Exploring Game Controllers in the Archive

Game controllers are an essential part of video game history, providing a gateway into the virtual world. As a third-year Games Art student, I have explored how controller designs affect engagement and immersion in video games through my 3,000-word thesis. Using the video game archive, I was able to handle a plethora of controllers first-hand, helping me to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each design and why controllers have since adapted.

Analysing the broad collection of joysticks, I identified key improvements to its core design across multiple generations of consoles. Over time, refinements to button placement, ergonomics, and handling improved their comfort and accessibility. Despite this, the joystick has taken a back seat, replaced by the gamepad in modern gaming. With its more natural two-handed design and superior comfort, it is now the industry standard.

Utilising the archive has given me a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience that I otherwise could not gain from secondary research alone. Ergonomics, tactile feedback, and build quality are immensely important aspects of a compelling controller design, all of which can only be fully understood through physical interaction. It is for reasons like these that the Manchester Game Archive is an important resource for academic research. I am excited to see its development and hope to see its collection grow, along with its influence, inspiring more people to take advantage of this remarkable resource.

By Samuel Clow, Third-year Games Art Student MMU