Games - NeGcon

	Games - NeGcon

The NeGcon was a controller for the Sony Playstation manufactured by Namco.

Physical properties

The NeGcon was an unusual design in that the left and right halves of the controller were connected by a swivel joint and thus the halves could be twisted relative to each other. The amount of this twist was available to the console as an analogue measurement.

Also unusual for its time were the buttons. The regular Playstation controller of the time featured all-digital controls with a D-Pad on the left; R1, R2, L1, and L2 shoulder buttons; triangle, circle, square, and X buttons on the right; plus select and start buttons in the center area of the controller. The NeGcon removed the L2 and R2 buttons as well as the select button. The NeGcon replaced the digital circle and triangle buttons with digital A and B buttons, and also replaced the R1 shoulder button with a digital R shoulder button. The NeGcon featured the digital D-Pad as one area similar to competing console's controllers and unlike the plus-shaped configuration of the Sony controller.

The remaining buttons received more elaborate treatment. The X and square buttons were replaced with analogue Ⅰ and Ⅱ buttons. These buttons were in a recessed well and had approximately 7mm of travel. The user's thumb could be rested on the edge of the well, with the tip reaching over the edge to press the Ⅰ and Ⅱ buttons. This allowed the tip of the thumb to be accurately pivoted to depress the Ⅰ and Ⅱ buttons varying distances. This allowed very precise control with little learning, unlike the analogue pressure-sensitive buttons on the Dual Shock 2 (PS2) controller. The L shoulder button was also analogue with about 5mm of travel.

Use

The design of the NeGcon, while initially seeming very unwieldly, was in fact very good for racing games. The analogue Ⅰ and Ⅱ buttons were typically used as gas and brake and the swivel in the middle was used as steering input. Because analogue input provides better control in racing games these controllers are now quite sought after for certain games as the times achieved are nigh unbeatable on a standard controller.

The NeGcon could be gripped with the fists facing forward and the thumbs upwards, as if holding the edges of a bowtie steering wheel. Twisting the arms at the elbows would turn the hands around a circle, as well as twist the wrists relative to each other, producing steering input. Although this was the most natural way to use the controller, the twisting of the right wrist would move the thumbs a bit and inadvertently modulate the gas and/or brake inputs. Because of this, most users would migrate to a different grip over time, one where the right hand stayed stationary and modulated the gas and brake, while the left hand twisted the left half of the controller to modulate the steering.

Compatibility

Examples of racing games that took advantage of the NeGcon are the original PlayStation iterations of the Ridge Racer (Ridge Racer Type 4 also supported the Namco JogCon), Gran Turismo, Destruction Derby, Rally Cross and the Pole Position games on Namco Museum volumes 1 and 3, as well as Ridge Racer V on the PlayStation 2. The WipEout series (including WipEout Fusion on the PS2) also supported the NegCon. The number of non-racing games which supported the NeGcon was limited, almost strictly confined to Namco's Ace Combat series (which also carried over to PS2). Although the NeGcon was not strictly protocol-compatible with the standard PS1 controller, Sony's libraries seemed to support the NeGcon as a standard controller even at launch. Because of this, a NeGcon could be used in most games that didn't require the use of R2, L2 or select buttons. It even worked in the built-in ROM memory card librarian and CD player programs. Due to the long throw of the Ⅰ and Ⅱ buttons, the NeGcon was not a top-quality substitute for a regular PS1 controller. In particular, games that required rapid button pressing of the square or X buttons were difficult to play well.

Current Use

The NeGcon works extremely well on home PCs using most brands of PS1 to USB converters, and is compatible with virtually any racing simulator that allows remapping of axes, such as Live for Speed, GTR - FIA, and many more. While it lacks any force-feedback or rumble function, it allows precise control of throttle, brake, steering, and clutch or handbrake via the twist function and the three unique 'long throw' analog buttons. While a high quality FFB wheel is optimal for racing simulators, the NeGcon is a robust and highly portable alternative for virtual racers on the go (think logitech wheel precision on a Trans-Atlantic flight) or with a limited budget.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for NeGcon ]

Searches on eBay

negcon

Games - NeGcon

Physical properties

Use

Compatibility

Current Use

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay