Best PC Gamepad?

[Avenger]

This has been buggin me for a while...i used to have this Gravis gamepad but it kept messing up so i sold it....bit the prob is i really want a GOOD QUALITY PC gamepad.....can anyone help me find a good one? wha do you use and what do you recommend...i know x-arcade arcade conrtol deck things are awesome, but i really want a controller i can hold to play NES/SNES Roms you know?

[thegreatescape]

I know exactly (http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=160&products_id=4234&)what you want ;)

Failing that, Logitech make a nice game-pad- looks like a psone controller except lighter and dark blue.

[hydr0x]

well, if you don't need analog-sticks and all that stuff you should grab a "Gravis Gamepad Pro", it basically a SNES pad with a PS pad shape ;)

[calthaer]

Those Smartjoys look cool. If you're doing SNES emulation, then there's no doubt that those are the way to go.

However - if you do not need analog sticks, then I would recommend the original Microsoft Sidewinder. Great design, great gamepad. I use it for all my gamepad needs that don't involve analog.

[SoulBlazer]

Heh, I use a ACTUALL SNES controller for my SNES gaming. ;) Same for my NES and Genesis.

But for regular PC gaming, I swear by two controllers -- a Gravis GamePad Pro for most normal things, and a Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick for the games that need a stick.

[kainemaxwell]

well, if you don't need analog-sticks and all that stuff you should grab a "Gravis Gamepad Pro", it basically a SNES pad with a PS pad shape ;)

I'll 2nd the Gamepad Pro. Works great an dplenty of buttons to map for FPS and you can successfully emulate a SNES gamepad for snes emulation!

[Avenger]

I know exactly (http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=160&products_id=4234&)what you want ;)

Failing that, Logitech make a nice game-pad- looks like a psone controller except lighter and dark blue.

i have heard A LOT of bad things about this controller...sumthin about the calibration of the dpad, alwaus messes up...which sucks cuz this is the one i really want :(

[Predatorxs]

However - if you do not need analog sticks, then I would recommend the original Microsoft Sidewinder. Great design, great gamepad. I use it for all my gamepad needs that don't involve analog.

I too, use the MS Sidewinder, it is perfect! right balance, light and really easy to use!.. and it's works just great with emu's and i love kickin ass with it on KOF 2002 and Garou Mark of the wolves... Andy is the shhhhhhh!! Ooookay! fight!

..XS

[Avenger]

im gunna check out that SNES to USB Adapter...cuz come on, whats better than playin a SNES game with a SNES controller? :D

edit:
or should i get this one?

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=160&products_id=3833&

its cheaper and its for the ps/2 controllers which have more buttons...im that that big of a fan of the ps2 controller, but its probably the most plain you can get, while still have a lot of buttons...what do you guyz think?

[josekortez]

I second the Microsoft Sidewinder. I lucked out and got one for 50 cents a few weeks ago, so now I play Darius Gaiden with it. Good times.

[petewhitley]

I know exactly (http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=160&products_id=4234&)what you want ;)

Failing that, Logitech make a nice game-pad- looks like a psone controller except lighter and dark blue.

i have heard A LOT of bad things about this controller...sumthin about the calibration of the dpad, alwaus messes up...which sucks cuz this is the one i really want :(

I bought this one a few weeks ago (the Logitech Dual Action). Works perfectly for me, and I would recommend it to anyone. Only $20 too.

[Avenger]

does anyone have any experience with those PS/PS2 to USB convetors that they have at lik sang?

[whoisKeel]

I have this one:

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=23&products_id=3176&

it works GREAT for me. i think i got if off ebay. I can't get the rumble to work, but I know it does because it has worked before...so don't count on the rumble working. also, doesn't work with my universal soul callbur II joystick (and i've heard the universal pelican arcade stick doesn't work either, but the ps2 one is supposed to). also works great with my custom arcade stick built off a psx controller.

sometimes you have to trick it a little tho:
-to get analog function: you have to HOLD down the analog button on the psx controller and plug it in.
-to get an old-style psx controller to work you have to plug in a dual shock into the other slot.
-there is some trick to getting a dance pad to work also, but don't know it cause i dont' have one.

i know that seems like alot of exceptions, but it really does work great...you just have to pick if you want digital or analog before you plug it in (or unplug and replug)

[link1110]

Get a Kiky Joy-X, it lets you hook a ps1 controller up to your PC. Just download the drivetr from the website, because the included one crashes a ton of games.

[Daria]

I use a PS2 controller on my PC. Radio shack sells PS2 (or PSOne) to USB connectors for $5 (Plung and play no drivers required) and I think it works great for all sorts of emulation.

[Avenger]

Radio Shack hmm???? sounds like ill be headin to the mall tommorow :D!

[Algol]

I use a PS2 controller on my PC. Radio shack sells PS2 (or PSOne) to USB connectors for $5 (Plung and play no drivers required) and I think it works great for all sorts of emulation.

My local Radio Shack charges $17 for a gameport to USB adapter. x_x I'm thinking about getting a PC controller myself. I'll probably get a Sidewinder if I can find one for cheap somewhere.

[Avenger]

from what ive seen onlnie and from what im experienced....PC gamepads suck, and crap out on you so fast in all sorts of ridiculous ways...i havent have console controllers crap out on me, so i think the best bet is to buy an adapter

[Daria]

I use a PS2 controller on my PC. Radio shack sells PS2 (or PSOne) to USB connectors for $5 (Plung and play no drivers required) and I think it works great for all sorts of emulation.

My local Radio Shack charges $17 for a gameport to USB adapter. x_x I'm thinking about getting a PC controller myself. I'll probably get a Sidewinder if I can find one for cheap somewhere.

$17? o.O

I originally paid $10 for mine, but then my boyfriend started using it so much he wouldn't give it back. When he finally went to buy his own they had been marked down to $5. Granted that was at least a year ago, but I didn't think the price would have changed that drastically.

[Daniel Thomas]

I'm currently using a couple Sidewinders on my PC; one is the "Plug & Play" gamepad with 4 face buttons, and the other is the "Game Pad USB" with 6 face buttons (ala Saturn). Both are farily good controllers, although the 6 button pad is much better, and more comfortable.

However, I have one major beef, and it pretty much ruins the controllers for me. The joypad is over-sensitive. I'll try to explain it as best I can. You know how, say, the GBA's pad has four set directions, which never bleed into each other. You can't, say, hit right at an angle and get a diagonal in response.

The Sidewinders are the exact opposite. You hit right at anything resembling an angle, you get a diagonal. This is jsut murderous when precise movement is required. Pac-Man, for instance. You're always turning the wrong direction, because you pressed left and turned down instead.

Maybe most of you won't mind this, but it drives me batty, and this has long been a problem with joypads. This is, for me, the gold standard, what seperates a good controller -- PS2, Saturn -- from a lousy one. Most of the joypads made for the PC are the lousy ones.

So Microsoft makes better controllers than most, but what good is that? Go find an adapter, so you can use a real console joypad, made by people who know what they're doing. That's my two yen; take it for what you will.

[Avenger]

i cant find any word on the ps2 to USB adapter at radioshack.com....does anyone have a link or anythin?

edit: nevermind i just found it...and i checked the store listing and the Radio Shack closest to me has 2...I'm going to run down there tommorow and pick one up...wish me luck, ill report back tommorow with what i tihnk about it....thanks for all your help guys, you most likely saved me a lot of money!

[SirDrexl]

I strongly recommend the Xbox Controller S, or if you like the large controller you can use that.

The thing is, the controller ports on the Xbox are USB ports, just with differently shaped connectors. You can buy, or even make your own, adapter to connect it to a USB port on your PC. All you need then is a driver.

There are several of those floating around, but the one I recommend was done by a guy named RedCloud. He also has drivers for the remote that comes with the DVD playback kit, the memory card, the Live headset, the Music Mixer microphone, and the dance pad. His drivers have a config utility so you can reassign the buttons the way you want them and specify whether you want the analog stick or the D-pad for movement and the other as a hat switch or rudder/throttle control. The triggers can be used as regular buttons or for rudder/throttle.

RedCloud's drivers are available here: http://phaseone.sytes.net/

There's also a message board there where you can contact him with questions, and you can request features in future driver releases.

[kainemaxwell]

Anyone ever see the USB N64 adapter?

[Avenger]

ok so i got it today..and let me tell you all, best controller ever...its perfect, and it comes with a little bit of software so if it messes up a little bit (which is hasnt), you just go fix it, and within a few seconds its back to bein perfect....finally no more watin money on PC Gamepads, thanks for all your help guys!

[ManekiNeko]

I swear by this controller...

http://images.jr.com/productimages/INASV234.png?WID=150&CVT=JPEG

It may look a little goofy, but the feel of Interact's PC Powerpad Pro is superior to any other PC controller I've used. Most D-pads on PC controllers are stiff and unreliable, but this one does exactly what you want, when you want it. To top it all off, the six buttons on the face are perfect for fighting games. I only wish that it had support for more buttons, as it's a couple short for complete Saturn or six-button Genesis emulation. There are shoulder buttons, but they function identically to the L and R buttons on the face of the controller.

I've had my eye on the PC Joy converter on Jandaman.com, but I just don't have the money for it. It offers support for Dreamcast, Playstation, AND Saturn controllers... how cool is that?

JR

[Milk]

To revive a dead topic, I just bought myself the Saitek dual analog 880 for 20 dollars at Circuit City. It has six action buttons on the face, two on the shoulder, two analog joysticks, and a wonderful D-pad. After using Sidewinders with the afore-mentioned sensitivity problem, it just feels so good to be able to stay on track in F Zero without having to hold down the shoulder buttons at every twist. My only issue with it is that the center button ("start", as I usually assign it) is a bit of a reach.