Controllers for Kids?

zapyon asks: "I have been asked for help with selecting a joystick for a 6 y/o boy, but I am no player. The hardware tests I found (or rather the models tested) seemed to be targeted on more or less grown-up players of 3d shooters and the like. So I would like to forward the request for help to you slashdotters: Any joysticks you can recommend for a kid? Perhaps simple, but robust models with a smaller 'stick' but large buttons? Perhaps less than 2 dozen special buttons? I remember this 'Competition Pro' joystick I used with my Atari ST ages ago: 2 large red buttons, very robust design. Anything like this today? State-of-the-art top models are certainly too expensive, too. Hope anyone can help, it's going to be a Christmas present for the boy. He is playing on a Windows XP (personal) with kids' games, but the mouse is not the right device to play these games." This brings me to the topic of controllers suitable for 8-10 year olds for the current crop of consoles. I don't think I've seen a console that has been released in the last 2-3 years that has controllers which are suitable for such small hands. Is there anyone marketing such, and if so, where can one find them?

Comments

MadCatz, at your local Wal*Mart

[iamcadaver]

Just bought a MicroCon for a 6yr Old. They make a PS2 version too.

I actually like it better than the standard H-Box behemoth. Seems they like their controllers and keyboards to be big and bloated too.

Controllers for Kids?

[orthogonal]

You need a controller for your kid?

No problem!

Try one of those "invisible fences" designed for dog: just put the collar around the kid's neck, and watch as the ghost of BF Skinner confines him to the perimeter of the radio-broadcasting "fence posts".

You might also try ringing a bell before giving him his Chessy Poofs.

If you're willing to have it look cheesy...

[Hubert_Shrump]

I don't know how good you are with electronics, but an old keyboard, a dremel, and a controller from a used game shop works great.

I dremelled out a sega genesis (joystick) controller (cost: $8 - can't find a picture - they're HUGE) for a cheapie emu machine for a friend, and wired it to a keyboard encoder (cost: free, if ripped from an old keyboard lying around) a la this keyboard hack FAQ (check under "hacking a keyboard").

It looks cheesy - didn't bother to hide the keyboard controller inside the joystick case, even though it's probably big enough for a briq in there...

Didn't take that much soldering. Hardest part was tracing the keyboard leads over mylar and dremeling the joystick PCB so it wasn't common ground anymore.

Anyway - don't know if this is acceptible, if whoever is getting it is too picky, and you're not confident about your skills, maybe not...

Nintendo Game Cude Controller...

[Inexile2002]

Is excellent for small hands. My 12 year old brother has one and he does fine with it. He also baby sits kids for my mother's friends and I've seen him teaching kids as young as 5 - 7 to play Pikmin. Also, the Game Cube, although far from lacking in adult titles (Eternal Darkness was great) is probably the strongest console for kids games.

Re:Nintendo Game Cude Controller...

[MrResistor]

I also have a 12 year old brother who has no problem with the Game Cube controllers, and he's small for his age. Actually, he hasn't had any difficulty with any of the controllers put out in the last 2-3 years. Same goes for my youngest sister, now 10.

As for a joystick, I was quite fond of the old $12 Raider-X joysticks. I think I got them at Radio Shack, but I could be wrong. The last joystick I bought there was a different design and it fell apart after maybe 4-5 months of daily Tie-Fighter, but those old ones were practically indestructable. Ugly as hell, too...

GameCube Controllers...

[Elpenor]

... are not bad at all for young kids. At least my 1.5 year old nephew has no problems picking up my controller and messing with the game that I was playing while I am in the bathroom..... :)