Best Dreamcast controller?

[phreakindee]

Been playing a lot of DC lately, and remembering how much I hate the controller. My problems:

The triggers feel too tight. Like, hard to press down for very long periods of time. (Well, harder than I'd like, racing games and such make this noticeable)

The analog stick is too lose and also touchy. The "cap" of it turns around in one spot (not tight when slightly nudging it like, say, and Xbox 360 or Dualshock) - Also hard to use long periods of time, when pushing upward like in an FPS.

Any awesome 3rd party controllers? I have used one by Performance, and it has a nice analog stick and decent triggers (still kinda sucky ones), but it's HUGE. Like, Duke huge, maybe bigger. Something like an Xbox controller would be great, or just SOMEthing. Can't seem to find much info on alternative controllers for the DC.

[VACRMH]

Do you like using PS2 controllers? You could get something like this...

http://www.wolfsoft.de/shop/images/product_images/popup_images/8712_b.jpg

I use something similar for a few fighting games, but I haven't tried it out with anything major, or anything that requires the analog stick.

[Mobius]

The Mad Catz Dream Pad is not bad. It's not perfect, but at least the handles are angled outward instead of inward, so it won't break your wrists like the standard controller. The analog stick feels nice, too.

http://a367.yahoofs.com/shopping/3069968/simg_t_og07849t52sd.jpg

They also released them in a series of see-through colors. I have a spiffy looking orange one.

[Breetai]

I like the ASCII pad:

http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/user/2/2440-115807-dcasciipadftjpg-468x.jpg

It looks silly with the VMU sticking out the top, but it works pretty well. My only complaint is that the d-pad on the Saturn is still better.

It's not going to do you much good on racing games, but for fighters and shoot 'em ups, this can't be beat.

[Baloo]

I like the ASCII pad:

http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/user/2/2440-115807-dcasciipadftjpg-468x.jpg

It looks silly with the VMU sticking out the top, but it works pretty well. My only complaint is that the d-pad on the Saturn is still better.

It's not going to do you much good on racing games, but for fighters and shoot 'em ups, this can't be beat.

That looks like a really nice controller.

[k8track]

The Mad Catz Dream Pad is not bad. It's not perfect, but at least the handles are angled outward instead of inward, so it won't break your wrists like the standard controller. The analog stick feels nice, too.

http://a367.yahoofs.com/shopping/3069968/simg_t_og07849t52sd.jpg

They also released them in a series of see-through colors. I have a spiffy looking orange one.
Seconded; the Mad Catz Dream Pad is my favorite Dreamcast controller, moreso than the first-party ones.

[Maxx]

Third on the Madcatz. It's the only one I will use on the DC.

[vivaeljason]

I like the ASCII pad:

http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/user/2/2440-115807-dcasciipadftjpg-468x.jpg

It looks silly with the VMU sticking out the top, but it works pretty well. My only complaint is that the d-pad on the Saturn is still better.

It's not going to do you much good on racing games, but for fighters and shoot 'em ups, this can't be beat.

It's a nice controller, but why is there no analog stick?

[otoko]

It's a nice controller, but why is there no analog stick?

I honestly don't see anywhere they could've comfortably put it on that controller.

Unless you go with the PlayStation approach but that would make it look silly.

[vivaeljason]

I honestly don't see anywhere they could've comfortably put it on that controller.

Unless you go with the PlayStation approach but that would make it look silly.

True, but why not then take out the D-pad? It's a minor gripe, I admit, but I like me some analog.

[Mobius]

True, but why not then take out the D-pad? It's a minor gripe, I admit, but I like me some analog.

It's meant for fighting games.

[PSony]

I use nothing but model 2 Saturn pads for my DC fighters.

[Baloo]

It's meant for fighting games.

Yeah, analog sticks aren't good for fighting games, especially 2D ones.

[samsonlonghair]

That ASCII pad looks really good for 2D fghters. I'd like to try Marvel VS. Capcom with that.

[Kiddo]

I tend to play fighters with arcade sticks, myself.
I eventually found a deal on a custom MAS Stick that was dreamcast-compatible and I ended up really liking that. However I am interested in hearing about the other arcade sticks available as well.
I know ASCII themselves made a series of "ASCII Fight Stick" controllers for Dreamcast. They seem to be more collectible than the Agetec ones for some reason (was not able to obtain either to really try them out.)

[jaydubnb]

Does anyone know if there's a way to use the Saturn pad on the Dreamcast? That would be beyond awesome!

[phreakindee]

Yes it would! Or even an Xbox controller! But, you would need some way to hook up the VMU... which is why I haven't looked into a converter. Looking like I'll be try the Mad Catz one, and maybe even that ASCII one it just looks so cool

[kedawa]

I think one of the Total Control adapters lets you connect a saturn pad to DC. I'm not sure if it works for the nights 3d controller.

[PSony]

I use the Innovation Dream Connection 2 adapter. The vmu port works perfectly, whereas I've heard that the Total Control adapters have faulty vmu ports.

[bacteria]

I like the MadCatz controller for a different reason entirely - for modding purposes it is so much better as it uses regular joystick axis connections like most other controllers, not magnets! Using one in my DreamCast portable, currently working on. (about 60% finished, see my site).

[allyourblood]

I use nothing but model 2 Saturn pads for my DC fighters.

I do the same, using an Innovation adapter. Perfect for shooters.

[TwinThumbs]

The Mad Catz Dream Pad is not bad. It's not perfect, but at least the handles are angled outward instead of inward, so it won't break your wrists like the standard controller. The analog stick feels nice, too.
I like the Mad Catz too. Aside from the more comfy angle of the handles, there's also more room between them and the vmu housing. On the oem controller, I always rub the knuckles of my middle fingers on the vmu housing. Gets pretty uncomfy after a fairly short time.

[LaughingMAN.S9]

anyone know of a 3rd party pad with both the analog stick and d pad?

[Ze_ro]

I still feel that the standard Dreamcast controller is one of the best controllers of all time. I certainly have never seen any 3rd party controllers that managed to do any better (and most turned out to be significantly worse).

--Zero

[T2KFreeker]

I still feel that the standard Dreamcast controller is one of the best controllers of all time. I certainly have never seen any 3rd party controllers that managed to do any better (and most turned out to be significantly worse).

--Zero

I agree. Most of the third party pads were horrid. That one Innovation made was especially scary!

[treismac]

I like the ASCII pad:

http://bulk.destructoid.com/ul/user/2/2440-115807-dcasciipadftjpg-468x.jpg

It looks silly with the VMU sticking out the top, but it works pretty well. My only complaint is that the d-pad on the Saturn is still better.

It's not going to do you much good on racing games, but for fighters and shoot 'em ups, this can't be beat.

Man. I struggle to imagine that controller playing anything less than infinite worlds better with fighting games than the original Dreamcast controller. It's a shame that they are currently selling for more than the Dreamcast console itself does.

[BlastProcessing402]

The Mad Catz Dream Pad is not bad. It's not perfect, but at least the handles are angled outward instead of inward, so it won't break your wrists like the standard controller. The analog stick feels nice, too.

http://a367.yahoofs.com/shopping/3069968/simg_t_og07849t52sd.jpg

They also released them in a series of see-through colors. I have a spiffy looking orange one.

Took my post. Even right down to having an orange one.:)