NES MAX controller was released in 1989 very early on in the life of the NES. It is not much different from the basic controller except for the two turbo buttons and the very strange D-Pad. The idea was that the circular D-Pad which spins 360 degrees would improve direction accuracy.

At least that is what the box says, I believe the real reason the NES MAX was released was because of complaints with the original controller. Complaints regarding health problems people were having such as hand cramps and blisters aka Nintendonitis.