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[Forkball]

One of the most infamous controllers of all time, the original Xbox controller AKA the DUKE, is getting a re-release later this year. Seamus Blackley, the father of the Xbox, has recently been showing off pictures of the new/old model and also explained the origins of the behemoth and how the re-release came about. I cleaned up the tweets from Twitterese into English.

https://twitter.com/SeamusBlackley

THREAD: Why is there a re-release of the OG Xbox controller when "everybody hates it?" The original Xbox controller circuit board was farmed out to a company who made it too big. So a very talented designer figured out a way to mostly make it work, but alas it was enormous. I mean, it had its own weather systems. Jets would occasionally divert from SeaTac to land on it. It affected tides. There was a lot going on during that time, and I lost track a bit and then suddenly I was standing on stage holding this thing and people got ANGRY and threw stuff and made jokes about hand (ahem) size and such. It was actually pretty unpleasant to be the face of it. I was spending a lot of time in Japan in this period wooing Japanese developers and publishers, who all started to PANIC at the size of the thing for the Japanese market, let alone ROW. So, I ended up helping them sign a petition to redesign a new controller for the Japanese market, which became the "S" controller. I was relieved and proud, because the heat we took over the big controller was intense. I honestly had no idea from my perspective that the DUKE was also dearly loved by many gamers!

(btw the code name DUKE was after the son of the program manager for it, a wonderful guy and a great kid.)

So, last year after unpacking some boxes, I tweeted a picture of one of the original prototype DUKEs, and to my honest AMAZEMENT people were SUPER POSITIVE and nostalgic about it, even though I was even then mocking it and making jokes about it causing tsunamis. One follower suggested that I get MS to re-release it for Xbox One, and I asked if anyone would be psyched and this got an ASTONISHING response, enough that Phil Spencer noticed. So we talked, in amazement, at how awesome it was that there was love for DUKE. For me, the idea of turning all that negative energy into something positive was completely inspiring, so with @XboxP3 's blessing I built a little prototype where I cut out the original foil "X" and replaced it with an OLED display and had it play the OG startup, which ends with the logo that matches the original foil. I sent it to MS and along with @hyperkin

We got a plan together and now they have an approved design and product. So. When I see people saying "everyone hated the OG controller." I smile, because it's not true, and I learned a lesson, and I get to love something now that was painful. Gamers Rule. Game on!

I personally never liked the controller and was relieved when the S was released. However, I do understand the nostalgia surrounding it and one of my friends preferred it. It was definitely a point of contention when the OG Xbox was released.

 

[ViciousDS]

I loved the redesigns of the S and then never looked back when I got one that added the white and black buttons to the top of the controller for superior nade switching in halo and more

 

[-hadouken]

You'd have to be a incredibly devoted Xbox fan to want that thing. S was so much better.

 

[CLEEK]

It was a terrible controller to hold and use, and as a piece of industrial design, just awful. Quite possible the ugliest controller ever made. That god damn logo taking up so my real estate.

The Controller S was so much better.

 

[MattKeil]

You'd have to be a incredibly devoted Xbox fan to want that thing. S was so much better.

The six button face layout on the Duke was better. Everything else about the S was an improvement, though.

 

[BackwardCap]

Can't wait to see how it works with games today. Will definitely get a nostalgia rush when I get my hands on it again.

 

[bounchfx]

It was a terrible controller to hold and use, and as a piece of industrial design, just awful. Quite possible the ugliest controller ever made. That god damn logo taking up so my real estate.

The Controller S was so much better.

yeah, no doubt. i'm kind of amazed people like the duke but at the same time not surprised, there's always going to be someone. glad they're able to re release it for them. it's a novelty.

 

[dose]

It was a terrible controller. Bad dpad too.

 

[CertifiedFP]

The six button face layout on the Duke was better. Everything else about the S was an improvement, though.

Yeah, the loss of the full Sega-Layout in the S and 360-onward controllers was a big loss IMO.

 

[K.Jack]

Such an iconically bad controller.

 

[Spukc]

Damn this thread is infested by little hand people

 

[ThatsMytrunks]

I really enjoy playing Halo 1 with the Duke, or as I liked to call mine, Big Bertha. I think I stuck with the Duke for Halo 2 as well, as the S controller never really sat all that well with me.

The 360 and XBO controllers are marked improvements, no doubt, but I'll always have a small

Spoiler

huge

place in my heart for that thing.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Such an iconically bad controller.

.

 

[Blues1990]

As someone who has big ass hands, the "Duke" was a very cozy controller for 13 year old me.

 

[Leonidas]

The Duke was great for playing Halo, but I think I preferred the S for other games... I'll probably get one just for MCC.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I used to have one and now have no clue where it is. Hell I don’t know where a lot of my OG Xbox stuff is besides one S controller 🤔

 

[Spman2099]

I had a friend with giant hands that basically chose to support the original X-Box simply because it had a controller that worked for him. So, for that reason, it has a place. That being said, I really fucking hated that controller (personally).

 

[ThisGuy]

Loved the duke. Fit very comfortably in my hands. Made me hate the PlayStation's controller.

 

[alr1ght]

I have large hands and that thing was a mess.

 

[NolbertoS]

I’ll rebuy the Duke. Loved it when it came out.

 

[Nyoro SF]

The six button face layout on the Duke was better. Everything else about the S was an improvement, though.

I would kill for any console manufacturer to bring back the diagonal button layout instead of the diamond we have now. Never liked how moving my thumb all the time to hit face buttons became the standard.

 

[Baron_Calamity]

One controller doesn't fit everyone, who knew?

 

[Peltz]

I miss the duke. I only have an S now for my OG Xbox. I should change that.

 

[Riposte]

Damn this thread is infested by little hand people

Manlets, when will they ever learn?

 

[Zombie James]

I have large hands and that thing was a mess.

One controller doesn't fit everyone, who knew?

 

[Mikef2000]

Damn this thread is infested by little hand people

I'm 6'3" and have large hands. The Duke sucked. I refused to buy an X-Box because of it. Once S (and Ninja Gaiden came out) I finally bought an X-Box.

 

[-hadouken]

Damn this thread is infested by little hand people

It wasn't the size that bothered me - it was the shape of the grips. Felt like holding two potatoes. Very odd.

 

[LordBaztion]

Does it has bumpers?

 

[Etrian Oddity]

S is a trash controller and Duke completed the Xbox = Dreamcast 2 vibe.

S/360//DualShock controller design is a blight for hand cramps

 

[plagiarize]

Every time I see a story about Blackley, I remember meeting someone who went to college with him telling me that Blackley used to pretend to be English to impress people. I have no idea if it's true or not but it's always the first thing I think about.

 

[Gospel]

I hope next gens brings back 6 face buttons.

 

[Krappadizzle]

Loved the Duke. Will be buying a rerelease. Hopefully though they add a rb/lb though in addition to the black and white buttons. If it's literally just the same controller, I'll be a bit annoyed but will still buy simply for nostalgia.

 

[ElNino]

I'm 6'3" and have large hands. The Duke sucked. I refused to buy an X-Box because of it. Once S (and Ninja Gaiden came out) I finally bought an X-Box.

I have average sized hands and had no issues with the Duke. Even my sons (as young as 2) were able to use it.

Does it has bumpers?

No, that's what the black/white buttons are.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

I bought four Japanese controllers and let the OG shoebox sized controller gather dust. Terrible controller.

 

[Capitan]

I'll be willing to try the new one if it's cheap enough, now that I have grown-up hands.

 

[New002]

My friends and I used the Duke. Then the S arrived. We rejoiced. We shunned and mocked the Duke. Then with time we began to look back fondly on the Duke, for whatever reason.

I was kinda interested in this until I learned it wasn't being made by MS.

 

[Everlya_Apocryha]

One of the most infamous controllers of all time, the original Xbox controller AKA the DUKE, is getting a re-release later this year.

 

[The Giant]

Such a shit controller. Hated this piece of shit.

 

[M.W.]

Great controller.

 

[Man God]

I can palm basketballs no problem. Controller is still shit. S is more comfortable. Six face buttons don't really matter with that odd placement and weird feel they had.

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

Because us Duke players don't want to have to keep buying converters for our old controller.

Duke has my favorite d-pad of all time. I played CvS 2 a ton with it.

 

[JesseZao]

The S was best. I'd much rather have the White/Black buttons back.

 

[Flavius]

Weird controller, but it was how I got my Halo fix...and I stuck with it for Halo until the 360.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

Agghhhh I hated using this thing, it was so awkward to hold. I think I first held one when I was like 12? And I was just like "how are my tiny young boy hands supposed to even hold this thing? But really it wasn't even the size, the thing felt like there was nothing to naturally form a hold on. The dualshock is held almost like you're cradling the controller in your palms. The gamecube controller had actual grips this thing was just like holding a big thing.

 

[valkillmore]

Playing OG Halo for the first time w the Duke is one of those gaming memories that is locked in time for me, and I love that. I kinda don't want to go back to it, it's nice to have that as a relic of my gaming past.

 

[Diablohead]

Duke is the only way to play Halo CE

 

[sibarraz]

I love that Microsoft approved the released of that controller, even though its quality is very questionable, is an importance piece of Xbox History, and is cool to being able to test it to see how bad it really is

 

[MatthewB92]

Duke is best!

 

[LordBaztion]

I have average sized hands and had no issues with the Duke. Even my sons (as young as 2) were able to use it.


No, that's what the black/white buttons are.

he should have add bumpers and left the Black and white buttons for screenshots and clips

 

[Gentleman Jack]

The Duke did not play well with games that had fiddly input schemes aka every Smilebit game.