Here's What Different Prototype Controller Designs Look Like

Hardware designs often undergo numerous prototype designs. Here is a look at some of the more interesting variants for controllers.

[EdMcGlone]

lmao the wii u is hysterical

[Player3Podcast]

What do you get when you throw a Leap Frog and every Wii input option into a blender?

[bmf7364]

One of those Xbone controllers apparently had Illumiroom tech built in. If that's not whacky enough, look at all of the design concepts for the Steam Controller. Valve was really forcing the idea of a controller made FOR PC games.

[Mpl90]

Yeah, that Wii U design was something else. And it's less hysterical than what AlphaDream used as a DS devkit for Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. That was insane lol

[Player3Podcast]

I just checked that out. It's so funny that it doesn't even look real. Just stacks on stacks of plastic.

[bmf7364]

t was a GBA, GBA SP all clipped together with a modified SNES controller for the GBA port. That's probably the most impromptu devkits I've ever seen.

[mogwaii]

That original xbox controller is the very similar in shap and size to the one we got in aus, the only thing that changed was the huge green xbox symbol in the middle was changed to black and green.

[Player3Podcast]

Yeah. It's very similar to The Duke that was released in the US as well.

[feraldrgn]

I rather like the idea of the 6th image, the Wii prototype with the break apart controller.

[blawren4]

I liked that too. one thing I did like about the wii remote + nunchuk is that my hands didn't have to be so close together.

[Player3Podcast]

It's pretty innovative. Kind of replaces several different accessories they released for it.

[idlet]

It's like a Wii transformer. Which would have been far too fun haha

[GigawattConduit]

The WiiU controller as designed by the creators of Voltron

[blawren4]

Sadly, people seem to view the production Wii U Gamepad as the prototype.

[TheCommentator]

Sony's boomerang controller would come right back to someone throwing it in anger!

I can't believe that the Duke was a smaller version of the prototype Dakota controller either! Who did they expect to be using it, bigfoot?

[Player3Podcast]

I remember fighting with friends about which of us would be stuck using The Duke.

[idlet]

I weirdly love the boomerang

[Player3Podcast]

Do you suffer from gaming-related rage?

[idlet]

WELL THEN FEAR NO MORE. NO NEED FOR CONSTRICTIVE WRIST STRAPS. THE BOOMERSHOCK PREVENTS ALL ANGER-RELATED DAMAGE BY JUST FLYING BACK INTO YOUR FACE!

[SocialShy]

I can't with that Wii U.

[Player3Podcast]

It's almost as if the designer remembered he needed to do it last minute.

[SocialShy]

I wouldn't be shock if they were hungover making it.

[idlet]

I'd love to own too many of these. Except that Wii U controller. Heaven help that poor, lost soul.

[GigawattConduit]

The WiiU one looks like something a parent would give their extremely gullible child for Christmas

[idlet]

The Wii U one looks like what you gift a dog for pooping on the floor.

[idsanty]

Super interesting how many of them have the same design as their final ones.

[NickBiazzo1231]

Really cool to see the different designs!

[skcej]

I have no words for the Wii U controller... really cool to see the development of concept ideas over time though!

[DanJ811]

If I remember right I'm sure there was a GameCube controller that had a see through bottom half years ago.