The Evolution of Gamepads: A History of Video Game Controllers

Description

I love video games. They have consumed much of my thoughts, both awake and dreaming. Gamepads are the pivotal intersection between the player and the machine. Controller, control pad, control deck, joypad-whatever you call it, it's how you get in the game. The first controller I have a real memory of is the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Zapper. It left a lasting impression on me. My cousin, who is older than me by a few years, had an NES. At the time, it was the only console I knew about. On the few occasions I had to play it, I remember pulling it out from behind the TV and getting the system all hooked up. I inserted the combo Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridge and eschewed the side-scroller for some serious skill testing. I don't remember being particularly good at Duck Hunt, but that hardly matters when you're gaming on your own. My game room still has a 26-inch CRT television for playing this game. This book doesn't have a comprehensive list of every controller ever released, but I want to show how gamepads have evolved over the years. I focused this book primarily on first-party controllers. That means I will not talk about every third-party controller. These have their place in the gaming world but are typically either a gimmick or knockoff and rarely contribute to the overall picture. The design choices console makers select with the controller they include with their system defines a lot about how they want the user to interact.This not-quite-an-encyclopedia is 200 pages of full color pictures, details, explanations, and fun facts about that all-important interface between you and the game. After five years of research and curating a gamepad collection, Kevin has turned a work of passion into a charming book. If you enjoy video games this is a book for you. You will enjoy returning to this book again and again.

Kevin Harbin is an electrical engineer who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began reading at the age of four and never stopped. His love of books is a lifelong affair. By the age of six he had written two books on topics dear to his heart, both of which were read at a local library event. He was a prize-winning author at age seven with a riveting story about a lizard, a cat, and heroics. The joy of video games has also been a great influencer in his life, from his first experience with Duck Hunt on the Nintendo Entertainment System to Penguins on the TI-83 graphing calculator to late-night LAN sessions of Halo on the Xbox. The first console he owned was a Sony PlayStation, shared with his brother and received as a gift for Christmas. Another obsession is photography. His skill was honed with wildlife, flowers in the field, people, and at Charlotte 49ers athletic events. After five years of research and curating a gamepad collection, Kevin has turned a work of passion into a charming book. If you enjoy Retro Gaming, this is a book for you. To learn more about THE EVOLUTION OF GAMEPADS, or read additional work by Kevin, visit his website: www.retrokevo.com