Need advice for a good controller for shooters...

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b0ub0u
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Need advice for a good controller for shooters...

Post by b0ub0u »

Hi guys !

I am wondering what would be the best controller to use for a shmups.

I am currently playing mostly Saturn (Layer Section, Radiant) and DC (Border Down, Mars Matrix, Ikaruga, Under Defeat, Shikigami No Shiro etc...) games, but I also have some games on PS2 (Gradius V)

Any advice on a good controller for each of those consoles ?

I have heard of the Arcade Stick for DC, the one with the green button. Is this any good for shooters ?

I know this must be an easy answer for you guys... tnx :)

b0ub0u
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Frederik
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Post by Frederik »

It doesn´t get any better than the standard Saturn pad, if you prefer d-pads over arcade sticks IMHO. There is a Saturn pad clone for the PS2 that is brilliant, but it´s out of stock everywhere I look.

You should also take a look at this thread, which gets kind of...emotional later on. But, well, I doubt any pad can beat the might Saturn one.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=12815
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Ceph
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Post by Ceph »

EDIT: Sorry, the PS-Saturn adapter I linked to is not compatible with PS2. Hope no-one purchased it before I deleted the link.
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GaijinPunch
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Post by GaijinPunch »

It gets much better than a Saturn pad... if you want the arcade experience.

-Real Arcade Pro
-Modded Sanwa/Seimitsu stick
-Sigma 9000TB w/ PS cable.
EDIT: Sorry, the PS-Saturn adapter I linked to is not compatible with PS2. Hope no-one purchased it before I deleted the link.
I have one that's compatible on PS2, but the button mapping isn't configurable. Might not be to your liking if a game doesn't have fully configurable controls.
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professor ganson
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Post by professor ganson »

Saturn - standard issue pad (NOT the 3D one)
DC - ascii pad or the official stick
PS2 - Saturn pad and I like the Namco PS1 stick, but there are plenty of stick experts here who will have better advice as far as a stick for the PS2 goes
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GaijinPunch
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Post by GaijinPunch »

Both the DC Official Stick & Namco Stick are considered poo poo by most. They are very easy to gut and put good parts in though.
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professor ganson
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Post by professor ganson »

GaijinPunch wrote:Both the DC Official Stick & Namco Stick are considered poo poo by most. They are very easy to gut and put good parts in though.
Interesting. I use a pad 98% of the time, so I know crap about sticks.
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Sonic R
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Post by Sonic R »

I like to use:

Saturn - standard control pad
PlayStation(2) - Saturn control pad for PlayStation
GCN - Hori Gameboy Player Controller
Genesis - official 6 button controller
SNES - Ascii pad
NES - dog bone controller
Neo Geo - NeoCD control pad
Turbo Duo - Super Grafx controller
Xbox 360 - DOA4 arcade stick (360 d-pad is JUNK)

Dreamcast - currently shopping for PlayStation to DC converter
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professor ganson
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Post by professor ganson »

Sonic R wrote: Dreamcast - currently shopping for PlayStation to DC converter
A cheaper solution than acquiring an ascii pad, but (otherwise) a less good solution.
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Sonic R
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Post by Sonic R »

professor ganson wrote:
Sonic R wrote: Dreamcast - currently shopping for PlayStation to DC converter
A cheaper solution than acquiring an ascii pad, but (otherwise) a less good solution.
I just recently got the Saturn PlayStation controller and would like to give it a go at some Dreamcast shooties - how is the ascii pad for DC?
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Post by Geezer »

In the past I've had the following that I liked:

Saturn-Hori Fighting Stick SS, Sega Virtua Stick HSS-0136 (the white one with different coloured buttons, not the grey or black ones). I prefer the hori for shooters and the Sega for fighters.

PS1/PS2-HRAP, Soul Calibur 2 and Tekken 4 sticks. I prefer the SC2 and T4 as they are much more lightweight, they are actually the same hardware, just different colour buttons and artwork.
Ketsui-The last of the manly cave shooters.
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professor ganson
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Post by professor ganson »

Sonic R wrote:
professor ganson wrote:
Sonic R wrote: Dreamcast - currently shopping for PlayStation to DC converter
A cheaper solution than acquiring an ascii pad, but (otherwise) a less good solution.
I just recently got the Saturn PlayStation controller and would like to give it a go at some Dreamcast shooties - how is the ascii pad for DC?
The DC ascii pad is great. The Saturn pad (original or PS) is the best pad, imo. The DC ascii pad is probably the next best. I like it better than the ascii pads for PS2.

If you can get a flawless converter, I guess that's the best way to go. As I say, it would be cheaper. It's just nice to play with the ascii pad-- really well designed with an expensive feel/look to it.
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lewisit
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Post by lewisit »

Sonic R wrote:how is the ascii pad for DC?
i absolutly love it :)

i even prefer it above sticks cause i could never get used to balance those big bulky things on my knees (me sitting on an armchair while playing)

imo the pad to get for the DC!
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Post by PC Engine Fan X! »

For bOuBOu,

I've got some video game console sticks and arcade sticks for use with my consoles and Superguns:

Atari Jaguar DLX Jamma Stick (made personally by Dan Loosen of www.goatstore.com site) -- features all Happ Competition arcade stick layout with Cherry microswitches for use with the push buttons and even a full set of auto-fire toggle switches (should one desire auto-fire capabilities "on the fly") -- has been further modded to work with Supergun setup for use with arcade PCBs besides with the Atari Jaguar console itself.

Sega Dreamcast Arcade Stick -- all the stock parts have been replaced with authentic Seimitsu parts for that Japanese arcade feel and look. World class joystick all the way when modded with real Japanese arcade joystick & push button setup with either Sanwa or Seimitsu parts. This particular Agetech produced DC Arcade Stick has been further modded to be used with a Supergun setup as well courtesy of oxtsu. (He can mod your console joystick to Japanese spec -- just PM him & go from there...) ^_~

Hori PC Fighting Stick -- is the best PC Engine Duo arcade stick ever produced and is encased in a full-all metallic case (and quite hefty I'd have to say) along with a full complement of auto-fire switches to go with the 6-button layout. I find my TG-16/Turbo Duo gaming scores getting higher & higher with this Hori PCE joystick easily...retailed for an expensive 7,800 yen price tag on the Japanese market when it first went on sale back in 1994-1995. No other Hori produced console joystick has approached the quality & durability of this PC Fighting Stick since then (with the exception of the Hori Real Arcade Pro {HRAPs} line of console joysticks)..... ^_~

Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 for PS3 -- this particular Hori produced console joystick can be used with both the PS3 console & PC with XP OS setup for use with Mame, Mame32, Raine, various emulators, etc. (since it terminates into a USB 2.0 connection port). Along with three different levels of auto-fire and a new way of implementing it for activation (aside from the usual standard mini auto-fire toggle switches found on the HRAP & HRAP2 line of joysticks), it does the job very well with an elegant grace. It does have a Sanwa arcade stick already mounted to the joystick base but comes with stock generic Hori push buttons installed at the factory. A simple removal of such stock push buttons & replaced with either Sanwa or Seimitsu push buttons, one's ready to "kick some ass" with that hefty & beautiful HRAP-3 setup (with it being a world-class Japanese arcade spec layout for fighting or shmup based games) -- you can't get any better than with that setup..... ^_~

I, also, have countless other arcade sticks and speciality controllers for various video game consoles -- so the above listing is a just a small fraction of what I have.....

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
b0ub0u
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Post by b0ub0u »

Thanks guys for the quick replys.

I see I have several options here :) My biggest dilemma now is do decide if I want to keep playing with pads or do I want to switch to a stick.

b0ub0u
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dmauro
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Post by dmauro »

I'm a pretty casual shmupper, but even still it was totally worth the cash I put down to get a hrap2 and mod it with a seimitsu stick and sanwa buttons. By having all my fingers on the buttons, I can bomb more readily, and the stick allows for more precise movements than a dpad. Plus it's about ten times more fun :D
Gwyrgyn Blood
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Post by Gwyrgyn Blood »

I know people who play shooters tend to use Semitsu pretty frequently, what advantage do they have over Sanwa sticks for shooters?
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Post by PC Engine Fan X! »

Gwyrgyn Blood wrote:I know people who play shooters tend to use Semitsu pretty frequently, what advantage do they have over Sanwa sticks for shooters?
For Gwyrgyn Blood,

It's really all a matter of preference...some folks like the feel of Sanwa for fighters and others, like the tactical feel of Seimitsu produced joysticks & push buttons for shmups (and/or fighters). Some folks have both brands to experiment with as to what works for them. Try them both out and develope your own tastes as what makes a good Japanese arcade setup for your shmup needs, you will see a definite improvement in your personal shmup high scores with said Japanese arcade controls setup. ^_~

By going with a "stock setup" provided with a Hori/Namco/etc. PS2-based joystick & push button setup won't cut it these days for the hard-core shmuppers like myself.

Like with the USA region Tekken 5 Fighting Stick controller for the PS2 from Hori -- it comprises of both Hori produced joystick & push buttons setup and by replacing them all with either Sanwa or Seimitsu parts, one will gain a true world-class Japanese arcade spec arcade control layout bar-none!..... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
Gwyrgyn Blood
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Post by Gwyrgyn Blood »

Yeah I have two sticks currently for fighting games, a Happ Super based stick (very large and very solid wood) and a custom stick with Sanwa stick and Happ buttons (I'm weird I know). Both are PS2 though, so not going to help with a Supergun. I'm considering building a custom stick for the SG and thinking about going with Semitsu since I've never used them before and I hear they use them a lot with shooters.
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BrianC
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Post by BrianC »

GaijinPunch wrote:Both the DC Official Stick & Namco Stick are considered poo poo by most. They are very easy to gut and put good parts in though.
Who is "most"? I generally heard good things about both.
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Sonic R
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:?:

Post by Sonic R »

Is this the ascii pad ?

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lewisit
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Post by lewisit »

yes it is

here's another/better picture of all three versions for DC:

ASCII Pad FT
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professor ganson
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Post by professor ganson »

Wow, I've never seen that black one-- thanks for the pic, lewisit.
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Carmen
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Post by Carmen »

For PSX/PS2 games the control cross of the Logitech Action controller is ace...

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Playstation- ... 989&sr=1-3

Seriously, I improved in any game where I had to use the control cross so much from the standard Dual Shock. I'm sure the Saturn pad is great too, but don't call this one off yet...

I also have the Neo*Geo Pad 2 (based off the NGCD pad) but I haven't tried it much... the clicky joystick seems like a novelty so far...
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exquisite_torture
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Post by exquisite_torture »

Xarcade with the relevant adapter for consoles.
Get a USB converter to run it for MAME, the whole PS2 mouse connection is a pain.
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Post by glitch »

anyone got any good suggestions for a gamecube pad with a decent d-pad, besides the hori gameboy player pad (i never liked snes pads and i dig rumble...)?

i've tried using converters to play with ps2 pads, but then i end up with useless L and R buttons (all those converters leave the analog respons of a ps2 pad's L & R intact so you end up with L & R buttons that only respond when you press them hard) (ok so i usually play with shot on R1 and bomb on L1, so yeah, this is a problem....).

doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a good responsive d-pad on one side and a gamecube plug on the other side. exists?
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Post by Gwyrgyn Blood »

exquisite_torture wrote:Xarcade with the relevant adapter for consoles.
Get a USB converter to run it for MAME, the whole PS2 mouse connection is a pain.
X-Arcade is a really awful stick with awful parts. It's also way too heavy and for the price you could get a decent Happ stick instead. MAS makes pretty good sticks with Happ parts and sells them for around $100: http://www.massystems.com/ProStick.html

They are still kind of big but the parts are much better quality.
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Re: :?:

Post by Koa Zo »

Sonic R wrote:Is this the ascii pad ?

Image
Surprisingly, the PS2 ASCii Pads don't have rumble.
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exquisite_torture
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Post by exquisite_torture »

Gwyrgyn Blood wrote:
exquisite_torture wrote:Xarcade with the relevant adapter for consoles.
Get a USB converter to run it for MAME, the whole PS2 mouse connection is a pain.
X-Arcade is a really awful stick with awful parts. It's also way too heavy and for the price you could get a decent Happ stick instead. MAS makes pretty good sticks with Happ parts and sells them for around $100: http://www.massystems.com/ProStick.html

They are still kind of big but the parts are much better quality.
I've abolutely no problem with mine. I'm more than happy with it. Maybe I'm used to crap cabinets, but it works for me.
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Post by LSU »

Gwyrgyn Blood wrote:MAS makes pretty good sticks with Happ parts and sells them for around $100: http://www.massystems.com/ProStick.html
Has anyone dealt with those guys recently? I tried to contact them a couple of months back about ordering a stick, but didn't receive a reply. So I wondered if they were still in business..?
Cheers.
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