Thinking of getting one of the new Logitech pads

[Zeether]

I've been using a Logitech Dual Action for emulation and some other games and lately the D-pad has been bad for me. It's hard to switch directions quickly which makes it hard to play games that require quick movements (like shmups or racers) and I've heard the new controllers aren't as bad D-pad wise. Should I get one?

(I'd get a Saturn pad but I hear mixed reviews on the USB ones)

[Ed Oscuro]

Why would you go with a pad if you're worried about changing directions quickly anyway? Even the Saturn USB style pads seem less than ideal to me, and those tend to get pretty good marks.

Try out the keyboard again!

[Zeether]

But I play PSX games, and playing those with a keyboard isn't very good.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'd get an Xbox 360 controller for those, seriously. It'll do for dual shock. For non-dual shock games I still would suggest the Saturn USB first.

[worstplayer]

Logitech dpad quality is inconsistent to say the least. Chillstream has excellent dpad (but good luck finding one, they stopped making them about half a year ago), but Xbox360 pads are also made by Logitech ,and shittiness of their dpad is legendary (despite almost identical construction).

[Obiwanshinobi]

If you need a DualShock, you can get yourself a DualShock. DS(2) can be hooked up via one of those adapters (being able to effectively plug two PlayStation controllers in one USB port is a nice feature too). You'd better get an adapter with minuscular AND steady input lag, though. DS3 you can just hook up via the USB-to-DS3/PSP lead (there are homebrew drivers out there if your system doesn't detect it properly as is). Still, a DS(2) + an adapter is a cheaper solution.
Admittedly, I've yet to test any arcade stick with my adapter.
Come to think of it, why do people even buy Logitech USB joypads? Has any of them ever been particulary good? Or is it just the reflected light of their steering wheels' fame that renders the brand attractive?

[Zeether]

Is the 2 in 1 PS2/USB convertor I keep seeing on Amazon good? People use it for StepMania and all but I just want to use my OG Dualshock 1.

I'm talking about this one: http://www.amazon.com/PS2-USB-Dual-Cont ... B000F6BGXY

[Obiwanshinobi]

Is the 2 in 1 PS2/USB convertor I keep seeing on Amazon good? People use it for StepMania and all but I just want to use my OG Dualshock 1.

I'm talking about this one: http://www.amazon.com/PS2-USB-Dual-Cont ... B000F6BGXY

Can't say I've seen one of this shape before, but it all boils down to the PCB and drivers. I can recommend this one:

[Kyper]

Is the 2 in 1 PS2/USB convertor I keep seeing on Amazon good? People use it for StepMania and all but I just want to use my OG Dualshock 1.

I'm talking about this one: http://www.amazon.com/PS2-USB-Dual-Cont ... B000F6BGXY

Looks like the exact same one I have, I've used it for quite a while with my Dualshock 1 and haven't had any problems. Although, I remember I tried using it to convert a PS2 stick to use on a PS3 and it had noticeable lag. Maybe it was just that one stick, but if that's not even a concern at all then I can recommend this thing.

[Ed Oscuro]

I can recommend this one:

I heard that warez discussion was banned.

Anyway, is there any reason not to go with a 360 or PS3 USB pad for emulators? By the time you've bought a converter, you've burned up some money that could have gone directly towards a native USB controller. With a USB choice, you get a controller which works for any console-to-PC ports or native analog stick supported games (like 3D platformers) on the PC, and you get good sticks for emulators. If all you need is good d-pad functionality, just get the Saturn USB pad. Don't stick some hardware inbetween the bits if it's not needed (KISS principle yay).

[Zeether]

Is the 2 in 1 PS2/USB convertor I keep seeing on Amazon good? People use it for StepMania and all but I just want to use my OG Dualshock 1.

I'm talking about this one: http://www.amazon.com/PS2-USB-Dual-Cont ... B000F6BGXY

Looks like the exact same one I have, I've used it for quite a while with my Dualshock 1 and haven't had any problems. Although, I remember I tried using it to convert a PS2 stick to use on a PS3 and it had noticeable lag. Maybe it was just that one stick, but if that's not even a concern at all then I can recommend this thing.

That sounds good. I'll look into it or I'll get a Dualshock 3.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Anyway, is there any reason not to go with a 360 or PS3 USB pad for emulators? By the time you've bought a converter, you've burned up some money that could have gone directly towards a native USB controller. With a USB choice, you get a controller which works for any console-to-PC ports or native analog stick supported games (like 3D platformers) on the PC, and you get good sticks for emulators. If all you need is good d-pad functionality, just get the Saturn USB pad. Don't stick some hardware inbetween the bits if it's not needed (KISS principle yay).

360 pad for emulators? Isn't its d-pad quite bad? For 3D platformers, well, I've yet to see a cheap USB pad that wouldn't do the job. Same goes for racers and Pro Evolution Soccer if my people who play those a lot are anything to judge by - you don't really need anything fancy to play them (a moot point perhaps, since sticks in such joypads usually have certain shortcoming which, however, isn't really an issue in the aforementioned genres). 360 may have the best pad for first person shooters, but that's exactly the piece of hardware I don't need between me and my first person shooters on the PC.
Besides, there's no good reason to not own a PS2 nowadays (if you're even remotely interested in gaming, that is). If you badly need a reason to get yourself an adapter as well, I can tell you that DualShock 2 works like a charm with Metal Warriors and Super Metroid (and just about any 2D platformer making use of many buttons). This comes from a fairly big-handed person too. DualShock 3 is nearly identical, but still more expensive and not everybody is a fan of its lower triggers.
Heck, I played Assault the other day (Namco Museum Vol. 4) - one game certainly not designed with a PlayStation controller in mind - and it worked surprisingly well.
P.S. Actually I encountered two cheap USB joypads with decent analogue sticks AND d-pads, but I didn't use any of them for any long period, thus I can't vouch for their sturdiness. One pal of mine played the hell out of numerous F1 Challenge mods with one of them, though.

[Ed Oscuro]

Anyway, is there any reason not to go with a 360 or PS3 USB pad for emulators? By the time you've bought a converter, you've burned up some money that could have gone directly towards a native USB controller. With a USB choice, you get a controller which works for any console-to-PC ports or native analog stick supported games (like 3D platformers) on the PC, and you get good sticks for emulators. If all you need is good d-pad functionality, just get the Saturn USB pad. Don't stick some hardware inbetween the bits if it's not needed (KISS principle yay).

360 pad for emulators? Isn't its d-pad quite bad?

I guess I'm not being clear. There are two use cases:

1.) Games which require analog control (yes there are a few of these for the PS1, see: Dual Shock - and naturally Saturn, N64, and newer items)
A 360 or USB PS3 pad is the best choice here
2.) Games which require digital inputs
Like I've been saying, I've not heard anybody say they found better than the Saturn USB.

OK, I do get that there aren't enough buttons on the Saturn USB pad for some PlayStation games that also require a good d-pad - I suppose that might be the hangup. If that's the case, then hey, a converter may yet be the best choice, though I remain slightly skeptical about some of the "USB 1 / 2 polling rate and USB pad hardware equals no lag" arguments. It's not a lot of money out the window if you don't like the result of a converter, though.

For a lot of games, I've been perfectly fine using a 360 analog stick in place of a d-pad, actually. How many PS1 games are there that aren't shooter game ports (not many buttons needed, you could use a real Hori USB joystick in that case) or relatively simple in button use that require the d-pad? I have no clue on this, I'll admit.

You know, I bought some kind of "PS-like" pad a while back, back before I bought my batch of Saturn USB pads. Dunno if it's still around or where I've put it if it is. Kind of stuck me as a flimsy, unergonomic turd, so perhaps a coverter would've been better. The Saturn USB does seem to take care of all my needs though (when I don't use use a keyboard, that is, which is actually pretty rare). I'm likely to replace my 360 pad first (because that's on the fritz).

[Obiwanshinobi]

As for the input lag, to me Shikigami no Shiro II felt about the same on PS2 and PC with the very same DualShock 2. The lag induced by the converter couldn't have been very bad then.
As for PSX exclusives utilising many buttons, Einhänder comes to mind and so does R-Type Delta. The PSX port of Wolf Fang adds a button or two, but nothing Saturn pad couldn't handle really. I still am not sure how the Saturn port of Castlevania: SotN fares, control-wise.
By the way, when I'm supposed to mash one button a lot, R2 is certainly better suited for the task than any of the face buttons. That's why I don't like when PSX ports do not allow me to map stuff onto triggers (obviously, the pad cannot be blamed for such nonsense game design decisions).

[Mortificator]

OP: Logitech controllers are trash. Virtually all controllers manufactured for PC are trash.

Ed, another consideration in addition to analog vs. digital is the button layout. For a digital-movement game that uses four or less buttons, or for a six-button fighting game, a Saturn controller's great. For most games that use eight buttons, though, I'd use a Dual Shock.

Like Armored Core. Boosting while shooting while strafing while aiming up & down is pretty simple with a controller that has four face buttons and four on the shoulders, but you'd have to do some finger gymnastics to hit the same combination with six face buttons and two shoulder. A 360 controller has a similar layout, but two of its shoulder inputs are triggers, and buttons are going to be preferable for almost any game a person's likely to emulate.

Of course, if you're getting lag with a certain converter, that would shift things in the 360's favor.