Uploaded July 2015 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: to.pbs.org/DonateGAME

The History of Nintendo Controllers!!
Subscribe to PBS Game/Show! bit.ly/1BPJ2VE Tweet at us! twitter.com/pbsgameshow
↓ More info and sources below ↓

The History of Nintendo is defined by its wacky controller designs. From the NES to the WiiU, nearly every new generation of console brought some new way to control their games. The NES had the D-pad, the SNES had shoulder buttons, the N64 had the Z-Trigger, and so on. But why? Why do we find such innovate use of controls in Nintendo and not in Sony or Microsoft? Join Jamin on this week's episode of Game/Show as he answers the question and looks at the incredible history of Nintendo's controllers!

----------------------------------------­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­------------------------

Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/gameshowpbs
Email us! pbsgameshow [at] gmail [dot] com
Follow us on Reddit reddit.com/r/pbsgameshow

----------------------------------------­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­------------------------

ASSET LINKS:

:42 1987 Nintendo NES Rob the Robot 80's TV commercial
youtube.com/watch?v=2Pyhu2yo0Ns

1:42 NES Power Glove Commercial
youtube.com/watch?v=jcUShq2cn0Q

6:02 Donkey Kong Jungle Beat 2 Commercial
youtube.com/watch?v=_QjgRnd_wR0

----------------------------------------­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­------------------------

COMMENT LINKS:

Daniel Rowley
youtube.com/watch?v=ka-nDWy8mrM&lc=z12jv5ib4zqrhj1sx22ut3oy3ti5clhfv

Chase Ladner
youtube.com/watch?v=ka-nDWy8mrM&lc=z134edcqjt3kg5xby04cc1tajsvgdxuhjic

JoshuaSwiger
youtube.com/watch?v=ka-nDWy8mrM&lc=z12bd1xaoy3stjpwq04ccfd4ouurcb1bhp40k

supercrista123
youtube.com/watch?v=ka-nDWy8mrM&lc=z13vxnvrytyfwd2bx04cdjjoay3wun2j5pg0k

Alpha Luna
youtube.com/watch?v=3y8GyMDt2fU&lc=z12fy3dgywvychokw23gjbarolbffxunh

Satoshi Nakamoto
youtube.com/watch?v=3y8GyMDt2fU&lc=z12lhlva3vzsh1p0o22mfdwrtpyjg1k4204

zal01
youtube.com/watch?v=3y8GyMDt2fU&lc=z132jrrxvvvvxdzz304cj1bhblabjvyrqmc0k

RPGgrenade
youtube.com/watch?v=3y8GyMDt2fU&lc=z12ixj2agquthxavx23xutoxtwbee3dm2

----------------------------------------­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­------------------------

MUSIC:

"Oh Damn!" by CJVSO
soundcloud.com/downpitched/cjvso-oh-damn

"Digital Sonar" by Brink

"Mindphuck" by Known To Be Lethal
youtube.com/watch?v=B-cyr7l9yBw

"After Hours"

"Lakes" by Chooga
youtube.com/watch?v=E8hnsQc9ST0

"Beautiful Days" by Extan
soundcloud.com/extandnb/beautiful-days

"Spectrum Subdiffusion Mix" by Foniqz
soundcloud.com/subdiffusion/foniqz-spectrum-subdiffusion

"Good Way Song" by Electronic Rescue

"Alice y Bob" by Javier Rubio and Parsec
archive.org/details/escala19_vvaa_escala_no_uniforme

"Sleet" by Kubbi
soundcloud.com/kubbi/kubbi-sleet

"Toaster" by Kubbi
soundcloud.com/kubbi/toaster

"Patriotic Songs of America" by New York Military Band and the American Quartet
freemusicarchive.org/music/New_York_Military_Band_and_the_American_Quartet/Edison_Amberol_457/cusb-cyl3890d

"Lets Go Back To The Rock" by Outsider
jamendo.com/en/artist/4402/outsider

"Run" by Outsider
jamendo.com/en/artist/4402/outsider

"Fame" by Statue of Diveo
jamendo.com/en/artist/352814/statueofdiveo

"Freedom Weekends" by Statue of Diveo
jamendo.com/en/artist/352814/statueofdiveo

----------------------------------------­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­------------------------

Hosted by Jamin Warren (@jaminwar)

See more on games and culture on his site: killscreendaily.com

Made by Kornhaber Brown (http://www.kornhaberbrown.com)