NeGcon

Last updated
NeGcon
NeGcon logo.svg
Namco Negcon centred.jpg
Developer Namco
ManufacturerNamco
Type Game controller
Release date
  • JP: January 1, 1995
  • NA: 1995
Platform PlayStation, PlayStation 2
Related JogCon
GunCon

The NeGcon [lower-alpha 1] , stylized as neGcon, is a motion-based game controller manufactured in 1995 by Namco for the PlayStation. One of the first third-party peripherals for the system, the controller is connected by a swivel joint, allowing the player to twist the halves relative to each other. The controller also replaces the "symbol" buttons on the original PlayStation controller with two "A" and "B" buttons, as well as "I" and "II" buttons that allowed for analogue control. A black variant was released exclusively in Japan.

Contents

The NeGcon was created to replicate the analog-stick movement used in the arcade game Cyber Sled (1993); the name comes from the Japanese word "nejiru", meaning "to twist". The controller was intended for use in racing games, including Ridge Racer , Gran Turismo and Wipeout . Critical reception for the NeGcon was highly positive, being praised for its responsive control in games and unique design.

Description

The NeGcon has a swivel joint that connects the two halves together, allowing them to be twisted relative to each other. Namco Negcon twisted.jpg
The NeGcon has a swivel joint that connects the two halves together, allowing them to be twisted relative to each other.

The NeGcon is a video game peripheral released for the PlayStation by Namco, and is also compatible with the PlayStation 2. It is inserted into the system through the controller port located on the front. The left of the controller features a D-pad and a start button, while the right features two blue "A" and "B" buttons and two red "I" and "II" buttons. Two shoulder buttons, labeled "L" and "R" respectively, are located at the top of the controller. The D-pad opts for a cross-shaped design similar to the one found on consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, as opposed to the directional button layout found on the original PlayStation controller.

The halves of the NeGcon are connected by a large swivel-joint, which allows the user to twist both halves relative of each other to allow for precise movements in games. This swivel-joint is operated by gears that turn the shafts of two potentiometers within the device, the central pivot utilizing a ring gear driving a pinion on the shaft of the potentiometer. The I and II buttons are both analogue and have approximately 7mm of travel, which can allow for sustained, responsive button presses. The buttons also detect how much the user pushes them. The L shoulder button is also analogue and has approximately 5mm of travel. All three analogue buttons have a rack driving pinions similar to the ones in the swivel-joint.

Use

The neGcon's design was prompted by Namco's desire to accurately replicate the dual-lever controls of their arcade game Cyber Sled on the PlayStation. [1]

Examples of racing games that took advantage of the neGcon are the original PlayStation iterations of the Ridge Racer series (Ridge Racer Type 4 also supported the Namco Jogcon), Gran Turismo , Motor Toon Grand Prix , Motor Toon Grand Prix 2 , Destruction Derby , Colin McRae Rally , TOCA , Rally Cross , V-Rally 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 solely 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, including the system's built-in memory card manager and CD player. Additionally, the neGcon library was also used to provide finer controls for third-party steering wheels, with long throw I and II buttons used for pedals in such controllers. However, said long throw of the I and II buttons makes the neGcon 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.

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec and Gran Turismo 4 for the PS2 do not support the neGcon. This had the effect of breaking compatibility with steering wheel controllers that previously used the neGcon protocol, although other games such as Le Mans 24 Hours and World Rally Championship (with control mode set to digital) allowed for compatibility. GT3 and GT4 are compatible with the standard PS2 DualShock 2 which provides analog throttle and brake input. For finer control than the short-throw DualShock 2 buttons offered, a user could use a Logitech-produced wheel which was specifically produced for these games. The Logitech wheels were large and non-portable but were well matched to the Gran Turismo games.

History

The NeGcon production team based its design off various steering wheel controllers. Logitech-Driving-Force-PS3.jpg
The NeGcon production team based its design off various steering wheel controllers.

The NeGcon was the creation of Namco designer Satoru Kuriyama. [2] Best known as the production manager for Ridge Racer (1993), Kuriyama envisioned the idea for the NeGcon while observing a fellow Namco employee, Valkyrie no Densetsu creator "Ms. Okawa", playing a Super Famicom racing game while simultaneously tilting the controller in the direction the car was turning in the game. [2] Kuriyama then began thinking of a controller that could twist and turn to perform movement in precise game movements. [2] Namco's console game division caught wind of the idea and suggested that if the controller was drastically different from other game controllers already on the market, it could help create new, interesting game concepts. [2] The team looked to racing games for inspiration, thinking of creating a controller akin to a steering wheel that allowed for quick, precise turns. The name NeGcon is based on the Japanese word "nejiru", meaning "to twist". [2]

Yutaka Isokawa, a Namco engineer, was assigned to the NeGcon production team shortly after completing work on two Yu Yu Hakusho games for the Super Famicom. [2] Originally a developer at Asmik that designed Catrap for the Game Boy, he was integrated into Namco's console game division to begin work on the new controller. [2] Isokawa believes that part of the idea behind the NeGcon was based on Namco's desire to create hardware for the home console market, rather than be strictly a third-party publisher for companies such as Nintendo and Sony Computer Entertainment — this idea was further fueled by the fact that Namco's rival, Sega, was at the time one of the largest hardware manufacturers in the home video game market. [2] Isokawa believes that the company intended to begin producing controllers and potentially consoles before the PlayStation was released. [2]

While designing the NeGcon, the production team turned to racing games for inspiration; they specifically looked at steering wheels and how they moved to potentially create a controller that allowed for quick, responsive turns around corners in tracks. [2] The controller itself was mainly designed by Kazumi Mizuno, the graphical planning manager in Namco's consumer game division. [2] It was suggested by Isokawa and others that the controller could be twisted to recreate the feeling of a steering wheel, rather than having it be held at a specific angle. [2] Multiple prototypes were proposed, including one with a longer controller prong at one hand and another with all four buttons being analogue. [2] Many of the designers were nervous about the swivel that allowed the controller to be twisted as they thought it would be too fragile. [2]

During production of the NeGcon, Isokawa began work on a video game that could show off the controller's capabilities. [2] It was a golf game that had the player twist the NeGcon to simulate the action of swinging a golf club to hit the ball. [2] Isokawa scrapped the game as Namco would have to compete with Sony's Everybody's Golf , which he felt was not possible due to the latter's widespread success. [2] He also believed that golf players who tried out the game would dislike it for its controls and concept overall. [2] Although the game itself was cancelled, the team used it to test the NeGcon prototype units as a way to help correct potential issues and finalize the design. [2]

Supported games

List of NeGcon-compatible video games
YearTitlePlatformPublisherRef.
1994 Ridge Racer PlayStation Namco [3]
1994 Motor Toon Grand Prix PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment [4]
1995 Ridge Racer Revolution PlayStationNamco [5]
1995 Cyber Sled PlayStationNamco [4]
1995 Air Combat PlayStationNamco [6]
1995 Wipeout PlayStation Psygnosis [7]
1995 Destruction Derby PlayStationPsygnosis [8]
1995 Namco Museum Vol. 1 [lower-alpha 2] PlayStationNamco [9]
1996J-League Soccer Prime Goal EXPlayStationNamco
1996Studio PPlayStationArgent [2]
1996 The Need for Speed PlayStation Electronic Arts [4]
1996World Stadium EXPlayStationNamco [4]
1996 Wipeout 2097 PlayStationPsygnosis [6]
1996 Rage Racer PlayStationNamco [4]
1996 Motor Toon Grand Prix 2 PlayStation Sony Computer Entertainment [4]
1996 Galaxian3 PlayStationNamco [9]
1996 Namco Museum Vol. 3 [lower-alpha 3] PlayStationNamco [9]
1996 Tempest X3 PlayStationInterplay [4]
1996 Destruction Derby 2 PlayStationPsygnosis
1996 Road Rage/Speed King PlayStation Konami [10]
1996 Hardcore 4x4 PlayStation ASC Games (NA), Gremlin Interactive (EU) [11]
1997 Rally Cross PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment [7]
1997 Ace Combat 2 PlayStationNamco [12]
1997Formula Karts Special EditionPlayStationTelstar [13]
1997 Peak Performance PlayStation Atlus [14]
1997 Xevious 3D/G+ PlayStationNamco [9]
1997 V-Rally PlayStation Infogrames Multimedia [4]
1997 Gran Turismo PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment [6]
1997 Arkanoid Returns PlayStation Taito
1997 Ray Tracers PlayStationTaito [4]
1997 TOCA Touring Car Championship PlayStation The 3DO Company
1998 Auto Destruct PlayStationElectronic Arts [15]
1998 NASCAR 99 PlayStationElectronic Arts
1998 Puchi Carat PlayStationTaito
1998Rally de AfricaPlayStationPrism Arts [16]
1998 R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 PlayStationNamco [6]
1998 Twisted Metal III PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment
1998World Stadium 2PlayStationNamco [9]
1999 Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere PlayStationNamco [4]
1999 Crash Team Racing PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment [4]
1999 Formula One 99 PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment [17]
1999 Side by Side Special PlayStationTaito [4]
1999 Wipeout 3 PlayStationPsygnosis [18]
2000 Formula One 2000 PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment [19]
2000Mille MigliaPlayStation SCi_Games
2000 NASCAR Rumble PlayStationElectronic Arts
2000Rally de EuropePlayStationPrism Arts [20]
2000 RC Revenge PlayStation Acclaim Entertainment
2000 Ridge Racer V PlayStation 2 Namco [21]
2000Touge Max GPlayStationAtlus [4]
2001 Ford Racing PlayStation Empire Interactive
2001 Formula One 2001 PlayStationSony Computer Entertainment [22]
2001 Battle Gear 2 PlayStation 2Taito [4]
2002 Wipeout Fusion PlayStation 2Sony Computer Entertainment [6]
2005 NamCollection PlayStation 2Namco [6]

Variants

NeGcon has been built in three variants.

Reception

According to Electronic Gaming Monthly , upon release in Japan the neGcon "received rave reviews from the gaming press because of its unusual design, shape and method of control". [24]

Retrospective coverage of the NeGcon has been similarly positive, and has noted its outlandish, unique design. Time , who ranked it as the 4th strangest gadget of all time, stated that the NeGcon "stands apart as one of the few simultaneously bizarre and functionally intrepid" of video game controllers, commending its responsive button input and general suitability for racing games. [25] GameSpot agreed, saying that the controller helped redefine the overall design of the traditional PlayStation controller. They said its design was strange and bizarre, yet responsive, and that it was an excellent controller for racing games like Ridge Racer . [26] IGN expressed disappointment towards the NeGcon's poor sales due to it being seen as strange by the general public, writing that it "just goes to show where genuine innovation will get you." [27]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ネジコン, Hepburn: Nejikon
  2. ↑ The included port of Pole Position supports the NeGcon.
  3. ↑ The included port of Pole Position II supports the NeGcon.

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References

  1. ↑ "Cybersled". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (5): 50. April 1996.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Szczepaniak, John (4 August 2014). The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers. pp. 641–669. ISBN   978-0992926021 . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Namco Discuss the Making of Ridge Racer for the Sony PlayStation!". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 66. Ziff Davis. January 1995. pp. 170–171. ISSN   1058-918X.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Ghegs (2 May 2013). "The Namco neGcon and the PlayStation Games Supported". Racketboy. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Special Extended Play The sequel to the stunning original! Ridge Racer Revolution". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 5. Emap International Limited. April 1996. ISSN   1360-3167.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Klepek, Patrick (25 April 2016). "That Time Ridge Racer Got Its Own Super Weird Controller". Kotaku . Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 "10 Best And Most Memorable Uses Of Video Game Hardware". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. 1 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Twisty Times are Here!". No. 4. Paragon Publishing. Play. January 1996. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "ナムコ プレイステーション用周辺機器 - ネジコン". Bandai Namco Entertainment. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
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  11. ↑ "Hardcore 4x4 (PAL back cover art)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
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  13. ↑ "FORMULA KARTS SPECIAL EDITION - Review - ABSOLUTE PLAYSTATION".
  14. ↑ IGN Staff (29 April 1997). "Peak Performance". IGN. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Auto Destruct". PlayStation DataCenter. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "Rally de Africa". PlayStation DataCenter. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  17. ↑ "Formula One 99 (PAL back cover art)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  18. ↑ "Review: Wiep3out Special Edition". PlayStation Plus. No. 58. EMAP. July 2000. p. 30.
  19. ↑ "Formula One 2000 (PAL back cover art)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  20. ↑ "Rally de Europe". PlayStation DataCenter. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  21. ↑ Williamson, Colin (7 March 2000). "PS2 Launch: Ridge Racer V Peripherals". IGN. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  22. ↑ "Formula One 2001 (PAL back cover art)". MobyGames. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  23. ↑ Ohbuchi, Yutaka (March 6, 1998). "NeGcon Goes Black". GameSpot . Archived from the original on October 6, 2000. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  24. ↑ "In Total Control: Companies Take Aim at Gamers with New Gadgets". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 80. Sendai Publishing. March 1996. pp. 16–18.
  25. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Alex (7 July 2016). "The 25 Weirdest Gadgets of All Time". Time . Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  26. ↑ GameSpot Staff (1 April 2018). "10 Best And Most Memorable Uses Of Video Game Hardware". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  27. ↑ Davis, Justin (8 April 2013). "Nine of the Weirdest, Wackiest Controllers Ever". IGN. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
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