Update: Controller Layouts
Added 2024-02-19 23:02:16 +0000 UTCHey everyone!
After working hard on research for my last few videos, I've decided to take it easy for a bit and make some lighter, shorter, filler content. So I started looking into why different controllers have different layouts.
This turned out to be a mistake.
We all know that the PlayStation, XBox, and Nintendo controllers have pretty much all the same general buttons, just labeled differently. The X button is in a different location on every console. So I wanted to find out why. And researching why these 80s console designers decided on their very arbitrary button layouts is very difficult. I've read dozens of articles, several books, and reached out to games historians in search of answers.
As usual, this small project I wanted to get done quickly is turning into a full deep dive into some obscure piece of history. So I just want to give this quick update before diving back into research.
If anyone could tell me why in 1983 Masayuki Uemura or Gunpei Yokoi decided to put the A & B button on the Famicom backwards, I would love to know!
Comments
Fascinating quandary, my best guess is that the controller is held differently than any other of the other ones of the time, making the outward button easier to press, and thus designated the primary button?
Admiral
2024-03-13 01:29:15 +0000 UTCEverytime I switch from PC to the Nintendo Switch, I would like to travel back in time to 1983 and kick those guy in the butt for switching the button layout 🤬🤪😉
Domi Schell
2024-02-22 09:18:57 +0000 UTCI think Scott the Woz has a video going over the entire history or every controller. I’d recommend giving it a watch if you haven’t already
T Peter
2024-02-21 18:59:01 +0000 UTCThe only controller that matters is the GameCube controller. I play JRPGS with a GC controller plugged into my PC because mashing A through dialogue is superior with that big ass green button
Graham Naquin
2024-02-20 18:31:06 +0000 UTCI think Lowspecgamer on yt has a pretty well researched video on it. His content focuses mainly on the hardware behind a lot of early consoles.
Tyler Moore
2024-02-20 03:27:57 +0000 UTCThe Sega Genesis uses ABC left to right, and the Donkey Kong Game & Watch that the Famicom controller was based off of has Game A and Game B left to right as well
Lextorias
2024-02-20 00:15:03 +0000 UTCThis is going to be a fun one (for us)
Jeff
2024-02-19 23:40:41 +0000 UTCMy uneducated guess is that it's because japanese is read right to left, therefore it looks 'correct' in that placement to their eye
Bean
2024-02-19 23:08:50 +0000 UTCGodspeed boss 🫡
TheJadedMieu
2024-02-19 23:06:58 +0000 UTCThat sounds like a fun deep dive
SoulZaku
2024-02-19 23:03:42 +0000 UTC
