a90skid.com
  • Shop
  • Reviews
  • Shop
  • Reviews
0
A 90s Kid
  • Shop
  • Reviews

The gaming industry is a fascinating beast to behold as technology advancements need to be just as creative as game design. Timing plays a large role as companies search for the sweet spot of consumer interest. Developers must be simultaneously ambitious and practical to meet their customers ever-changing needs. Let’s take a look at some of the most important innovations ever brought about by gaming consoles.

 

NES – Controller

The NES controller may look primitive now, but was vastly superior to every controller before it, and set the foundation for the modern control schemes we use today.

Pre-NES controllers varied wildly and were riddled with issues. The Atari 2600’s joystick and single button worked well but was limited in the experiences it could provide.

Atari’s 5200 added a keypad and two more buttons on the side, but the placement was uncomfortable and difficult to use in the heat of battle.

Other manufacturers experimented with various sizes and configurations but the NES blew them all away.

Nintendo standardized a D-pad on the left, face buttons on the right, and the emphasis on thumb control. Placing the A and B buttons in a close horizontal line meant players could easily hold one button while pressing the other with just one thumb. This meant Mario could sprint and jump with ease.

The start and select buttons allowed developers to implement menus, inventory, and special abilities/items.

In the words of Han Solo: “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts”.

Genesis – Marketing

The Genesis was far and away Sega’s most successful console, selling 30 million units. Most of that success can be attributed to Tom Kalinske, Sega of America’s CEO.

Kalinske had a four-point plan that involved: reducing the price, instituting an American team to create games for the American market, expand advertising, and include Sonic the Hedgehog as the new pack-in game. Sega of Japan thought it was crazy to give their highest-rated game away with each console, but it quickly became a system-seller.

The advertising campaign was aimed at an older audience, attempting to portray the Genesis as the ‘cooler’ option. Slogans like “Genesis does what Nindon’t” and “blast processing” were at the heart of the marketing blitz. Adding to the mature theme, Mortal Kombat was left uncensored on the Genesis, while the SNES port replaced red blood with grey sweat and modified the fatalities.

 

SNES – Controller

The SNES was the pinnacle of 16-bit gaming and had a robust library of classic games, but the controller was by far the best contribution it made to gaming.

Upgrading to four face buttons would have been enough, but two shoulder buttons were a game changer and are even more relevant today as R2 / right trigger has become the primary button for most games that require your thumbs constantly on the analog sticks.

In the battle of SNES/Genesis, Nintendo’s extra buttons meant Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat I/II could be controlled as they were in the arcade.

 

 

Part 2 takes a look at the wild world of 3D gaming, analog sticks, and more.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • games
  • gaming
  • genesis
  • history
  • retro
  • snes
Mathew Falvai

Mathew is a huge fan of Space, Strategy, and Shadowrun (Genesis version is #1). When it comes to games and films, he’d much rather experience a 10/10 classic from yesteryear than a 6/10 modern blandfest. He does feel we’re living in a gaming golden age with the power of indie developers at an all-time high, but wishes AAA publishers would take more risks. Mat believes it’s only a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way and new ideas take their rightful place above reboots.

You May Also Like
gaming esports
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry
  • Opinion

How competitiveness drives gamers to be better

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
gaming setup streaming
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry

Gaming gadgets make a difference for some

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
video games VR
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry
  • Opinion

How gamers benefit in various ways from playing video games

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
Video Games Esports
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry

Nothing Screams Interactive Distraction Like Video Games

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
Video Games
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry
  • Opinion

Why Finding the Right Video Games To Play Is Not Difficult

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
Video games
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Industry

Is the way video games are played changing?

  • A9K Staff
  • January 27, 2023
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Hardware
  • Industry

5 Ways to Fix Video Game Glitches

  • Lachlan Cosgrove
  • January 26, 2023
View Post
  • 3 min
  • Gamedev
  • Hardware
  • Industry

How does RNG work? 

  • A9K Staff
  • January 20, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

A90KID.COM

VIDEO GAMES COMMUNITY & ENTERTAINMENT

A 90s Kid is an active website and media channel, dedicated to providing you information and entertainment related to the video games industry

Navigation
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund and Returns Policy
Recent Articles
  • How competitiveness drives gamers to be better January 27, 2023
  • Gaming gadgets make a difference for some January 27, 2023
  • How gamers benefit in various ways from playing video games January 27, 2023
  • Nothing Screams Interactive Distraction Like Video Games January 27, 2023
  • Why Finding the Right Video Games To Play Is Not Difficult January 27, 2023
A 90s Kid
© 2022

Input your search keywords and press Enter.