History of the analog stick?

I was playing some of the old school games and it was quickly brought to my attention how used to those analog sticks I actually become.Much more thumb pressure that's for sure! Anyways, I was wondering if anyone actually knew which gaming company started out with analog sticks first? I remember playing Nights for the Saturn and it came packaged with the controller, which had a analog stick, with the ability to switch between the Dpad, and analog. I still have it and it really works well. Not for most of the games however. So, is Sega the first company to release a controller with a analog stick? Just curious, because I think it is a real innovative enhancement, and has changed gaming immensely! Imagine if it was never changed. I don't mind the conventional Dpad, but those twin analog sticks are the standard now.

Wow, both of you guys are at the same level and have the exact same post count!:shock:

Anyway, the Atari 5200 had the first ever analog controller as far as I know.

They say the Atari 5200 was the first console to feature an analog stick but the first console with a *useful* analog stick was the N64. Sega and Sony followed and some would say that Sony improved the concept by adding two sticks on the DualShock (although they have a horrible placement in my opinion).

And for the record, the Saturn's analog controller was released before the N64.

M3tr4nk0

Well, some people claim it was Sony who had the analog stick prototype before N64 but that seems a little awkward claim to me. Eitherway it was Nintendo who promoted the "Ultra 64" with the analogue stick back in 1995 so Sega probably saw that and copied it (in their own way).

The Vectrex controller, 1982:

The Atari 5200 is listed as the same month and year release as well:

Here is an interesting vid from 1995:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFRXiJrkHUo

The Philips CD-I also had a gamepad with something that appears to be an analog stick of sorts.

[QUOTE="M3tr4nk0"]

And for the record, the Saturn's analog controller was released before the N64.

nameless12345

Well, some people claim it was Sony who had the analog stick prototype before N64 but that seems a little awkward claim to me. Eitherway it was Nintendo who promoted the "Ultra 64" with the analogue stick back in 1995 so Sega probably saw that and copied it (in their own way).

Actually, I just realized the N64 was released before in Japan, so Sega wasn't the first of that generation to have an analog controller. My mistake.

The Vectrex controller, 1982:

Emerald_Warrior

Looks more like an analog joystick to me. Do you control it with your thumb?

There was also the NES Super Controller accessory that you'd snap over a standard NES controller. I had them when I was a kid. But I can't seem to find a picture of one of these things actually connected to an NES controller. Here's the accessory itself at least:

The way I define the analog stick is a miniature joystick you use with your thumb or thumbs. Atari 5200 and Vectrex may have had these sticks before but as far as I can see you don't use your thumb to control them.

There was also the NES Super Controller accessory that you'd snap over a standard NES controller. I had them when I was a kid. But I can't seem to find a picture of one of these things actually connected to an NES controller. Here's the accessory itself at least:

Emerald_Warrior

That's not an analog stick either as the imput is still digital.

There was also the NES Super Controller accessory that you'd snap over a standard NES controller. I had them when I was a kid. But I can't seem to find a picture of one of these things actually connected to an NES controller. Here's the accessory itself at least:

Emerald_Warrior

Well, that's not an actual analog stick, since the NES only works with digital input.

You can read more about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_stick#History

[QUOTE="M3tr4nk0"]

And for the record, the Saturn's analog controller was released before the N64.

nameless12345

Well, some people claim it was Sony who had the analog stick prototype before N64 but that seems a little awkward claim to me. Eitherway it was Nintendo who promoted the "Ultra 64" with the analogue stick back in 1995 so Sega probably saw that and copied it (in their own way).

The way I define the analog stick is a miniature joystick you use with your thumb or thumbs. Atari 5200 and Vectrex may have had these sticks before but as far as I can see you don't use your thumb to control them.

nameless12345

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="M3tr4nk0"]

And for the record, the Saturn's analog controller was released before the N64.

NiKva

Well, some people claim it was Sony who had the analog stick prototype before N64 but that seems a little awkward claim to me. Eitherway it was Nintendo who promoted the "Ultra 64" with the analogue stick back in 1995 so Sega probably saw that and copied it (in their own way).

Close, but not quite. The Playstation was originally being developed as an add-on for the SNES. But even then, that doesn't factor in here. The analog Playstation controllers weren't released at launch of the PS1, it came out a few years later.

So what are we considering an analog stick then? As far as I'm concerned, a joystick that you use with your thumb is a thumbstick. While a Joystick is a stick you use with a whole hand. What's the differences I'm not getting here?

That Vectrex controller stick is definetly used with your thumb, you'd look pretty ridiculous holding that stick with a whole hand, lol.

[QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"]

The Vectrex controller, 1982:

nameless12345

Looks more like an analog joystick to me. Do you control it with your thumb?

So what are we considering an analog stick then? As far as I'm concerned, a joystick that you use with your thumb is a thumbstick. While a Joystick is a stick you use with a whole hand. What's the differences I'm not getting here?

That Vectrex controller stick is definetly used with your thumb, you'd look pretty ridiculous holding that stick with a whole hand, lol.

Emerald_Warrior

So what are we considering an analog stick then? As far as I'm concerned, a joystick that you use with your thumb is a thumbstick. While a Joystick is a stick you use with a whole hand. What's the differences I'm not getting here?Emerald_Warrior

um atari 2600 , all i gotta say but that was a b to work with,

the first confortable analog stick (not third party)

was n64

-- ps1 did not have its analog until 98 when they upgraded the controllers which i had an original ps1 -that had the origianal contollers that just had the following control layout

triangle circle square x r 1 and 2 l 1 and 2 dpad start and select-basically a snes controller with grips and 2 extra buttons-thats the original ps1 controller the way you can figure out if you got this minus the obvious no analog is on the back it just says ps1 controller it wont say dual shock

also dont have rumble either so ,ya

n64 was the first to come out with it day one , course i already mentioned 2600 had the first ever joystick but the first one that played well was n64 ,

anything before the n64 were joysticks(non variable movements). anything after (mostly) are analog

The 5200 controller was the 1st, but its horrible to use as it doesn't self centre (it just stays wherever you leave it), and its more of an analogue joystick.

The Vectrex controller released a few months later has an analogue thumbstick which is essentially the same as the one on N64