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Games Entertainment

Controllers for Kids? 33

Posted by Cliff from the made-for-smaller-hands dept.
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?
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Controllers for Kids? More

Controllers for Kids?

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  • Gravis (Score:2, Informative)

    by m0rph3us0 ( 549631 )
    I remember useing the old 3 button gravis designs when I was that age, amazing thing is, I still have my gravis from that era and it still worked the last time I used it.
    • The 4-button gravis was pretty small, as well- it was just like an SNES controller, except without the shoulder buttons. i don't think they are around today, but possibly on Ebay...

      ...I wouldn't get them a 8 button MS Sidewinder, tho...thing is huge, and many of the models have this "mode" button right next to the "start" button...well, the "mode" button turns the joystick off, and usually freezes/ messes-up the game you're playing. I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally pressed that thing when trying to pause my game! Otherwise, tho, the Sidewinder is one of the best controllers around for big hands :)
    • I'm not sure if you're looking for a joystick or a gamepad, but if you want a gamepad, Gravis puts out some very inexpensive (seen 'em from $9 to $19) gamepads under the "Gamepad Pro" brand. They also "act as joysticks" with an attachment, but doing so gives you a pretty crummy joystick.

      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)

    by iamcadaver ( 104579 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @02:12PM (#4899778)
    Just bought a MicroCon [madcatz.com] for a 6yr Old. They make a PS2 version too.

    I actually like it better than the standard H-Box behemoth. Seems they like their controllers and keyboards to be big and bloated too.

  • You're sick! (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Trying to control kids with joysticks? They aren't zombie slaves born to do your bidding.

  • Controllers for Kids? (Score:5, Funny)

    by orthogonal ( 588627 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @02:32PM (#4900004) Journal
    You need a controller for your kid?

    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.
  • On this same note, my 9 month old likes banging on my laptop's keyboard. I wrote some simple software that will react (flash the screen different colors, etc.) when any of the keys are hit so he can get some kind of feedback, but I am worried that my laptop isn't drool proof. Does anyone know of a brightly colored keyboard for kids that is water (milk, crushed Cheerios, etc.) proof?

  • If you're willing to have it look cheesy... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Hubert_Shrump ( 256081 ) <cobranet@@@gmail...com> on Monday December 16, 2002 @02:37PM (#4900056) Journal
    I don't know how good you are with electronics, but an old keyboard, a dremel, and a controller from a used game shop works great.

    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)

    by Inexile2002 ( 540368 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @02:38PM (#4900071) Homepage Journal
    Is excellent for small hands. My 12 year old brother has one and he does fine with it. He also baby sits kids for my mother's friends and I've seen him teaching kids as young as 5 - 7 to play Pikmin. Also, the Game Cube, although far from lacking in adult titles (Eternal Darkness was great) is probably the strongest console for kids games.
    • the Game Cube, although far from lacking in adult titles (Eternal Darkness was great) is probably the strongest console for kids games.

      The Resident Evil series is now gamecube exclusive.
    • I also have a 12 year old brother who has no problem with the Game Cube controllers, and he's small for his age. Actually, he hasn't had any difficulty with any of the controllers put out in the last 2-3 years. Same goes for my youngest sister, now 10.

      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...

  • I recall seeing a small joypad meant for portables/laptops that was a simple crosshair and 4 buttons, and was just the right size for smaller hands. I think it was a Logitech, but don't quote me on that.

  • GameCube Controllers... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Elpenor ( 86457 ) <eric@mainerides . c om> on Monday December 16, 2002 @02:55PM (#4900254) Homepage
    ... are not bad at all for young kids. At least my 1.5 year old nephew has no problems picking up my controller and messing with the game that I was playing while I am in the bathroom..... :)
  • ...the Louisville Slugger [sluggermuseum.org]!


  • 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.
  • I have two kids, 4 years and two years. I had purchased an Interact ProStick (I think), and when that got beaten up, I bought a USB Tornado, Aracde tyle joystick. A tabletop, Joystick and button type joystick.

    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!
  • I assume you are using a computer rather than a game console.

    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).

  • You can use GameCube controllers - even on a PC or Mac. GC controllers are HID compliant, and you just buy an adapter for GC -> USB. Some of the adapters will even support GC, PS/PS2, N64, X-Box controllers. a 2 year old can use the NGC controllers. Nintendo makes a GREAT wireless controller called the "Wavebird" or something like that.

    • 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.



  • 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.
  • I have seen several kid oriented controllers for the gamecube. One that I saw at walmart (sorry, no link. cant remember the name of it) was about half the size of a normal gamecube controller but perfect for any child under ten.

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