Back in the day, gamers had the Atari 2600. It's controller was simple - One joystick and one button. Easy.
So what has happened since then? Controllers have gotten a lot more complex, that's what.
At the top of this post, we have a joystick and a fire button from the Atari 2600 in 1977. Here, we have the controller from the PS3 in 2007, which features two analog joysticks (both clickable, so they function as buttons as well), four directional D-pad buttons, four regular buttons, a start button, a select button, a "home" button, and four shoulder buttons. Oh, and it has tilt technology, so let’s just call that one extra stick/button whatever, for a grand total of 20 input options.
In the modern era, we’ve gone from 5 inputs to 20. Four times the complexity, and it can be argued that since some of the inputs are now analog, that’s additional complexity as well.
Why did controllers evolve this way?
I think the primary reason happened in 1991, and it was called Street Fighter II.
Until Street Fighter II, most popular arcade games were still of the "pick up and play" variety. Controls were still fairly simple for most games, even if the strategies were complex. SF II, though, totally stood that convention on its head. It used six buttons and a joystick (identical to the later revisions of Street Fighter after the "squishies" were replaced), and certain punches required multiple joystick movements (in the correct sequence and within a narrow time limit) as well as button presses. This combo system was unique. It also meant that, for the first time I can remember, button presses and joystick movement didn’t immediately move your character. In Street Fighter II, a four- or five-move combo would result in only one movement onscreen.
It was a game that featured both complex controls and complex mechanics.
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Is this supposed to be newsworthy, or just an opinion piece? I like current day controllers, but I don't think there's too much to say on the issue.
What the hell are you going to use the atari controller for any modern game, its impossible, also the PS3 design is very simple a basic.
Seeing that pic sure does bring back memories though
Anyway, this isn't a mystery, it's because people wanted more complicated games, and more complicated games require more complicated controls.
I often find it annoying switching from PS2 to PSP (for games I own on both systems) because the PSP version has a completely different and sometimes awkward set of buttons.