Coding Horror: The Game Controller Family Tree

June 04, 2005

The Game Controller Family Tree

Remember when anything you could possibly imagine could be controlled with a single stick and a single button? Trace the evolution of human interaction in video gaming from 1980 to the present through this remarkable visual game controller family tree.

This tree isn't quite as complete as I would like (where is the Odyssey2, for example), but it's got the major players. I had half forgotten how weird the controllers with keypads were, and that the Atari Jaguar was the last console to adopt this oddball convention. Input conventions have certainly changed a lot over the last 20 years; the most profound change-- single digital axis to dual analog axes-- was prompted by the broad switch from 2D to 3D games around 1997.

If you're feeling particularly retro, you can pick up a modern USB incarnation of the no-frills Atari 2600 joystick that started it all for a mere five bucks.

Posted by Jeff Atwood View blog reactions

« Alternative Keyboarding Groktalk at TechEd 2005 »

Comments

I have no idea what the Odyssey 2 is, but i think it's the one on the second top row to the left?

Miki Watts on September 5, 2005 11:02 AM

And now you can convert almost every controller pictured into a USB device!

http://www.retrousb.com/index.html

Very cool.

Jeff Atwood on October 25, 2005 02:33 AM

Dear Sir/Maddam,

How are you? Hope you everything goes well!

I'm very glad to find you from the internet and know you are a strong firm! In order to expand our international markets I'd like to introduce our products to you. We design, manufacture and export all kinds of game accessories such as game controller, game racing wheel, PS2 to XBOX convertor, memory card and some link cables etc.

All the product details pls kindly check our website http://www.c-star2000.com

Our factory established in 1998 and almost all of our products are for export. We keep good business relationships with many countries such as Germany, UK, Italy, Poland, Japan, Korea, USA, Iran and some South America contries etc.

If you are interested in any of them, pls don't hesitate to contact us. We sincerely hope to establish good business relationships with you base on our mutual benefits!

Have a nice day!!

Best regards

Anna

SHENZHEN C-STAR ELECTRONICS CO.,LTD
----------------------------------------------
ADD: 3/F,Seashore Market,47 Block,Baoan,Shenzhen,China
TEL:86 755 27827105 27827104
FAX:86 755 27827101
E-mail: saler@c-star2000.com
MSN: cstar_games@hotmail.com
Web: www.c-star2000.com

Anna on July 25, 2007 10:47 PM

I think it's time you change your captcha. :-)

GH on July 26, 2007 04:13 AM

C-star Electronic Co. , Ltd is a self-owned enterprise which manufactures various game accessories since found in 1998,which experienced staff and creative engineering team specialized in manufacturing various video game accessories including PC, PSX, PS2, PSONE, GAB SP, Game Cube, XBOX and othernovelty products.Our products have been exported in the world, for USA, Europe, German, Japan and Korea and UK so on.We have very strong confidence that we are capable of meeting market demand. OEM/ODM are always welcomed.

contact name: cathy
email:cathyjun311@yahoo.com.cn
MSN: penglijun311@hotmail.com
Skype ID: cathyjun311
www.c-star2000.com

Cathy on December 30, 2007 09:40 PM