Don't Touch: The Story of the U-Force

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2024
  • In 1989, the most anticipated new controller for the NES wasn't the Power Glove; it was the U-Force. Learn about the making of the device, its rocky road to retail, and the battle against the Power Glove.
    CHAPTERS
    00:00 - Introduction
    02:12 - Part 1: A New Way to Play
    14:21 - Part 2: Under Pressure
    27:12 - Part 3: Don't Touch
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    #UForce #NES #GamingHistorian
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ความคิดเห็น • 2.4K

  • @GamingHistorian
    @GamingHistorian  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1942

    With this video, I have completed the holy trinity of NES controllers: Power Glove, Roll & Rocker, and now U-Force. What's next?

    • @purepwnage909
      @purepwnage909 2 ปีที่แล้ว +117

      Miracle piano

    • @FiveToedSloth
      @FiveToedSloth 2 ปีที่แล้ว +161

      Gameboy sewing machine

    • @Davethe3rd
      @Davethe3rd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +112

      Power Pad.
      Or the Laserscope...

    • @TJDious
      @TJDious 2 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      All 3 of them were ahead of their time. And Nintendo never forgets.

    • @MentalLiberation
      @MentalLiberation 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Possibly move on to the SNES...and the exercise bike

  • @beeto45
    @beeto45 2 ปีที่แล้ว +716

    “You mean you have to use your hands?” “That’s like a baby’s toy!”

    • @MLBlue30
      @MLBlue30 2 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      I'll never understand the 80s obsession with hating controllers. Lol

    • @beeto45
      @beeto45 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      @@MLBlue30 it was when they were invented; with trial and error; error mostly... ;P

    • @wellesradio
      @wellesradio 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      @@MLBlue30 You never had to deal with shitty controllers. Controller-less gaming was to the 80’s what driverless cars are to us today.

    • @benayers8622
      @benayers8622 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I love bttf

    • @beeto45
      @beeto45 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@benayers8622 so do i; maybe in 40 years they'll do a remake/sequel/reboot...

  • @taffysaur
    @taffysaur 2 ปีที่แล้ว +660

    I recall AVGN being really confused as to how the steering stick worked, as it just sits in a little groove with no connection to the device. Thanks for explaining how that worked, it’s fascinating.

    • @Ribby00
      @Ribby00 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Exactly! Very cool!

    • @flintlockwood1919
      @flintlockwood1919 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Exactly what I had in my mind during that scene.

    • @mccarthy5825
      @mccarthy5825 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ditto mate. And Adam in your pic... Legend! 👍

    • @ssaunders1122
      @ssaunders1122 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Yall do realize avgn is playing a character blinded by rage and anger. You are so frustrated you don't see what's easy and clearly in your face.

    • @Kazuma42
      @Kazuma42 2 ปีที่แล้ว +66

      What's awesome is James (or AVGN) voices the quote at about 23 minutes

  • @carlosfranceschy9428
    @carlosfranceschy9428 2 ปีที่แล้ว +370

    It’s always fascinating when you can contact the actual developer and hear their stories directly from them. Great job

  • @Cory_
    @Cory_ 2 ปีที่แล้ว +415

    "We've GOT to beat the Powerglove." is the funniest statement ever.

    • @rayelgatubelo
      @rayelgatubelo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I don't know, that Lucas guy is kind of scary.

    • @LuckyBird551
      @LuckyBird551 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      From looking at both products, and remembering what the 80s was like, I have a feeling that the reason the Power Glove was selling better was simply because it had a cooler name, and it looked cooler as a product (plus the whole being in a movie thing). If the U-force had a more badass name, and had edgy black finish with red highlights instead of that pale gray, it would have sold better.

    • @realrentalsman
      @realrentalsman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes

    • @El_Bastardo
      @El_Bastardo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I love the powerglove. It's so bad!

    • @maxspecs
      @maxspecs 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @Shoenheim No one told Nintendo lol

  • @nicks4802
    @nicks4802 2 ปีที่แล้ว +450

    In an alternate universe,
    We’re all familiar with the phrase:
    “I love the U-Force… Its so bad”

    • @Luna_Kirisame
      @Luna_Kirisame 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      lol, i get it

    • @dtester
      @dtester 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      "Yeah, well, uh, just keep your U-forces off her, pal, huh?!"

    • @TheCrazierz
      @TheCrazierz ปีที่แล้ว

      I understand that reference

    • @steveharvey2102
      @steveharvey2102 ปีที่แล้ว

      It makes me wonder if they would have used the, "He touched my breast" scene from, "The Wizard", followed by an announcer playing the U Force.
      He turns to the camera and says, "There's no touching with this Force, The U-FORCE!".
      Lol Man, that would have been so stupid funny :)
      They also could have hooked up with Lucasfilm and made a commercial, featuring Luke, missing his first try at hitting the Death Star exhaust port.
      Then, out of nowhere, we here Obi-Wan...
      "Use the U-Force Luke!" Luke looks down at his X-Wing controls, but now, he sees...the U-Force instead...etc., logical conclusion. Lol
      What do you think sirs?

    • @74Spyderman
      @74Spyderman หลายเดือนก่อน

      Is that quote from the movie “The Warlock” starring Ed Ravage?

  • @sintalius
    @sintalius 2 ปีที่แล้ว +694

    I'm always blown away by how professional and deep your documentaries are. Gaming Historian truly stands out amongst the huge amount of video game content on TH-cam.

    • @portostrengthunion
      @portostrengthunion 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Absolutely True

    • @johnny-becker
      @johnny-becker 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Check out his earliest videos. Night and day my friend

    • @mikeworkman3593
      @mikeworkman3593 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      You've obviously have never watched PBS, which is exactly what he modeled his channel after, including the little "funding is provided for" thing at the end of every episode. It def makes it seem more professional.

    • @sintalius
      @sintalius 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mikeworkman3593 Not from USA, don't think PBS is a thing here. If it is, you are correct, I haven't seen it.

    • @nodrogstacey7813
      @nodrogstacey7813 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@mikeworkman3593 I never made the connection with the old PBS docs! Now that you mentioned it, it's so obvious lol

  • @GreatFox42
    @GreatFox42 2 ปีที่แล้ว +187

    I like this guy. He seems pretty genuine. Passionate about his work, and admits the mistakes made but learned from it. I guess enjoying people lighting up is the mark of a true toymaker.

    • @spacecube3514
      @spacecube3514 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Did he learn from it? His conclusion was that they should have concentrated on 1 game and straightened out the manufacturing issues. Not that the concept itself is bad. Which it is.

    • @FocusSight
      @FocusSight 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Care to explain why it is inherenrly bad, especially if there was specialized software that could take advantage of it? ​@@spacecube3514

  • @darktetsuya
    @darktetsuya 2 ปีที่แล้ว +126

    23:43 "if I had the U-Force to do over again, I would've designed games just for it" watching this made me realize it never DID have any dedicated games like the power glove did, that probably would've been a good way to show the other companies how to make the device work! I guess we'll never know how much it would've really helped, though. I had no idea that there WERE any games for it! guess that one just never came out since it was too late

    • @azrael6280
      @azrael6280 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Yes. This is why I hate products like these. Like, how can you sell these stuff not realizing it's only good for certain types of games, they could just state that in the ads/marketing and it would have better reception

    • @azrael6280
      @azrael6280 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Like, what part of gaming is good where you have to punch the air to jump on Super Mario Bros.

    • @findantu
      @findantu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Power glove had like 3 games for it and they all sucked .

    • @AnHebrewChild
      @AnHebrewChild ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@azrael6280 absolutely. Just be UP FRONT in the marketing.
      I saw one of these at KMart and almost bought it but too many unknowns.

    • @spezkay81
      @spezkay81 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I had one too. Got it in 89. I shit my little pants when my dad got me that thing. Then we plugged it in. Thing was a giant piece of shit. Biggest let down ever

  • @VerdantRange
    @VerdantRange 2 ปีที่แล้ว +405

    It was a pleasant surprise to hear James Rolf in this.

    • @greenmaillink
      @greenmaillink 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      As soon the episode began, I was hoping to hear him do a read. Wish granted!

    • @PurpleMintSam
      @PurpleMintSam 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      22:37 too 😃

    • @criznittle968
      @criznittle968 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      You mean the angry nintendo nerd, or James 'The "AVGN" Nerd' Rolfe?

    • @JoakimOtamaa
      @JoakimOtamaa 2 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@criznittle968 It was James, just not in character.

    • @GameyRaccoon
      @GameyRaccoon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @Alex Garner cut him some slack. It was almost 5:40.

  • @anton1990
    @anton1990 2 ปีที่แล้ว +417

    A bad day instantly turns into a great day when the Gaming Historian brings us a new episode!

  • @AiakosVids
    @AiakosVids 2 ปีที่แล้ว +92

    I'm really happy to see you include interviews with developers. I feel like when it comes to video game peripherals (especially older ones) people tend to write them all off as soulless cash grabs from corporations looking to make a quick buck from gimmicks (although there's no doubt that lot of them were indeed just that), but I really like the way this video and the mega man DOS video specifically reframes these kinds of products in a way that's more conducive to their actual histories as passion projects.

  • @Tempora158
    @Tempora158 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    23:02 Broderbund learned the hard way that "If you build it, they will come" DOES NOT work with new game platforms, and the U-Force was basically a new platform. If the platform holder wasn't willing to risk their own money to make a game for their platform, why in the WORLD did they expect someone else to risk their money to make a game for them as a favor? It took them so long to realize this that by the time they did something about it at 28:44, the U-Force Power Games game that should have been made in tandem with the U-Force got cancelled.

  • @BenCol
    @BenCol 2 ปีที่แล้ว +167

    0:52 “If you’ve got hands, you can do this!”
    As opposed to all those game controllers that don’t use your hands. Too long have foot-controlled video games dominated the industry!

    • @startedtech
      @startedtech 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Only DDR mats and the NES Power Pad existed before this :)

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  2 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      And technically, you could play the U-Force with your feet!

    • @BenCol
      @BenCol 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@GamingHistorian I’d love to see that: someone trying to beat Super Mario Bros. or Punch-Out on a U-Force with their feet. That’s the true test of skill for any pro-gamer!

    • @lainwired3946
      @lainwired3946 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@GamingHistorian well, technically, you can use any controller with your feet lol. Look at those dudes with no arms who do archery.

    • @GetYourBeaks
      @GetYourBeaks 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@BenCol Zallard1 playing Punch-Out blindfolded, upside down, using a U-Force with his feet is probably the next logical progression. I mean, anyone can technically do it but he'll just take their WR lol.

  • @Big_Money_Salvia
    @Big_Money_Salvia หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This is such a gem of a channel, can't believe I've never heard of it until now. These videos are wildly professional.

  • @LTGiants2000
    @LTGiants2000 2 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Huge AVGN fan here, somehow just found your channel. You put a ton of research and effort into your videos and the quality really shows. I am so happy I now have hours and hours of videos to watch on your channel, thank you!!

    • @runnersdialzero1244
      @runnersdialzero1244 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I saw "AVGN" and thought this was the comment that talked about him doing a bit of narration about 22 minutes in. NEAT.

  • @Poever
    @Poever 2 ปีที่แล้ว +232

    Always the story with these NES era accessories: they were too early and the technology wasn’t ready

    • @linuxstreamer8910
      @linuxstreamer8910 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I'm curios what will those be when them where made now

    • @jjenk911
      @jjenk911 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Exactly. If the U-Force was made today with games made of it, it would sell really well.

    • @NO-AH562
      @NO-AH562 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Idk guys the U-Force would be like a vr accessory, I don't think it would be a great controller for casual players. It would make an amazing vr accessory if it were that small though.

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  2 ปีที่แล้ว +88

      “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” - Mark Twain

    • @ruekurei88
      @ruekurei88 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Technology was kinda ready. Problem is that you have to heavily kneecap all these products to get them down to consumer level products. It was the same issue with a number of products back in the day, including the Power Glove and even VR and stuff like Virtual Boy. Still true today I feel.

  • @livefreeprintguns
    @livefreeprintguns 2 ปีที่แล้ว +122

    I remember wanting the U-Force so badly after seeing the commercials for it with Mike Tyson's Punch Out. I eventually got one for my birthday, and I spent more time pretending it was a futuristic laptop than an actual Nintendo peripheral lol.

    • @MrJsoeding
      @MrJsoeding 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Amazing!

    • @maxkopfraumpoops
      @maxkopfraumpoops 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      hey nice profile picture you've got there!

  • @flashuser777
    @flashuser777 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    "Making a game dedicated to an expensive controller could be risky..."
    Steel Battalion: Hold my 40 button twin stick controller
    I would love to see a docu on that thing and how it came to be...

    • @Belgand
      @Belgand 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I think a major difference is that it was largely proven technology. Just joysticks, throttle, and pedals with a number of additional buttons. All stuff that existed and worked well for flight simulators. In addition to that, the Battletech Centers had already shown that there was interest in a mech simulator and several games (e.g. the Mechwarrior series, Armored Core, Heavy Gear) on PC and consoles.
      So yeah, it was expensive, but it was also selling a proven control system in a proven genre. Price is the biggest issue and expensive flight sim setups have sold for years.

    • @Gojiro7
      @Gojiro7 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I agree, a documentary on the most over the top gaming accessory ever would be great, as someone who owned one for a time, it was the best but it was clearly a bad idea to market and that would make for a interesting video

    • @sporehux8344
      @sporehux8344 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Steel Battalion happens when the finance people don't show up to a pitch meeting.

  • @WrestlingWithGaming
    @WrestlingWithGaming 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Norm, this video is a freaking masterpiece. Those 37 minutes flew by. The only downside is that I'm going to have the U-Force song stuck in my head all week now. Seriously man, fantastic work.

  • @jtlerch
    @jtlerch 2 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Well I know I'm a game nerd when I recognize James Rolfe reading out some of the quotes.

  • @majorjoe23
    @majorjoe23 2 ปีที่แล้ว +127

    Nerdiest of nerdy corrections: Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys didn’t use the Theramin, because the band found it too difficult to play. It used an electro-theramin, ET’s use a knob to alter the frequency, rather than the placement of the musician’s hands.

    • @BeatleJWOL
      @BeatleJWOL 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Came here to say this. :D a common misconception though.

    • @MMallon425
      @MMallon425 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That's cool, I was wondering when he was playing it about never having heard one with a higher or lower pitch. Can you scale that with the electro-theramin?

    • @DAndyLord
      @DAndyLord 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@MMallon425 A friend of mine has a theramin that she can pitch control with a pedal.

    • @armyofninjas9055
      @armyofninjas9055 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The controls for theremins can be varied and diverse. I've seen foot pedals, knobs, etc. Basically, anything with a potentiometer.

    • @VidweII
      @VidweII 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You some kinda *geek* or wot??

  • @trendmassacre8423
    @trendmassacre8423 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love how you give your videos the PBS feel, which make your videos more bearable to watch compared to other videos from other TH-camrs.

    • @Keepskatin
      @Keepskatin 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      What PBS feel ❓

  • @TRJ2241987
    @TRJ2241987 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    9:53 that is such an epic mullet, I can't even wrap my mind around what I am witnessing. So rad

  • @Lost_n_Found_1
    @Lost_n_Found_1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +145

    To paint a perspective: I was 8 years old when this thing came out, and I loved my Nintendo. But he's right, Mattel was a marketing juggernaut. The Power Glove was all we ever saw. We had no idea this thing even existed until many, many years later. Bummer.

    • @j.d.6915
      @j.d.6915 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Additionally, Power Glove was in The Wizard, which was a huuuuge marketing bonanza.

    • @tjwoosta
      @tjwoosta 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep, I was about the same age then. I had a power glove, never even heard of the u-force until now.

    • @39zack
      @39zack 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      And it was bad, so bad! 😎

    • @residentelect
      @residentelect 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@j.d.6915
      Being in the UK the 8-bit micros' were far more popular at the time these peripherals were released. Most of us had a ZX Spectrum, Commodore C64 or Amstrad etc, but we all had a mate who bucked the trend and owned (and who's parents were willing to shell out for) an NES or SMS.
      One of the lads in our little gang was spoilt rotten by his parents who had separated and thus spent his birthdays and Christmas's locked in a battle of one-upmanship to win his love lol I remember being absolutely astounded (and a little jealous) the Christmas he recieved the Power Glove from his Dad, but after a day of trying to actually use it to play Bad Street Brawler, Super Mario Bros and Topgun, I returned home and was far happier playing Airborne Ranger and Turrican with my Cheetah Annihilator joystick 🤣

    • @j.d.6915
      @j.d.6915 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@residentelect Oh yes, I had a friend that had a power glove too, and it was a POS.

  • @Monkey_SK
    @Monkey_SK 2 ปีที่แล้ว +434

    I wonder if Josh kept to his word and never went back to a normal controller. Can see him now playing GTA5 with his U-Force.

    • @PurpleMintSam
      @PurpleMintSam 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      I'd love to see a current interview with him

    • @filth_nasty
      @filth_nasty 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      I wonder if he still rocks a sweet mullet

    • @barbugia123
      @barbugia123 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Unironically, it could somewhat work

    • @davidabest7195
      @davidabest7195 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Realistically he probably died of a drug od like 10 years ago

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@FluffyBunniesOnFire grownups called the NES pad a joystick, it’s nbd

  • @Bargadiel
    @Bargadiel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I just wanted to say a couple things, now that I've seen a number of these Video Game Historian videos over the years.
    As a kid, the game industry was full of mystery to me, there was so much innovation going on and things would just kind of appear. We naively never thought about ourselves as consumers back then, we just wanted to be a part of what everyone else was doing. New games and controllers were exciting and when someone at school talked about something they just got for their Birthday, it was alot different than the days of pre-orders and all that which we have now.
    Now that I'm an adult and have worked for a few companies, what fascinates me about these documentaries is that it really just shows all these game companies and developers were just doing their jobs, often struggling with the same problems we have with our own jobs and responsibilities/goals today. This isn't to say that it de-mystifies anything for me, but it's humbling to see the inner-workings of this industry often parallel some of the problems we face as a part of any company.
    It's a treasure to get to hear from the developers themselves how they went about doing all this.

  • @davidsarton976
    @davidsarton976 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm so used to videos that dump on peripherals of old that didn't exactly win over consumers, so it's a breath of fresh air to see a cool-headed take on the U-Force.
    And getting James Rolfe to voice the quote about how a consumer would likely choose the new game over the new controller was a stroke of comedic genius.

  • @Khazrihl
    @Khazrihl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    "Gameplay is king."
    Truer words will never be spoken.

  • @liquidmetaldefender
    @liquidmetaldefender 2 ปีที่แล้ว +196

    Something about AVGN having his voice in this has some delicious irony to it lol

    • @Chaos89P
      @Chaos89P 2 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      I remember it working well for him, for the most part. Still couldn't land in Top Gun, however.

    • @FreeportHometown
      @FreeportHometown 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      He never really said anything bad about the U-Force. He kind of just showed it working.

    • @KirbyVanPelt
      @KirbyVanPelt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      @@Chaos89P **flashbacks at the Power glove episode where he MANAGED to land the plane on Top Gun**

    • @FreeportHometown
      @FreeportHometown 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@KirbyVanPelt Lol I'll never forget the look on his face when he pulled that off

    • @JeanRodo
      @JeanRodo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@FreeportHometown or when he beat the final boss in Zelda 2 with the power glove

  • @DonaldCroswhite
    @DonaldCroswhite 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I've seen some people complaining on Patreon about long waits for videos. When you watch and see the production quality, full content and great narration, the wait is worth it.

  • @Beldan4
    @Beldan4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I remember being a child, my mother took me into an marketing research place with a bunch of other kids. They refused to tell us anything about the the products, and all the other kids seemed to be fixated on the glove. The glove...it was easy to infer what it did. However, when I saw the U-force I knew intuitively just how freaking awesome it was and was kind of disgusted by the limited imagination of the other kids for not realizing it either. Only today, some 30 odd years later with the hand tracking in VR devices do we finally get what the technology was ready for when I was a child. It's such a loss.

  • @andresbravo2003
    @andresbravo2003 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    James Rolfe really did a great job voicing on this video, As well as Dave Capper the Inventor! I was really impressed with the Controller.

  • @jaythomas468
    @jaythomas468 2 ปีที่แล้ว +112

    When you really think about it, this thing was basically the Kinect a good two decades before the actual Kinect (and didn’t require an HD camera for tracking).
    That’s kinda amazing in and of itself.

    • @General_Cap
      @General_Cap 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      The xbox one Kinect was quite the evolution in motion tracking as well, and the kinect Azure may very well be a path for 3d roomspace tracking.

    • @DarkShroom
      @DarkShroom 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      the ambition is ahead of it's time.... however having ambition ahead of time is not impressive at all, since like the powerglove, it doesn't really work but they flog it to kids anyway to recoup their loss

    • @thetrophygamer3606
      @thetrophygamer3606 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DarkShroom yup. It’s called being so far ahead of the curve you can’t take advantage of it

    • @DarkShroom
      @DarkShroom ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thetrophygamer3606 it's called sales bullshit if you ask me... anyone could have said a motion controller would be great... actually making one is different

  • @austinpoznoski3083
    @austinpoznoski3083 2 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    absolutely unreal that this channel hasn't hit a million subs yet. GH makes some of the best retro gaming content available anywhere

  • @SerpentNight
    @SerpentNight 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I remember some years ago Stuttering Craig and Handsome Tom gave the U-Force a ripping in one of their ScrewAttack! vids. Thing is, James Rolfe briefly appeared in the video as the Nerd and when he tried out the U-Force about a year later in one of his own videos, he was ironically somewhat kinder to it. Go fig.

    • @mrnauseouz
      @mrnauseouz 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Now those are names I haven't heard in a long time...a long time.

  • @adamkirchoff5714
    @adamkirchoff5714 2 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    I haven't been a "gamer" since the NES days. With that said, I am absolutely floored by the content of this channel! You're docs are BETTER than Network TV and I can't thank you enough!!!!

    • @hulkwarrior
      @hulkwarrior 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Most modern docs are second hand trash, this channel is impressive.

  • @Nefi424
    @Nefi424 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    To this day, hand tracking in VR is still expensive and imperfect. While this isn't the most intuitive of concepts, it was certainly ahead of its time

    • @NO-AH562
      @NO-AH562 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It's pretty good, just incredibly expensive.

    • @fireaza
      @fireaza 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      That's because hand-tracking in VR (assuming you're talking about controller-free hand-tracking here, and not regular VR motion controllers which have can have laser-precise tracking depending on what system is used) has always been experimental, often patched in as an afterthought. Can't really expect too much from something that's not the main focus.

    • @cantcommute
      @cantcommute 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You don't understand how insane it is that they got this to work. Like it's literal physics lab tech in a fucking nes controller lol

  • @erickr4ndom
    @erickr4ndom 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Dear Norman. This is awesomely written, superbly produced and executed video! Congratulations. I can only imagine the time it went on getting the research for all the data, footage and interviews provided. Hands down the best channel about the videogame industry history.

  • @davebronze8829
    @davebronze8829 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Man I love your videos. Nice to see AVGN was part of this too. I'm from the UK (and in my 40's) and don't remember the U-Force but great to see it made it over her, albeit briefly.

    • @ultrairrelevantnobody1862
      @ultrairrelevantnobody1862 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Let's just say the NES in the UK was a very different story compared to the US and Japan.

  • @takwu0
    @takwu0 2 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    This youtube channel is the only one I just refuse to watch on my phone, because I need to watch this on a big TV screen. It's that good. Thanks again Norman.
    In hindsight, as the creator said himself, this device should have been launched with a killer app, maybe even bundled with it.
    In today's market, they can still try to relaunch this as a standalone classic console, with a few built in licensed games. Around 10 or more would do.

    • @ViciousTuna2012
      @ViciousTuna2012 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yup, and they should have all the extra attachments unless they're needed for that game. Maybe even sell them as extras as use cases arise. This would lower production costs, allowing them to alleviate some of those build quality issues by bulking up the housing. If the product became a hit then they could further maximize profits by selling the extra gear to customers, possibly even tied into a new game.

    • @ViciousTuna2012
      @ViciousTuna2012 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yup, and they should have all the extra attachments unless they're needed for that game. Maybe even sell them as extras as use cases arise. This would lower production costs, allowing them to alleviate some of those build quality issues by bulking up the housing. If the product became a hit then they could further maximize profits by selling the extra gear to customers, possibly even tied into a new game.

  • @user-ct1md9lw9d
    @user-ct1md9lw9d 2 ปีที่แล้ว +65

    I love when you upload and I have to double take.
    "Is this a new video!?!?"
    >checks upload date

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Glad I can alter your sense of reality!

    • @CoreyHart13
      @CoreyHart13 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I do the Exact same dude hahahshsha

  • @Pogokoala
    @Pogokoala 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Damn this was very very good, especially when you have one of the makers into the video, it really enhance the experience of this channel. Thank you Gaming Historian. what an eyeopener in a business perspective.

  • @Highness.09
    @Highness.09 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Great video as always!
    Dave Capper seems like a really fun guy. He's passionate and his speech at the end was pretty inspiring. I wonder if he likes Nintendo's Toy-Con stuff.

  • @eduardogomez4275
    @eduardogomez4275 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    I only knew about that controller because of the AVGN, never thought it would have such a history behind. Cool video, as always!

  • @jayboomus
    @jayboomus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    Loved hearing James! I was thinking about him throughout the episode, since he introduced me to both the power glove and U Force on AVGN

    • @countrystud1986
      @countrystud1986 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      What? James isn't anywhere in this episode. What the hell are you talking about?

    • @Mortalitor
      @Mortalitor 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@countrystud1986 at 22:38 You can hear his voice. Then you hear some kind of sign off "Steven Isenburg. Analyst". That's very clearly James Rolfe, I'm not sure why the deception.

    • @jimmyreed2405
      @jimmyreed2405 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@Mortalitor he's reading a quote from Steven Isenberg.

    • @CardfightVanja
      @CardfightVanja 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@countrystud1986 he's literally thanked in the description for contributing his voice to the video

    • @zickykane5206
      @zickykane5206 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Mortalitor He was just reading a quote, goofball lol

  • @ArthurKiyanovski
    @ArthurKiyanovski 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Excellent video as always!
    I love it that James Rolff read some stuff. It really adds to the feeling of "youtube one big family". Great touch.

  • @yaboileeroy3038
    @yaboileeroy3038 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This came on autoplay while I was at the gym. Was not disappointed.

  • @davidandadamplaygamesphelp3601
    @davidandadamplaygamesphelp3601 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    The Uforce was actually pretty genius in it's design And believe it or not it actually worked really well

  • @Filthykur
    @Filthykur 2 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    Amazing that you were able to get an interview with Dave Capper. Seeing all the products he had a hand in, this guy is a pop culture icon. A tremendous video as always, Norm.

    • @johncip
      @johncip 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Dave struck me as the kind of guy who never misses an opportunity to brag.

    • @TheRealManbropig
      @TheRealManbropig 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      In my opinion, most of the products he had a hand in were garbage. I grew up with a lot of the toys/gadgets shown in this video. A lot of them were poorly made and broke easily.

  • @yung_sirloin
    @yung_sirloin 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    yo I love this Dave Capper dude, the passion and love for his ideas/products is infectious

  • @777lando4
    @777lando4 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hitclips, tooth tunes, video now??? this dude is the goat

  • @snipersEND
    @snipersEND 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    22:37 I love that you got James Rolfe to say this quote, it sounds like something the AVGN would say (just with less swearing)

    • @moreblack
      @moreblack 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I thought that voice sounded familiar

  • @petwisk2012
    @petwisk2012 2 ปีที่แล้ว +96

    I love this Dev, he's so pacionate, even If the product wasin't the best he tried his best to bring motion controls to console marketing in the 80s, and he didn't gave up after the Uforce failed

    • @clblanchard08
      @clblanchard08 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Just like the Power Glove this was a clearly case of trying to cram 100 pounds of shit into a 10 pound bag on top of all of the manufacturing shenanigans.
      Neither would replace a traditional controller and everyone but marketing knew this. In my mind the neither the Power Glove nor the UForce failed. The technology was clearly there; it just wasn't feasible to try and make it work for everything.

    • @Assimandeli
      @Assimandeli 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@clblanchard08 Technology was there, but probably not for the NES. Especially how the powerglove was dumbed down a lot.

    • @Marzimus
      @Marzimus 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Assimandeli Kramer?

  • @traviswright456
    @traviswright456 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I just bought a U Force off of Ebay for $45.00 yesterday. I always wanted it as a kid but couldn't afford it. I'm excited to try it out. I'm a dork I know lmao.🤙👍🕹🎮

  • @proximacentauri8256
    @proximacentauri8256 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    09:55 you can't be more 80s than that hairstyle man, amazing!

    • @3rdEyeWide
      @3rdEyeWide 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The perma-receding hairline of Lars; the mustache and steel-eyed squint of James; and the long, blonde cascading back-locks of Dave (Mustaine) - this guy's got it all!

    • @proximacentauri8256
      @proximacentauri8256 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@3rdEyeWide 😂 Its like that 3d pictures that you have to cross eye to see them, i can see him now with short hair and now with a mullet. 🤣

  • @PatTheNESpunk
    @PatTheNESpunk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +534

    Fantastic video! I had one friend who had the U-force, but it was never used. Pretty similar experience to the Power Glove -- after you have one, you realize that it's not worth the trouble in trying to use it.

    • @mwk1
      @mwk1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Patrick! Pick up the phone! ;-)

    • @xenos_n.
      @xenos_n. 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      One of the least surprising people to see here.

    • @nickwallette6201
      @nickwallette6201 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I had a friend that had one, and I thought it was so cool that I had to have one too. It was every bit as effective and fun as Gyromite with ROB.
      Looked cool, though. (Also like ROB.)

    • @darthdome2
      @darthdome2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I love your Chanel from fan in Thailand

    • @AB0BA_69
      @AB0BA_69 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Hey Pat. You still think people who voiced their dislike of Diablo Immortal are "babies", lmao?
      Suck it down!

  • @rhsxo
    @rhsxo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    As someone that actually had this as a kid, I can attest, this thing was a novelty item. It was frustrating to use. I always wound up unplugging it and plugging in my normal NES controller. Cool idea though.

    • @spugintrntl
      @spugintrntl 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I feel like that describes motion controls in general.

    • @xenxander
      @xenxander 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      no one wanted a 'novel' controller. That's the problem with all of these crap ideas.. fads.

    • @c5mjohn
      @c5mjohn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      This was my exact experience. I remember being mad at my parents for buying it for me and my brothers instead of a game. Watching this video, I'm sure my parents got it when it was $30, so not as bad, but still annoying to think about.

  • @jackmojo
    @jackmojo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The production quality of your videos, and the amount of research you do never ceases to amaze me.

  • @andyrocks6174
    @andyrocks6174 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    these documentaries are awesome. so glad every time you upload. i wait for months in anticipation and understand why they take so long, because you pour a lot into them and they're worth the wait everytime. thanks.

  • @FiveToedSloth
    @FiveToedSloth 2 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    The Uforce blew my mind but I never had one. As an adult, I bought a Kinect just to bring my younger self's dream to life!
    I didn't like it.

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      When I was a teacher, we had an Xbox 360 + Kinect that classrooms could rent out. I don't think anyone ever touched it.

    • @chadfugate564
      @chadfugate564 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      you didn't miss anything

    • @FiveToedSloth
      @FiveToedSloth 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@GamingHistorian I'm surprised you had one available! But not surprised that no one used it.

    • @dadrising6464
      @dadrising6464 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@GamingHistorianin the end it found most of use in robot developement ;)

  • @GobotWars
    @GobotWars 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    It's always cool when James Rolfe shows up in a video

  • @nick-playercharacter8583
    @nick-playercharacter8583 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I've been following this channel since the early days and it continues to one of the absolute best on TH-cam.

  • @CarletonTorpin
    @CarletonTorpin 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Worthwhile thumbnail update. Love it.

  • @megaemmie
    @megaemmie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I never even heard of the U-Force as a kid growing up with an NES. The first time I was aware of it was the AVGN video of the various NES accessories.
    I think I saw the power glove advertised in Nintendo Power or maybe I saw it in the Wizard. I got a power glove for Christmas in ‘89 but my parents returned it when they saw the glove was too big for my hand. 😢

  • @MissMTurner
    @MissMTurner 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    What I love about your videos is hearing from the actual people involved. It's so great to get that firsthand experience and perspective.

  • @davidmreyes77
    @davidmreyes77 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    The “U” in U Force stood for underwhelming. I had it upon release and was frustrated by it. I respect the idea behind and now in retrospect we see how the technology behind it paved the way for modern systems. But yeah, back in 1990 we really just needed a basic controller and we were good to go.

    • @Make_Ukraine_Russia_Again
      @Make_Ukraine_Russia_Again 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Or unworkable. Just like the Power Glove, it simply didn't work or do anything it claimed to do.

  • @bobbob465
    @bobbob465 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "This is the [mullet], it is truly amazing, and it is the hottest item at this year's show.
    No buttons, no joystick, if you've got [hair] you can do this."

  • @MrTomFTW
    @MrTomFTW 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    What a great insight Dave Capper gives at the end there, with many years of successful products now under his belt. It felt like a very satisfying end to the video and the story of this weird little accessory.

  • @retrospect
    @retrospect 2 ปีที่แล้ว +100

    Been waiting for this one 😘

    • @jeremiahmills5015
      @jeremiahmills5015 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Everyone’s been waiting he uploads 3 times a year

  • @jonathaneytchison6841
    @jonathaneytchison6841 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Thank you Gaming Historian! As always A+ quality content! Thank you so much for putting so much effort into your documentaries. It's really the only thing out there like it. Also, that was pretty cool that you got James Rolfe as a voice over in there! Keep up the amazing work my friend!

  • @nicholaspaiva9608
    @nicholaspaiva9608 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I can’t get over the production and content quality here. Just gets better and better!

  • @HOWLWOLF
    @HOWLWOLF 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Been watching Internet Historian since I first started watching TH-cam almost 12 years ago, still is one of my favorite channels. The quality only gets better and better.

    • @6581punk
      @6581punk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It's Gaming Historian :)

    • @JCtechwizard
      @JCtechwizard 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You mean gaming historian??

  • @BeatleJWOL
    @BeatleJWOL 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Loving this recent focus on the people behind the project. Seeing the history unfold is one thing, and always great to see. Hearing from the voices behind these things that may be lost to time otherwise makes it even better.

  • @joearnold6881
    @joearnold6881 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    9:55
    That.
    Mullet.
    Is.
    *_GLORIOUS_* _!!!_

  • @Macho_Fantastico
    @Macho_Fantastico 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had no idea that the U-Force was such a big deal. Fascinating to hear from one of it's creators. I love the U-Force adverts too.

  • @urmie
    @urmie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    22:00 Oh my God! Is that failed Xbox exec Don Mattrick? What are the odds?

  • @mscottjohnson3424
    @mscottjohnson3424 2 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    Lol, "we've got to beat Power Glove." The idea of U Force and Power Glove in serious competition is just hilarious to me.

  • @hizokadarkwolf
    @hizokadarkwolf 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    *clap clap clap* this was really interesting. I didn't know about this device. The '80s and '90s were the real battle royale of video games. Sadly, they didn't come up with exclusive games, like space ships, racing games, and sports games. The analog feature was impressive. It was a device ahead of its time, the true Kinect.

  • @skechyassmofo
    @skechyassmofo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I actually had no idea Avi Arad was in the toy industry before joining Marvel.
    I learned something new today!

  • @DJKi2463
    @DJKi2463 2 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Truly I’m glad the U Force is getting the respect it deserves. Power glove was interesting. But I find myself more invested the U Force and it’s history. Good job Norman

  • @CoreyHart13
    @CoreyHart13 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Shoutout to Norm. This channel is so consistent. Never ceases to amaze me how intresting these seemingly bland topics become when funneled through the lens of The Gaming Historian. Another Gem. Thanks for the entertainment. Today was a rough one for me, and this gave me 30mins of escape and joy ✌❤💯

  • @erolddehaseth7642
    @erolddehaseth7642 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Amazing production and editorial quality. The attention to research and detail is commendable, Keep up the great work!

  • @escadrums2
    @escadrums2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love that the AVGN - James Rolfe helped reading quotes/ narrating

  • @marchingham
    @marchingham 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    This was awesome! Can't believe how many awesome products Capper has had his hand in for his career. Dude is a legend! Also you and James Rolfe working together makes me very happy 😊 Would be very interested in learning more about how Sega dominated the UK! Great work as always!!

    • @TheRealManbropig
      @TheRealManbropig 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think you and I may have different definitions of "awesome." In my opinion, most of the products he had a hand in were garbage. I grew up with a lot of the toys/gadgets shown in this video. A lot of them were poorly made and broke easily.

  • @39zack
    @39zack 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    GH videos are so good 😀
    -No "later in the episode" bullshit
    -no stupid intro bullshit
    -no cringe editing bullshit
    Just pure history blizz 😀

  • @xxxYouTunesxxx
    @xxxYouTunesxxx 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I remember getting a hold of a U Force back in the day. My first reaction was "WTF do I do with this thing?" because I tried using it with the games I had, none of them played properly. After about 20 minutes I tossed it aside, never to be used again.

  • @ChrisCoelho
    @ChrisCoelho 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    dude your videos always blow me away, you put so much work and effort into your videos you deserve the success you've gotten!

  • @WhiteScarsEmo
    @WhiteScarsEmo 2 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    Amazing how "handless" controllers are still dodgy as hell, right up until today's times.

    • @Nocturne22
      @Nocturne22 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@stuporman I remember when Xbox bragged about how you could use Kinect to control your tv and DVD menus. It was fun for like a minute, then you realized how janky it was.

    • @WhiteScarsEmo
      @WhiteScarsEmo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stuporman You got me thinking of the game, "Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor". Pretty much all of the reviews tore into the bad controls (Kinect).

    • @BBHood217
      @BBHood217 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      U-Force crawled so that Wii and Kinect could walk.

    • @ShaunDreclin
      @ShaunDreclin 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Modern VR controllers are actually _really_ good (particularly ones that use lighthouse tracking), you should give them a try if you haven't. Much better than the wii's waggle wands

  • @sherbetpictures
    @sherbetpictures 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Another amazing video Norm! You’re honestly one of the few creators that I’ll always watch their video immediately even if it’s not a topic I know about or are interested in, because you know it’s gonna be an interesting and high quality video everytime!! 😊😊

  • @SlapShotRegatta22
    @SlapShotRegatta22 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Best retro gaming channel on TH-cam. Hands down (forgive the pun, ha ha).

  • @subliminalvibes
    @subliminalvibes ปีที่แล้ว +1

    7:45 - Mars Attacks theme!!! 👍😎

  • @lai5115
    @lai5115 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The Gaming Historian uploads a video. Today is a good day.

  • @anonony9081
    @anonony9081 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I actually owned this peripheral and we basically didn't know how to use it. I remember trying it on a few games and it not really working well and it just sat there. And the way the joystick just sat in that notch was very confusing

  • @justadhdmuzyka3627
    @justadhdmuzyka3627 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    It's Saturday and I have an almost 40 minute Gaming Historian video to watch, what could be better?

  • @Sh1neSp4rk
    @Sh1neSp4rk 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I hope you take this as a compliment but I have to be careful when your videos come on cause I find them absolutely enthralling. I usually have youtube videos on in the background while I'm doing other things. I adore your videos but if they sneak into my autoplay it's pretty much GG for my ability to focus on anything else.

  • @RetroJ3000
    @RetroJ3000 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Every video Norm makes is so damn good. Really cool that he actually got to interview the creator!

  • @brandonkito
    @brandonkito 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This was fascinating, it’s so interesting to learn about the effort behind products like this, even the failed ones.

  • @LordTeaboBaggins
    @LordTeaboBaggins 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I want to live in a world where this is Part 1 of a 3 part series about The Controller Wars of the 90s

  • @AshrakAhmed
    @AshrakAhmed 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    "I love the Power Glove, It's so bad!"
    I'm like "Yes, indeed! It's rubbish!"