How many people own PC gamepads/joysticks?

[Lok]

Hori HRAP-EX (with Seimetsu buttons and Sanwa stick) or the HRAP-EX SE. Used to use a PS2 Dual Shock 2 with a USB converter but the converter has been AWOL for about a year now.

[Udderdude]

HRAP 2 SA
HRAP EX modded w/ Siemitsu parts
Saturn Pad w/ converter

>_>

[SGGG2]

Dreamcast Agetec modded with JLF (ultimate mod) and Seimitsu buttons. USB Saturn pads on the way.

[Aquas]

HRAP1v.B all Sanwa
USB Saturn Pad

Got a boat load of converters... Super Joybox 3 (PS2 > PC,)
some Dreamcast one (PS2 > DC,)
PS2 > 360 (Xconvertor360)

I would like a PS2 Saturn pad someday. But for now these devices get the job done

[BrightSuzaku]

... totally random, but I'd love to see someone try to play a shmup with a DDR dancepad or a Guitar Hero plastic guitar. But, last I checked, neither works with PCs, so yeah. XD

By the way, in terms of joypads, which do you guys consider the best to use, without getting too expensive?

I don't feel ready to try a stick yet, and no I don't play enough fighting games to warrant using one for that, either. :/

[TMR]

... totally random, but I'd love to see someone try to play a shmup with a DDR dancepad or a Guitar Hero plastic guitar. But, last I checked, neither works with PCs, so yeah. XD

A Playstation to PC converter'll make a DDR mat or Guitar Hero controller work, there's even interfaces to connect a dance mat or guitar controller to 8-bit computers and software support like Shredz 64 for the Commodore 64 - i'm not sure how useful the guitar controller would be for general game use, but a dance mat will at least give movement controls and possibly firing, but will need a feckin' ninja to actually play like that...

[Damocles]

By the way, in terms of joypads, which do you guys consider the best to use, without getting too expensive?

USB Saturn pads. They're the best you can get and are dirt cheap now.

[ED-057]

I've been using this SNES pad for quite some time.

But now that I think about it, I probably should have used the money I spent on that card to plug it into for buying a USB Saturn pad instead. Although chicks dig the mess of wires hanging out the side of my laptop.

[Jeneki]

... totally random, but I'd love to see someone try to play a shmup with a DDR dancepad or a Guitar Hero plastic guitar. But, last I checked, neither works with PCs, so yeah. XD

There was a PC release of Guitar Hero III. It came packaged with a 360 guitar controller. I haven't tried a 360 dance mat yet.

I've seen people play Super Mario Bros. with a dance mat, I believe they mapped "up" to jump. Could be fun to try a 2-directional game like Galaga this way.

[NR777]

Hori HRAP EX-SE for 360
Cheap Logitech pad for PC

[PsikyoFan]

... totally random, but I'd love to see someone try to play a shmup with a DDR dancepad or a Guitar Hero plastic guitar.

I played some Amiga shmups with a PSX DDR pad some years back. Xenon2 etc.
I wasn't playing well mind

[Battletoad]

I´ve been using an USB pad with quite mushy D-pad. One of the reasons why I didn´t like playing in Mame so much...
It had some problems lately and some days ago it broke, so I´ll look for a better alternative.

Sounds like Saturn USB pad would be a good choice.

[Jeneki]

I played some Amiga shmups with a PSX DDR pad some years back. Xenon2 etc.
I wasn't playing well mind

Hmm, this sounds like a great (horrible) tournament idea.

[speedlolita]

I use a Virtua Stick High Grade.

Also have a USB Saturn pad for emergencies.

[PainAmplifier]

For games I have on a console, I use the default gamepad for the most part.

I love the standard Turbopad for old games for the TG-16. Smooth surfaces, and auto fire built in!

The NES pad is square and painfully uncomfortable after extended use. Pretty much functional otherwise.

The Jaguar has a horrible D-pad, but is otherwise reasonable comfortable. The number pad on it is not very convenient, but for how the few shooting games on that system it gets the job done when needed.

PS2/PS3, standard pads are good, but only if the games use the thumbsticks as the D-Pad isn't the best for heavy use. Games that make you use the upper and lower triggers at the same time tend to suck, as it requires shifting my grip from something very comfortable to awkward and back.

On the PC I think I have a very old 2 button flightstick *somewhere* but I never use it. It was originally purchased for use with the X-Wing/TIE Fighter games of old, and never used for shmups. For that I had a 4 button Gravis gamepad. Very similar to the SNES gamepad without the additional buttons. Sadly it's a serial connection and I never got around to getting that port working since the last time I rebuilt the PC. (Port expander that came with my Audigy sound card is the only way to hook it up...) What I do use is a slightly old Flightmaster 12 button gamepad. It's actually a bit oversized and hard to get a comfortably strong grip on due to the molding, but being USB it works well enough not to mess with going out and getting something newer.

If we ever get Deathsmiles or other good shmups retail on the PS3, I may have to break down and get a good joystick. But until then, I have too many other things going on to justify more than what I already have.

[Kyle]

Hori HRAP EX-SE for 360
Cheap Logitech pad for PC

Why not use the EX-SE on both? Microsoft provides drivers to use 360 sticks on Windows.

I can't believe with all of the rich PCB kids around here that so few people play on sticks. I find myself alternating between an LS-32 and an ASCII Optical stick. I'd also a big fan of Saturn pads.

[speedlolita]

I can't believe with all of the rich PCB kids around here that so few people play on sticks. I find myself alternating between an LS-32 and an ASCII Optical stick. I'd also a big fan of Saturn pads.

They have cabs.

[sjoecool1991]

I own a VSHG, and I prefer Sanwa to Semitsu thank you very much

[Obiwanshinobi]

By the way, in terms of joypads, which do you guys consider the best to use, without getting too expensive?

If you own a PSX or PS2 pad, get yourself a USB adapter such as



Simple as that. If you own a DS3/Sixaxis, find yourself and install some homebrew drivers, then hook it up via that cable you should've got handy for the sake of charging, preferably longer than the one Sony provides.
I've played Raiden III on the PC both ways (DS2 via the adapter and DS3 via the charging cable). Both methods work a treat.
Now cheap USB joypads can be actually pretty decent, like this one I used to own



The plastic is awfully cheap (do not leave it wrapped in cable even for a few days) but the analogues worked like a charm for 3D platformers; the d-pad was allright as well. Unfortunately I can't vouch for its sturdiness as it's gone tits-up after I've had spilled beer onto it, which doesn't quite count as proper exploitation. My mate still plays some F1 game with it (analogues have survived), though, and even once dormant buttons have been giving signs of life recently. Guess it's not too bad after all.
Now I own a third party NES pad (which I don't have much use for these days), an old, cheap digital pad shaped after the PlayStation controller (one diagonal started to fail on me, thus I have no more much use for this one either), another cheap USB pad with two decent analogues, vibrations, and ridiculously hard (therefore pretty useless) d-pad, two Sony Dual Shocks 2 and a USB adapter (which allows me to hook up two controllers via one USB port).
Technically Sony joypads don't suit my fairly big hands best, but I grew accustomed to it and don't really have any complaints. I think this makes for the versatile design (small-handed Japanese people seem to be happy using Dual Shocks too).

[Battletoad]

Alright, just ordered a Saturn USB pad. Indeed very cheap to get.

[speedlolita]

Alright, just ordered a Saturn USB pad. Indeed very cheap to get.

That's because most of them are fakes now. Of course there are legit ones still around - just need a trusted buyer.

[ST Dragon]

Yeah 2 M$ Sidewinder 10 button pads!
They have excellent grip! Probably the best & most sturdy pads I’ve ever used by far. I even install an old sound blaster PCI with a game port in order to use them as they're not USB.

I also have an USB adapter for my PS-2 pads, but don't use them as much.

[ST Dragon]

I've been using this SNES pad for quite some time.

Although chicks dig the mess of wires hanging out the side of my laptop.

How do they respond exactly?

[ED-057]

How do they respond exactly?

Damn! You called my bluff...

[Damocles]

They're probably like "Ooooh, look at that sexy butt...connector".

My question: Where the hell are the diodes for the power supply? Would that be the grey blob on the right?

[chempop]

I used a Keyboard for a looong time but eventually I scored a crappy Mayflash Stick for dirt cheap ($6+shipping) off Ebay which I use for PS2 and PC. Works like a charm, but I think I'll get some Saturn USB pads for those late night gaming sessions when I try to be a bit more quite.

[Shatterhand]

I use one of those. It has both a Playstation2 and USB plug. Its dpad is pretty good.

And regarding controllers, I don't know why people bitch so much about the X360 dpad. I find it a lot better than the Dualshock 2 Dpad, for example.

[AndyWeil]

Dreamcast Arcade Stick / USB Mod

[speedlolita]

I don't know why people bitch so much about the X360 dpad. I find it a lot better than the Dualshock 2 Dpad, for example.

I disagree strongly.

Even so, the PS2 dpad causes my thumbs to die - which is why I prefer a stick.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Street Fighter PAD or a 360 controller.