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Gamepads for Console/Arcade Emulators?

Posted by Cliff on from the call-your-gamepad-and-raise-you-one-joystick dept.

Mortimus asks: "I'm looking for a gamepad that is best suited for arcade and console emulators. The problems I've experienced with a previous gamepad like the Gravis GamePad Pro resides in the directional pad not being precise enough and misinterpreting directions, even with proper calibration, which can be very frustrating. I'm aware of the X-Arcade joystick, but that isn't what I'm looking for. I'm more interested in gamepad like the Logitech Dual Action, Guillemot Thrustmaster Dual Analog Gamepad, and perhaps even an original Sony Playstation gamepad with a USB adapter. What have you all found works best with most emulators (MAME, FBA, ZSNES...) and the most precise without being finicky?"

6 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Xbox controller by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I really like the Xbox controller, and I'm aware of the hack which allows it to be used as a joystick under Linux. Has anyone actually tried this ? How well does it work ?

    --

    In Soviet America the banks rob you!
    1. Re:Xbox controller by iainl · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "It works like a dream, the only problem being that you have to either not use the trigger buttons or set them to digital - no PC games/emulators seem to support analog buttons. Which is a shame as I love driving games..."

      Really? My Gamecube to USB adaptor (the bizarrely named Joybox 13) maps the analogue L/R buttons to slider axes, and so work as full-analogue accellerator and brake on my PC driving games. Mind you, I've also got my PS2 Logitech Driving Force installed as a force-feedback wheel and pedals, so its a bit pointless.

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
  2. The best gamepad, bar none. by X-Dopple · · Score: 2, Interesting
    As far as gamepads go, my recommendation is the Saitek P880 Dual Analog pad. It is ergonomically designed, and it comes with programmable software.

    It is superior over the Playstation pad for a number of reasons:

    • The PSX's D-pad is stiff and rigid, not suitable for fighting games. Diagonal movement is cumbersome to achieve. This gamepad has a fully rotatable D-pad
    • 6 right-side buttons on this gamepad, as opposed to 4 on the PSX's. This is handy when you are playing Capcom arcade fighters, or Sega Genesis games that require 6 buttons.

    There are a few odd quirks with this pad - the shoulder buttons are far too big; a second set of shoulder buttons could have fit easily. It's a good pad and it's not too expensive ($20). It's also USB-only.

  3. Nostromo by Belkin by ubrkl · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have 2 USB Belkin Nostromos... They've been configured for MAME, ZSNES, Visual Boy Advance, and a bunch of others with no problems.

    Half the trick I found was with the emulator configuration. Get your controllers working well, then configure the emulators around them. These controllers work natively under XP, and have excellent drivers for 2K. I don't know about *nix support.

  4. Re:Linux Compatibility ? by EvilSporkMan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My EMSUSB adapter works fine - it fits two controllers and gets mapped as one huge ass joystick - I just modprobe joydev and I'm good to go with ZSNES.

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    -insert a witty something-
  5. Re:USB adapter and PS2 controller by BigJimSlade · · Score: 2, Interesting

    (Aside: sold my HotRod in hopes of getting an X-Arcade soon... having the one stick for most of the systems I have is a big bonus in the wife-doesn't-want-stuff-cluttering-basement dept.)

    Besides a real stick, I agree that the PS1/PS2 USB adaptors are the way to go. I've had good luck with the one I have (don't remember the name off the top of my head, but you can find a good list here on the Stepmania site. Those DDR freaks know their PSX adapters!