The Quest for the Ultimate Dreamcast controller

[Astrocade]

Alright, I've had it with the carpal-tunnel inducing wrist bending associated with the standard DC controller. I need something flat, with working analog thumbstick. I'm open to PSX/2 to DC adapters, but they must support the analog thumbstick. No arcade-style sticks at the moment. I own/have tried all of the following:


Standard
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k232/jetgirlart/full_dreamcast_controller.gif


This one
http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/140/191/269/pMhK.jpg

Performance pad
http://www.oldsoftware.com/softimg7/astropad.jpg

MadCatz
http://i25.tinypic.com/2gse9gj.jpg







I have NOT tried this one, curious if anyone here has:

http://images02.olx.com/ui/3/28/44/48222444_1.jpg


And this one I think would be perfect, but alas- no analog thumbstick.

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

[betamax001]

I rather like the Mad Catz one, though mine can be a bit wonky at times. Very comfortable, though the DPad is a bit stiff.

[Astrocade]

Yeah, the Mad Catz is one of the better ones. Like you said though the D-Pad is not precise enough. It barely registers in the down position.

The Performance pad likewise is pretty good. Big and chunky, but comfortable enough for my hands. My problem with those is that the Analog stick is prone to breakage- I've broken three of them over the years.

[TonyTheTiger]

I have NOT tried this one, curious if anyone here has:

http://images02.olx.com/ui/3/28/44/48222444_1.jpg

Stay away!!!!

Seriously, it's terrible. The analog stick is too loose, the triggers...the best way to describe them is it's like a workout, like doing finger presses, and the face buttons are deceptive. You'd think that the two extra face buttons would duplicate the function of the triggers giving you six face buttons for something like Marvel vs. Capcom ala a Saturn controller. It's called the Quantum Fighter Pad. That's why I bought it because I thought it would be better for fighting games thanks to the six buttons. That's not how it works, though. You still have to use the triggers. The two extra buttons are programmable but not in any way I can figure is useful.

[dnehthend]

yeah, definitely stay away from that thing, the triggers are ridiculous, there is no right way to pull them

[sonoranreptile]

PS Dual Shock????

[Kitsune Sniper]

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

Holy crap, I want this!

[123►Genei-Jin]

I currently have a Total COntrol Plus PSX to DC adapter, works like a charm (left analog stick supported)

[phreakindee]

I currently have a Total COntrol Plus PSX to DC adapter, works like a charm (left analog stick supported)

Thanks for mentioning this! I had forgotten about these, need to get one.

Now, if they had one to nicely convert the Xbox (incl. analog) over to Dreamcast, I'd be set. That would be almost ideal I think, being that the Xbox layout is so similar.

[Astrocade]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone- looks like I'm going to track down a Total Control adapter.

[Thrillo]

I have a converter which allows you to use a PSX controller, Saturn controller, or PC (PS/2) keyboard on a Dreamcast. And it has a VMU port on it: it's a jack of all trades, master of all!
However, I bought it waaay back around 2001 on Lik-sang.com (RIP)...so I dunno where you could find it now :-/ .
There's always Ebay I suppose...

[allyourblood]

I'm using a 3-in-1 adapter as well. I'll have to find it and see if I'm using the same type (Total Control), or if it differs.

[j_factor]

Do any of those Saturn adapters support the analog thumpad? Somehow I doubt it, but that would be ideal.

[kedawa]

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-14-71-h5-49-en.html

Unfortunately, the Total Control 3 doesn't support the analog stick on the Saturn 3D pad.

[Baloo]

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

Now that's what I'm talking about. I really want to pick up one of those controllers.

To put it bluntly, the Dreamcast controller sucks eggs. One of the worst controllers I've used hands down. The performance one is garbage, that Quantum Fighter Pad is garbage, and the MadCatz one is pretty poor too. Never tried the DreamPad one though. They're all worse than the original, so stay away.

Fuck the Dreamcast controller.

[gamedude45]

To put it bluntly, the Dreamcast controller sucks eggs. Fuck the Dreamcast controller.

Wow... am I the only person here that likes the standard Dreamcast controller?

Anyway I was wondering what is the name of that Saturn type controller?

[allyourblood]

Wow... am I the only person here that likes the standard Dreamcast controller?

Anyway I was wondering what is the name of that Saturn type controller?

I like the original Dreamcast controller just fine for standard 3D action, driving, and platformer games. For 2D fighters and shooters, I much prefer using a Saturn pad. I also happen to collect the original Dreamcast pads. If nothing else, I think they look great.

[fahlim003]

Wow... am I the only person here that likes the standard Dreamcast controller?

Anyway I was wondering what is the name of that Saturn type controller?

No, you're not. I don't mind the Dreamcast controller, however my only gripe is the lack of 6 face buttons but then again I don't play any fighting games on Dreamcast, at least not anymore. Anything other than 2D fighters, the controller is very satisfactory, at least mine is as I've heard of discrepancies from controllers made in different regions.

The controller pictured is the ASCII Pad FT. A fair alternative if you don't want to get an arcade stick on Dreamcast but not really an equal replacement for one.

[Astrocade]

Wow... am I the only person here that likes the standard Dreamcast controller?



The layout doesn't bother me, nor does the cord coming from the bottom that everyone seems to hate. It's the bizarre angle you have to position your wrists in to hold it.

I went to the doctor a couple of years ago thinking maybe I had carpal tunnel or arthritis or something. He asked me if it flared up during certain activities, and I realized it was usually after a marathon Dreamcast session. I quit using the standard DC controllers and haven't had the problem since then. But ten minutes into using a regular DC pad and it flares up again.

It's a shame, because I love the DC. It's probably my favorite console of the last twenty years. But those controllers are straight from hell.

[goatdan]

Wow... am I the only person here that likes the standard Dreamcast controller?

Nope, I also love them and find them more comfortable than just about anything else before or since.

For alternatives, I enjoy the Dream Shark controller more than the MadCatz ones because I think they have better D-Pads, but if you have tried and not-liked the MadCatz one, I'd probably still avoid the Dream Shark.

And yeah, those Quantum Fighter things are horrendous.

[DigitalSpace]

http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/140/191/269/pMhK.jpg


I remember finding a bunch of these controllers at a closing KB Toys in 2004, and wondering whose idea it was to use comic sans font on the thing. That (combined with the packaging) made it look cheaper than those third-party PS1 controllers that were available at Dollar Tree for a short time. Big fail.

The only third-party DC controller I've tried was the Performance one (I was playing multiplayer with a friend and that was his only extra controller). Got the job done, but it's too large for its own good.

[Astrocade]

I remember finding a bunch of these controllers at a closing KB Toys in 2004, and wondering whose idea it was to use comic sans font on the thing. That (combined with the packaging) made it look cheaper than those third-party PS1 controllers that were available at Dollar Tree for a short time. Big fail.

The only third-party DC controller I've tried was the Performance one (I was playing multiplayer with a friend and that was his only extra controller). Got the job done, but it's too large for its own good.


What's even weirder is that I have the same exact controller, except it's all black and it says something like "innovation" where this one has "dreampad". The color, name and font are all different but it's the same exact controller.

[PSony]

I have a converter which allows you to use a PSX controller, Saturn controller, or PC (PS/2) keyboard on a Dreamcast. And it has a VMU port on it: it's a jack of all trades, master of all!
However, I bought it waaay back around 2001 on Lik-sang.com (RIP)...so I dunno where you could find it now :-/ .
There's always Ebay I suppose...

That sounds like the one I have:

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1014/p1010263t.jpg

It's the Innovation Dream Connection 2. Left analog stick on Dualshocks do work as the analog stick. L1/R1=L and L2/R2=R, so you have to use L1+R2 or R1+L2 as the triggers. It does not work with the 3D Saturn pads. I just use it for regular Saturn pads for 2d fighting games, where Z/C=L/R.

[fahlim003]

Also, for anyone interested in a Saturn pad clone alternative to the ASCII Pad FT, there is the Treamcast controller: http://www.8bitplus.co.uk/mainsite/articlespage/articlepics/treamcast/Treamcast_15.jpg

I've had chances to try it but never actually did any testing but it looks competitent enough.