Nintendo has been responsible for some major innovations when it comes to controllers — the NES D-pad, the N64 analogue stick, the Wii Remote — and Spanish artist Javier Laspiur has put together a photographic whistle-stop tour of the evolution of the game pad which shows just how vital the Kyoto firm's contributions have been.
Laspiur's artfully captured images show off controllers for other systems too, of course — Sega's Mega Drive and Sony's PlayStation feature — but it's impossible to ignore how Nintendo has moved the industry forward with its own efforts, and how rival hardware makers have subsequently imitated over the years.
You can check out the full set here, but below we've showcased the Nintendo systems only — there's no 3DS or Wii U, sadly.
[source gonintendo.com, via behance.net]
Comments 46
I love this so much... All of the nostolgia just rushes back.
Am I the only person who's first thought was "Wow, those are some really hairy arms," for many of those pictures?
@Dreamz Oh my gosh, same! xD
I love how the D-pad and A and B have been in EVERY Nintendo controller EVER. It's amazing how one person's quick pitch for a controller can dictate how video games will be made for the next 20 years.
The wii came out in 2006 not 2008 :/
Braid that arm hair!
@SPG Something the article failed to point out, the photos are when he played the system for the first time.
@Dreamz He looks like an ape O_o
DS came in 2004/2005 and Wii came in 2006. Otherwise nice pics
We should get James to correct his timeline.
That guy isn't familiar with playing N64
@Dreamz
I was wondering why a werewolf was holding the controllers.
@Damo Maybe you should mention in the article that the dates are when he first played the systems. Otherwise you are going to lots of the years are wrong posts followed by an equal amount of replies stating what the dates actually are.
Then again you will still have people who just look at the headline and pics commenting.
I think the pro controller is a step backwards at least for many of the Wii U games I am playing.
(The guide thing that the Gamecube / Classic Controller / Classic Controller Pro / nunchuck had I liked).
@PorllM my thoughts exactly
Where is the game boy advance?
Still pretty cool though.
I don't like how everyone's being mean to the guy being hairy smh.
@themac2001 thats not nice he is an awesome free spirit. Don't be rude to someone about somehing they cant change.
Nintendo lost me as a customer because of the N64 controller, the SNES controller was so great and instead to continue to improve it (which is what Sony did) they decided to go with weird gimmicky controllers
Nintendo lost me as a customer because of the N64 controller, the SNES controller was so great and instead to continue to improve it (which is what Sony did) they decided to go with weird gimmicky controllers
The dates on some of these are wrong.
NES - 1985, Super Famicom - 1990, GCN - 2001, DS - 2004, Wii - 2006.
@DualWielding, Yes, because an analog stick, and control of your camera are so gimmicky, and it will never catch on.
Is that Donkey Kong playing with those controllers!!?
@PorllM Maybe he's playing Killer Instinct?
I actually played N64 like that on LOADS of titles, including ISS 64 / J-League Perfect Striker. I found it more better for many games.
@Dreamz Yes, I know right?
@dipper723 I think he alternates between region, dont know why though.
NES came out in '86 for EU, but N64 came out in '97 for EU and '96 for NA.
Just saw the whole set and all I wanted to say is: R.I.P. Dreamcast :[
I don't think the GameCube controller pushed the industry forward. The others did, but the GameCube didn't allow for the same degree of control as the other controllers. The only thing it had going for it was comfort.
Do love 'dem controllers!
Where are the GBAs and Wii U? Also, how did they get Donkey Kong to hand-model?
Great photos, but those Sasquatch arms are way too distracting.
I can't wait for you kids to grow up and get body hair.
nintendo forgot about ergonomics in their handhelds after the gba/ds phat. the 3ds/3ds xl in particular is a big step back in this regard. gamecube pad is GOAT, just needs a few adjustments to make it the ultimate controller. hopefully they revisit and refine that design in the future.
Really like this, so nostalgic but I wish he did add the gba, 3ds and wiiu that would be perfect
niceee
@Pahvi for some reason i always held them close together similar to a regular controller
@MoonKnight7 and where is the gameboy color?
@Captain-Falcon Wasn't trying to man, it was just a joke k?
The GameCube Controller looks the most comfortable.
I still remember that feeling when I got my N64 back in '97 for christmas... I was 7 years old. It was the happiest moment of my life; when video games shifted to another dimension. Now let's wait and see what Morpheus has in its guts! Or maybe Nintendo will come up with something "better"?
Those arms are hairier than mine!
Some of the dates are wrong, even I know the Wii launch in 2006 (unless you lived in Korea or South America).
GUYS, I FOUND A BIGFOOT! WHERE'S MY NET?!
@PorllM My thoughts as well. Everyone knows the nice large D-pad was never used. If you gamed on the N64 you used the first true analog joystick.
Wow! His arms look hairier than mine! But then again, he has dark hair on his arms and I have brown.
@Dreamz
lolololol........ yes
I like how they got a caveman to hold the controllers because that fits in really well with the whole evolution idea.
Tap here to load 46 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...