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Recommend a Decent PC Gamepad

P

Pochacco

asking dangerous questions
I wanna use it to play a few sports games (e.g. Winning Eleven, EA Hockey, etc.) and SNES roms. Anyone have a gamepad they've had good experience with?

And no, I won't get a SNES --> USB adapter.
 
Logitech's Dual Action gamepads are really good. They're basically a PS2 controller. Their wireless one rocks.
 
http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/p2500.htm

I've got that, and I've liked it so far. Briefly used it with FFXI until I gave up on that game. Used it for ROMs and games like LOTR: Return of the King.

I had a $10 logitech before that. It was cheaply built and the analog sticks were terrible. Don't make the mistake I did. Spend $25 to get a real controller.


Edit:

-1 Logitech Dual Action. That's the pad I had. Cheaply built, and the analog sticks gave me issues.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2225,CONTENTID=6951
 
Culex said:
Logitech's Dual Action gamepads are really good. They're basically a PS2 controller. Their wireless one rocks.
Click to expand...

You're on crack. I have the USB version and it's shit on a rope. The damn diagonals are too sensitive, which makes games a lot more frustrating than they need to be. I got the Radio Shack adapter and hooked up my PS1 Dual Shock gamepad to it and it works flawlessly!

Nathan
 
teh_pwn said:
http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/p2500.htm

I've got that, and I've liked it so far. Briefly used it with FFXI until I gave up on that game. Used it for ROMs and games like LOTR: Return of the King.

I had a $10 logitech before that. It was cheaply built and the analog sticks were terrible. Don't make the mistake I did. Spend $25 to get a real controller.
Click to expand...
I use the Saitek pad as well. I'm not crazy about it, but it is waaaaay better than the atrocious Logitech pads (and better than a PS2 thru USB solution, for that matter).
 
I know what not to get and it's the Logitech ones everyone is trashing. I've had 2 of them and on both the left analog won't calibrate. The thing is constantly wiggling without me touching.
 
tralfazz, that's the exact problem I had. It's what finally made me return it.
 
Saitek P880:
+Perfect pad, perfect! Better than Jap Saturn pad!!
+6 button Capcom scheme & L/R + Dual Analogs and buttons
+$20 at Circuit City
+USB, not a converter, so there is no potential for input delay (major +)
+Exceptionally comfortable grip
-No select/start (but the analog buttons work fine as substitutes)
d_p880.gif


I never even think about the pad while I'm playing, that's how comfortable it is.
 
Every time this thread comes up, I recommend the Thrustmaster Dual line of PC controllers. You can't beat 'em. :D

http://us.thrustmaster.com/products/d_prd.php?p=T40&fam=5

pc_dual_power2.gif


There is no better D-pad on any PC controller on the market.* (There have hardly been any decent ones since the original ASCIIPad, but hey.) It has 4 face buttons, 4 shoulder buttons, 2 digital triggers underneath, and 2 analog sticks (which double as buttons). It also comes with rumble or wireless capabilities, depending on which model you choose.

The only possible complaint I can think of is that the analog sticks don't have a lot of tension; they're closer to a Dual Shock than an Xbox controller. But that's it!


* Haven't tried the USB Saturn pad yet
 
impirius said:
Every time this thread comes up, I recommend the Thrustmaster Dual line of PC controllers. You can't beat 'em.
Click to expand...
I used this for a day and couldn't stand it. The lack of any type of texture on the analog sticks kind of hurt the overall control; too easy for your thumbs to slip off. Other than that, it wasn't terrible.

I've used at least seven different PC gamepads, and have never been completely happy with one. No one can seem to get it right.
 
Bah to all the PC pads that use the DualShock analog placement (Though I can vouch that the Saitek is tops when it comes to PC gamepads)

Are there any pads that followed the DC/GC/Xbox design of left analog upper left with digital pad underneath?
 
vatstep said:
I used this for a day and couldn't stand it. The lack of any type of texture on the analog sticks kind of hurt the overall control; too easy for your thumbs to slip off. Other than that, it wasn't terrible.

I've used at least seven different PC gamepads, and have never been completely happy with one. No one can seem to get it right.
Click to expand...
I'm shocked. Shocked! I really didn't think it was possible to dislike this one.

The foundations of my world are crumbling!
 
I'm still stuck in the days well before the analog sticks :(

That said, I've had my microsoft sidewinder for 6 years now and I have been (and still remain) very pleased with it. It was great to have other friends with it and just daisy-chain off the same controller to join in one game.
 
BTMash said:
I'm still stuck in the days well before the analog sticks :(

That said, I've had my microsoft sidewinder for 6 years now and I have been (and still remain) very pleased with it. It was great to have other friends with it and just daisy-chain off the same controller to join in one game.
Click to expand...

Ahh, those were the days. Didn't MS remove the daisy-chainability when they moved the Sidewinder to USB? Idiots.
 
Well if you're looking to play some WE and not totally against all adapters, I've got this PS2 adapter and it freaking rocks (4 players even):

p2_superjoybox5.jpg


Great for MAME as well.
 
Bumping this thread for some advice... I'm about to buy a controller for Psychonauts, but since I don't forsee using it for any other games, I want it to be cheap. I'm inclined to go with the Logitech Rumblepad 2 (with the cord), which Amazon has for $25, but is there anything cheaper that's recommended?

Should I go with the Saitek pad?

EDIT: I don't have any console controllers I can use.
 
I'll chime in with another endorsement for a Thrustmaster Dual pad. I've been using a non-rumble one for two years now. D-pad is merely okay compared to the best console D-pads, but it's light-years better than the typical PC gamepad. I don't know what pad vatstep was playing with, but the analog sticks on my Dual are textured, and I don't have any problems with my thumbs slipping off. The grips on the pad are also nicely textured, and the whole thing is very, very comfortable.
 
My kids are younger than this thread. Or at least they would have been had my waifu not been 2D.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the Gamesir post. Their controllers are cheap and their features are usually good. This one looks like great, but I do not always love the Gamesir face buttons. Will give them a try.
 
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