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Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers
Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers is the ultimate coffee-table book for everyone who doesn't just use controllers – but truly loves them. 200 remarkable devices, 560 photos and 396 pages of pure controller history – from the Atari joystick to the DualSense.
- 200 controllers spanning over 40 years of gaming history
- 560 photos, shot exclusively for this book
- 396 pages, hardcover, A4 format (210 × 297 mm)
- 5 art prints housed in a special cover pocket
- Contributions from John Romero, Trip Hawkins, James Rolfe (AVGN) and more
The controller book the gaming world has been waiting for
Joysticks, gamepads, curiosities – game controllers are far more than mere peripherals. They are our physical connection to digital worlds, the tool with which we swing swords, build cities, and defeat enemies. Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers by Bitmap Books is the first book to dedicate itself entirely to these fascinating objects – and it does so with a level of commitment and image quality that is truly unmatched.
200 controllers. 560 photos. A love letter.
Co-author and photographer Christian Wenk shot all 560 photographs exclusively for this book – drawing from his own impressive personal collection. Together with veteran games journalist Steve Jarratt, he tells the story of 200 of the most important and fascinating controllers ever made. From the humble single-button joysticks of the early home computer era to modern limited-edition pads like the Final Fantasy XVI DualSense – everything gets its moment.
Across 396 pages (hardcover, A4 format, 210 × 297 mm) you'll find the joysticks that started it all, classic gamepads, landmark innovations, and iconic oddities. Each controller gets two to four pages, with the standouts receiving full double-page spreads in all their glory.
Insider voices from gaming history
The book features quotes, insights, and anecdotes from some of the most influential figures in the games industry:
- John Romero (DOOM)
- Trip Hawkins (Founder of Electronic Arts)
- Kevin Bayliss (Rare, game designer & voice actor)
- James Rolfe (Angry Video Game Nerd)
- Damien McFerran, Richard Moss, Phil South and more
Production quality at the highest level
Bitmap Books is renowned for uncompromising print quality – and Trigger Happy is no exception:
- Hardcover with sewn binding for lasting durability and perfectly flat double-page spreads
- Edge-to-edge high-quality lithographic printing
- Special Pantone inks used throughout
- Sewn-in cover pocket housing 5 full-colour art prints
- Bookmark ribbon and shrink-wrap packaging
- Format: 210 × 297 mm | Weight: approx. 2.5 kg
Strengths – and one honest note
Reviewers agree: Trigger Happy is one of the best books Bitmap Books has ever published. The photography is exceptional, the writing is well-researched and never just filler. One thing worth knowing: if you're primarily into arcade sticks and fightsticks, the focus here is clearly on home console and computer controllers – arcade hardware only makes a minor appearance.
Who is this book for?
- Retro gaming fans & collectors
- Product design enthusiasts
- Anyone who wants their controller nostalgia preserved in book form
- Gift-givers with taste
Controllers featured (selection)
8BitDo AP40, 8BitDo NES30, 8BitDo NES30 Arcade Stick, 8BitDo SN30, Agetec Dreamcast Arcade Stick, Amiga Corporation The Power-Stick, Amstrad JY3, Amstrad Mega PC Pad, Ascii Grip V & Grip Super Famicom, Ascii Seaman Controller, Ascii Sphere 360, Ascii Stick Super L5, Asciiware NES Advantage, Asciiware PlayStation Arcade Stick, Asciiware Score Master, Asciiware Super Advantage, Atari 5200 Controller, Atari CX21 Video Touch Pad, Atari CX30 Paddles, Atari CX40, Atari CX50 Keyboard Controller, Atari CX80 Trak-Ball, Atari Jaguar PowerPad, Atari Multi-System Joypad Controller CX78, Atari Pro Line CX24, Atari Wireless Classic Joystick, Beeshu Jet Fighter, Beeshu Zinger, Blaze Evercade VS Controller, Boeder Michael Schumacher, Boeder P-7 De-luxe Analog PC Joystick, Brøderbund U-Force, Capcom Pad Soldier, CH Products Mach II, Challenger Joystick RMT 120, Cheetah Alien3, Cheetah Annihilator, Cheetah Bart Simpson, Cheetah Batman & Batman Returns, Cheetah The Bug, Cheetah The Terminator – plus many more controllers spanning over 40 years of gaming history. The full list covers 200 entries.
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