DualShock
» MANUFACTURER: PlayStation » YEAR: 1997 » COST: £24.99 (launch), £25+ (today, boxed), £3+ (today, unboxed)
You may be surprised to learn that the DualShock was not Sony’s first analogue control pad – that honour is held by the Dual Analog Controller, released some months prior to the DualShock in 1997. That controller introduced twin analogue sticks in the centre of the controller, larger L2 and R2 buttons, and longer hand grips. The Japanese model also included a single rumble motor, although this wasn’t included in the international versions. As well as regular analogue and digital controller operation, it included a mode compatible with flight-stick games.