Please... Nintendo thought the N64 controller was so good they canned it and based the Gamecube controller on a more Sony-like design.
The PlayStation Controller is the best controller. If it wasn't, it wouldn't still be in use 2 generations later and every 3rd party controller, PC controller and the Xbox controller wouldn't be based on it.
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Triger
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by TulioMan
Indeed! Wat the ugliest controller ever jejejejje, and was not realiable at all!! the stick got dammaged after 7 months on average.
I think no controller is better than the PS. Xbox had it right with the last one, the one from the Xbox 360, but still im to acoustom to the PS controller. I really dont mind with the analog stick beeing where they are, im not a regular FPS player.
You only have see that the PS controller has gone trought 3 generation without any changes but the inclusion of the analog sticks
P.S. excuse my english
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they're all based on SNES then...
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by speedracer216
@GuyIncognitus
still comes back to Nintendo then doesn't it? This article states right out that they were basing it off of the SNES (shoulder buttons, four main buttons, etc.) with some upgrades.
and that in turn was like an upgrade from NES.
Hard to compare it to the Wii controller because they're so different, but I'd have to agree that as a base controller, Playstations is the most standard. 360 is very similar and thank goodness less bulky than the original XBOX.
of course, the best system will probably ALWAYS be SNES. :)
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@ GuyIncognitus
Posted: Aug 25, 2010 12:00AM PST by PLERGOTH
So you are a Sony fan boy?... Then I have some knowledge for you:
1- 1985 - Nintendo revolutionizes gaming while creating the NES controller including a D-pad and two face buttons + Start and Select.
2-1990 - Nintendo revolutionizses gaming yet again with the SNES controller, its four face buttons, two shoulder buttons and CD ADD-ON that wasn't released in America but which will serve as the model on which Sony will base their Play Station.
3- 1996 - Nintendo revolutionizes gaming once more with the inclusion of analogue control that made 3-D gaming possible since it matched 3-D visuals (already possible by the Play Station) with 3-D control.
4- 1996 - Nintendo re-invents gaming by incuding four controller ports for on-site multy player and controller add-on called the rumble pack which let you feel feed back from your games.
These facts forced SONY to redesign the way they aproached video games for their console and re-launched the PlayStaion with a new controller which added the features present on Nintendo's N64's controller.
So, as you can see, your beloved PlayStation is indeed an original idea from NINTENDO R&D, THEY COPIED EVEN THE NAME!!!
If anyone concider themselves gamers, they should pay some respect to the company that made the game industry what it is today....
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