Seven Failed Foot-Based Game Controllers

Ant writes "GamePro.com says the path to Wii Fit's success was paved with a slew of failed foot-based controllers. Here are seven particularly awful ones that are currently collecting dust in the attics of gamers worldwide."

The original foot controller

[tomhudson]

"The fax software isn't working! I hold the paper I want to fax up to the screen, and step on the foot pedal"

"Foot pedal???"

"Yes, the foot pedal, the one with the two buttons on it."

"That's not the way it works."

"Well, it SHOULD BE! I'm returning this software. *click*"

Burying the Lead...

[Tickenest]

I think we can all agree that more impressive is the fact that seven foot-based controllers actually exist!

Re:Missing option: SNES Advantage

[c_forq]

I have a friend (when sick with a cold) who beat Mario Bros with his feet (left big toe on the D-pad, right big toe on A/B) on a normal NES controller. Also I don't know if I would say the NES Power Pad was a failure, a lot of people I know had it and we all had a blast playing Track and Field.

Re:Missing option: SNES Advantage

[Anonymous Coward]

Who can't beat Super Mario Bros. and get to at least level 50 on Duck Hunt with their feet?

It seems to me that the Xbox controller was designed for use with your feet. The PS controller is impossible to use with your feet because the analog thumbsticks make it impossible to properly seat your feet. And the L1/L2 and R1/R2 controls are impossible to operate. The only problem with the Xbox controller is the two trigger controls, but you can put it on a surface that you can push the controller to operate them. And yes, I have just tested this. Clearly, Sony is falling behind in the foot controller market.

Power Pad?

[steltho]

There is no way the NES Power Pad should be on this list. Any device that allows you to run the 100m dash in 6.3 seconds has to be declared a success.

Re:Burying the Lead...

[earthbound kid]

Indeed. Two or three feet tall, sure. But a seven foot one? It seems like the only market for them would be bored NBA players.

Re:DDR Dancepad?

[Asmor]

Obligatory: http://xkcd.com/359/ [xkcd.com]

Re:Power Pad?

[ushering05401]

"they were too slippery and would move about the floor."

For my friends and I the powerpad on a slippery surface was the only way to go, but we were a pretty violent bunch even as youngsters.

There was a whole new excitement to playing when you knew that sooner or later that pad was going to get ripped out from under you - just as you were landing a hurdle - sending you slamming to the floor.

After a while we decided a player would automatically win the game if they were able to jump off the pad without falling when another player tried to spring this on them.

Actually, now that I think about it... after a while we all feared getting on that fucking powerpad, but no one wanted to be the pussy who admitted it and backed out of the game.

Re:Missing option: SNES Advantage

[Cornflake917]

Remind me to bring my own controller if I ever come over to play Xbox games with you.