Since the collective world’s mind was blown with the release of the Atari 2600 in 1977, video game controllers have seen quite the evolution. There have been good controllers, bad controllers, and some f*cking terrible controllers. Whose brilliant idea was it to put 12+ buttons on one controller? Who is responsible for the controller that we know today? These questions and more are answered in our anthology of video game controllers after the jump!

t’s been nearly two years since the release of the highly acclaimed, fan-favorite Ghosbusters: The Video Game, which helped to temporarily sate the fans’ hunger for a third Ghostbusters movie. Heeding the call, Atari – the publishers of the 2009 smash hit – announced back in December that the Ghostbusters would be making their triumphant return to video games in the downloadable follow-up title Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime being released in late March. At last, the wait is over, but Sanctum of Slime is a complete departure from its predecessor in terms of gameplay and the overall story. See our full preview after the jump!

Recently resurrected from the grave in the comics, Bruce Wayne is also making his triumphant return to video games this October in Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham City, the sequel to 2009’s critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum. Based on trailers and information released so far, this title is one of the most highly anticipated games of 2011 and could be the game of the year. See our full preview along screengrabs and the trailer after the jump!

When I first saw the trailer for Bulletstorm, it seemed almost comically generic, yet another over-the-top gore-fest FPS set in a barren wasteland of mutants, savages and whatnot. Then Fox News printed an article titled “Is Bulletstorm the Worst Video Game in the World?” that described that game as something that, if played for even a few moments, would turn even the most angelic of children into a murder-loving, rape-obsessed psychopath. The article and the trailer seemed to belong on two completely different planes of existence, and I began to wonder about the game itself. Just what is this Bulletstorm. Read our review and vote for your college to win a free Snoop Dogg concert after the jump!

Touted as ultimate in-home driving simulator, Gran Turismo is back and (supposedly) better than ever. It’s been a long time coming (5 years!), but it’s finally arrived on Playstation 3. This time around GT brings you online racing for up to 16-players, vehicle damage, over 1,000 vehicles to choose from, 26 different locations, and 71 different tracks. Gentlemen, start your engines! See our full review after the jump!

Pegged as one of the most exciting skating games in ages, Shaun White Skateboarding has finally been released. In collaboration with the “Flying Tomato” himself, Ubisoft has polished and released the second board sport game to be name after Shaun. While he’s best know for what he does on the pipe made of snow, Shaun is a skate vert XGames & Dew Tour champ and has been skateboarding for just as long as he’s been snowboarding.

Bond is back! This time with a brand new original story written by Bruce Feurstein, the same guy who brought you such master pieces as GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. Add voice acting from true 007 stars Daniel Craig and Judy Dench, and Blood Stone feel more like a movie than a video game.

We’ve already stabbed, shot, dismembered, impaled, poisoned, and bludgeoned hundreds of baddies in Assassin’s Creed and Assassin’s Creed 2. In Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (out today, 11/16, on all major consoles), everything that made your stab-happy heart go aflutter in prior AC games gets turned up a notch, and Ubisoft has a few spring-loaded tricks up its sleeve, so watch your back.

The tremendously popular RPG franchise; Fallout has a new and incredibly awesome chapter – Fallout: New Vegas. The follow up to Fallout 3 posted record sales at launch with five million units shipped! So, what’s everyone so excited about? Join us as we take a look.

It’s baaaaaaaaack! In collaboration with world renowned DJ’s such as Tiesto, DJ Qbert, Deadmau5, and David Guetta. DJ Hero 2 is here, and we’re happy to report it’s better than ever. This time with more than 100 songs mixed into 80 fresh tracks for your listening, cross-fading, and scratchin’ pleasure. Reeeeguuulaaatoooors… Mount up!

The good folks over at Activision are at it again with their latest installment to the Guitar Hero franchise. Guitar Hero numero 6 aka – “Warriors of Rock.” This time with more than 90 classic face melting tracks to choose from. We had a chance to sit down with the game over the past several days, and we are happy to report that YES this game roc… Click to read more

Have you ever wanted to smash someones face in, break an arm, or choke someone out? To the guy who just answered “No”, your man-card has been revoked. Sorry, but we’re not sorry! EA Sports MMA has just been released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. We are happy to report that this is not your typical fighting game. Sorry to all of you button mas… Click to read more

Keep you girlfriends close and your gun closer. James Bond is heading to town and he’s bringing a world of hurt and heartbreak with him. Bond’s new adventure, 007 Blood Stone hits shelves November 2 for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo DS, and PC and from what I’m seeing being Bond in a video game has never been closer to the real thing.

Sony invited us to play a bunch of titles they’re releasing for its new Playstation Move platform, which is their answer to The Nintendo Wii-mote. For those of you unfamiliar with The Move, it’s a set of accessories that can be used with your PS3 that includes a video camera and several motion sensor controllers. As a result, gameplay is drastically different than your typical PS3 games, involving sweeping, exaggerated movements.

Game control design has not always been a simple matter of evolution down the years – more a case of thrashing about blindly and hoping something works. Or copying whatever Nintendo does. Let’s now take a look back at the (strange and often slightly inbred) history of video game controllers.