Whenever a new piece of video game hardware is in development it always goes through multiple prototyping phases, which always leads to some interesting “what if?” scenarios. In most cases, however, we rarely get a close look at these early designs in practical form, which is what makes this Nintendo 64 discovery even more exciting.
A prototype Ultra 64 controller thread…
It houses a thumbstick significantly different to the final retail version and first appeared in a black and white press release photo alongside the Ultra 64 (#Nintendo64) back in 1995. So let’s ‘crack’ it open and see what’s inside… pic.twitter.com/lj3PhSzOEQ
— Shane Battye (@shanebattye) September 21, 2019
While previously only seem in 1995 press release images, Shane Battye delves deep into the prototype Ultra 64 controller’s innards in his recent Twitter thread, where he points out some key differences. B & A are swapped internally, the Z button was smaller and rounded, and the analog stick had full 360 degrees of motion compared to the final product, which instead has notches.
The stick itself is anchored by cross positioned shafts, unlike the retail it doesn’t just pop out on opening – it appears to be a ‘snap-in’ design. Looked inside but too fearful of damaging before having a play so maybe something I’ll revisit dismantling further another time… pic.twitter.com/0NVruv3zML
— Shane Battye (@shanebattye) September 21, 2019
Be sure to check out the full thread for more details!
Written by Tom Brown
Whether it’s an exciting new entry in a series long established or a weird experiment meant only for the dedicated, Tom is eager to report on it. Rest assured, if Nintendo ever announces Elite Beat Agents 2, he’ll be there.
