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292:. Though developed because they were more compact than joysticks, and thus more appropriate for handheld games, D-pads were soon found by developers to be more comfortable to use than joysticks. The D-pad soon became a ubiquitous element on console gamepads, though to avoid infringing on Nintendo's patent, most controller manufacturers use a cross in a circle shape for the D-pad instead of a simple cross.
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Though three-dimensional games rose to prominence in the mid-1990s, controllers continued to mostly operate on two-dimensional principles. Players would have to hold down a button to change the axes along which the controls operate rather than being able to control movement along all three axes at
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also featured six action buttons, with four face buttons arranged in a diamond formation, and two shoulder buttons positioned to be used with the index fingers, a design which has been imitated by most controllers since. The inclusion of six action buttons was influenced by the popularity of the
391:
introduced the CyberMan, the first practical six-degrees-of-freedom controller; however, it sold poorly due to its high price, poor build quality, and limited software support. Industry insiders blame the CyberMan's high profile and costly failure for the gaming industry's lack of interest in
358:
Despite these changes, gamepads essentially continued to follow the template set by the NES controller (a horizontally-oriented controller with two or more action buttons positioned for use with the right thumb, and a directional pad positioned for use with the left thumb).
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can be used to connect them wirelessly, or the controller can be connected directly to the computer over USB (wired versions of Xbox 360 controllers were marketed by
Microsoft as PC gamepads, while the Xbox One controller can be connected to a PC via its Micro USB slot).
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Some common additions to the standard pad include shoulder buttons (also called "bumpers") and triggers placed along the edges of the pad (shoulder buttons are usually digital, i.e. merely on/off; while triggers are usually
525:
Gamepads or devices closely modelled on them are sometimes used for controlling real machinery and vehicles, as they are familiar to users and (in the case of actual gamepads) provide an off-the-shelf solution. The
342:
were the predominant form of gaming controller for PCs, while console gaming controllers were mostly digital. This changed in 1996 when all three major consoles introduced an optional analog control. The Sony
1002:
425:). The controller is also multifunctional and has an expansion port which can be used for a variety of peripherals. An analog stick peripheral, called "Nunchuk," also contains an
187:, are pressure-sensitive and games can read in the amount of pressure applied to one to control the intensity of a certain action, such as how forceful water is to be sprayed in
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initially used toggle switches built into the computer readout display to control the game. These switches were awkward and uncomfortable to use, so
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and Bob
Saunders built and wired in a detached control device for the game. This device has been called the earliest gamepad.
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software antimicro, Enjoy2, or proprietary commercial solutions such as JoyToKey, Xpadder, and
Pinnacle Game Profiler.
355:
combined digital and analog controllers in a single body, starting a trend to have both an analog stick and a d-pad.
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input. Generally they have been made to circumvent the lack of joystick support in some computer games, e.g. the
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held in two hands, where the fingers (especially thumbs) are used to provide input. They are typically the main
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gamepad (Japanese Super
Famicom version is shown), which popularized the layout used by most modern gamepads
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50:
751:"Blisters And Frustration: Joysticks, Paddles, Buttons and Game Port Extenders for Apple, Atari and VIC"
256:
It would take many years for the gamepad to rise to prominence, as during the 1970s and the early 1980s
894:"Nintendo Revolution ::: Advanced Media Network - Mario, Zelda, Revolution Controller, Innovation"
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1154:
1003:"From Joysticks to Warfare: Military's Rising Use of Video Game Controllers in Submarines, Tanks"
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180:
86:
461:. Third-party USB adapters and software can be employed to utilize console gamepads on PCs; the
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384:
352:
344:
207:. There are several programs that emulate keyboard and mouse input with a gamepad such as the
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developed a gamepad device for directional inputs, a D-pad with a "cross" design for their
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control pad has three face buttons, but a six-button pad was later released. The
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saw many major changes, and the eminence of gamepads in the video game market.
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30:
This article is about the type of video game controller. For the TV show, see
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1094:
789:
746:
720:
627:"Graphical program used to map keyboard keys and mouse controls to a gamepad"
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35:
1021:"Real life gaming: How the British Army modelled tank controls on a gamepad"
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45:"Action button" redirects here. For the game development studio founded by
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Six-button
Genesis/Mega Drive controller that was released later
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additionally usable on DualShock 3, DualShock 4 and DualSense.
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201:
34:. For the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii U console, see
1035:"What it was like inside the lost Titanic-touring submersible"
865:
Arcade Mania!: The Turbo-Charged World of Japan's Game
Centers
429:
but unlike the Wii Remote, it lacks any pointer functionality.
1222:
538:
uses a device modelled on gamepads to operate systems on the
284:
handheld game. This design would be incorporated into their "
670:
Enjoy2 v1.2 released: control games with your gamepad on OSX
374:
can also be played with two hands like a gamepad controller.
268:-compatible pushbutton controllers were also available. The
777:
708:
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264:
were the dominant video game controllers, though several
351:
3D Control Pad had a single analog thumbstick, and the
473:
can be used with third-party software on systems with
288:" series and console controllers such as the standard
704:"Get a Grip!!!: Joysticks Past, Present & Future"
534:
use Xbox controllers for operating devices, and the
943:"How to use the PS4 DualShock 4 controller on a PC"
923:
Magic Wand: How
Hackers Make Use Of Their Wii-motes
392:developing 3D control over the next several years.
196:There are programmable joysticks that can emulate
773:"The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: Joypad"
417:pointing which the system uses to understand all
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154:Shoulder buttons ("bumpers") and triggers on an
967:
915:
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240:
976:"How To Use A Console Controller On Your PC"
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379:once. One of the first gaming consoles, the
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755:Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games
652:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
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323:arcade series, which utilized six buttons.
179:buttons, and an internal motor to provide
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489:controllers are officially supported on
421:and rotation (back and forth around the
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347:had twin convex analog thumbsticks, the
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149:
113:
97:of all important aspects of the article.
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383:, did have a controller which provided
338:For most of the 1980s and early 1990s,
14:
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595:
441:. Examples of PC gamepads include the
93:Please consider expanding the lead to
1048:
955:from the original on January 19, 2016
891:
683:
183:. Analog triggers, like that of the
840:. segagagadomain.com. Archived from
624:
614:from the original on March 26, 2016.
66:
493:with Microsoft-supplied drivers; a
222:
24:
940:
25:
1381:
892:Levin, Phillip (April 25, 2006).
501:
974:Plunkett, Luke (July 23, 2013).
437:Gamepads are also available for
71:
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1013:
995:
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270:third generation of video games
85:may be too short to adequately
1005:. 20 June 2023. Archived from
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830:
765:
735:
660:
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589:
120:Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
95:provide an accessible overview
38:. For the Android device, see
13:
1:
596:Schaaf, Tobiasa (July 2014).
582:
519:Logitech F710 Game Controller
27:Type of video game controller
818:. sal romano. 26 August 2010
667:Yifeng Huang (May 6, 2013),
552:used a gamepad for control.
7:
555:
145:
51:Action Button Entertainment
10:
1386:
723:. May 1996. pp. 34–42
607:. No. 7. p. 17.
510:Trent Tresch piloting the
241:Entry into the mass market
217:
122:, a typical modern gamepad
55:
44:
29:
1321:
1264:
1205:
1198:
1082:
423:pitch, roll, and yaw axes
363:Three-dimensional control
1329:List of game controllers
863:Ashcraft, Brian (2008).
792:. March 1996. p. 35
56:Not to be confused with
1185:Virtual reality headset
310:Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
1076:Video game controllers
522:
433:Usage across platforms
419:directions of movement
385:six degrees of freedom
375:
353:Nintendo 64 controller
345:Dual Analog Controller
335:
305:
253:
159:
123:
921:Jamin Brophy-Warren,
838:"6 Button Controller"
509:
370:
329:
303:
296:Continued refinements
248:
205:Nostromo SpeedPad n52
153:
117:
477:functionality, with
451:Microsoft SideWinder
227:The 1962 video game
209:free and open-source
190:Super Mario Sunshine
167:); centrally placed
1282:Gesture recognition
1155:Musical Instruments
928:Wall Street Journal
898:Revolution Advanced
598:"Gamestation Turbo"
381:Fairchild Channel F
266:Atari joystick port
185:GameCube controller
140:video game consoles
130:is a type of video
32:Gamepad (TV series)
1120:Interactive urinal
1023:. 14 October 2016.
523:
439:personal computers
376:
336:
332:SNES/Super Famicom
306:
254:
160:
124:
1357:
1356:
1317:
1316:
1287:Haptic technology
1145:Motion controller
1090:Arcade controller
1009:on June 20, 2023.
904:on April 27, 2006
878:978-4-7700-3078-8
562:Computer keyboard
517:using a modified
469:, Wii Remote and
402:is shaped like a
112:
111:
16:(Redirected from
1377:
1370:Game controllers
1246:Telephone keypad
1206:Physical buttons
1203:
1202:
1199:Controller parts
1083:Controller types
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931:, April 28, 2007
919:
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900:. Archived from
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844:on March 3, 2016
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545:. The ill-fated
543:main battle tank
459:Steam Controller
340:analog joysticks
286:Game & Watch
223:Analog joysticks
107:
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1037:. 22 June 2023.
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871:. p. 192.
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788:. No. 15.
785:Next Generation
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719:. No. 17.
716:Next Generation
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605:ODROID Magazine
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465:, DualShock 4,
457:range, and the
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314:SNES controller
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132:game controller
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80:This article's
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941:Hanson, Matt.
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812:"face buttons"
803:
764:
747:Rost, Randi J.
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567:Computer mouse
564:
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502:Non-gaming use
500:
443:Asus Eee Stick
434:
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407:remote control
364:
361:
320:Street Fighter
297:
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290:NES controller
251:NES controller
242:
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212:cross-platform
181:force feedback
147:
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89:the key points
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40:Archos GamePad
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1272:Accelerometer
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1238:Select button
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1115:Gaming keypad
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1095:Balance board
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790:Imagine Media
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743:Ahl, David H.
738:
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721:Imagine Media
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455:Saitek Cyborg
452:
448:
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427:accelerometer
424:
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412:
409:and contains
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308:The original
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103:February 2012
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69:
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63:
59:
58:Gaming keypad
52:
48:
41:
37:
36:Wii U GamePad
33:
19:
1349:Toys-to-life
1339:Reset button
1242:Start button
1233:Scroll wheel
1213:Analog stick
1174:direct drive
1109:
1029:
1015:
1007:the original
997:
985:. Retrieved
979:
969:
957:. Retrieved
946:
936:
926:
917:
906:. Retrieved
902:the original
897:
887:
864:
858:
846:. Retrieved
842:the original
832:
820:. Retrieved
815:
806:
796:November 20,
794:. Retrieved
783:
767:
758:
754:
737:
727:November 20,
725:. Retrieved
714:
674:, retrieved
669:
662:
636:. Retrieved
630:
620:
604:
591:
577:Racing wheel
547:
540:Challenger 2
536:British Army
524:
514:
436:
411:tilt sensors
397:
394:
377:
357:
337:
318:
307:
279:
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255:
228:
226:
195:
188:
176:
172:
168:
161:
136:input device
127:
125:
100:
84:
82:lead section
1309:Touchscreen
1297:Digital pen
1190:Wired glove
550:submersible
463:DualShock 3
415:dimensional
349:Sega Saturn
281:Donkey Kong
249:The iconic
1228:Hat switch
1218:Arrow keys
1140:Microphone
908:2019-11-20
761:(1): 106ff
625:Ryochan7.
583:References
413:and three-
404:television
400:Wii Remote
372:Wii Remote
235:Alan Kotok
158:controller
47:Tim Rogers
1265:Sensitive
1251:Trackball
1135:Light gun
1105:Dance pad
948:TechRadar
822:26 August
572:Game port
515:Cyclops 1
512:OceanGate
475:Bluetooth
467:DualSense
447:Gravis PC
258:joysticks
230:Spacewar!
87:summarize
1364:Category
1334:Multitap
1304:Touchpad
1130:Keyboard
1125:Joystick
953:Archived
869:Kodansha
848:1 August
749:(1983),
648:cite web
609:Archived
556:See also
487:Xbox One
483:Xbox 360
389:Logitech
276:Nintendo
198:keyboard
156:Xbox 360
146:Features
62:Joystick
18:Gamepads
1322:Related
1256:Trigger
1110:Gamepad
816:Gematsu
676:May 19,
638:July 6,
532:US Navy
528:US Army
491:Windows
471:Joy-Con
262:paddles
218:History
128:gamepad
1344:R.O.B.
1292:Stylus
1160:Paddle
987:4 June
981:Kotaku
959:4 June
875:
632:GitHub
495:dongle
449:, the
445:, the
202:Belkin
175:, and
173:select
165:analog
49:, see
1223:D-pad
1170:Wheel
1165:Pedal
1150:Mouse
612:(PDF)
601:(PDF)
548:Titan
169:start
989:2016
961:2016
873:ISBN
850:2010
824:2010
798:2019
729:2019
678:2017
654:link
640:2016
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