Best Controller for Mame to play 80's era

[tommykrash]

Looking to get a controller to play mame on my pc. Most of the games I play are early 80's. Any ideas on what has a good feel for what I am looking for?
I would like to buy something at a local store like a GameStop or a Best Buy rather that ordering. Thanks!!

[gjackx]

I recommend using a controller that you are comfortable with from any of your old systems (I use an old 3rd party arcade stick that worked on the Genesis). There are adapters everywhere for USB hookups and using something familiar is nice too. You may have to find the adapters online, but they are all pretty easy to find.

You could also find something used at a game store or thrift that might work for this too.

As for the newer stuff...you might just have to search around you and see what's available.

Just my two cents.

[skaar]

www.x-arcade.com

They sell @ retailers, and I think the single player basic stick is like 60 bones.

[Pete Rittwage]

A lot of the early games use 4-way sticks, like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc. Playing them on an 8-way stick is often very frustrating. Even Galaga, which is "2-way" can be finicky on an 8-way stick.

I don't think the X-Arcade can switch to 4-way, at least mine does not. Nothing they sell locally anymore is 4-way.

Unfortunately there isn't a great answer to this (that I know of- let me know if you find something reasonable) other that building your own with a iPac.

[skaar]

I believe the X-Arcade can... I've just never really felt the need to. It's pretty easy to pop in another joystick though.