Did the original PS1 controller always have a really short cord length?

[BocoDragon]

I just picked up a PS1 original vanilla controller (no analog or anything).

I noticed the cord length is REALLY short. It's maybe 3 ft. I don't remember it being this short back in 1997 when I had mine... but then again I don't remember much of any detail from back then.

Was it always this short? (did they lengthen it later on?)

Is this a version originally for the Japanese market only? (Japanese consoles traditionally had REALLY short cords).

Or is it a knockoff? (unlikely).

The model number is SCPH-1010 (Made in Malaysia).

Thanks everyone!


EDIT: as an aside... WOW does it feel weird to hold such a small Sony-style controller after 12 years of analog controller/Dual Shock/Sixaxis.

[Balloon Fight]

I just checked mine, and it's extremely short as well. I switched to analog right when it came out, partly due to the cord length.

[skaar]

I just checked mine, and it's extremely short as well. I switched to analog right when it came out, partly due to the cord length.

Snicker all you want, but I've always noticed asian console cords are shorter.

Seriously.

My Super Famicom controllers were like 3FT and I bet the PS1 ones were too on the japanese console. Someone told me it was a space issue, japanese tended to sit closer to the TV/console when playing.

Maybe that's just BS, but it made some twisted sense at the time.

[BocoDragon]

thanks balloon fight! Now I know.

I just picked the controller up along with a first gen PS1 for 10 bucks... Basically I got really nostalgic for the original console and start up noise :D Amazingly it boots all games perfectly no skipping :P

It's also the one with the RCA outputs directly on the back.


Snicker all you want, but I've always noticed asian console cords are shorter.

Seriously.

My Super Famicom controllers were like 3FT and I bet the PS1 ones were too on the japanese console. Someone told me it was a space issue, japanese tended to sit closer to the TV/console when playing.

Maybe that's just BS, but it made some twisted sense at the time.

Yeah from what I can tell that's mostly true. I have Super Famicom cords and they're "holy crap" short.

Apparently in Japan they used to sit around the console or have it up on a desk with a small TV. The console itself was more of a toy that you clustered around, like a board game... whereas in the west, the console is often treated more like a VCR/DVD player.. it sits in a shelf far away from you under a big TV, so we need the long cords. I think we basically have the toy-like Famicom transformed into the American-focused NES to thank for that difference. The NES cords are still satisfyingly long.

[retroman]

dont think mine are short...and i have the same one i got in 95

[j_factor]

I always thought it was because they would put their console on a coffee table or something. I've seen some rather long a/v cables.

[BocoDragon]

I always thought it was because they would put their console on a coffee table or something. I've seen some rather long a/v cables.

Sure.. same idea though. Console is nice and close to you in the original Japanese style.

[dnehthend]

It's also the one with the RCA outputs directly on the back.
be careful, those things like to overheat

[dreamcaster]

My original PS1 controller has a long cable. Same length as all other Sony controllers.

[BocoDragon]

My original PS1 controller has a long cable. Same length as all other Sony controllers.

Hmm... I guess I'm confused again, and back to my starting point.

Is it a Japanese controller? Is it an early US release that is basically the same as the original Japanese controller, and was later changed to a long one? Is it a knockoff?

:P


be careful, those things like to overheat

Thanks for the tip! It's absolutely true... I already noticed it. After a few hours of gaming the thing was hot as hell. I'm having flashbacks to the "cooler" fan add-ons they had for PS1 back in the day (which were arguably useful, unlike the ones available for modern consoles).

Also... it being an original CD drive, it will fail to boot some games I had declared "playable" on PS2 and PS3's DVD and BR drive. However, if it boots, to my surprise, I have not seen one skipping FMV or music track. This "April 1997" PS1 seems more resilient than the one I bought in September 1997.

Ah old technology... I missed you.

[garagesaleking!!]

I remember the grey ones always having a really short cord. I often had to stretch it across a table.

[Thrillo]

This reminds me: when I played a PSX for the first time back in '95, I distinctly remember that the controller's d-pad was entirely different from the later ones. Each of the 4 directions on the d-pad was a completely individual button; there was no linkage between them like with almost all other videogame controllers. Imagine holding a SNES controller upside down and using the XYAB buttons as a d-pad, it was kinda like that. I remember it sucked bad since it would pinch my thumb hard.
I've been looking for one for years just to prove that it exists, and have NEVER seen that controller again. I didn't even see it when I was stationed in Japan and dug through all the bizarre controllers at the games stores every week, so the dang thing must be incredibly rare or maybe even a pre-release model. Or maybe I'm just crazy :) .

[Haoie]

Didn't the original XBOX have controllers for giant hands?

[goober213]

Didn't the original XBOX have controllers for giant hands?

Yes, they absolutely did. It was mainly called The Duke Controller. There was also another nickname for it that is hardly used any more, which is The Pancake Controller. Later-on, because of complaints of the controllers being so huge, they made a smaller S Controller. You can still buy the Duke ones at Gamestop or on eBay, as they still exist.

[BocoDragon]

By the way.. I'm not sure anyone cares... but just for the record.. the short corded controller WAS a knockoff! I got another controller to compare. Hong Kong fake.