Quite a handful
The original Xbox took design inspiration from many sources, both for its software and hardware. Many of the most important design decisions revolved around the controller. How big should it be? How many buttons did it need? Where should the sticks be placed? After months of testing and multiple prototypes, they settled on a design that would come to be known as the ‘Duke’.
Sadly, the design was received quite poorly by the general public. People complained that the buttons were placed awkwardly, that the D-pad was terrible and that the controller was simply too damn big. Microsoft copped so much flack that they decided to release a smaller controller that ended up becoming the basis for all future Xbox controllers.
The scary thing is that I personally love the ‘Duke’.
I am glad this goofy controller design existed, if only for a while!
