Now, in an alternate universe, you're playing with power

by JC Fletcher { Dec 28th 2007 at 3:00PM }

This is about the coolest prototype thing we've ever seen: not only is it an unreleased prototype controller, it's a controller for a system that never existed. This controller was a prototype for the development kit of the Nintendo/Sony SNES CD system.

You can see in this early prototype the beginning of what would become the PlayStation controller: the triangle-shaped start button and the eight gameplay buttons (two of the face buttons would become shoulder buttons in the final controller). This thing would be the prize of any game collection. We don't know how this eBay seller got his hands on this thing; we'd expect it to be locked up in Nintendo headquarters somewhere. It must have been an ordeal to obtain.

It is priced accordingly.

[Via GameSniped]

Tags: controller, ebay, prototype, snes

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mgroves @ Dec 28th 2007 3:07PM

Wow, it's like the missing link between SNES controller and PSX controller.

Andrew M @ Dec 28th 2007 3:13PM

Somehow I doubt the authenticity of this...I mean first off it connects using a serial port...what nut would make a Console that uses serial ports like on a computer...FAKE!!!

Christmas NiGHTS @ Dec 28th 2007 3:21PM

It was an early dev kit

Anything's possible

MountainLionLink @ Dec 28th 2007 3:24PM

It's called a devi-kit, look back at older devi-kits for examples of computer connections so programing can be done easier.

I would say "duh" but meh, its not needed.

vidGuy @ Dec 28th 2007 3:43PM

Most dev kits controllers connect via serial or PS/2. I'll say it... duh!

SUPERPHILO.O @ Dec 30th 2007 12:04PM

Have you ever seen a Genesis controllers were the same shape as serial ports.... and Devkits controllers normally hook up to computers like everyone else has said... Oh and some consoles now (Xbox 360) have usb controllers..... Wii even uses bluetooth which is used on many computers. So it's pretty normal for controllers to have the same ports or technologies as computers.

Michael Langford @ Dec 30th 2007 12:57PM

DB9 (what you're calling a serial port) is a common connector for controllers for devices of all electronics of the period, not just video games.

Many of them actually are RS232 devices (i.e. a "real" serial port device).

Your incredulity is astounding, since one of the modern systems, Xbox 360, uses standard USB2.0, the common connector of today. Why would things have been different in the past?

--Michael

HellsHammer @ Dec 28th 2007 8:56PM

This is real. I've seen it a few time before.
There used to be a SNES fansite (I look and I couldn't find it recently) that had all the info about the fallout of Sony and Nintendo. The site even had developers pictures of the Nintendo CD system.
Seems Nintendo made a big mistake and ended up creating a competitor...oops.

DomoBraden @ Dec 28th 2007 9:40PM

You know, maybe this is narrow thinking, but I'm kind of glad the Sony/Nintendo console ever came to be. For all we know it could have potentially been a glorified CD-i, effectively deleting all gaming history post-PSX/N64. *shudders* It's an eerie thought...