Dreamcast's ASCII Fighting Pad FT: Your Thoughts?

[treismac]

I'm toying around with the idea of buying the ASCII Fighting Pad FT for the Dreamcast. As it sells for $40+ on eBay, I'd like to be fairly confident that it is indeed a joy to use for fighting games. So, what is your experience with this controller?



http://segaretro.org/images/thumb/c/c0/ASCIIPadFTWhite.jpg/120px-ASCIIPadFTWhite.jpg

[wiggyx]

Do you like the Saturn controller?

If so, get a pair. Totally worth it IMO.

[TheChristoph]

Used or new? They cost that much new if I recall. Get one or two or four, they're awesome.

[treismac]

Man, your responses are making it hard as hell not to get one. I'm developing something of a love affair for my newly acquired Dreamcast, which makes the prospect of playing fighters without this baby unthinkable. I picked up a Dreamcast arcade stick this Friday [what's with the bright green buttons?] for $10 at a local store, but I really like controllers and their d-pads considerably more for pulling off Capcom fighter moves.


Used or new?

Well, having a virgin controller is always preferable, but beggars can't afford to be choosers.

EDIT:

Is the d-pad really as super loose as some people say?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5pppU--kuM&feature=youtu.be

Eh... This makes me feel a bit reticent to pull the trigger. Dammit.

[wiggyx]

WTF is that video about? It's just kinda creepy.

I just grabbed a Saturn pad and the DC ASCII pad. The ASCII pad definitely requires less force to manipulate the D-pad, but it doesn't feel "loose" to me.

[Koa Zo]

Do you like the Saturn controller?

If so, get a pair. Totally worth it IMO.

The d-pad is nothing like the Saturn controller.

The ASCii d-pad is on a raised pivot, so it flops from side to side - giving it a loose feel, and allowing all that "play" you see in the video

The controllers are constructed very well, and having the built in rumble is nice, but I would recommend just buying a TC-3 adapter or something similar and just using the actual Saturn pad on your Dreamcast (assuming you don't care about rumble)

[TheChristoph]

It is looser but it's not floppy. As time goes on you WILL want to open it up to clean it up inside and make sure everything is still where it's supposed to be (stuff shifts over time and play). My controller would have a hard time reading down-left, but I opened it up, re-sat everything, and put it back together and it's good.


The d-pad is nothing like the Saturn controller.

The ASCii d-pad is on a raised pivot, so it flops from side to side - giving it a loose feel, and allowing all that "play" you see in the video

The controllers are constructed very well, and having the built in rumble is nice, but I would recommend just buying a TC-3 adapter or something similar and just using the actual Saturn pad on your Dreamcast (assuming you don't care about rumble)

As time goes on I find myself less and less comfortable with the Saturn pad. I don't know if it's because I've been conditioned to accept thicker, chunkier pads, but the Saturn pad just feels insubstantial to me. The lack of grips and weight hurts it in the modern day after we've been using Xbox 360 controllers and the like.

I say that still using one for PC retrogaming; I converted one to USB and I do love it; but it's more of a nostalgia thing than an actual preferred gameplay thing though.

Holy shit, the rare double semicolon. Is that even legal?!

[FrankSerpico]

The FT pad is amazing for 2D fighters. If you aren't a fan, not much reason to get it. If you are though, which I'm assuming is the case, it's great with all the SF and KoF games for the console, Marve vs Capcom 1 and 2, Garou: MOTW, Guilty Gear X...honestly it may be my favorite fighter-specific controller ever.

[wiggyx]

The d-pad is nothing like the Saturn controller.

The ASCii d-pad is on a raised pivot, so it flops from side to side - giving it a loose feel, and allowing all that "play" you see in the video

The controllers are constructed very well, and having the built in rumble is nice, but I would recommend just buying a TC-3 adapter or something similar and just using the actual Saturn pad on your Dreamcast (assuming you don't care about rumble)

Actually the construction of both is nearly identical.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/null_zpsa6ecb183.jpg

edit: if you do want to clean that slop up a bit, this worked well for me. The "problem" is actually at the front of the controller. A little bit of illustration board did the trick (about .5-.75mm thick)

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/null_zps9d1dee79.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/null_zpsfa144943.jpg

I made a quick vid showing the difference between the modded controller and an untouched one. I'll up it tomorrow as my phone is about to die, and the only reason I'm dicking around with this so much is because we lost power about 2 hours ago, so I've got nothing better to do :/

[treismac]

I made a quick vid showing the difference between the modded controller and an untouched one. I'll up it tomorrow as my phone is about to die, and the only reason I'm dicking around with this so much is because we lost power about 2 hours ago, so I've got nothing better to do :/

Rockin'!! Thank you, wiggyx. :D

[wiggyx]

No prob!

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/th_CABCD973-1A15-46F6-8B35-382E71E8D852-1416-0000017745756AAE_zps8b381fae.jpg (http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/Game%20Stuff/CABCD973-1A15-46F6-8B35-382E71E8D852-1416-0000017745756AAE_zps8b381fae.mp4)

[Koa Zo]

Actually the construction of both is nearly identical.



The construction may be similar, but the feel is drastically different. The raised pivot of the ASCii FT pad provides an entirely different actuation.
Granted, the pad may be modified as you've shown here.

[wiggyx]

The construction may be similar, but the feel is drastically different. The raised pivot of the ASCii FT pad provides an entirely different actuation.
Granted, the pad may be modified as you've shown here.

I don't agree. For me, the feel is quite similar, and even more so with the slight modification.

[Koa Zo]

I don't agree. For me, the feel is quite similar, and even more so with the slight modification.

Just looking at that video posted above shows that the movement of the ASCii FT d-pad is significantly different than a Saturn pad.

[wiggyx]

Just looking at that video posted above shows that the movement of the ASCii FT d-pad is significantly different than a Saturn pad.

Nope.

[Koa Zo]

Nope.
Yeah, whatever you say.

[Damaramu]

I never cared for the feel of the ASCII pad. I tried a friend's and found the d-pad way too stiff. Plus I thought the controller just felt odd in my hands.

I've been using this Innovation converter. Allows you to use Saturn or PS2 controllers on your Dreamcast. Definitely a lifesaver!

http://i.imgur.com/73t0sv8.jpg

[SaturnHST]

It's ok but not as good as Saturn pad. I also use the Innovation adapter to use Saturn pads and PS1 sticks.