Best Gamepad for shmupping on comp

maldoror · Post by **maldoror** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:25 am

I have a cheap gamepad that I bought a few years ago that absolutely sucks for shooters. It's got low sensitivity or something, I can't exactly nail down what makes it useless, but I was wondering, is this a problem do you think with the gamepad itself or is shmupping on the computer always like that? What would be the best gamepad to use with windows within a decent price range?

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Wed May 23, 2007 6:05 am

A Saturn pad with USB converter is nice for Mame related shenanigans. Very responsive too.

Motorherp · Post by **Motorherp** » Wed May 23, 2007 8:36 am

I'm currently using a xbox 360 pad for my pc and it sucks. The d-pad is just one unreasonably huge unwieldly thick chunk of plastic. Not only is it uncormfortable but its also difficult to control. The d-pad's on the official ps2 dualshocks are pretty sweet through, very responsive and comfortable I find, and you can pick up ps2 to usb converters pretty cheaply at most game stores. Dont know how they compare to Saturn pads though.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:26 am

I still like my 360 pad but I now realize it's hurting my chances at highscores. One of these days I'll get a proper USB stick, but then I'll need something to rest it on...oh well

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Fri May 25, 2007 2:39 pm

I'd definitely say you can get good shooter performance from a PC gamepad; I've used both horrendously bad and superbly made ones, and the difference was night and day in MAME.

The USB Saturn Pad (for PC) has always performed extremely well for me. Unfortunately, how to buy one escapes me right now, but I'm sure others here can help you with tracking one down.

This Logitech pad, which I picked up yesterday to tide me over (living abroad right now) seems pretty good. Tested it out with Raiden and Gradius II, it's very responsive and precise. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/produ ... ENTID=9500

The D-Pad is a tiny bit loose-feeling, but it's so slight that it can be adjusted to quickly. It's miles better than the 360's D-Pad, I'd say. I hate that thing as well... this one has none of the terrible chunkiness or lag when switching directions. It's pretty cheap, too; got mine for £10 from an Argos, in case you live in the UK.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:10 am

With the 360 pad I don't even try using the d-pad. Only the joystick. The 360's d-pad - especially the Mad Catz model I use - is just insanely bad.

Works well enough for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, however!

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Sat May 26, 2007 12:14 pm

Yeah, the 360 controller definitely excels in 3D moreso than 2D. Ordinarily, I'd concede that it's not meant to be a high-precision 2D controller, but with so many 2D games on Live Arcade, it's a shame about the D-Pad. There's just too much junk between the pad and the contacts, and it seriously harms precision. I'll be getting a 360 soon, but I'll be looking for an alternative pad before playing Live Arcade stuff.

Not that I think it's completely unusable; I scraped together a Gradius Gaiden "Hardest" 1CC with it at least.

I just consider it the worst PC pad I've used that's actually viable for hardcore 2D games. There's this Microsoft Sidewinder pad (exact name escapes me) that's downright obscene. The D-Pad is like a plastic dome that's had hydrochloric acid dripped on it, and if you take it apart, the pad's contacts are arranged in a freakin' rhombus around its edges. Scary stuff.

gunbird18 · Post by **gunbird18** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:13 am

The Microsoft Sidewinder pad that has the Saturn button configuration works great for me. Do not confuse it with the "plug and play" sidewinder pad. That one only has 4 buttons on the surface and maybe two shoulder buttons, but mucho inferior.

kemical · Post by **kemical** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:10 pm

I highly recommend the Saitek P220... it can be found for something like $6 or $8 bucks at Frys Electronics.

http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/P220.htm

The thumb pad is extremely comfortable and all the buttons are snappy (in that rubbery way) and responsive.

stanski · Post by **stanski** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:33 am

kemical wrote:I highly recommend the Saitek P220... it can be found for something like $6 or $8 bucks at Frys Electronics.

http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/P220.htm

The thumb pad is extremely comfortable and all the buttons are snappy (in that rubbery way) and responsive.

How is the d-pad for hitting diagonals? Is it loose at all in that respect? Thats the biggest problem with the 2 pc pads I owned, I eventually bought a converter for a SNES console pad just to play games on emulator, but I'd really like to avoid buying another snes pad when this one dies (soon).

PROMETHEUS · Post by **PROMETHEUS** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:35 am

A keyboard is best ^^ (why use a gamepad for shmups when you have a keyboard? O_o)

druaga · Post by **druaga** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:48 pm

I used a PS2 controller with a USB adapter purchased at Radio Shack for years. The D-Pad seems OK. Wouldn't use the analog sticks for shmups though.

-Dru

kemical · Post by **kemical** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:43 pm

stanski wrote: How is the d-pad for hitting diagonals? Is it loose at all in that respect? Thats the biggest problem with the 2 pc pads I owned, I eventually bought a converter for a SNES console pad just to play games on emulator, but I'd really like to avoid buying another snes pad when this one dies (soon).

I think the d-pad is loose, but in a easy to push down and trigger the switches type of way. From what I remember it is pretty easy to hit diagonals, maybe almost too sensitive because I noticed my ship would wiggle or twitch around more often, but that might just be due to me not being used to gamepads.
For a small comparison it's definitely more comfortable than an xbox 360 and sega genesis d-pad, my thumb feels less strained like there isn't as much force required to operate the dpad... some kind of better tactile feeling.

stanski · Post by **stanski** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:54 pm

PROMETHEUS wrote:A keyboard is best ^^ (why use a gamepad for shmups when you have a keyboard? O_o)

I don't just play shmups, but i like using a controller for them anyways because I cannot for the life of me do diagonals with shmups on a keyboard. Something mentally about it that I just can't do (I do fine with diagonals on 3d games, though).

PS2 d-pads equally suck. i cannot stand them.

I'll pick up that pad, it sounds ok from your description and is cheap, hopefully this one will be a winner.

Devilsheep · Post by **Devilsheep** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:11 am

Yeah I've heard Saitek makes a good pad...but if you can, really try to pick up the Saturn USB Pads as I hear they are the best. Personally, I've tried pads and arcade sticks, but I still am best with the good ol' keyboard. It's not how I started playing, but it's how I've adapted...and like many players here have said, it's not what you use - it's what you are good and comfortable with. Get a pad only if you're good with it or if you really intend to spend some quality time on getting used to it.

azmun · Post by **azmun** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:03 pm

The saturn pads are widely regarded as the best. Since tracking down the USB or PS2 variants are next to impossible, a much more viable option would be to track down the original saturn pads and a 3in1 PC joybox adapter as these are very much available and reasonably priced.

themachinist · Post by **themachinist** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:44 pm

This gentlemen who started this thread http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... sc&start=0 in the Trading forum seems like he'll probably be offering a SS pad modified to plug into USB. It seems he is in the building and testing phase of his first controller. Anyway, if he gets it running it seems the cost will be $35-$40. Just another option if you don't want to track down your own SS controller and adapter(s).