7 crazy video game controllers we can't believe people once thought were a good idea

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The video game controller, the main way we interact with games, hasn't changed much since the mid 1980's.

Analog sticks and triggers were added in the mid 1990's to accommodate the shift from 2D to 3D games, but that didn't replace the basic controller layout that came before, comprised of face buttons and a directional pad.

In a few cases, like with the popular "Dance Dance Revolution" or "Guitar Hero" franchises, peripheral controllers were created to better suit those games. 

History is littered with many more examples of companies conceiving of the next great way for us to play games — and then failing.

Here are eight examples: seven crazy designs trying to impact how we play, with an eighth controller attempting to give us a new place to play.

The Atari Mindlink

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The Atari Mindlink never came out, but at the time of its development Atari promised that it would let you play video games with your mind. In reality, the Mindlink would translate movements made on your forehead into on-screen commands. Only six working prototypes were ever made, and they were demonstrated at the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Unfortunately those who used the Mindlink would get headaches, so it was scrapped before ever reaching the market.

 

The Fragmaster

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The Fragmaster is a great example of trying to combine two things that work perfectly well on their own — in this case a keyboard and mouse — and failing.  Instead of using a mouse, aiming required moving the entire Fragmaster around. Shooting or any other action was handled by pressing any of The Fragmasters buttons and triggers. In reality, mice offered greater precision, making the Fragmaster a poor choice for players of first person shooters, the demographic it was trying to appeal to in the first place.

The Resident Evil Chainsaw Controller

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Like many peripherals, the Resident Evil chainsaw controller was a developed as a tie-in with a specific game, in this case "Resident Evil 4." While that game is regarded as one of the greatest of all time, the controller is an ergonomic nightmare. The two chainsaw handles are farther apart than the ends of a typical game controller, and the buttons are configured in an awkward position. Ultimately this controller works better as a prop than functional device.

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