Controllers for Kids? 33
zapyon asks: "I have been asked for help with selecting a joystick for a 6 y/o boy, but I am no player. The hardware tests I found (or rather the models tested) seemed to be targeted on more or less grown-up players of 3d shooters and the like.
So I would like to forward the request for help to you slashdotters: Any joysticks you can recommend for a kid? Perhaps simple, but robust models with a smaller 'stick' but large buttons? Perhaps less than 2 dozen special buttons? I remember this 'Competition Pro' joystick I used with my Atari ST ages ago: 2 large red buttons, very robust design. Anything like this today? State-of-the-art top models are certainly too expensive, too.
Hope anyone can help, it's going to be a Christmas present for the boy. He is playing on a Windows XP (personal) with kids' games, but the mouse is not the right device to play these games." This brings me to the topic of controllers suitable for 8-10 year olds for the current crop of consoles. I don't think I've seen a console that has been released in the last 2-3 years that has controllers which are suitable for such small hands. Is there anyone marketing such, and if so, where can one find them?
Gravis (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Gravis (Score:1)
Gravis is good (Score:2)
Anyway, these things are shaped like Playstation controllers. They're a little less nice -- not rubberized, lighter, and have an annoying habit of favoring diagonals over vertical/horizontal directions, but they're lightweight and durable as *hell*. I've stepped on/put my chair on/dropped/put in boxes my two ones more times than I can remember, and they just keep on chugging away.
Playstation controllers are actually not that expensive, but then you have to get an adapter...
MadCatz, at your local Wal*Mart (Score:3, Informative)
I actually like it better than the standard H-Box behemoth. Seems they like their controllers and keyboards to be big and bloated too.
Re:Age is of less importance than you think (Score:1)
My son is nine now, and I don't think any controller out there would be a problem. He's been playing games forever, and I can't think of any controller that's given him trouble. If a kid is interested in playing, he'll make the controllers work for him.
You're sick! (Score:1, Funny)
Did you by chance read the request? :-( N.T. (Score:1)
Controllers for Kids? (Score:5, Funny)
No problem!
Try one of those "invisible fences" designed for dog: just put the collar around the kid's neck, and watch as the ghost of BF Skinner confines him to the perimeter of the radio-broadcasting "fence posts".
You might also try ringing a bell before giving him his Chessy Poofs.
What about keyboards (Score:1)
tough, colorful keyboard for kids (Score:1)
Oh, and it is definitely soup-proof... hot soup at that.
Re:What about keyboards (Score:2)
Re:What about keyboards (Score:1)
Let your kid paint it himself.
He'll probably like the clickyness as well.
Dave
Re:What about keyboards (Score:1)
If you're willing to have it look cheesy... (Score:3, Insightful)
I dremelled out a sega genesis (joystick) controller (cost: $8 - can't find a picture - they're HUGE) for a cheapie emu machine for a friend, and wired it to a keyboard encoder (cost: free, if ripped from an old keyboard lying around) a la this keyboard hack FAQ [arcadecontrols.com] (check under "hacking a keyboard").
It looks cheesy - didn't bother to hide the keyboard controller inside the joystick case, even though it's probably big enough for a briq in there...
Didn't take that much soldering. Hardest part was tracing the keyboard leads over mylar and dremeling the joystick PCB so it wasn't common ground anymore.
Anyway - don't know if this is acceptible, if whoever is getting it is too picky, and you're not confident about your skills, maybe not...
Nintendo Game Cude Controller... (Score:4, Informative)
Nintendo adult titles (Score:2)
The Resident Evil series is now gamecube exclusive.
Re:Nintendo Game Cude Controller... (Score:3, Insightful)
As for a joystick, I was quite fond of the old $12 Raider-X joysticks. I think I got them at Radio Shack, but I could be wrong. The last joystick I bought there was a different design and it fell apart after maybe 4-5 months of daily Tie-Fighter, but those old ones were practically indestructable. Ugly as hell, too...
Laptop joypad (Score:1)
GameCube Controllers... (Score:3, Funny)
Best joy-stick for a kid is.... (Score:2, Funny)
Ask the pros (Score:2)
These People [nintendo.com] are known to do a great job appealing to the younger market segment. Get one of their controllers and an adapter, or just get a PC controller that is very close in size and design.
Try a desktop, Arcade style joystick (Score:2)
Anna (the 4 yr old) has gotten pretty good at the joystick. Mostly we play Super Mario Games on ZSNES, and emulator fro the pc.
I have seen similar 1 and two player joysticks for PS/PS2 and others, one I know if is the HOtRod, although that is kind of pricey.
Cons: No analog support
Pros: Easy to use with little fingers.
Good luck!
my six-year-old nephew (Score:2)
Consider a gamepad that has small joysticks on it. My nephew (6 years old as the subject states) began playing motorcycle racing (Motocross Madness 2) and scrolling games (Disney's Hercules) with the Logitech RumblePad [logitech.com].
It has two small, responsive joysticks on it.
My nephew does well with the controller even though he doesn't really hold it like an adult would. He uses it for Nicktoons Racing (go-kart style racing) and does very well with it.
My nephew has also done very well with my steering wheel controller since he was 4 (if I put the pedals on a box so he can reach them).
GameCube - even for PC (Score:1)
You're probably thinking Xbox (Score:1)
GC controllers are HID compliant, and you just buy an adapter for GC -> USB.
A Google search [google.com] turned up nothing. Actually, it's the Xbox controllers that communicate through USB, and it's a matter of simple wiring to make an adapter, but because they're not HID they need a widely-available driver.
How lame! I thought... (Score:1)
I thought it was going to be a discussion of micro-controller starter kits for kids.
Good greif people. Give the kids something educational AND fun. Not more video games.
mini controllers for the gamecube (Score:1)