Japan gets all the cool stuff

[|\|ES]

So I spent the last couple hours browsing auctions.yahoo.co.jp for fc/sfc/nes/snes stuff and I ended up finding a lot of interesting stuff. I'd seen some of this before, but I also saw a lot seriously crazy stuff I hadn't seen before.

I'll start with the more normal stuff:


For starters, they have tons of these for sale. Finding one in the US nowadays is next to impossible. I think there's one guy who sells them on ebay but he lists one at a time to keep the prices up. Unfortunately none of the sellers will ship internationally :(
http://img215.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/0/5/9/bosoview255ak-img600x450-1148385392dscf0019.jpg


Next up, they had a ton of these listed. Nothing too special, these were sold in the US. I was just suprised to see so many listed. They're not too easy to find on ebay anymore. It's a great controller by the way:
http://img209.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/6/5/5/5/gojyonetto-img600x450-1206887468rennkonn.jpg003.jpg

Again, nothing too unusual, just a really cool programmable arcade stick. Not sure if these were released in the US, but I wish I had one:
http://img275.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/1/9/9/4/chinamichie-img573x464-1206776425love_302.jpg

Still nothing too weird. This is made by Hori, the same guys that made the super game boy controller for the snes. This was designed to be used with the game boy player for the gamecube. I got myself a pair of these a while back and I highly recommend them. They make awesome controllers for the Virtual Console on the Wii:
http://img289.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/1/2/4/pikatyu_com-img600x450-1207098881imgp7941.jpg

Sharp? Whats the story behind this?:
http://img225.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/5/9/5/0/xgrtg404-img600x450-1203559591conto2.jpg

Then there are a bunch of one-handed controllers. Supposedly for playing RPGs but I suspect the have other uses if you know what I mean ;) (possibly nsfw)
So the amputees can still play
http://www.yellowrage.com/blog/uploaded_images/amputee-799332.JPG

http://img253.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/3/3/2/5/mrkandhts-img600x450-1204428448sf1.jpghttp://img171.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/6/0/1/0/ebichansukisuki2006-img600x450-1205485319cimg4837.jpg
http://img203.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/1/4/6/ama_2jp-img450x600-11903190332007-09-17_029.jpg

This is pretty cool, anyone know if it got released in the US? I'm guessing no:
http://img227.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/4/3/5/gtr7791016_01-img600x450-12067514001a02.jpg

Then they start to get weirder. I have no idea what this is for:
http://img219.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/9/9/8/komika1306-img555x415-1202369797sfc_patisu1.jpg

looks like a programmable NES controller?:
http://img255.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/9/6/1/publica7760-img600x450-1202288355p2060059.jpg

wtf?:
http://img155.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/1/0/1/1/yoiko0128-img500x375-1205328255008.jpg

NES phone home?:
http://img151.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/8/0/6/6/reotrix-img600x452-1191502409controller-008.jpg

then the SNES got jealous:
http://img183.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/6/5/5/5/gojyonetto-img600x450-1200626948rennkonn.hoka_010.jpg

Then Capcom smoked some crack:
http://img297.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/7/2/8/7/kean_terrier-img600x450-1207135610dsc04856.jpg

and Konomi/ASCII provided the rave music while Sunsoft dropped acid:
http://img165.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/9/1/7/2/kibou81013-img600x450-1125027473imga4286.jpg

http://img171.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/3/8/1/nandabe325-img450x600-1194241321016.jpghttp://img171.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/3/8/1/nandabe325-img450x600-1194241312015.jpg




If anybody knows what some of these weirder ones are, I'd love to know.

[CheapyD]

These 3 are Pachinko (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko) controllers:



http://img219.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/2/9/9/8/komika1306-img555x415-1202369797sfc_patisu1.jpg



http://img155.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/1/0/1/1/yoiko0128-img500x375-1205328255008.jpg




http://img171.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/3/8/1/nandabe325-img450x600-1194241321016.jpghttp://img171.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/3/8/1/nandabe325-img450x600-1194241312015.jpg

[smarkbran]

Those are crazy!

[mykevermin]

Arkanoid was released on the NES by Taito, with the same controller (in an NES grey instead of shiny black). As a matter of fact, I may still have that controller somewhere; I think I saw it in a box of things I need to sort a few months back.

[yukine]

Pretty cool thread, some stuff I haven't seen before.

[62t]

I think we did get one of those one hand RPG control for PSOne.

[DaveD]

That Ascii pad had reworked for the PSX I believe. I think I've seen a classic style controller for the Gamecube much like that Hori stick. This thread is pretty neat, I'd like to see more interesting controllers and gaming devices.

[hiccupleftovers]

Great pics and fun thread. Nice job OP!

[supraazn]

you know you can use a deputy service site to order stuff off yahoo auctions and get them shipped to you outside of japan.
I have order alot of things off japan yahoo already.
It sometimes get very expensive because the deputy service do charge quite a fee but some rare items are impossible to get outside of japan otherwise.
But for some items its alot cheaper to pay a fee to the deputy service then to get it from some overcharged ebay bastard.

[doraemonkerpal]

Speaking of one handed RPG's, I believe the original Suikoden mapped the buttons to the psone controller so that you could play with one hand. I tried it out a few years ago, but it was really awkward using the dpad and shoulder buttons in tandem LOL! I'm sure it would be a lot easier with a ps2 or ps3 controller with the little joystick.

[rodeojones903]

I think we did get one of those one hand RPG control for PSOne.

Yep, I had one for the psone.

[addicted2games]

Yes this is an interesting thread. Didnt know half that stuff existed.

[gunm]

If you really really really want to bid on these items, you can do so via proxy service like celga, rinkya, or shoppingmalljapan.

There are a lot of fees involved (not only as profit for the middleman, but built-in costs like bank transfer fees which are required in Japan and of course, shipping and handling...not just to you in the US, but from the original seller to the holding center in Japan), so it's definitely not for the cheapass or casual fan.

Edit: there are also size/weight restrictions, but you can order things like arcade cabinets direct from one or two of the distributors in Japan.

[Gameboy415]

I see half of that stuff on a daily basis at used game stores out here.

I'm planning to start up a Tradelist/Selling List (most likely just on CAG to start) once I get settled into my new job/house this summer.

[Kirin Lemon]

For starters, they have tons of these for sale. Finding one in the US nowadays is next to impossible. I think there's one guy who sells them on ebay but he lists one at a time to keep the prices up. Unfortunately none of the sellers will ship internationally :(
http://img215.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/0/0/5/9/bosoview255ak-img600x450-1148385392dscf0019.jpg
I've been thinking of picking one of these up. They have a shit-ton of them at a Sofmap store near my house. I'll probably cave next time I'm in there.

[Chacrana]

There's some good stuff in there, though I can't say I approve of the 5-key Beatmania controller. Not only is it durty, but 5-key is for scrubs.

[Rig]

I had that programmable ascii pad for the SNES, and it was wonderful.

My mom babysat some kids when I was younger, and one of them ended up breaking the one I had! :bomb:

[YoshiFan1]

I won the PSX version of the one handed ASCII controller from IGN almost 10 years ago. I ended up selling it on EBay because it was really for RPG's as mentioned and I don't play RPG's

I have that Beatmania controller. It was a good starter controller for getting into Beatmania but wasn't the greatest quality. I still have it when I have friends and relatives over as I don't want them using my IIDX controller

[Marion517]

Very cool thread. I want a one handed PS3 control... I thought Pachinko machines were like slot machines, I didn't know they had controller attachments. Course, slot machines have gotten a lot more interactive nowadays, maybe there was some borrowing. Great collection OP!

[Cao Cao]

Sharp? Whats the story behind this?:
IIRC, Sharp and Nintendo partnered together at one point and released a TV set with a Famicom built-in.

[ykcil542]

It's not a controller, but I think the Satellaview was the coolest peripheral that the US missed out on.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/ykcil542/satellaview.jpg
(from wikipedia)

The Satellaview (サテラビュー, Saterabyū? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese)) was a satellite modem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_modem) add-on for Nintendo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo)'s Super Famicom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System) system in Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan) released in 1995 [1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellaview#cite_note-0) It retailed for ¥ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_yen)14,000 (about US$ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US%24)144.29).
The Satellaview was developed and released by Nintendo, and Satellite Digital Audio Broadcasting Co. (also known as St. GIGA (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St._GIGA&action=edit&redlink=1)) was responsible for the file servers and the maintenance side of things after each game had been added.

The basic system contains:
Satellaview adapter, attached to the bottom of Super Famicom and plugged into the (previously unused) expansion port.
L-shaped bracket; this supplied power to the Satellaview via the Super Famicom.
Application cartridge "BS-X : Sore wa namae o nusumareta machi no monogatari" (translates as The Story of The Town Whose Name Has Been Stolen). This application was like a game in itself. The player entered their name and chose their gender, then moved their player character around the town. Each house or shop in the town was a direct link to a particular game, which would load and be ready for play if the player chose to enter that building.The deluxe system contains all the above, plus:
8-Megabit Memory Pak: (downloaded games are saved on this memory cart if the user puts it in)The BS-X base unit contained some memory of its own, but not much (about 512 KB) so for larger games, or (it is to be assumed) for mulitple games to be saved at the same time, the player needed to purchase this Memory Pak, otherwise previous data would have to be erased.

[SlaughterX]

I actually found a purple GC Hori retro pad at GameStop yesterday for $8 used! I already had a black one I imported, but when I saw another one I didn't hesitate to buy it ASAP. I also have a couple of those Ascii SNES pads, I usualyl don't prefer 3rd party controllers over the original, but I love the Ascii pads, wouldn't mind having a couple of new ones since one of my old ones doesn't work so great (down on the d-pad is iffy).

Speaking of Ascii and imports, I am most proud of these Dreamcast asccesories...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb181/Genma_Gouki/Sticks.jpg

Took forever to track them all down.

Also I'm pretty proud to own this too...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb181/Genma_Gouki/FatalFury.jpg

And then there's the greatest controllers known to man...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb181/Genma_Gouki/SaturnPads.jpg

[|\|ES]

Cool, I think most of the stuff got identified. I'll have to check out the proxy bidding services. With the prices on ebay like they are, it might actually be cheaper to get some of the rarer stuff from Japan.

Oh, and that is a sweet collection Slaughter.

Hori and ASCII kick ass. Much better than the MadCatz and Pellican trash we get over here.

[CouRageouS]

I have the ASCII controller in the second pic. Its packed away with my SNES. Oddly enough I have the second model SNES sitting on my shelf.

[Aleryn]

Oh to be in the native country and language of so many beloved gaming franchises, and console systems... so many items we'd never see because they're so wonderfully niche. Great images, OP, always love seeing obscure Japanese gaming peripherals. I also have one of those ASCIITurbo Pads for the SNES. Best turbo controller I've ever used. I wish ASCII exported commonly to the West, and want for even MORE HORI products.

[|\|ES]

I thought I'd throw these ones in the mix too, nothing too strange, mostly a bunch of joysticks with a few interesting ones. Most of these being sold by the ebay bastard who's rationing out the SGB Commander's (Grrrr). Not all of them are Japan-only.

These are all NES joysticks. I didn't realize there were enough joystick-worthy games on the NES...
http://www.cheap-games-4u.com/nes_misc/quickshot_joystick.jpg
http://i11.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/e0/d8/f68a_1.JPG
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/6/4/5/5/7/webimg/107315487_tp.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/6/4/5/5/7/webimg/107308320_tp.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/6/4/5/5/7/webimg/101731141_tp.jpg

Here's another programable SNES joystick, I hadn't seen this one before, but it's very reminiscent of the ProgramaPad that I had back in the day. It's definitely made by the same company:
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/7/8/2/2/8/webimg/118358463_tp.jpg
http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/e5/b6/c934_1.JPG

And finally, more japanese weirdness for the NES:
I understand that this controller really sucks despite looking kinda cool. It doesn't lend itself to being held with two hands very well, but as a one-handed controller it's awkward and crampy:
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/6/4/5/5/7/webimg/107308374_tp.jpg

This one, despite looking like a huge trackball, is actually just a dome shaped joystick. These were made for a few different systems and from what I understand, they also suck:
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/6/4/5/5/7/webimg/107308370_tp.jpg

Turn any controller into an NES advantage, woot!
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/6/6/4/5/5/7/webimg/102759432_tp.jpg

[SlaughterX]

I used to have this controller...

http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/e5/b6/c934_1.JPG

I did not like it, the screen was useless...

[|\|ES]

Neither did I. I've never liked any programmable pad. They're all a huge pain in the ass. If you managed to get them set up you could really blow through Street Fighter though.

Here's another random NES Advantage spin-off. Assuming it's solid construction it looks like it might be a decent one. Does anybody really need an ambidextrous arcade stick though?
http://i9.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/e6/97/46e3_1.JPG

[Halo05]

And then there's the greatest controllers known to man...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb181/Genma_Gouki/SaturnPads.jpg

YES! I went boring with the USB one, mine's the regular black style. Sega needs to make these pads again for the PS3 or the 360, I'm not a huge fan of the PS3 convertors.

I don't have any fancy pictures yet but the Wii VC Super Famicom controllers are supposed to come out this month.

[Vinny]

I remember seeing a Japanese arcade game that involved a butt and... and finger controller you used. As for how it was used, I never cared to understand.

[yukine]

I remember seeing a Japanese arcade game that involved a butt and... and finger controller you used. As for how it was used, I never cared to understand.

Boong-Ga Boong-Ga, it's actually made by a Korean company but it proved popular with the Japanese: http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2001/11/48438

[MasterSprtn117]

I have that ascii pad super fanicom controller with turbo..that thing worked wonders with Megaman X.

[DaveD]

http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/e5/b6/c934_1.JPG

I had this controller too. I tried to program Street Fighter II Turbo moves into it, I could NEVER get it to work.

[Gameboy415]

It's not a controller, but I think the Satellaview was the coolest peripheral that the US missed out on.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd251/ykcil542/satellaview.jpg
(from wikipedia)

Got one complete with the original box and all inserts/accessories for about $25 last fall. :D
There was only one game on the memory pak......Pocky & Rocky!

I actually bought another memory pak on Yahoo Auctions that included the exclusive Tetris Attack game: Panel De Pon 98. The game came up in my Satellaview's menu but I got an error message saying I couldn't play it because I wasn't connected to the Satellite service and it was deleted from the memory pak! :cry:

And the game cost double what I payed for the Satellaview! :shock:

[SlaughterX]

Lol, old school DRM...

[Rodimus]

I had this controller too. I tried to program Street Fighter II Turbo moves into it, I could NEVER get it to work.

Same here, trying to be a cheater :) It just didn't work right. If all you did was special moves then it worked okay, but when you start mixing in punches & kicks to your game then it just could pull them off. I got it just cause it looked cool/ high-tech.

Still have my one-handed RPG controller for PS1. It only works on certain RPGs like Suikoden, Wild Arms, and I think Persona. Anything where you had to rotate the camera (Grandia, Xenosaga) just ended up playing funky.

Here's controller I wanted so bad, finally got it and ended up hating it. It's for the PS1. Reminds me of the PS3 orginal model controller:

http://www.vidgames.com/ps/hardware/alpspad.jpg

[CoffeeEdge]

I thought Pachinko machines were like slot machines, I didn't know they had controller attachments.

Pachinko is a little like a vertical pinball table, and many modern machines also have some slot machine elements in them, as well. Anyways, those Pachinko controllers aren't attachments for the actual Pachinko machines; they're for playing pachinko videogames, which are also extremely popular in Japan (Ridge Racer Pachinko hits PS2 soon, for instance...).

Anyways, I own several of the controllers mentioned so far...arcade sticks, Beatmania controllers, and one-handed RPG controllers (which are really only meant for super-old-school dungeon crawlers and whatnot, I think).

One I haven't seen mentioned so far is the Capcom Soldier Pad, which is THE greatest non-stick controller ever made for fighting games. I own several:
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7226/cpsoldierso7.jpg


I'm also quite surprised that this thread has gotten this far without mention of this little number:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/268/denshadego01df8.jpg

[addicted2games]

How did the "finger in the butt" game make it into the "Japan gets all the cool things" thread?? hahahaha lol

[inmortal2k8]

holy @#%$% SlaughterX you have the best pad selection i can ever seen. if you ever want to sell those sega saturn ps2 pads, take me in consideration. :)

[inmortal2k8]

that capcom soldier pad look weird, is that really good on fighting games?

[CoffeeEdge]

that capcom soldier pad look weird, is that really good on fighting games?


In my opinion, it's great. Of course, hardcore fighting fanatics would most likely prefer an arcade stick, but I think that it's great for Street Fighter II.

[Sarang01]

Ummm wasn't there an offer to get that controller in Japan for cheap or something? I remember a mag. saying it was great for fighting games if you have some calluses to spare.
Coffee I'm on PSN now btw.