COMPONENTS:
- Controller under shell: plastic injection
- Controller upper shell: plastic injection
- Screws: 3 metal cross round head screws
- Rubber button pads: rubber, plastic injection mold
- Buttons: plastic, injection mold
- D Pad: plastic, injection molded
- PCB (printed circuit board): copper, CFS8112-190010
- Chip: S130DD756006 (no information found)
- Chip: AGV 044 9740K3003 (no information found)
- Voltage Regulator: 25GC (closest find)
- Dual BUS Buffer: silicon, 7W125 71a
- Electrolytic capacitor (baby battery): aluminum, 47uf 16v
- Baby yellow 3 legged component 6.00J
- Connector (white baby box: cable from controller to console): plastic
- PCB: copper, CFS8111-200010
- Cross Slot screwdriver: used it to disassemble the controller
DESIGN ELEMENTS:
I enjoyed the simplicity of the design but complex functioning at the same time. I still cannot wrap my head around how micro components (e. Dual BUS Buffer) are so small but yet so powerful and indispensable for the controller to work. My belief is that designers and engineers needed the best and most optimizable technology from the early 2000’s and assemble it in such a way thats light at touch and serves its function in a sleek way.
The controller shape itself is absolutely amazing. It fits almost every hand, the grip is comfortable, there is no hassle when pressing the buttons, and you actually feel in full control of it (aspect that I feel is no longer present in modern gaming controllers). I am not fond of the excess amount of plastic used to manufacture this artifact, but I can understand the lack of sustainable knowledge at that time. I wish gaming companies nowadays could switch to more eco-friendly materials.
I know close to nothing about the actual technical components of the controller but I can say that researching datasheets gave me a better overview of how these work and why those pieces are there. This was definitely a fun project and would love to do this teardown again with a different artifact.