Original Xbox controller may be revived for Halo remake

The original controller that shipped with the first Xbox console may be making a brief return, if Halo's 343 Industries gets their way.

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Long before Microsoft realized that people could be controllers, they made this monstrosity. Nicknamed "the Duke," the original controller that shipped with the first Xbox console was a behemoth. Still, with everything old being new again, wouldn't it be nice to attempt to get your hands around one of these classic controllers once again?

That could very well happen, according to Halo's 343 Industries. Speaking to Giant Bomb, Alison Stroll confirmed that 343 is attempting to recreate the original Xbox controller for use with the 360. The plan is to have people not unlike Ben Heck modify a few controllers in time for a Halo Anniversary-themed Halo Fest at PAX. "After PAX, the controllers will be boxed up. They'll emerge once more to be featured as part of the annual Child's Play dinner auction," the report adds.

The nostalgia factor of playing the original Halo with original Xbox controllers should warrant a greenlight for the project. However, Stroll does note that the effort is "not assured" yet. But, in a world where Duke Nukem Forever has been released, anything is possible.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    June 16, 2011 11:15 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Original Xbox controller may be revived for Halo remake.

    The original controller that shipped with the first Xbox console may be making a brief return, if Halo's 343 Industries gets their way.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:23 AM

      The Duke controller was almost perfect, except for the white and black buttons.

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 11:37 AM

        The buttons in general were bad. The a b x y buttons were not comfortable to hold down for a long time in games like burnout 3 because they aren't flat on top they are rounded over.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:26 AM

      I still have my original controller along with my launch day Xbox, both of which still work. I will have to remember to through it a birthday party or something.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:27 AM

      My only issue with this controller was any game (Soul Caliber II) that wanted you to simultaneously press the Y and A buttons. Granted, my thumb is amazing, but that is tough.

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 8:52 PM

        I find that curling my index finger to hit the Y button is easier than thumb yoga.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:41 AM

      Bad controller, the new one is better in every way, let it R.I.P

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 1:17 PM

        It was great for people with larger hands, like myself. I can't use a Playstation controller excuse I get cramps in my thumbs after a 15 minutes. I loved the duke.

    • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      June 16, 2011 11:44 AM

      It would be good for a laugh and a quick nostalgia cash-in, but there was nothing good about that controller. The 360 one in particular is superior in every way.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:48 AM

      What a waste of time! This controller was horrible in every way.

      You can't tell from the picture of the front, but the bottom was like gripping on to two ice skates. It was overly bulky and the X,Y,A,B buttons felt more like shiny rounded jellybeans than a good controller button. They were so bad that they left indentations into your thumb after just a few minutes of play and it literally hurt to press them repeatedly. The Black and White buttons were even worse, but smaller and impossible to press while maintaining any distance to X or A. It was like playing Twister with your controller.
      The left and right analog sticks had different textures and the center indentation was different so, the left stick always felt better than the right one and when you moved the camera in a game, your thumb always felt like it was about to slip. Basically, this controller was great at torturing your right thumb (between the painful, "jellybean buttons" and odd right analog stick).

      On top of that, the huge Xbox logo in the center was just a gigantic waste of space, as it did nothing.
      The bottom line is this thing always felt wrong and it's no wonder why it was quickly eliminated for the S-Controller, which was better but still not perfect.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:50 AM

      Glad to see I wasn't the only fan of this controller. Though, I do not miss having that extra connector cable to plug it in! Broke / lost a bunch of those. Anyone know the reason why it wasn't just one cable?

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 11:51 AM

        So if you kick the cable it just quick disconnects at that point instead of ripping the console off the shelf. The 360 has them also.

        • reply
          June 16, 2011 8:55 PM

          I love them. Those quick disconnects have saved my 360 from many a deadly drop.

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 9:41 PM

        In the Xbox manual I remember it said the console falling can kill small pets.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:51 AM

      No thanks. New controller is a tremendous improvement in every regard.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 12:06 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 12:21 PM

      I would love to have one of these around for my 360.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 12:22 PM

      this is the best news ever. I can finally get rid of my SuperJoyBox 9 and get a DUKE that actually works with a computer as it's supposed to

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 12:36 PM

      I actually didn't have too much of an issue with the old controller. I do have fairly large hands, so that wasn't an issue. It didn't really bother me, but I do think the 360 controller is almost perfect and hugely superior.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 1:12 PM

      one thing about those original controllers, they were built like a tank. I actually still have a couple. Anyone know of an adapter so it can be used in a USB for 360/PC?

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 1:16 PM

        Yes, for PC. It's called the SuperJoyBox, but it has its limitations. It does work with windows 7 64 now, and I'm using my controller in what is called "flight mode", so the analogue triggers are axis and not buttons. The dpad turns into a POV hat... well, while it works, it makes binding keys and axis a bit a pain in the ass.

        I've heard of software out there that is supposed to make it easier, but I haven't tried it out yet.

        http://www.xpadder.com/

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 2:38 PM

      I really like those big ass controllers. Reminds me of the dreamcast for starters and once I got use to them I just 'liked' using them. Especially for Halo: CE

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 5:59 PM

      Any chance one of these could be retrofitted to PS3, and/or have the white / black buttons changed over to left and right bumper?

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 6:21 PM

      this is my favorite pad for fighting games. are they gonna mass produce these or just make a few for auction?

      • reply
        June 16, 2011 6:43 PM

        Quote from the Giant Bomb article:

        There are no plans for this to become a mass produced device, if that's even possible. After PAX, the controllers will be boxed up. They'll emerge once more to be featured as part of the annual Child's Play dinner auction. Stroll said they're looking to have the team sign the controllers, too.

        So, technically, you'll have a chance to buy one, but it's not a simple as pre-ordering early.

        Microsoft doesn't have boxes full of these controllers laying around the office, either. Stroll picked up the controllers from a local Goodwill for a few dollars, but they'll be working to clean them up--as much as those hulking pieces of black plastic can look brand-new at this point, anyway.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 7:55 PM

      I will get it just to have a 360 controller with a D-pad

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 8:54 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 9:44 PM

      I thought they were being handmade for the event. Not a reproduction or anything.

    • reply
      June 16, 2011 11:15 PM

      is there are any bugs to it?

      [url=http://www.snoringhelpdesk.com]snore problem/url]

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