7.  Amiga CD32 Controller

Most of you are probably asking yourselves what the hell an Amiga CD32 is at this point, but that’s not really important.  In short, it was first of all Amiga’s one and only attempt at entering the console market, and it was one of many CD-based gaming systems that flooded the market beginning in the mid-1990’s.  You probably haven’t heard of it because it never saw a release in America, though it did enjoy some moderate success in Canada.

This controller wouldn’t be nearly so cumbersome had it been designed upside down.  Intuitively, it seems only right to hold it upside down but it only takes a second to realize that the D-pad is now incorrectly positioned.  Function isn’t a problem here, it’s comfort.  The device never really feels at home in one’s hand.  It’s flat, wide, and there’s not much to hold on to except for the sides.  A bit of thickness on the ends and the lack of open area would go a long way to help this guy out.  As it is, it feels like a piece of steering wheel, except the steering wheel isn’t round and easy to wrap fingers around.

Written by The Cubist

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