Difference between revisions of "3D Control Pad"

From Sega Retro

m (moved Saturn Analog gamepad to 3D Control Pad: official name)
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[[Image:AnalogPad.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sega Saturn Analog gamepad]]
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The '''[[Sega Saturn]] Analog gamepad''', also known as the '''3D Analog Controller''' was the result of a redesign of the previous controllers in response to Nintendo 64's analog controller.
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The controller features an analog thumb stick that allowed 360° of rotation, as opposed to the standard 8-directional input of the D-pad. The D-pad kept the same design of the original Sega Saturn controller. (Not the one present on the American version of the digital controllers.) The controller also featured analog shoulder triggers as opposed to the digital buttons. Although very few games that supported the controller utilized this feature. The controller also provided grips for comfort so the player could switch between the analog stick and D-pad with no trouble. The controller would also feature six face buttons making it compatible with every [[Sega Saturn]] game.
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To avoid compatibility issues, the analog controller has a switch under the start button to swap between "Digital" and "Analog" modes. Switching to "Digital" mode disabled the analog thumb stick, and reverted the shoulder buttons to a binary mode of input. Switching to analog mode activated the analog stick and switched the shoulder button input to analog as well. However, if the game did not support analog features, the controller would not be compatible with the game, and as a result would not send input.  
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| usa=August 31, 1996
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The '''3D Control Pad''' is a control pad developed for use with the [[Sega Saturn]]. Debuting with ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]'', it was [[Sega]]'s answer to the then revolutionary Nintendo 64 controller, which featured an analogue stick as opposed to relying solely on D-Pads. Analogue sticks generally allow for greater precision in a 3D environment, and unlike previous generations, by the time this controller debuted in 1996 3D was seen as the way forward for large parts of the gaming industry.
  
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The 3D Control Pad builds on the features already seen in the standard [[Control Pad (Saturn)|Saturn Control Pad]], containing an eight-direcional D-Pad and {{A}}, {{B}}, {{C}}, {{X}}, {{Y}}, {{Z}} and {{Start}} buttons. New to the controller was an analogue thumbstick (or "3D Directional Pad" as Sega called it), positioned on the left hand side of the controller above the D-Pad.
 
[[Image:Icon-3dcontrolpadmark.png|thumb|left|200px|US Games that supported the 3D Control Pad has this icon indicating compatibility on the back of the box.]]
 
[[Image:Icon-3dcontrolpadmark.png|thumb|left|200px|US Games that supported the 3D Control Pad has this icon indicating compatibility on the back of the box.]]
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For storage purposes, the wire of the controller can be removed by holding down on the clip on the back of the controller and sliding the controller and the wire apart.  
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To avoid compatibility issues, the analog controller has a switch under the start button to swap between "Digital" and "Analogue" modes. Switching to "Digital" mode disables all analogue settings, essentially turning the controller back into a standard control pad. This switch was vital, because earlier games were not built to understand the analogue technology and will not function correctly if the wrong mode is chosen. The original PlayStation and its latter dual-analogue controllers also required this feature.
  
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The 3D Control Pad is not just notable for its analogue stick. Also inlcuded are analogue {{L}} and {{R}} shoulder triggers, the first system to contain these. The controller lead can also be removed from the controller for storage purposes.
  
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To help circulation in the [[Sega Saturn]] market, the controller made it's debut along with the first game that had compatibility with the accessory, ''[[NiGHTS into Dreams]]''. Sega also released a bundle in the holiday season when the game came out that combined both the ''NiGHTS'' game and the controller. The bundle contained the game in a jewel CD case as opposed to the long box made standard for all [[Sega Saturn]] titles.
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The 3D Control Pad did not see widespread adoption for the same reason the Sega Saturn failed to capture a large share of the market in the west. The Saturn's 3D output was low, and as the controllers were never bundled with the console, consumers were more familiar with the standard Saturn control pads. It also has some design issues, namely the fact it is quite a lot bigger than most other controllers and arguably less comfortable than the standard pads for certain genres.
  
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The design of the controller would be further realized with the similarly built [[Dreamcast Controller]] which also featured an analog stick and shoulder buttons. However it would lack the Digital/Analog switch and only have four face buttons as opposed to six and instead feature two slots for accessory units.
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However, the 3D Control Pad can be credited for many common features seen in controllers today. Its design greatly influenced that of the [[Controller (Dreamcast)|Sega Dreamcast Controller]]. Analogue shoulder buttons have since been adopted by both [[Nintendo]] and [[Microsoft]] in the [[Nintendo GameCube]], [[Microsoft Xbox]] and [[Microsoft Xbox 360]]. Likewise, the idea of having the analogue stick positioned on the left hand side above the D-Pad has been adopted by both companies.
  
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==

Revision as of 09:51, 24 January 2011

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320x240px
3D Control Pad
Made for: Sega Saturn
Manufacturer: Sega

The 3D Control Pad is a control pad developed for use with the Sega Saturn. Debuting with NiGHTS into Dreams, it was Sega's answer to the then revolutionary Nintendo 64 controller, which featured an analogue stick as opposed to relying solely on D-Pads. Analogue sticks generally allow for greater precision in a 3D environment, and unlike previous generations, by the time this controller debuted in 1996 3D was seen as the way forward for large parts of the gaming industry.

The 3D Control Pad builds on the features already seen in the standard Saturn Control Pad, containing an eight-direcional D-Pad and A, B, C, X, Y, Z and  START  buttons. New to the controller was an analogue thumbstick (or "3D Directional Pad" as Sega called it), positioned on the left hand side of the controller above the D-Pad.

US Games that supported the 3D Control Pad has this icon indicating compatibility on the back of the box.

To avoid compatibility issues, the analog controller has a switch under the start button to swap between "Digital" and "Analogue" modes. Switching to "Digital" mode disables all analogue settings, essentially turning the controller back into a standard control pad. This switch was vital, because earlier games were not built to understand the analogue technology and will not function correctly if the wrong mode is chosen. The original PlayStation and its latter dual-analogue controllers also required this feature.

The 3D Control Pad is not just notable for its analogue stick. Also inlcuded are analogue L and R shoulder triggers, the first system to contain these. The controller lead can also be removed from the controller for storage purposes.

The 3D Control Pad did not see widespread adoption for the same reason the Sega Saturn failed to capture a large share of the market in the west. The Saturn's 3D output was low, and as the controllers were never bundled with the console, consumers were more familiar with the standard Saturn control pads. It also has some design issues, namely the fact it is quite a lot bigger than most other controllers and arguably less comfortable than the standard pads for certain genres.

However, the 3D Control Pad can be credited for many common features seen in controllers today. Its design greatly influenced that of the Sega Dreamcast Controller. Analogue shoulder buttons have since been adopted by both Nintendo and Microsoft in the Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Xbox and Microsoft Xbox 360. Likewise, the idea of having the analogue stick positioned on the left hand side above the D-Pad has been adopted by both companies.

Gallery

  • JP model

  • JP model (back)

  • EU model

Physical Scans

US Manual

  • 3dpad-1.jpg

    Front Side

  • 3dpad-2.jpg

    Back Side

Sega Saturn
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