MSNBC: Top 5 worst video game controllers

MSNBC writes:
They're called "controllers" for a reason. They're suppose to help you control your games. Oddly enough, far too many controllers do just the opposite: They actually hinder play. Though far from being the only perpetrators, the following five are definitely the main offenders.

[PirateThom]

Hahahaha, the second image:

"(Msnbc.com is a joint venture between NBC Universal and Microsoft.)"

[-x.Red.x-]

i noticed that too.

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

I always wondered what they were thinking w/ the first Xbox controller, its bad enough people stereotype us americans as a bunch of fatties, now even our controllers are overweight!

And the way they just slapped those black and white buttons on their, at least nintendo used interesting button placement w/ its gamecube controller and its over-abundance of buttons..

As far as the power glove used to go, I used to sport that thing to school! And I was a senior in highschool!(not)

My list for top5 best controllers in no particular order:
Gamecube
360
PS3 tilt shock
N64
Capcom's Steel Battalion Controller(cmon, that thing was epic, it had like 100buttons, a gear shifter, 3 pedals, and an eject button!)

[ID IR A G 0 N]

the original xbox controller was the reason i hated original xbox, but im glad that they fixed the problem this gen.

[read disc error]

they fixed the problem early on last gen too with the S controller

[Syronicus]

Is the reason why Japan does not like Xbox too well... They like things small over there and that first Xbox controller was huge!

[shadow2797]

I have to disagree with you about the Gamecube and N64 controllers. The Gamecube controller wasn't awful, but it's certainly not the best, at least in my eyes. I've posted a rant about it before, let's see if I can find it... Ah here it is:

"The D-Pad is too small, the R and L buttons are monstrous, and the Z button doesn't give enough. It's hard to know when you've clicked it. The C stick is basically useless, and the left stick is still made out of the hard plastic that the N64's was made out of. Which results in a sore thumb after long gaming sessions. And I hate the little octagon around the joysticks, I don't like to feel the joystick click when I rotate it. Oh and it's ugly... and purple."

Now the biggest problem about N64 controller was the joystick that eventually went limp after a lot of play, and everyone knows how much of a pain it was trying to play with a limp joystick. I'm also not sure who thought it was a good idea to make a controller where you can't reach all the buttons at once. The Z trigger was pretty cool though, it felt especially good when shooting.

And as much as I like SIXAXIS control and wireless, I think I would put the Dualshock 2 ahead of the Dualshock 3 simply because of the R2/L2 buttons instead of triggers. But it's a close call.

The xbox 360 controller is probably the best, it feels good, but I hate the bumpers. They're just not in a comfortable position for me. And of course the D-pad isn't the best. But those are really the only complaints. The joysticks are awesome though.

Of course, I've been playing PlayStations for so long that they are most comfortable for me. I'm simply not as used to the 360 controller yet.

[DNAgent]

At least this a real "top 5 worst video game controllers" article unlike that other one.

[Elven6]

Atari and Nintendo have made some of the worst IMO.

[maniacmayhem]

LOL @ the Xbox 1 controller.

At my old job we called that contoller the DUKE!

oddly enough the d-pad on the first xbox was leaps and bounds better than the one currently on the 360.

Why is that?

[Covenant]

Myself and my fellow gaming employees called it "the Bruce." No idea why...I guess it sounded a lot like "brute."

(Or maybe, like Bruce Springsteen, it's larger than life). :)

SO VERY thankful for the Controller S...I bought my Xbox right after the change.

[Honolulu]

Yeah, I know. It has a d-pad that was decent enough for schmups and fighters... but I tried playing SC2 with the "duke" once, I still have nightmares. I had to remove my hand from the grip and press the face-buttons manually for it even to work. ;P

[PotNoodle]

Yeah, the first xbox controller was horrible.. nice to see MS learned their lesson mostly and made a much better controller for the 360, though the DPAD is still horrible..

[Tony P]

I dunno which controller is the worst EVER made, but smart money says Atari made it.

[Avenged Sevenfold]

Ahhh, the original xbox controller. My friends and I used to call that thing Big Bertha when it first came out.

[Campy da Camper]

Paddle was the worst. A disc thingy to move and then a phone pad keys. Burger Time pissed me off using that thing!

[themyk]

I can still remember trying to use the disc of death to play burger time. Man that was a terrible controller. And the number pad. Man what were they thinking. I had fun with that system when I was a kid.

Talk about showing ur age.

[KoB4EMvPi]

I think the 360 contrller could be the worst..
other than being good for fps it really is a pain for other games.

[tha_meat_beater]

the atari ones are retarded and the xbox 1 sucked majorly big balls

[user3915800]

Worst controller ever:
1 Sony boomerang
2 Sixacrapy sony
3 Atari 5200
4 Pink dildo Sony
5 Dreamcast controller (continue to insert memory here)

1. @ Meat eater, I wonder how often you beat it and suck it, I will bet that you will find good use to the pink dildo from sony

[madpuppy]

that damn controller sucked big time.

[DeepInterludium]

Dreamcast controller had some horrible problems.

-Stiff D-Pad
-The grips on the back were almost parallel making it a pain for long sessions.
-Rumble that sucked.
-Wire came out of the bottom instead of the top
-VMU batteries dying pretty fast with the Dreamcast "helpfully" reminding you every time you turn your console on that the batteries are dead by making that annoying beep.

[TheBand1t]

It's so bad.

[Rogert]

Could someone please tell me what moron thought having a numeric keypad on a video game controller is a good idea

[TheBand1t]

To play Math Adventure.

Yes, that is a real game.

[jack who]

gtfo the xbox 1 controller is big and ugly but it worked am sorry

[kevin123r]

Controller S was the standard control for all the Xbox's released in Japan. Since they figured Japanese people could not hold the regular controller.

[dogmeat eater]

I seen the big xbox 1 controller in many mags before I made my purchase. I just thought it doesn't seem that big. Then I opened the box and took a gander at that gigantic piece of plastic. I just started loling. That controller was so awkward.

[MaximusPrime]

When i bought xbox, i didn't no how fat and ugly the controller was. I wasn't happy with the games ms offered. I upgraded to xb360 and hopin ms would release better games. I was v. happy with new, improved controller but not entirely happy with the console, lack of decent games, customer service, paying for xbox live. I sold xbox 360 after a mere 3 months. I returned to sony. Got ps3, loves its original controller, great service, slow but great and still enjoyin it after 3 years. Sorry i relate my experience to u guys. You enjoy what console you have and i enjoy mine.

[read disc error]

no colecovision controllers

http://www.old-computers.co...

http://upload.wikimedia.org...

[iceman2929]

but i really don't like any of the PS controllers... its the only reason why i have never bought one... every time i would go to a friends house and try to game with it, it was do-able but they just never felt "good" in my hands. there is something just a tiny bit off with them. don't ask me what, cuz i honestly couldn't tell you. This sucks so much cuz there are a ton of PS exclusives which i would love to game but i just CANT get over my discomfort with the cont. :( ill have to deal with my old school NES, N64, xbox, xbox 360 and mah gamin rig.

(please take it easy on me guys haha :P )