Today I learned about the Jogcon controller for PS1 & PS2:

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.

  • smoothbrain coldtakes@lemmy.caEnglish
    13·
    3 days ago

    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.

    • coyotino [he/him]@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
      13·
      3 days ago

      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.

    • TheRtRevKaiser@beehaw.orgM
      4·
      3 days ago

      LOL I had completely forgotten about this controller. One of my roommates in college had one of these and I usually wound up with it. I didn’t hate it, though, for a third party controller it was surprisingly decent. The fan was mid, but you could feel it, from what I remember.

      • smoothbrain coldtakes@lemmy.caEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        I remember it being one of my favored chosen out of the plethora of random third party devices I had laying around. This was a step above Mad Catz for sure, but definitely still below the original controllers.

        • Rose Thorne@lemm.ee
          2·
          2 days ago

          NYKO were a decent third party, back in the day. Not great, but a step above the competition. Downside, I don’t think they ever really changed their plans that much. I swear I saw PS3 controllers with the “air cool” marketing still on it, just now with RGB through the controller!