A system (100, 300) comprising: a processor (108, 112, 308, 312, 612) configured to receive a file that includes a first channel programmed with a first set of control parameters to generate a first haptic effect and a second channel programmed with a second set of control parameters to generate a second haptic effect and to output a control signal that includes the first and second sets of control parameters for the first and second haptic effects, the first and second sets of control parameters dictating a type, an amount, and/or a frequency of the first and second haptic effects, respectively, wherein the file is an audio file or a haptic file generated from the audio file and the first and second sets of control parameters for the first and second haptic effects, respectively, are encoded onto the first and second channels of the audio file via manipulation of a source sound signal using an audio editing program; and a haptic peripheral (102, 302, 602) including a haptic output device (118, 318A, 318B, 318C), the haptic output device being coupled to a user input element of the haptic peripheral, wherein the haptic output device (118, 318A, 318B, 318C) is configured to receive the control signal from the processor (108, 112, 308, 312, 612) and to output the first and second haptic effects to the user input element of the haptic peripheral (102, 302, 602), and characterised in that the user input element is a bi-directional trigger (332, 632) of the haptic peripheral (102, 302, 602) and the first haptic effect moves the bi-directional trigger (332, 632) in a first direction and the second haptic effect moves the trigger (332, 632) in a second opposing direction. a processor (108, 112, 308, 312, 612) configured to receive a file that includes a first channel programmed with a first set of control parameters to generate a first haptic effect and a second channel programmed with a second set of control parameters to generate a second haptic effect and to output a control signal that includes the first and second sets of control parameters for the first and second haptic effects, the first and second sets of control parameters dictating a type, an amount, and/or a frequency of the first and second haptic effects, respectively, wherein the file is an audio file or a haptic file generated from the audio file and the first and second sets of control parameters for the first and second haptic effects, respectively, are encoded onto the first and second channels of the audio file via manipulation of a source sound signal using an audio editing program; and a haptic peripheral (102, 302, 602) including a haptic output device (118, 318A, 318B, 318C), the haptic output device being coupled to a user input element of the haptic peripheral, wherein the haptic output device (118, 318A, 318B, 318C) is configured to receive the control signal from the processor (108, 112, 308, 312, 612) and to output the first and second haptic effects to the user input element of the haptic peripheral (102, 302, 602), and characterised in that the user input element is a bi-directional trigger (332, 632) of the haptic peripheral (102, 302, 602) and the first haptic effect moves the bi-directional trigger (332, 632) in a first direction and the second haptic effect moves the trigger (332, 632) in a second opposing direction.