Your Controllers Say a Lot About You

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I got in the mood of playing some Mega Man 3 on my PS2 and noticed the little blue guy wouldn't move right unless I pressed right really hard. That means I'm a real old-schooler Everyone knows right is the direction you go when playing platformers and horzies.

. No, I'm not happy my controller is broken but still.

[iatneH]

Hmm... how about people who have controller collections that consist of basically the (barely used) stock controller that comes with the system, and then 1-4 arcade sticks for each system?

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

That's easy. They're arcade fans, more specifically fighting fans 'cause joysticks are a necessity for serious fighting fans. Having many of 'em also says you're a rich bastard.

[BulletMagnet]

What about someone with a Spongebob Squarepants PS1 controller?

[CIT]

lolerz

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

I don't have any controllers...I control all of my games with just my mind!

[elvis]

When I first got my SNES I played the thing day and night. Within weeks I'd snapped the little plastic clips that hold the L and R buttons in place. Still, the buttons worked fine without them. Likewise the normal play buttons "springiness" died over time.

Playing other people's SNESes just felt weird. Their gamepads were so unused and virgin, it just didn't feel right. Unworn input devices just don't have that "homely" feel about them.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

What about someone with a Spongebob Squarepants PS1 controller?

You little bastard .

[Turrican]

My playstation has a dualshock in port 1. It's true, it tells a lot about me. The right analog stick doesn't work properly, it stays stuck in the lower direction if you press it. It's a grey old dualshock that suvived my first playstation, which died because of Vagrant Story and its constant disc access. I bought it before Metal Gear, around the time TFV was out, and I still think nothing beats using the Free Range with analog, it's magic.

Something like eight months ago I purchased GTA San Andreas and since then I amazed myself, as I didn't think I had the age to play again a game for well over 100 hours. I frankly thought I left that kind of madness with FFT. Anyway, somewhere near San Fierro, when CJ's adventure was around half, the dualshock 2 died. I had never trusted that pad. The shoulder buttons, R2 in particular, did stuck inside, and playing Onimusha with it was a pain.

Anyway, I was there, in the middle of San Fierro's country without a dualshock. Yes, I've got just one of them, those things are expensive like a whole game these days... I went to my grey Playstation and thought: "I'll just borrow you for a minute, the time to bring CJ home and save. I'll buy another dualshock 2 tomorrow".

But, you know, despite being a lot heavier than its black descendant, and despite the lack of pressure sensitive function, I ended up, months after the accident, playing San Andreas through the end with that pad. Sure, I couldn't have used it for something like MGS2, but for GTA it did wonders.

I have older PS pads around, the earlier models that I used with Tomb Raider back in 1996. And you know, it feels funny to think that I played those 3D games, Tomb Raider, Wipeout 2097, without the dualshock... Anyway it felt good to make this other voyage with it and see that despite that stiff right lever, the good old pad was perfectly fit to the job.

=========

You wonder what's attached to port 2, fine, I'll tell you. It's a Namco Arcade Stick. I bought it really cheap but it's in awesome condition. I love its design, the weight of the metal base and those yellow buttons. It's quite comfortable to have it in port 2, so I can play Raiden DX with the fast-dodger blue ship.

I am a lot more used to pads than to sticks, but if it weren't for that Namco Arcade Stick, I would have got troubles unlocking Tempest 2000 in X3. I think I scored an hundred thousand points more than usual the very first play I switched controls. The Claw reacted much better to my inputs!

=========

I'd like to take the chance to express my gratitude to my other pads as well: the many snes pads, each with a faulty button, the megadrive one which is made so smooth by the intense use, the NES GBC pad with the autofire option and that incredibly short cable, and my "Albatross Ball" Amiga microswitch joysticks, truly the best one-button devices my hands ever held.
P.S. Thanks to the Hori NGC digipad, which combined with the GB Player makes my NGC less worthless than it'd be.

[Acid King]

My main PSX/PS2 pad is a dual shock I got with my playstation when I bought it way back when. I also have a red N64 controller, which someone gave me for my birthday and was my controller of choice when I had an N64.

I want to get one of those Dragon Quest controllers that are shaped like the blue blobs.

[BulletMagnet]

You little bastard .

Hey, I'm dead serious, I do have one of those things. Here's a pic of it:



And yes, the nose is "3D" and sticks out when you view it from the side. There's also apparently a Patrick one too:



I'll hafta see if I can get one for the 2P port...

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

^ I should've phrased it as "you: little bastard" to connote the double meaning of "you little bastard" and "you're a little bastard."

You're weird.

[Specineff]

The Patrick one looks like some sort of toy for girls. Big girls.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

^ That brought back memories of the first time I saw the "Trance Vibrator" doing what it wasn't supposed to do . Gotta love controllers.

[Shatterhand]

Where's the select button on that?

Yes, my controllers do say a lot about me. They are all cheap, 3rd party controllers which break easily. BUT my Sega Saturn has a 3D controller which I take care like it was my girl or something.

And while I do not have a PS2, I have a Dual Shock 2 controller, which I use more on my PC than on my PS1.

[Skyline]

My PS2's got the same DS2 controller I've had since my first PS2 purchase back in 2001. All that's wrong with it at this point is you have to brutally mash the Start button to get any response from it. The PS1 DS I use with the PC is fairly new, my stock Saturn and DC pads are both okay as well, albiet dirty.

The pop'n music ASC (Kagura) doesn't get used much due to sticky buttons galore, and the IIDX controller (Konami official) is to the point where my fingerprints are smoothing out the rounded tops of the keys. This is after LOTS of use, and abuse.

My Namco PS1 stick, however, is a complete mess. I bought it from Randorama about...3 or so years ago? It's gotten almost daily use for 2 years straight and it shows.

Here's the front. The areas where the paint's peeled are where I rest my hands during use. There's also traces of rust...

...and here's the back. Probably due to resting in on my lap during some play sessions, the bottom is almost completely rusted. And this is after a CLR treatment a good 7 months ago. I took these photos a good 20 minutes ago, and my hands still smell like rust. Oh, and half the buttons stick because someone spilled store-brand Cola on it. -_-

The Hori stick that came with Tekken 5 gets more use nowadays, and so far it still looks good, save for some dust in between the buttons.. Same with my DC and Saturn sticks.

However, off-topic, I'd welcome any PMs from folks who can steer me in the right direction to restoring that Namco stick. I'd like to be able to use it without my hands smelling like I just jerked off The Tin Man.

[Ghegs]

I have five consoles and all but one I can control with a Saturn-style PS2 controller. I say "a" because I actually have three of them, one of them hasn't even been opened yet. I love that thing so much I bought adapters for my other consoles so I could use it. Guess that says I love 2D games. I also have a Namco Arcade Stick, but I very rarely use it.

[D]

what about a saturn with two multitaps ten controllers and a copy of Bomberman



Bomberman Ultimate Showdown Event will start at 18:00 in Amsterdam today (at a friend's house)

I hope lots of people show up.

What about 2 Total Controls 5 for Dreamcast so you can play with Saturn pads (& ps pads)

The only sticks I have are in my Raiden Fighters fitted tated Masterplay cab.

[system11]

My Xbox controller says I wanted to be the best I possibly could be at Midnight Club 3 - it has extra buttons fitted underneath so I could switch to manual gearbox and still have good throttle control with the right thumbstick.

[JBC]

I wish i still had my Saturn controller with teeth marks.

[JigsawMan]

I'm indecisive, and that pic was about 18 months ago, I'm ashamed to admit that I've added a few more to that collection. The Dreamcast Optical sticks are a beauty to use. I prefer them over the Hori RAP.

[Ganelon]

I got in the mood of playing some Mega Man 3 on my PS2 and noticed the little blue guy wouldn't move right unless I pressed right really hard. That means I'm a real old-schooler Everyone knows right is the direction you go when playing platformers and horzies.

. No, I'm not happy my controller is broken but still.

Wow, I had that exact same problem with my PS2 controller except it occurred while I was playing Sonic Gems Collection. I tried disassembling it but then the button sensors stopped functioning, likely due to the analog detection mechanism since PS1 Dual Shocks can be mixed around like cake. Had to get another controller because Sony can't make quality products (my original non-analog PS1 controller's d-pad broke in half between up-left and down-right but it still works fine).

[Andi]

Where's the select button on that?

Yes, my controllers do say a lot about me. They are all cheap, 3rd party controllers which break easily.

Ditto! In fact, most of mine are broken too.

[elvis]

I'm indecisive, and that pic was about 18 months ago

I think you have more controllers than I have games!!!

[Moogs]

I've got the purple Darkstalkers edition Saturn controller plugged into my PS2.

[professor ganson]

I'm almost as interested in my PS2 control pads as I am in my games right now. I'm currently rotating between the Saturn pad, the ASCII Guilty Gear pad, and the Capcom Street Fighter pad. Each has its virtues and vices, but all are great fun. I don't know what this all says about me.

[Dave_K.]

The Dreamcast Optical sticks are a beauty to use. I prefer them over the Hori RAP.

I never knew ASCII made dreamcast sticks like that. Are those the ones that use an optical stick?

[MadSteelDarkness]

Whatever my controllers have been saying about me, it's all lies, I tell you!

Lies, dammit!!

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

My controllers probably don't have anything good to say about me. Because their in a messy pile of wires on the floor. I keep on getting my regular saturn controller mixed up with my playstation saturn controller. I should just get one that's a different color.

[IlMrm]

My PS2 Saturn pad just came from Play Asia today. Check the trading section for the coupon code.