CD-i member Pixels & Creatures compared the cords of various gamepads and it seems like the CD-i gamepad has the longest one. It has a length of almost 3 meter. With that in mind, what would be the reason for companies to define the controller's cable length? Costs, of course, and a bit of safety. CD-i controllers like the Roller Controller and the touchpad/gamepad all have a cable length of 3 meter. With 3 meter, you can sit at a safe distance from your television. At the time, it didn't look like Philips was watching the costs of CD-i anyway (it had to succeed no matter what) - But just like how they released ergonomic alternatives to the classic gamepad (trackball, roller controller, air mouse gun) they always warned consumers for epilepsy on every CD-i disc. With a length of 3 meter, nobody could complain afterwards that the controllers didn't allow people to sit far enough from their TV.
[Thanks, Pixels & Creatures]
