Controllers. Which one is your favorite and why?

[Rman]

I've been playing a lot games recently.  The avalanche of great games this fall is just too much to keep up.  I own all three major consoles, but one thing I noticed, controller design has not really improved.

Wii-mote:  Decent for what it does; however, the D-pads on the Wiimote and Classic Controller feel cheap.  Nunchuk needs weight as it feels too light as well.

360: Best standard controller.  It has one glaring fault--the D-pad.  Holy hell it's bad.  I wouldn't mind if I didn't play fighting games. (And I prefer pads to fighting sticks)

Sixaxis: Same old design from 1996 basically, with the exception of the L2/R2 triggers, which are worse.  Can't stand the D-pad for fighting games as well.  I get sore thumbs on extended play sessions as well due to the lack of diagonals

Why don't the make controllers like this anymore:




Solid design, excellent D-pad, and responsive buttons.  Great for a variety of genres.  What's you favorite console controller?

[Himu]

360 controller is the king. Reasons: triggers, the way the analog sticks let your fingers "sink" into them is so much better than vice versa - especially when your fingers get sweaty, the LB/RB buttons are within perfect reach, the half sphere buttons are something I really like because they feel more responsive than buttons you mash (the flat ones) imo. Basically it's the most comfortable standard controller by far. Triggers really help me immersve in certain games, such as Assassin's Creed. The only fault is the d-pad.

The Saturn pad is amazing.

[BlueTsunami]

Definitely the 360

The more time I put down on the 360, I find myself liking the 360 controller more and more. Basically the best one of them all.

[cubicle47b]

The 360 controller is perfect.  Nothing else comes close.

[Robo]

I would use my home-made arcade stick for everything if I could:





I'm actually surprised it still works after so many years, no thanks to my hackneyed wiring job: http://robojimbo.googlepages.com/astick02.jpg

[Eel O'Brian]

360 by far.  Feels so natural, your fingers automatically go where they're supposed to go when you pick it up.  The Elite controller seems to have a better D-pad, too.  Not much better, but a little more precise.

The cramped PSinfinity controller always makes my hands hurt after a while.

[MCD]

360.

and i would kill for that SS controller for the 360. 

[CajoleJuice]

The 360 controller is perfect.  Nothing else comes close.

Except for the d-pad. It fucks up what is otherwise an amazing controller.

[disgruntled_jojo]

negCON for life, bitches.  My only real complaint about the PS3 backwards compat is that no PS1/2 controller ports = no PS1/2 special controllers.  One thing I loved about the PS2 is that since it had the same controller ports, pretty much every racing game worth its salt (I'M LOOKING AT YOU, BURNOUT ><) had negCON support, even though the controller came out basically when the PS1 came out.

That controller is the greatest racing controller ever and needs a sequel for PS3 that is wireless and that PS1/2 games you are playing via BC detect as a negCON and will use appropriately.

[tiesto]

Sega Saturn controller, definitely... 360 would be the perfect dual analog controller if it wasn't for that horrendous dpad.

[TVC15]

Dual Shock (not Sixaxis) and 360 pad are just about equal.  360 pad would win if not for the awful d-pad, and although I love the triggers, I am not totally happy with the bumpers, though they aren't in the same WTF awful territory as the z-button on the GCN pad.

The Wiimote is one of the worst major controllers I have used.  Don't get me wrong, the motion and pointer controls are very well done, but the button layout is abysmal, and as much as Nintendo would like you to believe otherwise, that's important and game limiting.

Favorites of all time. . .Saturn 3d pad.  I liked the way the analog stick felt, and I liked the button layout. The Saturn Japanese pad was also tops.  I'm not ranking these as best ever because I am fairly sure there is at least a bit of nostalgia at play.

[cubicle47b]

The 360 controller is perfect.  Nothing else comes close.

Except for the d-pad. It fucks up what is otherwise an amazing controller.

I never use the d-pad so it's not a problem for me.

[Rman]

I also loved the SNES/Super Famicom controller as well.  It had a great D-pad and the face buttons were placed perfectly. 

[Vizzys]

360 - perfect except meh dpad

Dualshock 2 - close to perfect, I prefer dpad and stick being switched more on fps games but its great for fighters though.

Snes Pad -I dont remember hating this pad much. I would have to try one again now.

[Ichirou]

I came here to talk about the Saturn pad but it was already on the first post.  Best gamepad ever.   Best d-pad ever.  Best button arrangement ever.

I have two of the Sega Saturn pads that Hori made for PS2.  They're perfect for playing Capcom and SNK games.

[drew]

I'm going with the PS3's.

Xbox controllers aggravate the tendonitis in my hand, no idea why.

[bork]

I guess if we're just talking current-gen, then it would be the 360 controller, followed closely by the six-axis.  They are both pretty much slightly different takes on the same design anyway.

Classic?  The Neo-Geo CD controller.  It took a little getting used to, but once you get the feel for it, the nub-like d-pad (it's like a bigger version of the Neo-Geo Pocket d-pad) works far, far better for fighting games than any other controller.  The downside is that I found they tended to wear out a little too quickly and the d-pads wouldn't be as responsive as they should be.  Ended up getting a Neo-Geo PS1/PS2 controller adaptor for my AES as I got tired of faulty controllers.

SNK made a version of this controller for the PS2 with added buttons that came packed with KOF '94 Rebout, and I left mine back in the States, unfortunately.   :'(

[drohne]

japanese saturn pad

i've got one of sega's ps2 saturn pads, which i mainly use on my modded xbox through a lag-free magic box converter that i paid too much for. i'd use an actual saturn pad, but i like having that select button

my favorite modern pad is the logitech wireless for ps2

[thekavorka]

Wii Classic Controller. I love the Dpad on that.

[Ichirou]

Neo Geo Pocket Color had the best d-pad of any portable I've ever played, too.  It felt so good to play fighters on it, it was so easy to pull off moves.

[Smooth Groove]

360 pad is my favorite controller of this gen.  It has the best analog sticks, triggers, and rumble. The design also looks good.  My complaint with the 360 pad, like everyone else, is the D-pad.  Also, it's a bit hard to move from the bumper buttons to the triggers but that's understandable for a pad w/ bottom triggers. 

WIImote: motion control feels good but buttons are too few and too small.

Sixaxis- Positives: basic Dualshock design.  Negatives: terrible wireless functionality, weak motion control, worst triggers of all time, loose analog sticks, no rumble.  Basically I'm glad that they're replacing the sixaxis with my favorite controller from last gen, the DS2.

Last gen-

1st) DS2 2)Xbox controller S 3)GC

DS2 had by far the best placement of shoulder buttons.  EA big and action games worked better with the DS2 than any other controller. 

The Xbox's controller S was very comfortable and the best sticks&triggers.  However, the black and white buttons were pratically useless for any game that require quick use of them.  Also, rumble felt very crude on the controller S compared to the DS2.

Gamecube controller was comfortable despite the funky look.  However, the button placements make the controller practically unusable for many 3rd party games.  I often used a PS2 adapter for 3rd party games instead.

Old School-

Genesis 6 button pad.  I would probably have said the Saturn pad if I had a Saturn, since the Saturn pad is just a refined version of the Genesis pad. 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I'll just stick to the two systems I'm currently using.

360 by a wide margin.  I know the d-pad sucks but it's not like I'm using it all that much anyway.  On every game I own the d-pad is usually reserved for secondary or selection commands so big freakin' deal.  The triggers, stick placement, rumble, and just overall feel more than makes up it.  It's probably the best controller I've ever used to be honest.

The PS3 Six Axis is just too light, has no rumble (at least for now), the R2 and L2 triggers feel wrong, motion controls have generally sucked, and I've never cared for the symmetrical sticks which are too loose anyway.  It's still workable and I like the fact that I can play PS2 games now wireless without that impossibly short teather but it's disappointing Sony didn't at least fix their stick layout....it's 2007 for christ's sake.  Get with the program. 

I wish I could play the PS3 with the 360 controller. :/

[Smooth Groove]

I'll just stick to the two systems I'm currently using.

360 by a wide margin.  I know the d-pad sucks but it's not like I'm using it all that much anyway.  On every game I own the d-pad is usually reserved for secondary or selection commands so big freakin' deal.  The triggers, stick placement, rumble, and just overall feel more than makes up it.  It's probably the best controller I've ever used to be honest.

The PS3 Six Axis is just too light, has no rumble (at least for now), the R2 and L2 triggers feel wrong, motion controls have generally sucked, and I've never cared for the symmetrical sticks which are too loose anyway.  It's still workable and I like the fact that I can play PS2 games now wireless without that impossibly short teather but it's disappointing Sony didn't at least fix their stick layout....it's 2007 for christ's sake.  Get with the program. 

I wish I could play the PS3 with the 360 controller. :/

Funny how we almost had the same assessments of the two controllers.  Do you experience signal loss with the Sixais?   

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Funny how we almost had the same assessments of the two controllers.  Do you experience signal loss with the Sixais?   

Signal loss?  No, none that I can tell.  I noticed quite a few people complaining about it but I've yet to run into this problem.  Seems just as solid as the 360 to me.

[Smooth Groove]

Funny how we almost had the same assessments of the two controllers.  Do you experience signal loss with the Sixais?   

Signal loss?  No, none that I can tell.  I noticed quite a few people complaining about it but I've yet to run into this problem.  Seems just as solid as the 360 to me.

I've had a few problems here and there but it really went nuts when I also plugged in the WII.  I guess the Wiimote or the WII itself interfered with the Sixaxis's signal. 

[balikeye]

Everything has already been stated about the 360 controller. I agree with everything, and would just like to add that I love how natural it feels, even down to the weight of the thing. When I go back to playing PS2 games, it always takes me a few minutes to get over how light and cheap feeling they compare to the 360 (even though the Dualshocks are great controllers as well).

I would also like to show my age a bit and throw out there a nomination for the Colecovision Super Action Controllers. I loved these! I played a many of hours of Zaxxon and Super Action Baseball with these.



 

[Eel O'Brian]

Hitler and Smooth:

The sixaxis works really well with the Blazing Angels 2 setup.  Download the demo -it's really, really fun (they probably picked the best level for the demo to sucker people into buying the actual game).  The demo has online MP as well.  Give it a whirl, you'll have a really good time with it, but trust me when I tell you to STAY FAR FAR AWAY from the actual game. 

[Eel O'Brian]

"Hitler and Smooth"  would be a really cool name for a 70s cop show, btw, like "Tenspeed and Brownshoe."

[Valcrist]

I like the dual shock and the 360 one, but honestly, the 360 just fits the hand more.  The triggers is what does it for me.  Just having your fingers on them feels good.  FEELS SO GOOD.

[The Sceneman]

my favourite controls are the Wiimote and the Dreamcast pad. Because they are both white (reminds me of my cool looking ipod lol) and they both represent high technology and futuristic gaming. You could lump the negcon in that category too but that pad was just too unusual for me really haha

[bork]

Neo Geo Pocket Color had the best d-pad of any portable I've ever played, too.  It felt so good to play fighters on it, it was so easy to pull off moves.

Hence why the Neo-Geo CD PS2 Controller is worth hunting down. 

[Ichirou]

I've seen it being sold with KoF '94 Re-Bout, but I didn't know it was that good (I have the PS2 Saturn pads) so I never picked it up.  I might have to now, based upon your recommendation.  Too bad I already own Re-Bout.

BTW, lyte, are you on your third year on JET too?  I'm writing my re-contracting application for a 4th year right now.

[Van Cruncheon]

the wiimote is about as high tech as $5 of radio shack parts will allow

[The Sceneman]

I see you fell for my joke post

[Van Cruncheon]

i see you in my "i want to make toilet in your mouth" thread very, very soon

[The Sceneman]

that ones waiting till I get home

[ToxicAdam]

hah, I fell for that post too. You never know with people on the internet ..

Two of my favorite "old school" controllers are the slimmed down Genesis controller.



Pretty much the forebearer to the Saturn controller.


Although it was more of a gimmick, I loved the NES MAX. Worked great for games like Ice Hockey or other games that allowed for diagonal movement. One of the worst things about that old NES D-pad was how it destroyed your thumbs from trying to go diagonally for hours on end. The "handles" on the controller were another + for the design.

[CajoleJuice]

"Hitler and Smooth"  would be a really cool name for a 70s cop show, btw, like "Tenspeed and Brownshoe."

Best thing to come out of this thread.

[tiesto]

hah, I fell for that post too. You never know with people on the internet ..

Two of my favorite "old school" controllers are the slimmed down Genesis controller.

(Image removed from quote.)

Pretty much the forebearer to the Saturn controller.


Although it was more of a gimmick, I loved the NES MAX. Worked great for games like Ice Hockey or other games that allowed for diagonal movement. One of the worst things about that old NES D-pad was how it destroyed your thumbs from trying to go diagonally for hours on end. The "handles" on the controller were another + for the design.

(Image removed from quote.)

The sliding thing on the NES MAX was pretty pointless to use but I really appreciated its turbo buttons, especially for a lot of old NES run 'n guns and shmups which didn't have auto fire.

[ToxicAdam]

The slider was a gimmick, like I said, but it did save your thumbs. So, it was a success from the ergonomic aspect of it.

It's funny that you mention the turbo buttons. I hated them on that controller, because my brain was so wired for the buttons to all be on one plane (or auxillary buttons ABOVE the main plane, like on the Advantage) that they seemed clumsy down below.

Now that layout looks primitive compared to today's controllers.

[Cormacaroni]

No-one has tried 'modding' their 360 d-pad? It's really going too far to even call it a mod, it's so simple. Just take a small flat-headed screwdriver (for example...many other objects could also be employed) and carve around the lip of the d-pad to create some more space for the pad to travel. it's STUPIDLY easy to do, really. it works much better afterward.

[TVC15]

Don't you have to take apart the controller to do that?

I have been interested in it for some time.

[Cormacaroni]

tvc - nope.

possibly there are some other, more arcane and effective ways of doing it but take it from me - just shaving off some of the excess plastic makes a big difference.

[DJ_Tet]

The Max was my tool as well, but I used it a little unorthodox.  First off, the built-in, persistent turbo buttons were a godsend, as I have a very slow reflex on my thumbs and that was important in a lot of games back then.  Also, by having them as separate buttons, you didn't have to worry about pressing turbo when you needed to hold down the button.  For instance, if you used an Advantage, to have a regular A button press, you had to turn off turbo.  The Max separate turbo buttons alleviated that.

The way I used the d-pad though was really good on my thumbs.  I would use the slider to take my thumb to the correct position on the black ring, and press the ring down.  I found that by using the slider extensively it wore my thumb out, but if I pressed on the black ring I had more direct input on the directions.  It was a great controller, I went through three that generation although I agree it hasn't aged all that well. 

[trh]

i modded my d-pad; took it apart, used a screwdriver to roughly chop out pieces to make the ring larger, then used sandpaper to get it smooth cause i need my controller to look good. works perfectly and the difference is astonishing, don't get why it isn't the standard.

you could definitely do it without taking the controller apart but i think it'd be harder to get it to look good though.