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RetroforceGO! Episode 41: Part one of the Hardware Series: Controllers photo

Is it me, or is it St. Patty's day? I'd heard that the church had moved the holiday to another day because of Lent, is this true? If so, as an Irish man this means that we get two days of celebration. Now I don't meant that we as a whole would go against the wishes of the church, far from it, but we sure aren't going to pass up drinking on the 17th of March now, are we?

So, while everyone is celebrating the 17th or of March and not St Patty's day today, we here at a RFGO! would like to contribute some retro podcast for your listening pleasure. To make it even more interesting, try taking a drink every time Chad says the word "like." You'll mostly likely be unconscious before you get to the Rev Rant ;)

Highlights!

  • The dark days are over
  • Hindsight is 20/20
  • Almost as bad as Yaris?
  • Too much forking, not enough knifing
  • Probation period is a stint in the bucket
  • I guess you need more batteries if you have IRL friends
  • I just cast things away, apparently
  • What's your dream controller?

Drunk yet? Well then you're slacking, people! We've got a Monday to go out and celebrate, so y'all better hop to it. In the meantime, get you fix right here, and let us know what you think of the Hardware Series in the comments.


Continue: More RetroforceGO! stories





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71 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 03/17/2008 15:39
Already listening!

Yay RFGO!
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 03/17/2008 15:40
The pictures of the Saturn controller have gotten me beyond excited to listen to this. It's my favorite controller of all time. I could listen to people talk about it for weeks.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 03/17/2008 15:41
I hacked the system. I found it on iTunes and am already fifteen minutes in. WOO!
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 03/17/2008 15:43
Me too! Although I will be listening to this off and on all day while I work on my homework for my class tonight.

I will wave by Chad's street as I drive on my way over!
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar
BlackSunEmpire at 03/17/2008 15:47
This always seems to come up on iTunes faster. Not that I'm complaining, enjoying the podcast so far, but what a monster?? Is this the longest yet??
ironmanrules1333's Avatar
ironmanrules1333 at 03/17/2008 15:50
Teh right side of the knife!
Remo's Avatar
Remo at 03/17/2008 15:55
the thing is the church cant have any other religious holiday during the week of easter so paddy's day was put on a Sunday.
However paddy's day is also a bank holiday in Ireland so most of the events happened today regardless.

So in short there was to two holiday's,
one religious and one official.
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 03/17/2008 15:56
I downloaded that Yaris game today and man does it suck.
Dyson's Avatar
Dyson at 03/17/2008 16:06
Ah, so some of you have discovered the secret! Yes, the iTunes store does get the show before the homepage. The reason for this is because iTunes needs to take its sweet time to update, so if I were to set both pages live at the same time (as I've done before), then the first ten comments on this page are of the "iTunes isn't working" variety. I usually set the other page live anywhere fro 15 minutes to an hour ahead of time.

Short story long, subscribing to the show via iTunes gets you the very first crack at the new episode.

Also, thanks to Samit for listening to us and putting a wonderful comment about us on there!

Double also, the show is long -- way too long, maybe. But, the longest show we ever did was the Zelda show, this might be a tie or close second. You may have to ask our archival coordinator Droobies about that, though ;)

Why Justice, WHY?
RurouniQ's Avatar
RurouniQ at 03/17/2008 16:07
@Justice: DELETE IT! DELETE IT NOW! BEFORE YOU ARE TAINTED FURTHER!

I just remembered a weird controller practice I used to have: I had a Gamecube Keyboard controller for Phantasy Star Online which was literally a keyboard with the two halves of the GC controller on either side. I actually preferred it to a standard controller because it was wider, and therefore more comfortable for me to hold because I didn't have to bring my hands to the center at all.
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar
Phoenix Gamma at 03/17/2008 16:09
Dear Colette:

If humans were meant to fly, they'd have wings. Please come down to the ground...and back in my podcast <3

Also, awesome photo for the podcast. Reminds me of that sick SNES one you guys did awhile back.
Guagloves's Avatar
Guagloves at 03/17/2008 16:18
Yay. Retroforce makes my Mondays.
Suff0cat's Avatar
Suff0cat at 03/17/2008 16:21
@Dyson

How is this not the longest episode ever? It's 2 hours 19 minutes, Episode 20 aka "The Longest Zelda Episode Ever" was only 1 hour 57 minutes.

I don't mind though, I could listen to Retroforce all day.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 03/17/2008 16:21
Talking SNES and SFII: I specced my SNES controller with the light kicks and punches on the shoulder buttons. I don't feel like I was missing too much, but I do get rocked in general at Steet Fighter, too.
Passionate Styos's Avatar
Passionate Styos at 03/17/2008 16:22
Oh god..I bought that add-on to my Game Boy Color..and at that time I thought it was great..
wardrox's Avatar
wardrox at 03/17/2008 16:27
I want to paint my iTunes black, then pretend it's like Airwolf. That is the only thing that could make this cooler.

<3
riomccarthy's Avatar
riomccarthy at 03/17/2008 16:32
XD Ok, so I just got to the part talking about wrapping the cords for your controllers, and I do the exact same thing that Topher does. Yay for twist ties!
Rainbowblack's Avatar
Rainbowblack at 03/17/2008 16:41
the only controller i ever got as a child was the NEs Advantage...jesus that thing was HUGE i almost never used it
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 03/17/2008 16:44
MOAR Retroforce is always good
RurouniQ's Avatar
RurouniQ at 03/17/2008 16:48
Droobies is like loaded or something. :) You the man, sharing is caring.
Suff0cat's Avatar
Suff0cat at 03/17/2008 16:52
Oh my god, hearing you guys talk about how unconfortable the NES controller was reminded me of having these:



NES GRIPS!
Peronthious's Avatar
Peronthious at 03/17/2008 17:11
FINALLY someone mentions the church moving the day because of lent. I was telling people all weekend that it was on Saturday 'cause Pope knows best, but not a soul believed me. Meh, two days of pinching those fools who wear no green, and excuse to drink my head off for two nights.
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 03/17/2008 17:13
I had a third party turbo NES controller and I swear I think it was wireless. Could that have been possible?!

Also turbo was the only way I could be the final boss in Zelda II the first time. I've beaten him normally since then but my little ten year old self didn't have the thumbs I have now.

(k back to listening)
Pygmy's Avatar
Pygmy at 03/17/2008 17:26
I remember that conventional style N64 controller... i got it from my neighbor because he said it was uncomfortable, but that was the only controller i ever used after that. Best N64 controller in the world.
Suff0cat's Avatar
Suff0cat at 03/17/2008 17:26
Yeah Naia, it was totally possible:

Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 03/17/2008 17:27
I *really* love using the wiimote sideways style for VC games. Just something really .. . satisfying about picking my game and just turning that wiimote sideways. Feels really nice, and simple. That's the main reason I don't have any N64, or SNS games (no classic controller for me, though this podcast has nearly sold me on one)
Pygmy's Avatar
Pygmy at 03/17/2008 17:31
If it's the same one D is talking about, i think i found a picture of it here.

droobies's Avatar
droobies at 03/17/2008 18:07
Pygmy, that's the N64 controller I was talking about! Mine was clear though.

Dyson, this is the LONGEST SHOW EVER! It beats out Zelda pt. 2 by nearly 20 minutes. Thanks again for having me on. Chizzo sent me his address for the controller, what's the hold up for you? I'm shopping around for a new headset over the next couple days.
Redzie's Avatar
Redzie at 03/17/2008 18:16
Alas, my childhood isnt a lie! Thank you for mentioning the NES Max! I grew up with a Famicom that had a Turbo buttons for A and B built right into the pad. I always thought that I grew up with a Cheap chinese Famicom Knockoff. But this changes everything! GREEN MILKSHAKES FOR ALL!!!!
Passionate Styos's Avatar
Passionate Styos at 03/17/2008 18:21
Another great show, thanks for loving Mondays guys. Oh, I would really like to be in the podcast, but alas, it's just a dream. Also, I would talk to much.
Pygmy's Avatar
Pygmy at 03/17/2008 18:24
@Droobies

I couldn't find out who made it or where my neighbor got it from, i was so pissed off when it broke because i could never go back to play my N64 with a normal controller. Let me know if you stumble across the maker.
Zero Atma's Avatar
Zero Atma at 03/17/2008 18:31
Pfft, stuck at work, can't give it a listen yet. That's what long bus rides are for tho. Naia, aside from the one Suff0catingSight showed (great drumming man!), there were some others that worked on the same principal.

I remember I had a 3-rd party SuperNES controller with turbo buttons and programmable buttons, preset for SF2. Man was that a cheat! But for a long time (when I was young, mind you), I couldn't get the Dragon Punch to work, and y brother would floor me, so I took any edge I could get. I also used it for Mega Man X and X2, the fireball and dragon punch secret moves, and for turbo fire.
As I recall, it was a little bigger than the normal SNES controller, so it actually got uncomfortable to play. So I eventually just learned how not to be a schmuck and do dragon punches the real way. But it was handy for anything where you needed to spam single button presses.
aborto thefetus's Avatar
aborto thefetus at 03/17/2008 18:36


A picture of my setup. Why am I showing you this, look at the T.V.


[size=75]WOOD GRAIN!!![/size75]
aborto thefetus's Avatar
aborto thefetus at 03/17/2008 18:37
GODDAMN BBCODE FAIL!!!
Dead Movie Star's Avatar
Dead Movie Star at 03/17/2008 18:38
I won?... SPLURGEGEGE. Email has been sent *salute*

Also, I think that the Wiimote dpad is crap for virtual console games. I played Star Tropics with it and nearly killed myself.
Nad Crusher's Avatar
Nad Crusher at 03/17/2008 19:24
Microsoft did make an arcade controller:
Nad Crusher's Avatar
Nad Crusher at 03/17/2008 19:24
Oh sorry it was mad catz
Nad Crusher's Avatar
Nad Crusher at 03/17/2008 19:32
Microsoft did make an arcade controller:
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 03/17/2008 19:50
2 hours 19 minutes?! Man, that is long! Oh, sorry ... Like, 2 hours 19 minutes? Like, man, that is, like, long!
Passionate Styos's Avatar
Passionate Styos at 03/17/2008 19:56
@ Chad

But it was 2 hours 19 minutes well worth it.
Suff0cat's Avatar
Suff0cat at 03/17/2008 20:20
@ Chad

2 hours 19 minutes, and not a single BAAANK!

Whats up with that? :(
manasteel88's Avatar
manasteel88 at 03/17/2008 20:30
I also have a woodgrain tv upstairs in my bedroom!!! hooray for woodgrain!
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar
Hamza CTZ Aziz at 03/17/2008 20:31
Are you all going to talk about specialty controllers in another episode? Steel Battalion, Samba De Amigo, DDR, Rock Band, Zapper, and tons of other stuff to talk about.
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar
Hamza CTZ Aziz at 03/17/2008 20:36
Oh of course as soon as I ask this I get to the part where you talk about the specialty controllers, lol.
Zero Atma's Avatar
Zero Atma at 03/17/2008 20:52
Hey RFG, have you seen retrousb.com? They have usb adapters to connect NES and SNES controllers to a PC.
The GHost's Avatar
The GHost at 03/17/2008 21:58
Bad-ass. Can't wait for the follow up show.

Also I think that the reason companies sometimes release bad controllers isn't that they don't care, there's just too much at stake for them not to, it's just that they market test against people who don't play old school games. MS probably got a lot of positive feedback about their D-pad from the tests that they did, enough to warrant them using the design anyway.

There's just so much cash at stake these days that I don't think that any of the major companies would release a controller with a component that they think is "bad".

It's those whipper snappers in those focus groups I tells ya!*Shakes fist*
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 03/18/2008 02:05
I seriously have to keep a notebook with me when I listen to you guys, because I come up with all these responses as I'm listening which I yell out, but of course you can't hear me. :P

I never had the pleasure of playing the dreamcast on account of my five game rule (there has to be at least five games on a system that I want to justify the purchase), but it sounds like the D-pad was pretty nice.

As for Microsoft's D-pad I also have to wonder if there are patents out there that prevent them from making a decent one. I mean why would they use the thing they have?

Although The GHost may be onto something with the focus groups.

Stupid kids.

Also I never knew of any game other than the Katamari games that ever used L3 and R3. What else is there?

Finally you guys are awesome. My monday feels complete.
The GHost's Avatar
The GHost at 03/18/2008 02:20
@Naia

It's good to hear that I'm not the only one to yell shit out when I'm listening to the podcast... :P
MatCD's Avatar
MatCD at 03/18/2008 02:49
NES Street Fighter
---
By the way, I saw somewhere that there WAS A Fighting game that was released on the NES! It pre-dated Street Fighter and even played with similar button input commands.

I've been looking all over for the video or even what name was. I couldn't possibly have imagined it!


N64 Controller
---
I like the C buttons, the fact that they were smaller then A and B really helped to identify them without looking. And I referred to the direction first and for the C buttons.


Smash Bros. Z Button
---
For dualshock or other controllers with more then 2 shoulder buttons I use both my middle and index fingers so it's usually not a problem for me. But the fact is that in Smash Bros. the command for throw and grab is actually Block + Attack and the Z button just inputs both commands. So there are times when I pressed Z but blocked instead of grabbing someone. That was(is) HELL of annoying.


Gamecube D-pad
---
Hold a original Gameboy Advance up to a Gamecube controller... yeah...


R3 and L3
---
I'm not a fan of R3 for camera centering, I'd rather have that on a shoulder button.

Also in Devil May Cry 3 L3 cycled through targets to lock-on. It was really helpful but in DMC4 they removed it and that pissed me off. The game was still hell of fun but the times when I locked on to an enemy that I didn't want to and couldn't change as easily as in DMC3 took it down a big notch.


Crouching
---
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKTJfCWLMIo


YOU MENTIONED HALO!
---
RAWR


Nylon Ball in your Heart
---
That's not good, your going to have to get that bypassed.
njsykora's Avatar
njsykora at 03/18/2008 06:18
I'm calling bullshit on one comment about the Wiimote. Compare the d-pad side by side to the Gamecube d-pad. They are exactly the same size.
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