This was a dualshock where the analog sticks are replaced by a dial with force feedback, so players could play Ridge Racer and really FEEL the road as if the dial was a steering wheel. I have no clue if it was good (probably not), but I do miss a good weird controller.
The steam controller was (and still is) fantastic. I once got a comfortable binding for the original System Shock, which already has a pretty untenable control scheme with a keyboard and mouse. Also its haptic feedback can play music.
The Steel Battalion Mech controls. The size of a table, it was an appropriate recreation of the control panel for a mech, requiring you to go through all the steps from firing it up to ejecting in case of danger. You had pedals, sticks, knobs, switches galore.
Holy shit I just looked this up and this article says there are forty buttons! Also apparently if you didn’t eject in time, the game would erase your save file?!?
I have one. It’s pretty sweet. Wish Capcom made more games that supported it. It is real awkward to use, though. You gotta strap it down so it doesn’t slide around your table. Also trying to steer a match with so much articulation is a challenge. You can aim independently of the mech, whose torso is also independent from the legs. It’s a lot of joystick to keep track of.
It’s got tons of buttons, but you don’t really use most during gameplay. Mostly the triggers, pedals, and a few buttons for some silly stuff , like fire extinguisher for when you take a hit and are on fire, or the windshield wiper.
It’s not exactly weird, but I loved the giant “duke” controller for the og xbox. A lot of people hated it but I think it’s one of the most comfortable controllers ever made.
Behold this $400 monstrosity. This is my Xbox Adaptive controller set up mapped for Ultima Online Outlands. I’ve had a few iterations but this seems best for me so far. Can use it with some other games but that requires using WASD with my feets. It costs so much because it took 3 freaking Logitech kits to get all the buttons I needed. 😭
I guess hitboxes aren’t weird anymore now that they’re more mainstream. Although I did make a custom layout that is unusual (if that’s your definition of weird).
the orb! The Orb was the number one controller i had in mind when making this post. I never had one but i’ve watched so many videos about it. It’s like a controller from an alternate timeline of what could have been, if we never moved to analog sticks or mouse look. Apparently the tech is still preferred in the 3D CAD space. After several acquisitions, the company is now a Logitech subsidiary called “3Dconnexion”, and they make CAD tools like the SpaceMouse that use the same 6-axis tech that the SpaceOrb used:
This is a Nyko Air Flow controller. I had one for the original Xbox. It was supposed to keep you from sweating during long sessions of gameplay, because it was ventilated and had a fan on the back. To be honest, I don’t remember it being excellent at keeping you cool. I think the fan was pretty lousy, but it was a great gimmick none the less.
I had a lot of weird controllers back then. Some good, some bad. Most of them Mad Catz.
Mad Catz and their controllers that seem like they were designed by two actual, mad, cats. They still make ridiculous stuff like their R.A.T. mouse with like a dozen different dials and sliders and removable parts for customization:
Of course, I think Mad Catz was absorbed by some other company at some point, so i’m not 100% on if it’s even the same people anymore. But the spirit is alive and well, it would seem.
Not super weird in the grand scheme of things but I played the shit out of FFXI using this controller and when my friends found out I was using this they were astounded at my typing speed. This was back in the era of texting with a number pad so thumb typing wasn’t as prevalent as it is today.
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The steam controller was (and still is) fantastic. I once got a comfortable binding for the original System Shock, which already has a pretty untenable control scheme with a keyboard and mouse. Also its haptic feedback can play music.
I guess this is “weird” in the sense of “unique”.
The Steel Battalion Mech controls. The size of a table, it was an appropriate recreation of the control panel for a mech, requiring you to go through all the steps from firing it up to ejecting in case of danger. You had pedals, sticks, knobs, switches galore.
Holy shit I just looked this up and this article says there are forty buttons! Also apparently if you didn’t eject in time, the game would erase your save file?!?
A rouge like of it’s time!
I have one. It’s pretty sweet. Wish Capcom made more games that supported it. It is real awkward to use, though. You gotta strap it down so it doesn’t slide around your table. Also trying to steer a match with so much articulation is a challenge. You can aim independently of the mech, whose torso is also independent from the legs. It’s a lot of joystick to keep track of.
It’s got tons of buttons, but you don’t really use most during gameplay. Mostly the triggers, pedals, and a few buttons for some silly stuff , like fire extinguisher for when you take a hit and are on fire, or the windshield wiper.
It’s not exactly weird, but I loved the giant “duke” controller for the og xbox. A lot of people hated it but I think it’s one of the most comfortable controllers ever made.
it must be hard to be a gamer with big hands. it ain’t me, but i feel for you. You know they made a special 20th anniversary re-release of the duke, right?
Behold this $400 monstrosity. This is my Xbox Adaptive controller set up mapped for Ultima Online Outlands. I’ve had a few iterations but this seems best for me so far. Can use it with some other games but that requires using WASD with my feets. It costs so much because it took 3 freaking Logitech kits to get all the buttons I needed. 😭
So cool! I love that that’s first party accessibility controllers available, ain’t NO WAY they need to be that expensive though!!
My wife had a PS2 version of this with Final Fantasy 11 and the hard drive/modem attachment. I had never seen one before. It was pretty cool.
I guess hitboxes aren’t weird anymore now that they’re more mainstream. Although I did make a custom layout that is unusual (if that’s your definition of weird).
https://lemm.ee/post/25942945
Well, never used any very weird ones but would the ring fit stuff count? Idk
The SpaceOrb 360
It’s a 6-axis controller I used for space flight sims (like Descent)
the orb! The Orb was the number one controller i had in mind when making this post. I never had one but i’ve watched so many videos about it. It’s like a controller from an alternate timeline of what could have been, if we never moved to analog sticks or mouse look. Apparently the tech is still preferred in the 3D CAD space. After several acquisitions, the company is now a Logitech subsidiary called “3Dconnexion”, and they make CAD tools like the SpaceMouse that use the same 6-axis tech that the SpaceOrb used:
This one. It’s basically an upside down Mega Drive/Genesis controller for one of the Brazilian famiclones, with turbo buttons for A and B
This is a Nyko Air Flow controller. I had one for the original Xbox. It was supposed to keep you from sweating during long sessions of gameplay, because it was ventilated and had a fan on the back. To be honest, I don’t remember it being excellent at keeping you cool. I think the fan was pretty lousy, but it was a great gimmick none the less.
I had a lot of weird controllers back then. Some good, some bad. Most of them Mad Catz.
Mad Catz and their controllers that seem like they were designed by two actual, mad, cats. They still make ridiculous stuff like their R.A.T. mouse with like a dozen different dials and sliders and removable parts for customization:
Of course, I think Mad Catz was absorbed by some other company at some point, so i’m not 100% on if it’s even the same people anymore. But the spirit is alive and well, it would seem.
Fuckin love my RAT. Best mouse I’ve had, but yes, it is a bit weird looking.
Not super weird in the grand scheme of things but I played the shit out of FFXI using this controller and when my friends found out I was using this they were astounded at my typing speed. This was back in the era of texting with a number pad so thumb typing wasn’t as prevalent as it is today.