How well do X360 fightpads compare to Saturn controllers?

[Special World]

Recently I've been using a Sega Saturn USB controller to play scrolling shooters, and I really like it. I was thinking of getting a WWE fightpad for my Xbox 360 (gonna mod it anyhow), but I wanted to know about its overall build quality first. Does it mostly feel like a Saturn pad? Are the dpad, face buttons, and shoulder buttons generally of the same quality? I've heard the pad is stiff, but works a lot better if you remove the circuit board screws. The buttons aren't size-differentiated, but do they feel similar to the big Saturn buttons? Or are they too punchy or clicky or something?

Was just wondering if anybody who's used both had any input. They're not too expensive, and it seems like they're really easy to mod the controller itself and the art, so I'd like to try one out as long as they're pretty good.

[Bananamatic]

according to some the fightpads are faulty(and probably not all that much better than the stock 360 controller)
plus madcatz quality

[Pretas]

There are no good "fightpads" for 360 that were sold outside Japan. PDP has a somewhat better model, but it breaks very easily.

[Special World]

Well, are there any good Japanese ones that aren't hella expensive?

On that PDP pad: I actually think that sounds awesome (except for them being shoddy, obv), considering how much I love love love the Neo-Geo Pocket stick. But I'm actually getting this controller as an alternate for my stick, and I'm not sure it makes sense to get a "lesser" stick instead of a great pad. I've been a console gamer for longer than I've been an arcade gamer, so I think maybe I just have more skill with a pad.

[HydrogLox]

PDP has a somewhat better model, but it breaks very easily.

One of the micro-switches went intermittent quite quickly on mine - makes for a real frustrating Raiden Fighters session.
Amazon Reviews: Xbox 360 Versus Controller by PDP

For some reason Hori can't bring themselves to produce an Xbox 360 equivalent of their PS3/PS4 Fighting Commander. I guess the Xbox 360 is so FPS dominated that they don't dare leave out the analog sticks. The Horipad EX2 Turbo had a six button layout similar to the Saturn controller and a superior D-pad. However people mostly complained about the analog sticks.
Amazon Reviews: Horipad EX2 Turbo

Because of Serraxor's Revolver360 Re:Actor Review I found out about the Hori Xbox 360 GEM Pad EX (he only mentions it in passing). Seems some people like it for fighting games (still waiting for mine to arrive).
Amazon Reviews: Hori Xbox 360 GEM Pad EX

Caveat: the Hori controllers implement the LT and RT triggers as Button 11 and 12 - not as analog Z-axis control like the original Xbox 360 controller.

[Special World]

I really wish the Gem Pad had the same general form factor as that Fighting Commander :\ Thing looks beautiful.

I might consider picking up the Gem Pad... never tried a Hori controller before and it's probably time I did. Really wish it resembled a classic-style controller though, or at least had the dpad in primary position.

[Damocles]

There are no good "fightpads" for 360 that were sold outside Japan. PDP has a somewhat better model, but it breaks very easily.

Seconded.

The PDP worked well for me, until one of the switches lost all resistance and forced me to manually center the stick. Upon disassembly, I was not able to fix the pad. The Madcatz fightpad works somewhat well on 4-way games, but little else. I performed my PSP D-Pad mod on the Madcatz, which worked a bit. Not enough to justify a purchase.

[nosorrow]

I don't get the hate for the 360 d-pad, I love using it for shooters: it's MUCH better than the stock PS2 controller for instance.
That's all.

[ACSeraph]

I can confirm that the SF4 fightppads from madcatz are clunky pieces of garbage, don't buy one.

[Damocles]

I don't get the hate for the 360 d-pad, I love using it for shooters: it's MUCH better than the stock PS2 controller for instance.
That's all.

The D-Pad isn't too bad once loosened up and hogged out. I actually prefer the analog stick, and managed to clear quite a few 360 shmups with the thing.

[broken harbour]

I've never had an issue with the Xbox360 controller for shmups, but it's absolute garbage for fighting games. Has anyone here tried one of those newfangled rotating/transforming d-pad 360 controllers? I haven't, the internet seems to like it tho...

I need some decent fightpads for both my 360 and PS3, and PS1/PS2 actually.... tho for that I could probbably find a Saturn to PS1 converter.

[HydrogLox]

tho for that I could probbably find a Saturn to PS1 converter.

If you have somebody in the States who can purchase it for you it could be worth considering getting:

Sega Saturn Pad controller adapter converter Playstation 2

I think someone mentioned that it could be combined (lagfree) with an Xtokki 360 converter for use on the Xbox 360 and a iNPiN PS2 to PS3 Converter for use on a PS3.

Has anyone here tried one of those newfangled rotating/transforming d-pad 360 controllers? I haven't, the internet seems to like it tho...

Haven't bothered with it as the testimonials I have run into usually boiled down to it not being actually any better (- just yet another more recent and more expensive variation of the stock Xbox 360 controller design).