Controllers these days are often fairly fixed throughout the system lifetime but I wanted a discussion on things out there, and to make a list of sorts. We can get very into the weeds with semantics and I am OK wiht that. Your favourites, things that annoyed you and more are all welcome for discussion here as well.
Unambiguous.
Megadrive/Genesis. 6 button controllers appearing later in console lifetime and some games taking advantage of it in many ways, for me later Streets of Rage games having all manner of otherwise combos mapped to them is the more notable thing.
PS1. Analogue sticks becoming a thing during its lifetime where before it was a dpad and buttons affair.
3ds circle pad. The 3ds shipped in 2011 with an analogue stick some 14 years after the PS1 got its dual ones, possibly 15 after Nintendo gave us the N64 with one. Dual being the point of contention as the world had otherwise long settled on two sticks with one being used for the camera and the other for movement. Later the same year I believe we saw this addon made. The PSP for reference had one in 2005
More ambiguous.
Xbox original (sometimes called Duke) to controller S. No button changes but a rather different layout.
Xbox 360. The dpad was not generally held as the finest example of the concept, later in life a dpad that rotated to reveal or hide ridges somewhat was made.
Looking at https://xbox.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Xbox_Wireless_Controller_variants then the xbone and its successors have something here, though mostly dpad shape and bluetooth being added if you count that (would bring in a whole list of other things if so)
PS3 rumble controller. Originally billed as not being able to work with motion controls but history probably will record it as patent and such concerns then rumble was added in later controllers (probably the main type out there now). Is rumble a thing worth noting in true controller differences or a mere frivolity?
https://www.cnet.com/culture/ps3-rumble-controller-now-official/
Wii motion plus. Addon or integrated controller?
Technical quirks.
What do we consider the NES turbo controller in this? An official controller with turbo. That is also ignoring the famicom microphone.
Was the DSi with its camera an extra control or new system line?
If you want to go into the world of whacky addons then feel free but I am less focused on that for this.
Unambiguous.
Megadrive/Genesis. 6 button controllers appearing later in console lifetime and some games taking advantage of it in many ways, for me later Streets of Rage games having all manner of otherwise combos mapped to them is the more notable thing.
PS1. Analogue sticks becoming a thing during its lifetime where before it was a dpad and buttons affair.
3ds circle pad. The 3ds shipped in 2011 with an analogue stick some 14 years after the PS1 got its dual ones, possibly 15 after Nintendo gave us the N64 with one. Dual being the point of contention as the world had otherwise long settled on two sticks with one being used for the camera and the other for movement. Later the same year I believe we saw this addon made. The PSP for reference had one in 2005
More ambiguous.
Xbox original (sometimes called Duke) to controller S. No button changes but a rather different layout.
Xbox 360. The dpad was not generally held as the finest example of the concept, later in life a dpad that rotated to reveal or hide ridges somewhat was made.
Looking at https://xbox.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Xbox_Wireless_Controller_variants then the xbone and its successors have something here, though mostly dpad shape and bluetooth being added if you count that (would bring in a whole list of other things if so)
PS3 rumble controller. Originally billed as not being able to work with motion controls but history probably will record it as patent and such concerns then rumble was added in later controllers (probably the main type out there now). Is rumble a thing worth noting in true controller differences or a mere frivolity?
https://www.cnet.com/culture/ps3-rumble-controller-now-official/
Wii motion plus. Addon or integrated controller?
Technical quirks.
What do we consider the NES turbo controller in this? An official controller with turbo. That is also ignoring the famicom microphone.
Was the DSi with its camera an extra control or new system line?
If you want to go into the world of whacky addons then feel free but I am less focused on that for this.