What kind of controller do you like?

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

This is just in general, for non-specialized games. I doubt very much that anyone's going to use a flight yoke for Pac-Man. I have found myself trying to hoard arcade-style ball-top joystick controllers for my Playstation, just because that's what I grew up with, and it just feels right to me somehow.

So what's your flavor of joystick?

[nesman85]

nes style. not too many and not too little buttons either :)

[jaydubnb]

As of right now, the PS2 controller is high ranking....but at times it feels that i'm contorting my fingers to hit various buttons. More a prob of some many damn buttons that actual shape.

I think the NES Dogbone is damn good too. Simple, effective, comfortable. Whenever a friend comes to play, they're banned from my bone.

[scooterb23]

The Playstation controller is my favorite...it's the most natural, and just the right size for my hands. Mind you, those stupid analog sticks get in my way something fierce while playing Tony Hawk...

[Felixthegamer]

I'm pretty easy going when it comes to controllers. I like the playstation, Xbox and Gamecube controllers. I like Nes and Snes controllers too. If I had to go with a favourite, it would be the arcade style joystick with a ball top. It feels right, maybe the most right.

[geelw]

probably the playstation, but i remember first trying one out back in late '94 (japanese system) and HATING it. all those buttons, and wtf was up with the dual shoulder layout? too confusing! some early games went out of their way to use ALL the damn buttons, and trying to play them even today flummoxes me to no end (cosmic race, by neorex anyone? lol- THE worst control scheme on a psx release, i think)

now, it's second nature, and i compare all controllers to the dual shock or the interact barracuda- go figure...

[Raccoon Lad]

I have never enjoyed a joystick more than the SEGA Arcade Power Stick.

[punkoffgirl]

Bananas again.. And here I am, with an apple. Some days, you just can't win.

I'll take the Playstation controller ANY day.
Yeah, I like the Xbox controller.. for swinging around over my head by the cord to fight off the bad guys trying to steal from old ladies! HeeYA!

[Nature Boy]

If I had to pick *one* controller I'd probably go with the PlayStation controller. It's simple and I find it pretty easy to use every button and pad in all situations. I can't imagine SSX Tricky on another console after having played SSX on the PS2. No other controller scheme adapts so well to so many different games.

For simple feel I like the Gamecube. The rounded-ness of it just feels cool. It's a better controller than the PS controller, but it just doesn't adapt to all games as well.

I've definitely come around to the Xbox controller and I never thought I would. Yes it's big. But big feels good after awhile.

I like it way better than the DC controller. Of the four most recent consoles the DC controller comes in dead last.

On the whole I'm a big fan of the newer controllers. Who would have thought, back in the one button days, that we'd have 10 buttons plus three control sticks so easy at hand to do all the things we couldn't do with only one button.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Now, I wanna hear from that one person who said they used live fish. It could only be McGyver.

[CrazyImpmon]

I'm also with banana shaped controller as well. It's usually comfortable to hold and most buttons can be reached without straining your thumb or finger.

For simpler controller, nothing beats the dogbone controller for NES.

(Anyone really like 5200, Intellivision, or Jaguar Pro controller??? Those 3 are probably still an all time most complex controllers)

[Hep038]

It the NES controller was listed as the Dog bone it would have got my vote. Other than that PS2 is the way to go, but you had the Xbox Controller grouped in with it. And I really dont care for the
" hamburger"

[Britboy]

I wonder, did the Xbox controller designers and testers all have mutated giant hands?

[Captain Wrong]

I know I"m in the minority here, but I HATE the Dual Shock in any of it's forms. Why? Well, I have bigish sweaty hands and that controller gets very clammy and uncomfortable after a while. Perhaps the biggest gripe I have is the sad sack "what the fuck is that supposed to be" excuse for a d-pad they put on that sucker! Try doing diagonals on it, I dare you. This controller is terrible for fighting games and action games and anyother kind of game that requires you to used the d-pad. :evil:

(PS I'm still and always looking for a PSX pad with a real and good d-pad, if you know of one, let me know. I've seen some candidates, but they usually look cheap and flimsy.)

I perfer a true stick. I have a great Saturn one I got new for $5! Arcade quality all the way. I haven't been alble to find one I liked as well for PSX, though I think the same company (Hori) makes one for PSX. Import only, I'm sure.

Other than that, I really like the Saturn 3d analog pad. I also like my Mad Catz DC pad, which I feel improves on the 2 problems I had with the original DC pad (the d-pad is much better and the handles are slightly flared rathet than up and down, puls it's got grippy stuff on the bottom for my sweaty paws!!!!)

[geelw]

(PS I'm still and always looking for a PSX pad with a real and good d-pad, if you know of one, let me know. I've seen some candidates, but they usually look cheap and flimsy.)

I perfer a true stick. I have a great Saturn one I got new for $5! Arcade quality all the way. I haven't been alble to find one I liked as well for PSX, though I think the same company (Hori) makes one for PSX. Import only, I'm sure.

try to locate either an interact barracuda or the extra large alps psx controller- the barracuda is a big controller, and the alps one is bigger, but tougher to find. both have good d-pads, with the alps being the better of the two. hope you like blue metalflake, as it's the only color i've ever seen.

also for arcade sticks, either a blaze twin shock (about $30) or shadow blade (ditto) are cool, but if you hav $150 to spare, get the GIANT x-arcade stick and the ps2 adapter- you'll be sleeping with it the first day you get it...=^P

[Captain Wrong]

Actually I own an Alps. Meijers was blowing them out for $5. That's the best I've found so far. I'm not too keen on the buttons though, I know I'm being reeeal picky here. :) Just hoping that there's something even better out there.

I think, one of these days, I'm going to have to get the xarcade stick. That's just too cool!

[geelw]

yeah, i couldn't understand that design choice by alps: BIG boomerang controller, tiny buttons- lol...=^P

[Tetsu]

As if I haven't pimped it enough:

www.geocities.com/famitsutrader/joystick

Works with every system, and is wireless. If you want something to your exact specs, you gotta make it yourself.

Until I finished this one, my favorite controllers were:

The PSX Barracuda 2, because it had a simulated analog mode, programmability,auto-fire, big ass dual motors, and swappable L-R analog sticks.

Saturn 3D pad: the only non-specialized pad I have ever liked forfor fighting games as well as adventure games

Saturn Eclipse Pad: feels like a six-button version of the big, sturdy, Genesis "Batarang" pad.

[Arcade Antics]

I dig the arcade style controllers, so any of the clunky Wico type stuff you mentioned is cool :)

In lieu of those, the PSX controller is groovy. Never had a problem with it.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Little bump here - let's see the "new generation"'s take on this poll.

[max 330 mega]

how bout a neo geo cd controller? best controller ever.

[charitycasegreg]

As of right now, the PS2 controller is high ranking....but at times it feels that i'm contorting my fingers to hit various buttons. More a prob of some many damn buttons that actual shape.

I think the NES Dogbone is damn good too. Simple, effective, comfortable. Whenever a friend comes to play, they're banned from my bone.

I let all my friends play with my bone. :roll:

... I always hold b to run (if possible on the game) and hit a to jump. ITs a lot easier to do this comfortably on the original control pad then the dogbone, ie. Super mario bros and mega man.

My favorite would be the playstation and the snes.

[slip81]

For some reason the NES controlers are comfy to me, but my all time fave is the sega made 6 button one for the Genesis.

[astronautcowboy3]

I was born and raised on bananas. ;)

[NESaholic]

Normally i use the Nes Adventage, i like the arcade kinda joysticks,further more the normal nes joysticks are fine with me too.

[jdc]

It's weird......I have small hands, but prefer big controllers.

The Dreamcast controller is my favorite.....almost perfect.

The N64....should have supported the D pad more often. "L" button is all but useless.
The Cube....why did they create those stupid kidney shaped buttons? 4 standard sized round ones would have been better.
The XboX....the plastic domed buttons are too hard and kinda hurt after a few hours. The "S" controller is a stupid size, neither big nor small.
The Dreamcast....buttons needed more "throw" to them, not enough "push".
The PS2....when oh when is Sony gonna get around to switching the left stick and D pad positions and making the body a tad bigger? The rubber sticks get slippery. Antiquated controller that's been around for too long in it's current state.

[it290]

I'd have to say the Saturn model 2 pad is my all-time favorite for general-purpose gaming. I do prefer a stick for fighting games, though.

I also just got a Logitech wireless controller for the PS2 (the newer type), and I have to say, that is one very comfortable controller. I really like the d-pad on it, too.

[maxlords]

Saturn model 2 or Genesis 6 button are my favorite. Good combination of ergonomics and functionality. I don't like the newer "next-gen" system controllers as much...the Dual Shock is uncomfortable (especially the d-pad), the GC controller has a weird ass button layout...and the Xbox controller...the buttons are way too firm and the B and W buttons have horrible placement. Plus...the weird sticks. Regardless...as soon as games went to sticks I was less pleased. I miss simplicity.

And I started console gaming with the SNES :D

[bargora]

I share Captain Wrong's gripe regarding Playstation d-pads. They are the poop. I like the feel of the Alps controller, although it sometimes seems like the D-pad is somehow incorrectly aligned with my hand, leading to diagonals when I want straights and vice versa. I like the feel of the Madcatz controller disc-style (or should I say "Saturn style") d-pads, but they are cheap pieces of crap and break far too easily. Apparently they were banking on people only using the thumbsticks.

I friggin' hate the NES standard pad, too, which was why I abandoned console gaming for computer gaming once the 2600 faded out.

So what do I like? The 2600 joystick, but of course. Followed by the Saturn model 2 (JPN style). And the Steel Battalion controller.

[rbudrick]

I love the Power Glove....It sooo bad!

-Rob

[EnemyZero]

Id say stuff like the genny 6 button and the saturn pads, but i love arcade sticks :P, love em to death, can't play a fighter without it, and i love my fighters...