PDP Versus Fighting Pad for shmups? (360/PC)

[Brod]

http://shoryuken.com/f177/marvel-versus ... ts-265341/

This pad was designed for fighting games but it has been suggested that it's great for shmups and I'm keen to see what people here think of it. Its most notable feature is the stick and buttons are microswitched.

There are links to youtube videos and reviews in that thread.

[DJ Incompetent]

hm, new type of hybrid analog stick?
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/take- ... #continued

I'm not against the idea, but I'm not gonna be the early adopter. Mad Catz version is hard to top.

Somebody here should buy this.

edit, my mistake

http://shoryuken.com/f177/marvel-versus ... st10249132

[Fudoh]

The reviews read great. I mean, it's nothing new, the Neo Geo pad has been around for 15+ years now and I highly appreciate micro switches on the d-pad when it comes to arcade games. The high-pitched clicky noises aren't everybody's cup of tea, but those are a real alternative to arcade sticks and especially to the Saturn PS2 controllers (+ adapter) which cost a fortune compared to the $40 for the PDP Marvel one.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Another alternative would be (if using an arcade stick setup rather than using a D-pad setup) is to use leaf-switches (for both joystick & push buttons) which are silent compared to using a microswitches based joystick/button setup.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_～

[daf911]

would love to try one out. But being in Europe...and seeing those 'rip-off' e-bay prices...i think
i might have to skip.

[Fudoh]

Gamestop ships worldwide. I bought two from GS, 2x $40 plus $25 Express shipping.

[daf911]

Gamestop ships worldwide. I bought two from GS, 2x $40 plus $25 Express shipping.

thnx, haven't tought about that. Might give that one a go.

[Damocles]

What's the consensus on these things?

[Fudoh]

I love it. I haven't used anything else since I got it. Funny note: I think it's harder to use for fighting games than for shmups. While on fighting games you can easily miss a move entry (e.g. by initially pulling down/back instead of back), it's almost perfect for shmups where you're in constant movement anyway.

[Damocles]

I love it. I haven't used anything else since I got it. Funny note: I think it's harder to use for fighting games than for shmups. While on fighting games you can easily miss a move entry (e.g. by initially pulling down/back instead of back), it's almost perfect for shmups where you're in constant movement anyway.

This same notion struck me when I felt one up at a local Gamestop. I can't imagine trying to dash with one.

[captpain]

I know there are people who are good at it, but I really couldn't deal with using my thumb for directions in a fighting game. Seems like this is more a shmup-pad than an FG-pad.

[Deca]

I know there are people who are good at it, but I really couldn't deal with using my thumb for directions in a fighting game. Seems like this is more a shmup-pad than an FG-pad.

The first fighter I got into seriously was GG, and I can't really play it on anything other than my ps1 pad. Every other fighter I have trouble playing without a stick. I guess it's just a matter of what you learn on initially for whatever game.

[BulletMagnet]

I love it. I haven't used anything else since I got it.

Hmm...I'm tempted to snag one at some point, especially since I've never been able to adjust very well to using a full-on joystick...

[TodayIsForgotten]

I'd be interested to know how this compares to the fight pad (dpad) model.

Also, are any of you guys going to look into the Razor Onza? I dont know what it is but i really am interested in that controller. Expensive but maybe its nice enough to keep around for a PC controller, too.

[ratikal]

This looks really interesting. I wonder if it can top a Saturn pad?

[abschüssig]

I wonder if it can top a Saturn pad?

No, it can't.
Doesn't even reach the same level of precision.
The Saturn pad's D-pad has a much more immediate response.
Also, since both the surface of the thumb stick and the restrictor inside are completely round (and you therefore can't feel where the four main directions exactly are), I ended up hitting diagonals unintentionally more often.

It is still a good pad though.
Of the many pads I've tried in my fruitless search for an alternative to the Saturn pad it is certainly one of the best.

[8 1/2]

it's almost perfect for shmups where you're in constant movement anyway.

Not sure about other player's habits, but I certainly do not play shmups like that. I need something that allows for a good amount of tap-tap-tapping in a direction, not a swishy pad that forces me to always be moving to find the right angle. Only a stick will do really. No pad is a replacement for a good stick.

[Marurun]

If this pad is anything like the Neo Geo gamepad or the Neo Geo Pocket's little control knob I would find it horrible for shmups. Unlike a joystick where you can't easily tap the ball top to move in the direction you want you'd have to pull or push quickly with the thumb pad. It would just be more difficult for me to use my thumb to somehow make the same "clicky" movements on a gamepad that doesn't have grooves for each movement like the Saturn pad.

[ratikal]

it's almost perfect for shmups where you're in constant movement anyway.

Not sure about other player's habits, but I certainly do not play shmups like that. I need something that allows for a good amount of tap-tap-tapping in a direction, not a swishy pad that forces me to always be moving to find the right angle. Only a stick will do really. No pad is a replacement for a good stick.

Saturn pad maaaaan. I don't get how it's easier to tap with a stick. I can tap all the time with my Saturn pad.

[8 1/2]

Don't get me wrong, I love the saturn pad too, but once you get used to a quality seimitsu or sanwa stick there's no going back. I used to be all about pads for shmups, but I am a stick convert after slotting an LS-32 into my HRAP EX. Instead of hovering your thumb over a pad, you can simply rest your hand on the stick and use your whole arm to control the movement. I personally find it to be much more precise and also much easier for extended play sessions.

[charlesr]

Hi all. Anyone tried these PDP pads on a PC? To test it out, I tried Homura on the Taito X emulator, but although it moved up down left right, it refused to do diagonals. Any ideas?

[drunkninja24]

The Type-X system has issues doing diagonals with a 360 controller, you gotta use something like Joy2Key to map it to keyboard directions.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

On a real Taito Type X setup, it's recommended to use a arcade panel to play them games via a Sega or Capcom I/O interface...no need to resort to using any utility programs for re-mapping controls to keyboard.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[charlesr]

The Type-X system has issues doing diagonals with a 360 controller, you gotta use something like Joy2Key to map it to keyboard directions.

Ok, thanks. I'm all set now with assigned all 8 directions to keys, but I can't find an option for 8way in the taito setup, so can't set the keys. I see an option for 4way: Y/N, but if I choose N, it still only offers me up down left right. Must be missing something...

[drunkninja24]

You only need to set 4-way in TypeXconfig, the issue is with TypeX reading diagonals properly with a POV hat (which is what the 360 controller pad is recognized as in Windows), but as long as you set your Up Down Left Right directions to keyboard keys and then set those keys in TypeXconfig, it'll work fine.

[splitt442]

I wanted to like it but couldn't get past the micro-switched buttons and the feeling that it would probably break in a month.

[Moniker]

I wanted to like it but couldn't get past the micro-switched buttons and the feeling that it would probably break in a month.

A lot of people say it's too fragile, but mine has held up for 6 months of fairly heavy use. No wear or tear yet. YMMV, I guess.

[Deca]

I picked one up recently, have just been using it with the Monster World ports and I like it a lot so far. I can understand the quality complaints, but it seems durable enough to hold up as long as you aren't mashing on it as hard as possible. I got mine for 15 dollars at a gamestop and I think it's well worth that.