189:, the topic caught fire on social media. Huffer himself described the potential ban as "definitely unfair." Tournament organizers were worried that allowing the Smash Box controller to be used in tournament play would allow other unconventional and possibly game-breaking controllers to be used as well. Genesis 4-organizer Sheridan Zalewski announced later that month that the Smash Box controller was allowed to be used in the tournament, noting that this would initiate a "test period" in which players could determine whether the controller gives an unfair advantage over players who use the traditional GameCube controller. Zalewski later stated that this concession was only made to accommodate competitors who had signed up without realizing their controllers would be banned.
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152:, the Smash Box controller features four analog direction buttons, allowing players to hit each button individually. This layout and the controller's flat surface allows each individual finger access to any button, eliminating the need for rapid and precise thumb movements. Involved usage of the Smash Box controller may still result in
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with a button layout. This controller may allow more precise and rapid input, though it has a steeper learning curve than the traditional controller. Moreover, the Smash Box controller may have various health benefits, as it puts less stress on the hands of its user. The Smash Box is currently a
122:, Huffer said that his goal was "to evolve competitive gaming hardware for Smash," claiming that the GameCube controller created a "physical learning barrier preventing newcomers from joining in as well as putting a cap on many players' competitive lifespan with
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competitions. This document includes a lengthy section imposing a "tentative ban" on the use of non-GameCube controllers such as the Smash Box controller, stating that the classic controller is "somewhat intrinsic to what we consider 'playing
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described the situation: "As competitive matches can have players hitting six inputs per second, accidental slipping of the thumb stick can mean a win or loss." A large variety of different controllers are also compatible with the
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Dustin Huffer, founder of Hit Box, designed and developed the Smash Box controller in order to make input as binary as possible (removing the analog stick) and removing the controller's inconsistencies. In an interview with
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tweeted his support for this decision and stated in an interview that alternative controllers "should rightfully be scrutinized and tested at a local level before being allowed to used in a major scale event."
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explained that the learning curve for the Smash Box controller is very steep, but it "theoretically could make someone the most technical player of all time." The binary input method could also be of use for
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series, but the original GameCube controller is generally considered superior to more modern models because of its octagonal gate and analog buttons. This has resulted in scarcity of the original model.
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has developed over time, professional players need to perform with extreme levels of precision. Some players would hold their controller in a "claw" position, using the
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community as to whether the new controller should be considered legal for tournament use. In
December 2016, Huffer was told in a private conversation with
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and fighting game tournaments, with it and other all-button controllers finding more acceptance and use throughout the communities.
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designed by Dustin Huffer and developed by Hit Box from 2014 to 2017. Specifically designed for competitive play of
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A prototype of the Smash Box controller prior to the
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and general postural concerns, but it is overall less stressful than the original controller.
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campaign for the controller, but its legal status in tournament play slowed down his plans.
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with an octagonal gate that allows an accurate input in eight directions. However, as the
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tournament. After Huffer explained the situation to professional player
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organizers that the controller may be banned from the major
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292:D'Anastasio, Cecilia (2016-12-28).
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344:Scene's Favorite Game Controller"
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428:Smash World Tour (2022-03-14).
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317:Faulkner, Jason (2016-12-29).
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340:"Time Is Running Out For The
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369:Competition Raises Eyebrows"
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580:Game Boy Advance link cable
386:Myers, Maddy (2018-04-17).
363:Myers, Maddy (2017-08-04).
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154:Ulnar tunnel syndrome
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1306:GameCube accessories
1278:Smash Box controller
1209:Lists of tournaments
1022:Counter Logic Gaming
585:Smash Box controller
542:Online functionality
187:Dustin "Gravy" White
82:, which features an
26:Smash Box controller
1183:Major League Gaming
991:Spacestation Gaming
409:"Genesis 8 ruleset"
169:Tournament legality
98:in tandem with the
80:GameCube controller
65:GameCube controller
40:GameCube controller
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28:is a custom
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1001:Tempo Storm
666:Successor:
651:Nintendo 64
629:Capcom Five
557:Accessories
367:Smash Melee
138:Kickstarter
88:high-level
1300:Categories
1132:VikkiKitty
1037:G2 Esports
715:in esports
565:Controller
273:Community"
225:References
126:and other
1272:Project M
1238:Project M
1163:DreamHack
1102:Winterfox
1092:Team Envy
1067:Renegades
1042:Immortals
956:FaZe Clan
820:Westballz
770:Hungrybox
765:BrolyLegs
414:Genesis 8
324:Shacknews
179:Genesis 4
158:Hungrybox
92:community
1321:Nintendo
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1010:Inactive
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951:Dignitas
936:Alliance
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835:Ultimate
805:PC Chris
800:Mew2King
662:Category
570:WaveBird
530:Hardware
523:GameCube
219:Evo 2018
150:joystick
1264:Related
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1047:Misfits
888:Zackray
873:Samsora
853:Maister
624:Dolphin
617:Related
393:Compete
373:Compete
349:Compete
1168:eGames
1127:Ludwig
1082:Splyce
986:Reject
971:Liquid
941:Cloud9
929:Active
785:Ludwig
780:Leffen
755:Armada
727:series
303:Kotaku
278:Kotaku
203:Melee'
133:Kotaku
1245:Wii U
1231:Brawl
1224:Melee
1072:Rogue
897:Other
883:Tweek
868:Nairo
863:MkLeo
858:Marss
843:Dabuz
795:Mango
742:Melee
595:Games
547:Gekko
433:(PDF)
294:"Big
198:Melee
194:Melee
100:thumb
1148:Apex
909:ZeRo
904:Isai
825:Zain
815:PPMD
810:Plup
790:Magi
750:aMSa
250:ESPN
128:RSIs
120:ESPN
105:ESPN
63:The
24:The
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775:Ken
760:Axe
669:Wii
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1087:T1
1057:OG
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