“The Konami code—up up down down left right left right B A Start—was created in 1986 for the release of Gradius on the NES. It has worked on every single Nintendo console ever since. It has also worked on every single Microsoft console and it works in most internet browsers; the only change is necessary is that Start is replaced by Enter in most cases. So how the hell do you enter it on a PlayStation controller? You replace the B with O and the A with X. That’s a fairly simple substitution, but one that seems odd when you consider that it works on every other controller by every other manufacturer. Why not use A and B?” Continue reading…
Steve Wilcox is an assistant professor in the Game Design & Development program at Wilfrid Laurier University where he researches & creates knowledge translation games. He is also the co-founder & former editor-in-chief of First Person Scholar.
The Semiotics of Controller Design
“The Konami code—up up down down left right left right B A Start—was created in 1986 for the release of Gradius on the NES. It has worked on every single Nintendo console ever since. It has also worked on every single Microsoft console and it works in most internet browsers; the only change is necessary is that Start is replaced by Enter in most cases. So how the hell do you enter it on a PlayStation controller? You replace the B with O and the A with X. That’s a fairly simple substitution, but one that seems odd when you consider that it works on every other controller by every other manufacturer. Why not use A and B?” Continue reading…
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