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Steel Battalion Controller Green & Blue Button Controller Differences
I've received numerous requests (and seen discussions across the Internet on various forums) inquiring about the differences between the two controller variants for Steel Battalion, the green and the blue. This page will attempt to explain the history of the two versions and the physical and functional differences. A Brief History
Steel Battalion was originally released in the Fall of 2002 (09/12/02 Japan, 11/21/02 North America) and came with the green button controller design. I received an unconfirmed report that the NA release number was 16,000 units. Concurrent with the EU release (03/28/03) a second batch of green button controllers was re-released in the Spring of 2003. Supposedly, during the re-release period and additional 4,000 units were produced. With the release of Steel Battalion: Line of Contact looming in February of 2004, Capcom again started production of Steel Battalion controllers, this time utilising blue buttons instead of the original green buttons. Supposedly another 20,000 units were produced for the North American market during this second run. I do not have information on other regions at this time. Primary Design Differences
There are a few design differences (beyond the basic green or blue buttons) between the two controller series.
Discussion of Cosmetic and Functional Differences
Green button controllers are rumoured to be more durable (the controller top platform) when it comes to the toggle switches and view hat controls. This information is more word-of-mouth than hard fact as there have been no durability statistics released by the controller manufacturer (Sammy USA). The foot pedal block that was included with the blue button controllers has a significantly different internal design than the one released with the green button controller series. The blue button foot controller uses a compression spring assembly to maintain foot pedal tension, whereas the green button foot pedals used a torsion spring assembly and were much more prone to breaking [the springs themselves] (over an extended period of usage). Either foot controller can suffer mechanical failure of the pedal "arms" themselves over time, including rupture of the axle barrel itself. This will only happen after hundreds of hours of use though. Other differences between the two controllers include a slightly heavier cable between the foot controller and the main controller section for the blue button controller. The foot controller cable for the blue button controllers also has the addition of a choke-coil just prior to the connector plug. The blue button controllers also have a heat-shrink cover over the ribbon cables that attach the left and right blocks to the center block. Blue button controllers also omit the silk-screened "PRF Army" logo on the center block. For all practical purposes the controllers are identical in build and the blocks from both blue and green models can be interchanged freely. There is a MINOR bug in the blue controllers that prevents the opening splash movies of the Line of Contact disc from playing and it appears to have something to do with the foot controller design. I have an original green button controller for which I had to order a replacement pedal set (which was of the blue button controller run/series). When the "new" controller pedals are plugged in the movies will not play, if I swap back to my original green button controller pedals the movies will play. Which Controller Is the "Best"?
This is a difficult question to answer. As discussed above, the green button controllers are rumoured to be more durable, especially for the viewhat control on the left control stick. However, the footer controller design which accompanies the blue button controller is MUCH better than the original torsion spring design which came with the green button controllers. The torsion springs from my green button controller accelerator have broken twice as of this writing, and I have since purchased a replacement pedal block (which was of the blue button design). Note that the breakage occurred after hundreds of hours of gameplay. I have not to this day had any issues with my green button controller block sections (left, middle, right). Truly, the best controller setup would, in my opinion, be a combination of the green controller blocks and the reissue (blue button series) foot pedal controller. But, do not let this advice prevent you from purchasing either model as there are hundreds of players who have reported no issues with their setups. |
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