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History of the A and B Buttons!

October 12, 2008 in Blog comments 13

Matthew Gallant, of the site gangles, has typed up the history of the famous A and B buttons! Taking a look at Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft and Sony.

It starts from the revolution that was the NES controller with the break away from the joystick fad to the DS where the article's author was shocked to find it A and B instead of B and A. Though the basic functions have been kept the same, designs have changed. Sega and Microsoft consoles have been similar, also using the A and B theme. Yes Sony is in there too, they may look different but X and O do the exact same stuff when you think about it!

A is your positive, B is your negative... or something like that. Anyway, the article describes the design of each console and the evolutions over time.

So remember kids, it used to be B before A in the alphabet of video games.

Dark Arcanine via gangles.ca »
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Most recently commented on by on Oct 19, 2008

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  • 0
    Shadow of Death Oct 12, 08
    Lol, I didn't have a dreamcast, but MS uses the exact same letter system as it does, in the same position. Same letters as Nintendo uses (but Dreamcast and MS controller has them in a different order).

    Only thing different, is the colour co-ordination. Same colours, different buttons.
  • 0
    Breezy Oct 12, 08
    Lol that's pretty cool. It's sad though that they couldn't think of other letters, I mean, they all had 24 to choose from.
    • 0
      King X2 Oct 13, 08
      When your thinking of letters, A and B seems to be the first letters that pop in your head. Like Plan A, and Plan B, Point A to Point B, etc.
  • 0
    Paper Mario Dude Oct 12, 08
    all 26*
    ABXY are good letters. i just realised after reading this that those are also the letters that are 90% of the time used in equations or just more commonly used as variables.
    they are used in phyics as well.
    /_\X = Change over the hor. axis
    /_\Y = Change over the virt. axis
    A = Acceleration (motion)
    you get the idea.
  • 0
    Symphonic Abyss Oct 13, 08
    I never really cared about the A and B buttons, but nice find to tell the truth. I never would have had the time to look through every single controller.
  • 0
    Supernouva Oct 13, 08
    I suppose Sony tried to make a statement using shapes for their button layout.
    • 0
      Final Blade Oct 14, 08
      Too bad X is actually part of the alphabet.
  • 0
    Koloth Oct 13, 08
    I kind of already knew all this information.

    I believe Sony wanted to differenciate themselves. In part because the Playstation was born out of a failed joint project with Nintendo. And in part because they just wanted to be unique. Doesn't matter though as long as it works and gets the information across.
  • 0
    Mia* Oct 13, 08
    Weird how this chain reaction happened. Almost all systems nowdadays have a A and B button. =/
  • 0
    Navronan Oct 14, 08
    Much in agreeance with Twilight... Many of the modern consoles have A and B buttons except for Playstation (Weirdos).
  • 0
    Vermillion Oct 15, 08
    The only difference I see is in Japanese Sony games. Good find =D. It is nice to see how everything is similar in a way.
  • 0
    Newcloud Oct 15, 08
    i prefer it with shapes (playstation controller)it could be because the ps1 was my first game console
  • 0
    Dark Arcanine Oct 19, 08
    I personally couldn't care less what the buttons have on them, it could be naked girls and I wouldn't be any more interested than if it had letters or shapes. I simply learn where the controls are, their functions and have fun.

    I did find this history of controllers a nice red though.

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