Best controller for Dreamcast shmups?...

[dave4shmups]

I really don’t like using the official Dreamcast controller for shmups, and I don’t want to use a controller converter, so I’m looking for other options. I’ve seen the ASCII Pad, but it’s expensive. I’ve heard that the Japanese Dreamcast controller has a dpad that’s better for shmups then the North American one.

[ASDR]

I had to return several ASCII Pads. They look really nice, but the dpads all had issues registering certain directions, absolutely unusable. Maybe I was just really unlucky. Not sure if I'd gamble again with the current eBay prices.

Why don't you want to use a converter? I have a Saturn & PS2 one that works perfectly fine. I use a JP Saturn controller on my DC for basically everything that does not require an analog stick. You can also hook up the Neo Geo CD controllers for PS2 through the converter.

[Xer Xian]

There are two versions of the official controller - the second has a d-pad that protrudes more. The first is slightly better, but still pretty bad. I don't like the ASCII pad either, the d-pad is loose and floaty (does this word exist?) - it can be improved by placing a thin, conveniently cut cardboard piece in between the d-pad and the rubber. Yeah, it will still be worse than the Saturn pad..

I tend to use the ASCII FT stick for the Dreamcast. No one gives a damn about it but I like the feeling of the seamless optical stick with octagonal gate for shmups. YMMV

[dave4shmups]

I had to return several ASCII Pads. They look really nice, but the dpads all had issues registering certain directions, absolutely unusable. Maybe I was just really unlucky. Not sure if I'd gamble again with the current eBay prices.

Why don't you want to use a converter? I have a Saturn & PS2 one that works perfectly fine. I use a JP Saturn controller on my DC for basically everything that does not require an analog stick. You can also hook up the Neo Geo CD controllers for PS2 through the converter.

The thing that worries me about using a converter is button mapping being a pain in the butt. What brand is yours? I see some brand called "Total Control" a lot on eBay.

[creamygarlicdip]

id go for the total control, i dont have the converter but the saturn japan style controllers are gems.

i have sega saturn to usb adapter its great on ps3 and pc games.

[bigbadboaz]

Get the Total Control. I haven't used my DC setup in years but I recall zero issues with mapping. I want to say it mimicked the DC arcade stick's but I'm not sure. What I do remember is that it mapped properly to the Street Fighter games without any changes - which implies the stick.

There was also an Innovation one that I haven't used but heard zero complaints about.

Just to back up the other comments that the ASCII was a huge disappointment. Don't go that way, especially if they're now very expensive. They designed them to imitate the Saturn pad but the D-pads just don't work right.

I don't think you're going to do better than the real deal on this system.

[dave4shmups]

Get the Total Control. I haven't used my DC setup in years but I recall zero issues with mapping. I want to say it mimicked the DC arcade stick's but I'm not sure. What I do remember is that it mapped properly to the Street Fighter games without any changes - which implies the stick.

There was also an Innovation one that I haven't used but heard zero complaints about.

Just to back up the other comments that the ASCII was a huge disappointment. Don't go that way, especially if they're now very expensive. They designed them to imitate the Saturn pad but the D-pads just don't work right.

I don't think you're going to do better than the real deal on this system.

Thanks! So you used it with a PS2 controller?

[bigbadboaz]

No, the Saturn.

[FinalBaton]

The Total Control 3 adapter is a blessing. In fact I have 2 of them. I use them with jp Saturn pads. Needless to say, with the jp Saturn pad being so amazing, going that route is a no-brainer. I only played a handful of DC games at home with the TC3 though so I can't comment on compatibility and mapping. But Capcom fighting games automatically map correctly, with punches and kicks being on the 6 face buttons. Can't speak for mapping for shmups.

I haven't tried the Total Control Plus (PS1/PS2 variant) but I prefer the Saturn pad to the PS2 pad so there's not much reason for me to get the TCP. The TCP supposedly supports the playstation pads' analog sticks though, so there's that.

But if we're speaking d-pad : the Saturn one is noticeably better than the playstation one. So for d-pad intensive games, definitely go with a Total Control 3.

[ASDR]

I use a cheap adapter called DC connection 3 in 1. I think it doesn't actually support PS2 / Dual Shock controllers (Just PS1 controllers), but I mostly use it as a Saturn Adapter anyway. DC shoulder buttons are mapped to Z/C, not the shoulder buttons on the Saturn controller. The Saturn Dpad is incredible. After playing countless hours of Battle Garegga & DoDonPachi on the Saturn this year going back to DC/PS2/SNES shooters with the system's native controller was, well, difficult. One cool thing about having PS controller compatibility is the many awesome 3rd party controllers released for the system, for instance the Neo Geo CD PS2 controller works fine on the DC through this adapter. Pretty good for fighting games.

[azmun]

I too can vouch for Total Control 3 and official Saturn pads if you want the absolute best (d)pad for use on Dreamcast. Perfect not only for shooters but fighters, platformers and any game (mostly 2D) that doesn't require the use of analog functions.

Personally however, I prefer joysticks for shooters and the official Dreamcast joystick is a decent option. But the ideal set up is to use a Total Control Plus or some other similar converter that allows you to use PlayStation 1 or 2 controllers on Dreamcast. Then get a Konami Hyper Stick or Hori RAP as these joysticks were equipped with actual arcade parts (Seimitsu and Sanwa). Button mapping shouldn't be an issue as most if not all shooters have option to change button settings.

[Hoagtech]

The Total Control 3 adapter is a blessing. In fact I have 2 of them. I use them with jp Saturn pads. Needless to say, with the jp Saturn pad being so amazing, going that route is a no-brainer. I only played a handful of DC games at home with the TC3 though so I can't comment on compatibility and mapping. But Capcom fighting games automatically map correctly, with punches and kicks being on the 6 face buttons. Can't speak for mapping for shmups.

I haven't tried the Total Control Plus (PS1/PS2 variant) but I prefer the Saturn pad to the PS2 pad so there's not much reason for me to get the TCP. The TCP supposedly supports the playstation pads' analog sticks though, so there's that.

But if we're speaking d-pad : the Saturn one is noticeably better than the playstation one. So for d-pad intensive games, definitely go with a Total Control 3.

I prefer the “plus” shape d-pad to the 8 directional on the Saturn. My favorite controllers being SNES, NES, and PS1 “bone” (no analog)

I don’t like to accidentally roll a direction when I want to go straight up, down, or sideways.

My least favorite d-pads are Xbox 360, original Xbox, GameCube, pc engine, Master system, N64 and Genesis.

I will say out of the 8 direction pads I like Saturn the most.

I remember playing Metroid on a NES emulator with my Gravis gamepad and accidentally morph balling when I just wanted to run sideways.

[d0s]

[Triple Lei]

I have a Total Control Plus. They work great, but you want to be gentle with the VMU connection. Try to insert VMU straight down, and be delicate! Don't just jam it in like you're buckling a seat belt. Mine doesn't work anymore because I broke those little solder points off. Been meaning to learn how to solder though, honest...

Also if you have one of those 4x memory cards, there are some compatibility issues with the adapter. So use an actual VMU in Slot 1-A, or keep the 4x memory card in 1-B and hope that your game can load a save from there.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, the cool pic that dOs posted is the perfect arcade stick for playing your favorite shmups on the DC platform, it'd be the Agetech Dreamcast Arcade Stick indeed. I've got one of those "green goblin" DC arcade sticks myself but it's been further modded with Seimitsu parts + Japanese button layout spec that you'd find at a Japanese game center these days (thus making it a truly world-class Japanese arcade stick). The stock parts on a plain-vanilla un-modeed Agetech DC Stick are similar to that of a Sanwa Denshi arcade joystick & push button setup but not as responsive.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Stevens]

I have a Total Control Plus. They work great, but you want to be gentle with the VMU connection. Try to insert VMU straight down, and be delicate! Don't just jam it in like you're buckling a seat belt. Mine doesn't work anymore because I broke those little solder points off. Been meaning to learn how to solder though, honest...

Came to say this.

[davyK]

^ This.

[bigbadboaz]

Not unmodded. Ick