They say, there is a fine line that separates cleverness from stupidity even when it relates to video game controllers. A dozen dead ends exist for every positive advancement in controller design. Even if they may function extremely well, certain devices are nevertheless headed for the trash. This article is dedicated to those eccentric PC controllers who intended to impress us but inadvertently made us laugh.
Fragmaster Thrustmaster
To increase accessibility for PC first-person shooters, Thrustmaster invented the Frag Master. Even those who had trouble with Quake’s controls were able to hook it in and frag like the pros. The Frag Master had the appearance of a lavatory from the future rather than a controller, which was an issue as per the review by Retrovolve. Its programming was a terrible nightmare, and none of its architecture was intuitive, the article added.
Logitech Cyberman 2
The Logitech CyberMan is advertised as a 3D controller that is perfect for the craze among first-person perspective 3D environments games right now. The most well-known of which is Id Software’s Doom. With six degrees of freedom, it is designed to overcome the constraints of the mouse and is intended to make movement simple and intuitive. Nevertheless, as you may have noticed, the controller has a weird design which is why it was considered one of the worst controllers ever made. It was created when designers were still attempting to determine the ideal way to design a gaming pad for new consoles and was introduced in the late 1990s.
Novint Falcon
The Falcon Haptic Device from Novint is a high-definition, mechanized 3D haptic controller. With the Falcon, you may interact with computers in three dimensions in great detail. Like a mouse, the handle can be moved right-left and forward-backward., But unlike a mouse, it can also be moved down and up in full 3D. Users have an extremely realistic feeling of touch thanks to a computer that monitors the handle’s location and updates the three motors 1,000 times per second. An object feels solid when touched by a 3D cursor because the motors are activated. The touch on the Falcon is so lifelike that it can be used to replicate medical procedures to the point that a real-life surgeon can feel a fine virtual view of surgery.
The Falcon, the first and only consumer 3D haptic device ever made, was developed around 2006 by Novint Technologies. It is robust and durable enough for gamers to utilize for many years of play while still having robotic capabilities. The best part is that every one of these capabilities is affordable for the average person. Despite its weird design, the Novint Falcon is highly acclaimed by critics.
Wolfking Warrior XXtreme Gaming Keyboard
WARRIOR XXTREME, the first hybrid 2-in-1 PC gamepad, and keyboard. It was exclusively available through Dell for the 2007 holidays. The WARRIOR XXTREME converts the basic round 54-key disc of the initial WARRIOR into a conveniently portable mini-keyboard by combining it with 40 more keys in a modified “QWERTY” layout on a secondary attached disc. This eliminates the keys not required for gaming. It includes two USB 1.1 connections, enabling gamers to connect additional devices such as headphones and gaming mice. A new “Blue Moon” lighting has been incorporated into the keys, making them ideal for gaming in low light.
InterAct Pool Shark
With the help of a real pool stick, the user of Pool Shark can simulate playing pool. The control system comfortably fits in the palm of your hand, and fingers naturally extend over the edge of the cue ring which supports the cue stick. To shoot, all one needs to do is put the cue over the upper roller of the device and stroke it naturally like any player would. By pushing the buttons on the bottom side of the controller, you may rotate the table, aim, fine-tune your aim, and establish an angle on the cue ball. The controller has been built to fit an actual pool stick and comes with a cue stick of its own.
OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator
OCZ Technology developed the Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA), a brain-computer interface (BCI) tool. BCI technology aims to replace traditional input methods like the keyboard and mouse with readings of electrical impulses from the brain, preferably the EEG. In both desktop and gaming environments, controlling the computer is accomplished by assigning keys to various zones using as many as 3 vertical joysticks.
Based on thresholds, each controller can be separated into several zones, and each zone can be assigned a different keyboard key. Each keystroke can also be set to a variety of modes, such as single keystroke, hold, repeat, and dwell, providing complete flexibility in terms of how the NIA is configured for any application.
Additionally, the same vertical controllers can be used numerous times, allowing the sequential pressing of multiple keys at once, such as “W” and “Spacebar” for forward momentum. In short, this unique controller will allow you to use your computer or play games without a mouse and keyboard. All you need is the gadget shown in the image above.
So there you have it, six of the weirdest PC controllers ever conceived. With that said, you can also check out 8 Types of Keyboards for your PC that you can get today.
