Arcade stick vs D-Pad vs Analog stick vs Touch screen

[mehguy]

Which control option do you like the best for shmups?

[nosorrow]

Don't have any PCBs/only play console games... for me, it's D-pad.

Only "arcade stick" I've ever used for console shmups is the NES Advantage (most notably for Gun.Smoke). I generally use that controller for NES shooters.

P.S. Probable exception: I'm in the process of acquiring a J 360 (have yet to play any 360 games...), but I've heard so many bad things about the 360 d-pad, I fear I'll have to purchase a dedicated controller some time down the road.

[near_miss]

In theory, arcade stick (I got a hrap3, It's a beautiful thing, and the games I can play with it, feel amazing, although my precision is still lacking)

In practise, saturn d-pad (currently most effective for me from a skill perspective)

ipad Touch screen can be really effective, but the lack of tactile feedback means the game has to be really great to put up with it.

Dreamcast controller is my current most hated controller for shmups, but you make it work. I need to find a stick for my DC.

[mastermx]

You forgot keyboard.

For me it's arcade stick and d pad mostly. I've been learning keyboard recently and I find that fun. But touch screens and analog sticks for arcade style games have always been a no go for me. It just doesn't play well with those two. But I do understand that some people do incredibly well with them.

[mice]

NES controller replica, USB.

[RaidenViper]

Kinect

[mehguy]

Kinect

Best way of playing a shmup.

[PAPER/ARTILLERY]

Arcade stick. Took a while to adjust after playing games with a pad my whole life but I couldn't play with anything else now.

[KAI]

I like it as real as possible

[near_miss]

Kinect

I've found micrododging on kinect to be pretty challenging though.

You need to have enough light, and sometimes when I try to bomb it reads it wrong and flies me directly into exactly what I was trying to cancel (every time, actually). It will take a lot of discipline to get good. Still though, if more developers stuck it out, these controls *could* be mastered. Two player ikaruga without color swapping run is pretty fun though, except for constantly smashing your face into your friend's head/furniture. It's especially good if you enjoy the final destination movies!

[chempop]

Hitbox, shmup style:

[LordHypnos]

I've only used pad and keyboard, myself. Pad is definitely my preferred (with a few exceptions. I think that rRootage and noiz2sa feel better with a keyboard for some reason). I've got a Saturn pad. Not an actual Saturn, but I use it with adapters. Nicest pad I've ever used, but I haven't actually used that many.

I'd love to see a video of someone trying to play a shmup with kinect That would be awesome.

[endoKarb]

I want that arcade stick with no stick and only buttons :O

I've been getting so accustomed to playing with a keyboard that I don't even use my xbox anymore. Other control options just don't cut it for me.

[Nick420]

Arcade stick
Dpad
Keyboard
Touchscreen
Analog stick

In that order

[nasty_wolverine]

while dpads provide very quick movements(like quick switching left to right, or jittering in place), arcade sticks make for really precise movements, but you cant really make real quick and small adjustments on the fly, and it kinda trains you to only make the most necessary movements. a driving wheel is almost the same as using an analogue stick. and good for you if you can use keyboards, they never made sense for me.

[Some-Mist]

arcade stick over everything else. it feels the most natural for me whether it be a pcb, console, or pc shmup.

[kevinmaccioly]

Keyboard. The best for precise maneuvers

[mastermx]

Seeing gus tackle futari ultra and counter stop it on a 360 pad, convinced me that the controller doesn't matter as much as the player.

[Blinge]

I made the change to arcade stick a few months ago, absolutely love it and have done some of my best play with it.
However the Dualshock 2, and general Playstation controllers are a close second. That might be slightly controversial; a lot of people hate that controller, but for some reason the analog really agrees with me - the very light thumb movements.

Dreamcast has the best damn D-pad

[AimeeSH]

dpad or keyboard for me but the touch screen has one big advantage over the others.
The fact you can move as fast as your finger.

[DestroyTheCore]

Arcade sticks all the way, although I really don't mind using the analog stick on my Xbox 360. I find touch screens very intuitive and easy to use but they provide an unfaithful experience to the original game when it comes to ports.

[amdiggywhut]

Arcade stick, no question.

Can't decide which I like more between the LS-58 or LS-56 tho.

[mastermx]

I've always used sanwa. But I hear a lot about seimitsu from shmup players. Is the difference really noticeable?

[amdiggywhut]

Is the difference really noticeable?

The difference between Sanwa and Seimitsu parts is certainly noticeable, both for sticks and buttons. However, I'd add that the difference between various Seimitsu sticks is also very noticeable. It's all preference tho. Anybody can raise their skill with their weapon of choice through practice.

[Pteriforever]

None of the above.

Keyboard ftw.

[beatsgo]

Stick all the way,


....unless you're PROMETHEUS then it's keyboard

[supergrafx77]

I've always used sanwa. But I hear a lot about seimitsu from shmup players. Is the difference really noticeable?

Arcade stick, no question.

Can't decide which I like more between the LS-58 or LS-56 tho.

Since switching to the LS-56 after reading Emphatic's kind remarks regarding the stick, I could never go back to a LS-32.

After switching them out, IMO, it's apparent that the LS-32 is a pretty sloppy stick in comparison. Much better for fighters IMO, like the JLF (although I'd still choose LS32 over the JLF for shmups).

For shmups, the controls of the LS-56 feel tighter and more responsive.

I'm running it stock right now w/ square gate, but hear it can get even better by modding it which honestly, I'm in no hurry to do since it is "that good."

I tried the octagonal gate, but that didn't seem to good for me (tried that w/ Ketsui).

I'd love to know what mods are proper to make it even better though.

Not sure about the LS-58. I had assumed they were pretty much identical sticks except for a plate or something superficial like that?

[Lyv]

DDR dance pad.
I switch to keyboard when the guy living downstairs starts getting angry.

I'd be curious to see how a touch screen actually feels for shmups.

[mastermx]

I wonder if anyone can 1cc a shmup with a power glove. Now that is the ultimate shmupping challenge.

[amdiggywhut]

Since switching to the LS-56 after reading Emphatic's kind remarks regarding the stick, I could never go back to a LS-32.

After switching them out, IMO, it's apparent that the LS-32 is a pretty sloppy stick in comparison.

Agreed. I've never really liked the LS-32. I believe its somewhat popular because there's a HRAP that features it stock (the EX-SE) whereas the other HRAPs generally just have Sanwa parts. The LS-56 is beyond better for shmups.

Not sure about the LS-58. I had assumed they were pretty much identical sticks except for a plate or something superficial like that?

The LS-58 has a looser spring (in addition to adding the option of translucent parts). I've certainly been using the LS-58 longer than the LS-56 so it might just be that I'm used to it. It feels so good for tap-dodging in focused movement (CAVE games) that I couldn't ever imagine using anything else. LS-56 has its moments too.

I'm a relatively indecisive person tho and this is just another item on a long list of stuff I can't commit to, so its safe to say that you can't go wrong with either stick. They unequivocally better (for shmups) than everything else I've tried (which is, well, everything other than the LS-33 and LS-40).

/novel