What controller do you use?

[SuperSoaker360]

Just out of curiosity, what controllers do you all prefer when playing a shmup? Do you prefer a gamepad or console controller? For PC shmuppers, do you prefer a keyboard? Or are you just plain old-school and use an arcade stick? Oh, and if you use a gamepad controller, do you prefer to use a directional pad or a thumbstick to move around?

[Gus]

Xbox 360: Official wireless controller
PC: Shitty typewriter-like keyboard

[Nasirosuchus]

PS1 Dual Shock with a Super Dual Advance USB PS2 to PC Adapter

I use the d-pad. I've never been a big fan of arcade sticks. I only used one when I used to play MvC2, but I've long since retired from fighting games.

[ratikal]

Sega Saturn Controller Model 2

A controller so badass, I have four of them, each for different systems. Even ones I don't own!

[hail good sir]

now

[mesh control]

Arcade sticks for everything.

[xris]

This seems to come up from time to time - I'll stick with my normal answer, preferring the wired Xbox 360 controller. I really like the comfort of it, but I do wish the analog was a little tighter. They sure as hell wear out quickly though. Seriously, so many if them develope a slight drag to the left, and the buttons may also break in various ways. One of the biggest advantages for me is being able to set the bomb button to the right trigger. By far the fastest way for me to activate it with the least amount of thought.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

I use any controller for whatever system except the Playstation controller. That D-pad is the worst thing and the analog placement isn't much better. I'm not that great at playing on keyboard though, and my Logitech controller isn't as responsive as it used to be...

[Vexorg]

On PC, I just use the keyboard. On my Xbox360, I've got a TE Fightstick.

[Sapz]

I use a 360 Horipad EX2 for everything. I used the stock 360 pad before I got it a few months back, and a keyboard before that.

[Rex Cavalier]

Kayboard

[saucykobold]

I've come to prefer a stock Logitech keyboard for most shooters. The Saturn pad was my favorite a few years ago; today I use it for a handful of games that require frequent circular motions (e.g., G-Darius with its Yoga Flame commands for some captured midbosses).

[monouchi]

SUZO 500.

[Never_Scurred]

Hori Ex joystick
Madcatz te fightstick

[Erppo]

Everything I've done in PC games and in Mame is with a normal keyboard. For 360, I use a Hori EX-SE stick. Only other controller I've used seriously is the stock 360 pad and I absolutely hated using it (I still did my first Ketsui and DOJBL 1-ALLs with that). That hate was the main reason I ended up getting and learning to use a stick.

[BrianC]

AV Famicom: NES pad
NES: NES pad
Master System: Genesis pad
Genesis: official 6 button pad
Atari 2600: Competition Pro 5000
Atari 800: Standard Atari stick (sometimes the Competition Pro, as well, but I have it hooked up to the 2600)
Intellivision: standard disc controller
Colecovision: Colecovision stick
Atari 7800: 2600 stick for 1 button games, 7800 stick for games that require it
Saturn: JP grey/purple pad
PC: PS2 controller via Super Dual Box Pro for some games, Xbox 360 controller for others
SNES: official pad
N64: Official N64 controller
Wii: Classic Controller
Xbox 360: standard wireless 360 controller

[denpanosekai]

a PS3/360 dualmod Madcatz TE fightstick which I bought on this forum. Very pleased with it. Supposedly PC compatible but I've never bothered.

It's completely subconscious but I try not to play sloppy when I have the stick. It keeps me alert for whatever reason (versus game pads).

[null1024]

Got a PSx -> USB converter and I use a PS1 Dual Shock. I love this controller. Feels great, and has enough buttons to use for all my gaming needs.
I have a PS2 pad too, but the buttons on it feel mushier.
Both I bought used [well, the PS2 controller came with a used PS2], so I dunno if that's just the differences in the controllers or if that's based on the amount of use each got before I bought them.

Right before this, I had a USB PS1 digital clone pad [seriously, it is physically identical other than the face buttons and SENZE logo], which had a fully segmented D-Pad [so, you could physically press left and right at the same time without pressing anything else -- although this registered as down+left, like all invalid combinations]. Terrible for shmupping, but it was fine in fighters.

[iconoclast]

I used the SF4 TE stick until I got a Hori RAP EX-SE around 4-5 months ago. Never looked back.

[beatsgo]

PS2 Controller for PS1/PS2 shmups or Xbox 360 Controller for PC/XBOX 360

My selection of controllers might change a bit as soon as I finish my custom arcade controller in the next couple of days.

[powersoul]

Standard Xbox360 Controller for my console. Don't see a need to get those "tournament" controllers, but I'm having some thoughts into getting an arcade stick for it.

[Eaglet]

Play on a cab whenever i can.
Feels soooooo much better than everything else.
The fact that the joystick is stuck in something and doesn't move around (like an arcade stick can sometimes do in your lap) helps me alot with the more precision demanding games (like Futari God and basically any Cave game after stage 4).
The angle at which you keep your arms while sitting down in front of a sitdown cab is pretty much perfect for me.

Playing on actual hardware feels much better too.
I don't know why really but the general "feel" of the game (especially stuff like slowdown) feels so much more physical and real when compared to emulation.
Defo have a lot more fun when playing on a cab than on the 360, even if the games are virtually identical.

[ShmupSamurai]

Unless I'm actually wasting quarters in a "real" arcade....a keyboard, unfortunely

If I'm on my Genesis, I usually go for the classic three button controller.

Nes- Standard issue controller, though I do happen to own a turbo controller.

[Weak Boson]

I have a Mayflash PS2 stick which I modded with an LS-32 and sanwa buttons. I love it, I use it for everything. Thanks to a network of adapters it works with PC, PS2, PS3, 360, DC and I think I could get it to work for GC/Wii if I ever have the need.

[HamidoOs]

Arcade stick for everything.

I don't know if a gamepad or keyboard would actually be better than stick, but the fact is that I really like playing with a stick.

[cools]

Jaleco Pony Mk 3

[damakable]

I use a PS2 Hori stick for everything. Nothing fancy, just a decent arcade stick I bought off a fellow forumer at a meet. Came with DreamCast and USB adapters, and while most PC games (other than Jamestown) don't seem to recognize it, MAME and JoyToKey do, which solves most problems. This also means I can use a standard PS2 controller for games like Super Meat Boy, though I haven't gotten both analogue sticks working in dual-stick shooters like Geometry Wars yet. So I might have to go out and get a proper PC gamepad eventually after all.

[Dave_K.]

Namco Exceleena Blue

[Daigohji]

HRAP1 modded with Seimitsu buttons. It's the PS2 model, but I've got adapters that enable me to use it on Dreamcast, PS3, 360, and PC.

[Obiwanshinobi]

DualShock 2 (D-pad) for most games with digital controls (I've got good adapters for PC and Wii). Sometimes, when I don't feel like hooking it up, I play with a Logitech keyboard. Where the PlayStation joypad excels, though, are games with arcade-style controls but more buttons to take care of, Super Metroid being prime example. I doubt I'd like Einhänder, Contra: Shattered Soldier or R-Type Delta any better with a stick (although I could use one for Baraduke).