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[ZealousD]

This is true. The N64 controller's one flaw is that the stick wears out quickly.

Mario Party was the most destructive video game every released.

 

[CielTynave]

Is this how inbred people think the dualshock is held?

 

[Wallach]

Is this how inbred people think the dualshock is held?

Well he's trying to use it to play a bed, so maybe?

 

[A Black Falcon]

So we can all agree that the N64 is one of the worst controllers in console history, right?

If by worst you mean best, then sure!

I absolutely hated the N64 controller.
How the system was so successful with such a terrible controller is beyond me.

Because it's not terrible, though I have sometimes wondered how Sony did so well, with a controller as bland and subpar as theirs is... (I know, it was the games, not the controller.)

Especially having owned a playstation, going over to a friends house who had only a N64 was always a dreadful experience.

The PS1 controller (or its PS2/PS3 clones) are so much worse than the N64 controller, in my opinion... the Dualshock has nothing on the N64 controller. It's smaller, less comfortable, more poorly laid out, has analog sticks that are worse in everything other than durability, pioneered that awful "analog sticks stuck down in uncomfortable corners of the controller" design too many pads have copied (this is why the N64 had three prongs, people, so the dpad and stick would BOTH actually be comfortable to hold! And it worked, brilliantly!), and more. Sony had by far the worst controller of the big three that generation...

That is to say, this is certainly at minimum an issue of opinion.

Since different games had you hold it in different ways

Um, so? This is a negative how?

and to this day I still don't find it very comfortable.

It's more comfortable than many console gamepads, and certainly not worse than average.

Are you kidding? Look at this fucking thing:


Three fucking handles.

Who the fuck is that designed for? Last time I checked normal humans were born with two hands.

For people with two hands and enough of a brain to realize that it's designed for multiple play styles. It's REALLY not that complex, except for N64-haters like you. (I assume you prefer Sony?)

The N64 controller was an awesome design for a one-analog controller. Too bad the analog stick sucked and wore out so quickly. I always held it the right ways, but probably used the D-pad more often just because of how often we played the Aki wrestling games.

Thinking back, we pretty much had to play 4 player wrestling just because everyone's analogs were a crunchy, broken, wore out mess. I remember playing the first Mario Party and not letting anyone play the stick twirling mini-games when they came up because one round of that would pretty much demolish a brand new controller.

N64 analog sticks generally should least a few years each, on average. Perhaps Mario Party 1 ruined them faster than that, but for just about anything else, it's not like they break down in weeks or something, like you suggest here. And if you do have bad sticks, they're fortunately quite easy to replace -- all you need is a normal screwdriver and a replacement stick from the internet, they're not hard to find and the swap is simple. I got all four of my controllers' sticks replaced, oh, ~6 years ago now, or so, with new sticks identical to the original ones (not those GC-like sticks you also see out there). None are so bad now that they need immediate replacement, though one or two are fading enough that I have thought about getting a new stick or two. Haven't done it yet, but I'm sure I will eventually.

Mario Party was the most destructive video game every released.

Bomberman 64 can do some stick destruction too -- you recover from being stunned by spinning the stick. That's stick-killing right there. Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth, if you play it with the analog stick as I usually did, can do some stick destruction too, if you use the stick movement based Rolling mode option. The game has this shot-deflection shield, you see, and either it can be based on a button press, but with a timer between activations, or it can be free to use anytime, but only activates when you quickly reverse direction while moving. Ie, quickly move the stick back and forth to bounce back shots. Yes, that does some damage to the stick.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

This is true. The N64 controller's one flaw is that the stick wears out quickly.

Mario Party was the most destructive video game every released.

Once you get Mario Party, just forget about it, that stick is done. ESPECIALLY Mario Party 1 where you had those twirling the stick minigames. That stick will never be stationary again, always leaning in one direction, lol.

 

[DukeTogo1300]

I've never seen anyone use it the wrong way, I really don't believe it's a thing.

 

[CountAntonius]

Never thought holding the middle.

 

[Sojgat]

Left position for shooters
Right position for everything else
"Proper" position for crazy people

 

[PKrockin]

Look at this abomination! Last time I checked normal humans didn't have 200 fingers. Worst controller ever.

 

[Baller. PhD]

I love threads like this because they reinforce the fact that there are so many people inferior to me.

 

[cramoss]

My brother used to play that way.

 

[Rekubot]

I NEVER ONCE held it with my left hand in the middle. I would hit Z with the middle finger of my right hand. I used my pointer finger + thumb to control the joystick.

EDIT: I just held it the way it was most comfortable and precise to me. Controlling the joystick with just the thumb gave me less control/precision than using two fingers (same goes for GCN - I use two fingers on the left joystick there).

Yep, middle finger for Z. Was never uncomfortable for me. Guess my fingers aren't short and stubby like the rest of GAF. Hoho.

 

[Mington]

I'd hold the middle with my left hand. But I'd hit the z trigger with my right middle finger

 

[Shahadan]

What a fail, OP :lol

Is it?

This thread was created with one interesting goal in mind : to highlight the hidden fact that anyone can use the N64 controller their own way, and thus, that there is no real "proper way".
This proves that the N64 pad is the best pad ever, as you're not stuck with one way to hold it no matter the size of your hands.

I rest my case.

Spoiler

and amazingly we found some amount of hate towards people holding it differently

 

[LeleSocho]

This thread is giving me cancer...

also...

Three fucking handles.

Who the fuck is that designed for? Last time I checked normal humans were born with two hands.

If the N64 controller had a more modern button configuration it would have been the ultimate controller, imagine it to have a second analog where A and B are and use the C buttons as ABXY plus add ZR and ZL better analogs and other stuff stuff but with the same structure as it is now. It simply is confortable for any type of game, you always have the "movement side" of the controller in primary position not like dualshock which is good for 2d games (dpad in primary position) and sucks for 3d games and viceversa for the 360 pad.

 

[Xater]

Even in google images I only find things like this :





As opposed to the right way, with your left hand in the middle.

I never used it the way I was supposed to either btw.

So? Denounce yourselves.

What are you? Crazy?

Left hand goes on middle handle, right hand goes on the right handle. I held it like I was supposed to!

 

[Izayoi]

Everyone I knew, being of this planet, held the controller like this (myself included).

What is wrong with you people?

 

[valentine71]

Properly? What do u mean properly? As a batarang you mean?

 

[Water Turkey]

whats the big deal? i loved the controller back then except for the stick wearing out. most games you hold the center with left hand pulled trigger with left pointer and control the rest on the right with right hand.

then when u play mk trilogy, killer instinct, the thq/aki wrestling games and the classic games compilations you held it like a normal controller.

 

[HYDE]

Who the fuck is that designed for? Last time I checked normal humans were born with two hands.

Some people's third member are pretty skilled.

I love how the Wii's nunchuck is basically like holding the middle of a N64 controller with an L button that can be reached also.

I wish Nintendo would make a wireless nunchuck for Wii U.

 

[Danielsan]

Now it makes sense why so many people dislike N64's controller after all.

My main gripe with the N64 controller is the horrendous analog stick, which tends to go numb after a certain amount of use.. After which it's virtually unusable to play games.

 

[Silphonica]

It certainly looks identical. It wouldn't surprise me if they reused SNES d-pads. It feels slightly different -- N64 dpads are usually stiff, while SNES ones are often loose. I'm not sure if they made them stiffer, or if it's because SNES dpads see so much more use than N64 ones that the N64 ones never loosen. I'm not sure though, but it feels just fine. The only other difference is that the N64 dpad is in that little indentation, but that shouldn't make too much of an impact on feel.

SNES, N64, GC, GBC, GBA, NES, GB

All used the exact same patented d-pad.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

These gifs infuriate me. He goes from grasping the xbox controller like a normal human, to suddenly devolving into some spastic chimp like seizing motions for the dualshock. Fuck that guy. Palms on grips, thumbs on sticks, very simple.

Actually it was a thing where they didn't know if the analog stick was going to take off, so they put the d-pad there so you could hold it on the left for d-pad games.

Similarly that's why the Dual shock has analog sticks in a stupid fucking place. When the analog stick DID take off Sony was like "fuck" and just stuck the analogs wherever they'd fit on their standard d-pad controller. Then they kept the analogs in the same place afterwards because it worked okay.

It's understandable they were hesitant to have the control stick as a d-pad replacement being so early on. But if it's true (not having owned an N64) that both devs and gamers basically abandoned the d-pad grip, then the lack of a revision was a gross oversight on Nintendo's part. An even bigger slap in the face is the fact that they chose to instead focus on unnecessary peripherals like the RAM expansion pack.. You have a useless section of the controller, why not redesign it for the most optimal and common use? It's a trainwreck of a design. There's a reason they never iterated on this three-pronged misfire of a controller.

 

[meppi]

My favorite control method with the N64 controller is still playing WaveRace64 with one hand, just the middle prong, analogue stick and Z button.

 

[eXistor]

This thread is a revelation to me, I never thought anyone would want to use like in the OP (it's highly illogical and uncomfortable to me), but I was proven wrong. The more you know.

 

[Übermatik]

Left hand in the middle, right hand on the right. I couldn't even think of any other way of doing it.

 

[KevinCow]

These gifs infuriate me. He goes from grasping the xbox controller like a normal human, to suddenly devolving into some spastic chimp like seizing motions for the dualshock. Fuck that guy. Palms on grips, thumbs on sticks, very simple.

It's a sarcastic joke. How is that not obvious.

It's understandable they were hesitant to have the control stick as a d-pad replacement being so early on. But if it's true (not having owned an N64) that both devs and gamers basically abandoned the d-pad grip, then the lack of a revision was a gross oversight on Nintendo's part. An even bigger slap in the face is the fact that they chose to instead focus on unnecessary peripherals like the RAM expansion pack.. You have a useless section of the controller, why not redesign it for the most optimal and common use? It's a trainwreck of a design. There's a reason they never iterated on this three-pronged misfire of a controller.

Because while it was a silly and unorthodox design, it wasn't bad. It worked just fine. It was perfectly comfortable. Everyone else in the world except for you was able to figure out how to hold it and got over it after like a minute. There was no need for a redesign.

Maybe if there had been a universally negative backlash against it like with the Xbox controller, they would have considered a redesign. But there wasn't, so they didn't.

 

[Kazzy]

In summary: The N64 controller is a abomination.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

It's a sarcastic joke. How is that not obvious.

I've seen it used in legitimate arguments against the dualshock before. It better be a joke

Because while it was a silly and unorthodox design, it wasn't bad. It worked just fine. It was perfectly comfortable. Everyone else in the world except for you was able to figure out how to hold it and got over it after like a minute. There was no need for a redesign.

Maybe if there had been a universally negative backlash against it like with the Xbox controller, they would have considered a redesign. But there wasn't, so they didn't.

On the contrary this thread has many that were uncomfortable with that third grip like myself. And I did attempt to play in this style only for it to end up feeling extremely unnatural and uneven. I suppose having come from the dualshock didn't make this transition any easier.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

WTF, there are people on Earf who didn't hold the middle?

You people crazy.

This.

 

[+Aliken+]

mh 6 pages for this troll thread nice work Gaf.

 

[Cipherr]

Sorry. Guess I was a smart kid... :/

lol, indeed. Cannot believe people would hold it any way other than the proper way.

 

[Yoshi]

If the N64 controller had a more modern button configuration it would have been the ultimate controller, imagine it to have a second analog where A and B are and use the C buttons as ABXY plus add ZR and ZL better analogs and other stuff stuff but with the same structure as it is now. It simply is confortable for any type of game, you always have the "movement side" of the controller in primary position not like dualshock which is good for 2d games (dpad in primary position) and sucks for 3d games and viceversa for the 360 pad.

Yup! I still miss the three pronged design, especially as 2D games had kind of a renaissance. Dual Shock is horrible for 3D games though - as well as the classic controller (pro) is. Dreamcast's controller ironically nailed it too by positioning the left trigger in relation to the analog stick and the dpad in a way that you can either use the dpad and use the L button as a shoulder button or use the analog stick and use the L button as a trigger. Dual Shock looks the nicest though, because it's symmetric.

 

[masud]

Wait there are people that didn't like the the N64 controller? Weird.

 

[The Giant]

Nah. Just a recommended way.

This is the proper way of holding it. Anything else is wrong.

 

[Boss Doggie]

I've seen it used in legitimate arguments against the dualshock before. It better be a joke

Makes me wonder though, shouldn't people who play video games be adaptable?

 

[KAOz]

I've seen it used in legitimate arguments against the dualshock before. It better be a joke

It is a joke. I think it was made by a gaffer even in a thread about DS vs 360 controller.

It's a very sarcastic and funny joke.

 

[SuperAngelo64]

Don't worry left-holders, you're not alone in the world:

Why the fuck would any self-respecting left-handed-master-race member do this?

We are superior gamers because we have better dexterity when it comes to movement. You don't need your dexterous thumb for mashing buttons.

 

[Jokeropia]

The N64 controller had a really clever solution to the problem of whether to put the analog stick or the d-pad in the primary thumb position, by letting you choose yourself depending on the game. Such an awesome controller, the only problem was the life-length of the analog stick.

 

[LabouredSubterfuge]

Oh how I missed these gifs. Good times.

 

[MurkyZebra2417]

These gifs infuriate me. He goes from grasping the xbox controller like a normal human, to suddenly devolving into some spastic chimp like seizing motions for the dualshock. Fuck that guy. Palms on grips, thumbs on sticks, very simple.

The origin was that he mocked people stating the Dualshock Controller was too small for their hands and they can only play with the Xbox Pad. These GIFs are from a Gaffer if I remember correctly. They always make me chuckle.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

These gifs infuriate me. He goes from grasping the xbox controller like a normal human, to suddenly devolving into some spastic chimp like seizing motions for the dualshock. Fuck that guy. Palms on grips, thumbs on sticks, very simple.


It's understandable they were hesitant to have the control stick as a d-pad replacement being so early on. But if it's true (not having owned an N64) that both devs and gamers basically abandoned the d-pad grip, then the lack of a revision was a gross oversight on Nintendo's part. An even bigger slap in the face is the fact that they chose to instead focus on unnecessary peripherals like the RAM expansion pack.. You have a useless section of the controller, why not redesign it for the most optimal and common use? It's a trainwreck of a design. There's a reason they never iterated on this three-pronged misfire of a controller.

That RAM expansion pack gave us Majora's Mask, Perfect Dark, and 640x480 Rogue Squadron so you can take your hypothetical redesign and stuff it.

(also two late-era N64 first party games DID actually use the D-Pad: Sin and Punishment for a left handed control setup, and Kirby 64 for moving)

 

[Domstercool]

I didn't even know people held it any other way but the normal way. That's so weird to do. It made sense to have left hand on the middle and right on the right side.

God, that pad was awesome! Comfortable if you wanted to use the stick and comfortable if you wanted to use a d-pad, GENIUS!

 

[Haunted]

 

[Zia]

Always wondered why I was so much better at Super Mario 64 than most people. Suppose it was because I wasn't using the stupid-looking default method of RC car control.

 

[mysocksarepink]

my right hand was in the middle-right

and my left was on the left side


ya im boss

 

[EmCeeGramr]

The only time I've seen that layout used is Sin and Punishment, where it actually makes sense: D-Pad for movement since you're just shifting left and right, analog stick for aiming control instead of the C-buttons.

 

[Yoshi]

That RAM expansion pack gave us Majora's Mask, Perfect Dark, and 640x480 Rogue Squadron so you can take your hypothetical redesign and stuff it.

(also two late-era N64 first party games DID actually use the D-Pad: Sin and Punishment for a left handed control setup, and Kirby 64 for moving)

The RAM-Expansion Pak was put into the console and not into the controller anyway. That port was only used for Transfer Pak, Controller Pak (Memory Card) and Rumble Pak.

 

[Rebel Leader]

Holding the controller properly?

Depends on the game

 

[GloveSlap]

Holding the controller properly?

Depends on the game

Yes, but the thread is about people holding the left grip even when using the analog stick.

I think the N64 controller design could actually still be used for a dual analog controller. They would just have to widen the gap between the middle and right grips to fit another analog in there. It would be ugly but awesome.

It would be nice because the controller is so comfortable while using both the analog and the D-Pad, which isn't the case for modern controllers.