Dual Analog Controller
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The PlayStation Dual Analog Controller (SCPH-1150 in Japan, SCPH-1180 in the United States and SCPH-1180e in Europe) is Sony's first attempt at a handheld analog controller for the PlayStation, and the predecessor to Sony's DualShock, DualShock 2 and SIXAXIS. Their first official analog controller was the Sony FlightStick (SCPH-1110).
Contents |
[edit] History
Initially announced in a press release in late 1995,[citation needed] the Dual Analog Controller was first displayed under glass at the PlayStation Expo 96-97 which was held from November 1 to November 4, 1996. It was released in Japan in April 1997, coincident with the Japanese releases of analog-capable titles Tobal 2 and Bushido Blade.[citation needed] It was advertised as allowing for more precise and fluid control of the games' fighters, with the rumble feature contributing to a more realistic experience.[citation needed]
Before its release in the United States, Sony revealed that vibration feedback would be removed from the controller. According to a Sony spokeperson, "We evaluated all the features and decided, for manufacturing reasons, that what was most important to gamers was the analog feature."[1]
It was released in the United States on August 27, 1997; and in Europe in later 1997 with little promotion. A few months later, the first DualShock controller was released in Japan on November 20, 1997.
Namco had already released an analog controller for PlayStation called NeGcon; the analog mode established with the Dual Analog Controller was not compatible with the NeGcon-enabled analog control features of games such as WipEout and Ridge Racer. Need for Speed II, Gran Turismo, and Gran Turismo 2 feature compatibility with both NegCon and Dual Analog control schemes.
Fans of a smaller form factor, Japanese gamers complained that the longer grips made the controller too large to be comfortable and the lack of a rumble feature in the U.S. and European models are the most commonly cited reasons that Sony decided to end production of this controller and redesign it.[citation needed]
The Dual Analog Controller was discontinued in all three markets in 1998 to be replaced by the DualShock, although a number of gamers still regard it as the better gamepad, mostly due to its longer hand grips and ridged shoulder buttons.[citation needed]
[edit] Features
If a game was compatible with the Dual Analog Controller, the player would be able to press the "Analog" button located between the analog sticks to activate the analog mode. This was indicated by a red LED. If a game was not analog-compatible, and was switched to analog mode, it simply wouldn't register any button presses or, in some cases, the PlayStation would consider the controller to be detached.
The abilitiy to emulate Sony's own FlightStick by pressing the "Analog" button a second time to reveal a green LED (this was commonly referred to as "FlightStick Mode") provided a less expensive alternative to the FlightStick Analog Joystick and retailed for an average of $35 compared to the Flightstick's retail price of $70.
MechWarrior 2, Ace Combat 2, Descent Maximum, and Colony Wars were among the short list of FlightStick compatible games.
[edit] Distinguishing features
The Dual Analog Controller features several aspects that remain unique only to it, and were scrapped or redesigned for the release of Sony's DualShock controller.
- Only the Japanese version features a vibration feedback function (not to be confused with the DualShock's dual-motor feedback, this controller only has one motor and is rumored to be faulty and capable of damaging the PlayStation itself). Due to a lack of vibration-compatible games at the time, the U.S. and European versions do not feature rumble feedback and, as a result, weigh significantly less than their overseas counterpart - and fall somewhere between the weights of the standard digital controller and the DualShock.
- The Japanese version was available in both gray and black, while the U.S. and European versions were only available in gray.
- The hand grips are a full two inches longer than the original PlayStation controller and the current DualShock controller.
- The analog sticks have a concave design and are made completely of plastic, with no rubber grips on top.
- The L2 and R2 buttons have ridges to easily distinguish them from the L1 and R1 buttons.
- In addition to the standard digital mode and the regular "red LED" Analog mode, there is a third mode that emulates the layout of Sony's own dual Analog Joysticks, and is indicated by a green LED. This is commonly referred to as "Flightstick Mode."
- The "Analog" button, used for switching modes, is raised instead of recessed like the DualShock's button and can be hit accidentally while playing a game.
[edit] Rarity
It is nearly impossible to find a Dual Analog Controller for sale, even in the used market. Auction sites, like eBay, rarely have even one available and, due to its extreme scarcity, most sellers don't know the difference between the Dual Analog Controller and the DualShock and commonly mistake the former for the latter in item descriptions.
Sony's Dual Analog Controller remains a very interesting and quite sought-after piece of video game history, and is generally regarded as a collector's item. Since this item is hardly ever found for sale, its true value is unknown.
[edit] References
- ^ September, "PlayStation's Missing Thunder", Next Generation: 26
