How do you hold an N64 controller?

sikraiken · Post by **sikraiken** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:13 pm

I was talking to some people in shmups irc and they tell me I hold the controller awkwardly. So, what do you think?

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:23 pm

Middle and left or middle and right, depending on the game. So yes, you hold it awkwardly

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:29 pm

dude...you have gorilla-sized hands....

and ya...that looks very akward

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:31 pm

You know what, I had to stop and think about this for a minute, since it's been a while since I fired up the ol' N64...if memory serves I usually had my left hand around the middle "prong" where the thumbstick was, unless I was playing a game that used the d-pad. But hey, if your configuration works for you...either way I still like this controller better than the Gamecube's, which is one area where you'll REALLY meet some opinionated opposition, heh heh.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:44 pm

jonny5 wrote:dude...you have gorilla-sized hands....

and ya...that looks very akward

Exactly. I would also say you hold it strangely but looking at the size of your mitts I don't think you really have a choice.

MOSQUITO FIGHTER · Post by **MOSQUITO FIGHTER** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:12 pm

I’m the left hand in the middle type. I used to slay everyone at GoldenEye, so I guess it works. It is kind of uncomfortable, though. I guess they should have put the analog on the far left side. Not too many games on it even use the d-pad.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:40 pm

i remember i was whirling the stick with my left inner-hand pretty often, and it ended up in a lot of pain, and lots of broken sticks.
Not only Mario Party was in charge for that.

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:54 pm

Back when I got the N64 I used to hold the controller just like that. I felt something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what, lol. It was very weird when you needed to press the Z button often.

When I saw someone holding it properly, I was like 'Doh! You idiot!'

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:56 pm

depends on what im playing

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:43 pm

Your way makes more sense than the usual way since you have access to all the buttons at the same time. For comfort's sake I would hold the middle and right portions since the L and Dpad are rarely used, but hey - whatever works.

sikraiken · Post by **sikraiken** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:05 pm

Ruldra wrote:It was very weird when you needed to press the Z button often.

When I saw someone holding it properly, I was like 'Doh! You idiot!'

I use my middle finger on my right hand for Z. What is "properly" anyway?

The way most people do it? There are a lot of instances where majority of people do something all the same way, yet they are doing it incorrectly.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:11 pm

for the goldeneye 1.2 Honey Control you will definetly need to hold it left-hand in the middle / right hand on the right, since you control with the yellow buttons.

And as Neon said, you almost never use the D-Pad or the L-Button.
Z, on the other Hand is the most used Button propably.

sikraiken · Post by **sikraiken** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:15 pm

The way I hold it is what I found most natural. I think how you hold it is probably more related to hand size, or if you just for some reason initially hold it like I do and end up finding out it's uncomfortable for you...

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:17 pm

sikraiken wrote:I use my middle finger on my right hand for Z. What is "properly" anyway? The way most people do it? There are a lot of instances where majority of people do something all the same way, yet they are doing it incorrectly.

That's because the 'proper' way (holding middle and right) is far more comfortable than your way. For me, at least.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:22 pm

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:19 pm

Stormwatch! love it dude

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:13 pm

One of my friends used to put the controller in his lap and use his thumb and two fingers for the joystick.

Aru-san · Post by **Aru-san** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:13 am

When playing normal N64 games, I usually go left hand on center, right hand on right.

If I were playing something that maps most controls to the D-Pad than the stick, I go left on left and right on right.

Sin and Punishment, left on left, right on center.

Goldeneye 007, same as S&P.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:33 am

Always did it like in the first picture.

p.s. longthumb is looooooong

sfried · Post by **sfried** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:59 am

I read the manual, that's what.

Depending on which game will be using the stick or pad prominently, I could be placing my left hand on the center prong or the left.

zap · Post by **zap** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:28 am

Unless you really need to use the D-pad in the game, Hori's controllers are great.

Come to think of it though, they're not for gorillas

BryanM · Post by **BryanM** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:50 am

I have a one of those sitting near by and my hands are only a tiny (~1 cm) bit smaller. YOU JUST LIKE USING THE TIP OF YOUR THUMP TO MOVE THINGS DON'T YOU

I like largely using my joints though; feels snug and happy.

(Is it just me, or is the Z button way more comfortable to press than any shoulder button has ever been?)

KindGrind · Post by **KindGrind** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:32 am

Left hand in the middle, like the majority of people, unless I have to use the d-pad.

Momijitsuki · Post by **Momijitsuki** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:48 am

JoshF wrote:One of my friends used to put the controller in his lap and use his thumb and two fingers for the joystick.

That's how I use it! Only with me, it isn't on my lap-- I hold the controller steady with my left pinky and right hand. It looks weird, but it provided unparalleled control.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:23 am

zap wrote:

Wow, this would make playing Killer Instinct Gold a real pain in the ass.

MX7 · Post by **MX7** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:32 am

sikraiken wrote:

EL DIABLO

sfried · Post by **sfried** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:58 pm

zap wrote:Unless you really need to use the D-pad in the game, Hori's controllers are great.

Come to think of it though, they're not for gorillas

Where could I get those? I have The Legend of Zeld Collection on my cube and I still come to gripes because of the unique way N64 controls were set up.

On the other hand, the Control Pad...ugh.

And who the hell holds the controller like that? That's what the prong is for.

Momijitsuki · Post by **Momijitsuki** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:21 pm

Momijitsuki wrote:
JoshF wrote:One of my friends used to put the controller in his lap and use his thumb and two fingers for the joystick.
That's how I use it! Only with me, it isn't on my lap-- I hold the controller steady with my left pinky and right hand. It looks weird, but it provided unparalleled control.

I have a picture now.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:52 pm

I don't know what Atari was thinking when they designed the Jaguar's controller...that thing was terrible.

The playstation design took some getting used to...I still haven't mastered it but operate it fairly well. The DC, and Nintendo GC and N64 controllers were also difficult at first.

Now comes the XBox controller...a device I've never gotten used to, I don't care how many times I've used it. I owned the original Xbox, but not the 360. The red ring and controller have kept me from buying the system even though I love what it can do. I guess I would need a playstation converter to play XBox 360 games for sure.

null1024 · Post by **null1024** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:05 am

Left hand in middle, comfy enough. I've never had an awkwardness problem with the N64 controllers [or any Nintendo controller past the NES for that matter].

The playstation design took some getting used to...I still haven't mastered it but operate it fairly well. The DC, and Nintendo GC and N64 controllers were also difficult at first.

Eh, out of those, the only one that feels weird to me is the Playstation one [and only the Dualshock controllers [fuck the stick placement...], D-Pad only controller is fine with me for the most part]. The DC and GC controllers are almost bliss in my hands.

Also, wow. Ancient thread.

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