Original Xbox Usability Testing Controller

A friend of mine was a usability engineer at Microsoft and did work on the original Xbox. He bequeathed me some things including the controllers pictured below. I was hoping you might be able to identify and assess their value, historically & monetarily. Here's the lot:





A couple Alamo controlers




The bottom of what may be an S-Type controller? There are two non-transparent versions as well.


Not sure about this one


Here's the bottom


The non-transparent version of the controller directly above has a serial port in front:


And a joystick


Any help is appreciated!

 

Wow, if he is looking to sell any let me know, I like the clear Alamo's myself.

 

Can't say anything about the monetary value, except some people might be ready to pay nice amount for this. But historically this is great! You should take lots of pictures of each, in good quality; for posterity!

Do those work on retail units?

 

Holy ****. I would buy right now if possible on a few there.

 

No idea, I don't have an original Xbox to test on. I'll try to take better pics with close-ups of labels and connectors - hopefully that'll provide enough detail for folks to help me identify and value each these units.

Did a little digging, looks like the center controller (top pic) is a testing version of a Sidewinder Dual Strike...?

 

wow i bet hex1gon would be interested in them high res pictures for his xbox archive

you have a awesome piece of xbox history there

 

Cool. My friend earned a couple patents as a result of his Xbox work (although the design he advocated - based on his studies - was closer in form to the 360 controller). I'll see what I can do about better quality pics later today.

 

That is some awesome stuff you have there! Many people would battle for these if they were to go for sale. Me included. Haha. The value would certainly be up in the air because I don't think any controllers like that have ever been for sale in an auction or otherwise. I may be wrong about that though.

I would think most of them would work on a retail Xbox console (except maybe the Sidewinder, I think that is a PC controller). I say this because my Alamo works on a retail console just fine however the front two button's functions are backwards.

 

I want them too! I guess everyone is sending PM too!!

Do let us know if the sales is going as a whole?

 

The black controller in the top middle looks similar to a retail Sidewinder pad I have. What is interesting about it is the D-Pad is analog. It mostly feels like a normal D-Pad but if you exert tiny movements it acts like an analog stick.

 

Wow!

So they did a lot of transparent SideWinders for Xbox.

Too bad they didn't used them. It could be fantastic a line of Xbox accessories "by SideWinder" or something like that. Also enforcing the PC line.

 

The controller with serial data port in front is SideWinder Game Pad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynsqLFZ7BoQ
I have it, new in box

 

Wow. That's an awesome collection right there.

 

More & Better Pics

HEX1GON: Here is a slideshow with better pictures. Note that a lot of specks on the controllers is actually dust on the camera lens (turns out, that's what happens when you take your camera to the desert!). I've numbered each item within the picture (total 14 item) for easier reference.

M54B25: Ha! That commercial's great! Superexcitinggamepad! (Or slightly sea-sick cameraman)

Thanks everyone comments. After my friend passed away I just sort of put these out of sight. But now that some time has gone by, I've looking at some of the personal affects he left me - especially some of the cool work he did at Microsoft. If anyone knows any more details (maybe the new pictures will help), please let me know.

Thanks all
~fudgonaut

 

I am sure everyone here is very glad your friend took could care of these! We never get to see such cool items like this from that period of testing and what-knot. Good to know these items are still around! =)

 

those clear dukes are amazing... i want them NOW

 

the two black controllers at the top look like PC controllers correct? I recognize the shapes, I see them ALL over the place at my local GoodWills and they dont really have any value (I guess unless they are early prototypes, some collector may want them). All the clear controllers I've never seen before and those Clear Dukes are amazing. The only other controllers I know about are the S-Type controllers with the grean jewel. I personally have 2 of them myself, I believe they are just the Japanese s-types. Very cool and not so common to find here in the states. I always feel like they should have been paired with the Mountain Dew Edition xbox since the green on their jewels doesn't quite match the normal xbox jewel color. =P