Dual Analog Controller
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Sony's Dual Analog Controller (SCPH-1150 in Japan, SCPH-1180 in the United States and SCPH-1180e in Europe) is Sony's first attempt at a handheld analog controller for the PlayStation, and the predecessor to Sony's more popular DualShock and DualShock 2 controllers. Their first official analog controller was the Sony FlightStick (SCPH-1110).
History
The Dual Analog Controller was released in Japan in April 1997 to coincide with the Japanese releases of Tobal 2 and Bushido Blade.[link] It was advertised as allowing for more precise and fluid control of the games' fighters. Also, the controller's Japan-exclusive rumble feature added to the realism (at this point, only one rumble motor was used, unlike the dual motors that power the DualShock). It was released later in that year, sans vibration capabilities, to the U.S. and European markets to work with Sony's own Rally Cross, but was not advertised.Namco had already released an analog controller for PlayStation called NeGcon. It should be noted that NeGcon-compatible games like WipEout and Ridge Racer were not compatible with the analog modes of the Dual Analog Controller or DualShock, however they could still be played with the controllers' standard digital modes. One exception to this rule is Need For Speed II, which accepts analog control from both NegCon as well as any Dual Analog controllers.
Fans of a smaller form factor, Japanese gamers complained that the longer grips made the controller too large to be comfortable and the lack of a rumble feature in the U.S. and European models are the most commonly cited reasons that Sony decided to end production of this controller and redesign it.
The Dual Analog Controller was discontinued in both markets in 1998 to be replaced by the DualShock, although a number of gamers still regard it as the better gamepad, mostly due to its longer hand grips and ridged shoulder buttons.
Features
If a game was compatible with the Dual Analog Controller, the player would be able to press the "Analog" button located between the analog sticks to activate the analog mode. This was indicated by a red LED. If a game was not analog-compatible, and was switched to analog mode, it simply wouldn't register any button presses or, in some cases, the PlayStation would consider the controller to be detatched.The abilitiy to emulate Sony's own Analog Joystick (by pressing the "Analog" button a second time to reveal a green LED; this was commonly referred to as "Flightstick Mode"), provided a less expensive alternative to the Analog Joystick and retailed for an average of $35 compared to the Flightstick's retail price of $70.
MechWarrior 2, Ace Combat 2, Descent Maximum, and Colony Wars were among the short list of "Flightstick" compatible games.
Distinguishing Features
The Dual Analog Controller features several aspects that remain unique only to it, and were scrapped or redesigned for the release of Sony's DualShock controller.
- Only the Japanese version features a vibration feedback function (not to be confused with the DualShock's dual-motor feedback, this controller only has one motor and is rumored to be faulty and capable of damaging the PlayStation itself). Due to a lack of vibration-compatible games at the time, the U.S. and European versions do not feature rumble feedback and, as a result, weigh significanly less than their overseas counterpart - and fall somewhere between the weights of the standard digital controller and the DualShock.
- The Japanese version was available in both gray and black, while the U.S. and European versions were only available in gray.
- The hand grips are a full two inches longer than the original PlayStation controller and the current DualShock controller.
- The analog sticks have a concave design and are made completely of plastic, with no rubber grips on top.
- The L2 and R2 buttons have ridges to easily distinguish them from the L1 and R1 buttons.
- In addition to the standard digital mode and the regular "red LED" Analog mode, there is a third mode that emulates the layout of Sony's own dual Analog Joysticks, and is indicated by a green LED. This is commonly referred to as "Flightstick Mode."
- The "Analog" button, used for switching modes, is raised instead of depressed and can be hit accidentally while playing a game.
Rarity
It is nearly impossible to find a Dual Analog Controller for sale, even in the used market. Auction sites, like eBay, rarely have even one available and, due to its extreme scarcity, most sellers don't know the difference between the Dual Analog Controller and the DualShock and commonly mistake the former for the latter in item descriptions.While not worth much more than its original retail price, Sony's Dual Analog Controller remains a very interesting and quite sought-after piece of video game history, and is generally regarded as a collector's item.
External links
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