Best unofficial/3rd-party controllers for classic systems?

[BetaWolf47]

Topic as stated. I'm trying to find some decent 3rd-party controllers for Genesis and Dreamcast.

[dendawg]

Pads or sticks?

[josekortez]

I'm in first to state what most gamers already know: the ASCII pad for the SNES is equal to or better than the first-party Nintendo pad. I'm not sure if the Genesis ASCII pad is just as good, though.

[Eyedunno]

I'm in first to state what most gamers already know: the ASCII pad for the SNES is equal to or better than the first-party Nintendo pad. I'm not sure if the Genesis ASCII pad is just as good, though.
Indeed. SNES Hori pads also tend to be fantastic.

[Push Upstairs]

asciiPad SG - Rock solid, even after 17 years.

asciiPad SG-6 (6 button version) not as good as the 3-button version...mostly the d-pad is crap.

[Gapporin]

Agreed with the Genesis ASCII pad. I have both the SNES and Genesis iterations, and both of them are well built gamepads.

As for the Dreamcast, all of the third party controllers I've played with just stink on ice. You're better off just using a regular first-party controller.

[BetaWolf47]

Indeed, first party Dreamcast controllers are awesome. I remember a thread a while ago praising a certain 3rd-party controller a while ago. Plus, some have two extra buttons. Are C and Z used for anything?

[fahlim003]

There was just a topic on Dreamcast controllers; http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143754&highlight=Dreamcast

As for Sega Genesis, I got nothing. I have no idea why you would deliberately seek a 3rd party controller but whatever, best of success.

[Gapporin]

I'm trying to find some decent 3rd-party controllers for Genesis and Dreamcast.


Indeed, first party Dreamcast controllers are awesome.

:hmm: Not quite sure I follow the logic here.


As for Sega Genesis, I got nothing. I have no idea why you would deliberately seek a 3rd party controller but whatever, best of success.

Most of the time (provided they aren't cheap knockoffs) they have extra functions that first-party controllers don't have. At least, that was my reasoning when I bought extra controllers for all my systems recently.

[kedawa]

Sometimes a third party will produce a premium quality product that surpasses the original. Unfortunately, most third party products are built to beat their first party equivalent at price rather than quality.

As far as 3rd party DC pads go, I don't think any of the ones with analog sticks can match Sega's pad. Your best bet is to just use a Dualshock and a Total Control adaptor.

[Kiddo]

I have two "Arcadian" Joysticks for Genesis, which are similar to the much-praised "Championship Joystick" for SNES except with switches rather than buttons for start and mode, and a different plastic shell. It's great if you want a joystick that feels like a 1990's American Arcade - which I pretty much did. Now all I need is a fancy cabinet to put it in...

And, more or less, what everyone else said about Dreamcast controllers. Third party stuff tended to be subpar on the thing.

[Push Upstairs]

As for Sega Genesis, I got nothing. I have no idea why you would deliberately seek a 3rd party controller but whatever, best of success.

I think I bought the asciiPad SG for the rapid fire function (I'm not really sure what game/reason exactly) but I kept it because the d-pad was nice and precise.

[Thrillo]

I love the Wico stick for the 5200, as it makes the system FAR more playable.
And here's another vote for the SNES ASCII pad. The extra width due to the turbo switches actually works out well and gives me less cramps than a stock controller, and the shoulder buttons felt better for certain games.

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Gapporin]

If you don't just mean Dreamcast/Genesis I love a certain 2600/C64/etc. controller but the name eludes me. It's a one handed controller, red joystick, round top, very clicky. I'm sure it was popular and someone will know what I'm talking about.

Are you referring to the Epyx 500XJ (http://www.cedmagic.com/tech-info/remote-control/epyx-500xj-joystick.html), by any chance?

[Famidrive-16]

Plus, some have two extra buttons. Are C and Z used for anything?

If it's that Madcatz one I'm thinking of, I think C and Z were basically the trigger buttons. Helped if you were playing a fighting game or something.

[kedawa]

That's how C and Z work on the asciipad as well.
C is the right trigger, and Z is the left.

[Emperor Megas]

I have no idea why you would deliberately seek a 3rd party controller but whatever, best of success.Seriously? You're a gamer but you have "no idea" why someone would want a controller with additional features that the stock ones lack?

[jferio]

Seriously? You're a gamer but you have "no idea" why someone would want a controller with additional features that the stock ones lack?

I'd say not only features, but shapes and whole design types. Most consoles have a serious, and I mean serious, lack of the 'fighter stick' type in first party controllers. And even when you just want a pad, I know some people either don't like, or have pain issues, using the first party gamepads. (Not kidding. I had a friend over for some gaming, and he got a nasty arthritic attack after about a half-hour of using an Xbox S controller.)

[jferio]

Topic as stated. I'm trying to find some decent 3rd-party controllers for Genesis and Dreamcast.

Asciiware has made some really good joysticks for the Genesis. Powerclutch SG (3 button, excellent autofire tuning), and Fighter Stick SG-6 (6 button, excellent layout, also available in 'SN' SNES flavor). Sega also had 3 and 6 button flavors of their 'Arcade Power Stick' that are hefty, sturdy, well designed hunks of hardware.