Select Button!!!

Post by **peace4myheart** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:06 pm

Correct me if I am wrong, but the "select" button first popped up with the "start" button during the 8-bit era. Do you guys know what the purpose of the "select" button was for then and now, especially with newer console. Has it outlived its original purpose and can we do without it now???

Post by **Niode** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:40 pm

The select button was used for 'selecting' different menus on games. It was used on most early NES games as a way of moving between 1 player, 2 player and options on the title screen. There's not much point for it these days. I like what Microsoft did with the Xbox and changed it into a universal back button. It made more sense and actually had a constant use, not just a button that was there for developers to use once in a blue moon for some forgettable command.

Personally I use it when playing MAME as a credit button. I can't think of any other use for it! Hehe!

Post by **ubelaffe** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:55 pm

I know sometimes, like in PS2's "Bully," it is used to go directly to the map, while start takes you to the main menu of stats, inventory, checklists, etc... Could the map be a part of that menu? Sure. Having it pop up at the click of a button, though, makes it quicker.

Post by **vlame** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:35 pm

Chouhatsu.

Post by **Yackom** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:12 pm

If I recall correctly in 'punch out' it was the super punch.

Post by **Doctor Fugue** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:43 pm

Being a Sega man I never understood the need for a universal select button. It could be great if it was actually used in most, if not every game as a select button. General use extra buttons are always good, though, as I love the Jaguar controller!

Post by **elph** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:02 am

Yackom wrote:If I recall correctly in 'punch out' it was the super punch.

Nope. It's the start button for super punch. If you hit select between rounds, your trainer will rub your shoulders a little more quickly and you get more health, though.

Post by **molotovwars** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:13 am

I know Dreamcast didn't have a select button, and I don't think Saturn did either, but when they made that Saturn controller for PS2 they added one..

Post by **StuntDouble** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:18 am

My old Atari 2600 and 7800 had a select button, but it was on the console..

Post by **nightwalker** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:27 am

Well I had a use for the select button. I still have an accesosorie made from tyco I dont remember correctly the brand but its a powerplay. You connect that thing to the snes or genesis (the ones I got) and then you conect the controller to that thing and you can record a move or action on a button on your controller. I used the select button to map a shoryuken it was easier to do hehe.