The Evolution of Gamepads A History of Video Game Controllers

I love video games. They have consumed much of my thoughts, both awake and dreaming. Gamepads are the pivotal intersection between the player and the machine. Controller, control pad, control deck, joypad—whatever you call it, it's how you get in the game. The first controller I have a real memory of is the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Zapper. It left a lasting impression on me. My cousin, who is older than me by a few years, had an NES. At the time, it was the only console I knew about. On the few occasions I had to play it, I remember pulling it out from behind the TV and getting the system all hooked up. I inserted the combo Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridge and eschewed the side-scroller for some serious skill testing. I don't remember being particularly good at Duck Hunt, but that hardly matters when you're gaming on your own. My game room still has a 26-inch CRT television for playing this game. This book doesn't have a comprehensive list of every controller ever released, but I want to show how gamepads have evolved over the years. I focused this book primarily on first-party controllers. That means I will not talk about every third-party controller. These have their place in the gaming world but are typically either a gimmick or knockoff and rarely contribute to the overall picture. The design choices console makers select with the controller they include with their system defines a lot about how they want the user to interact.This not-quite-an-encyclopedia is 200 pages of full color pictures, details, explanations, and fun facts about that all-important interface between you and the game. After five years of research and curating a gamepad collection, Kevin has turned a work of passion into a charming book. If you enjoy video games this is a book for you. You will enjoy returning to this book again and again.