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[BoboBrazil]

What's the best pc game controller? I've been thinking of getting one of the various copycats of the PS2 controller, but wasn't sure.

 

[Crazymoogle]

The best one isn't a PC game controller at all, but rather this:

Smartjoy PS2->USB adapter

All you need is a dualshock controller, and you're set. PS2->USB adapter drivers are so bloody good that picking up a PC controller just doesn't make any sense unless you have an obsession with them. Adapters for other consoles also exist.

 

[BoboBrazil]

Is that available in any stores?

 

[Uncle Dukey]

Is that available in any stores?

Sometimes Radio Shack (They make one themselves) and Fry's Electronics stock adaptors. Depends on the store though.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I don't know what the best is, but if you can still get one of those Xbox USB controller adapters and the drivers, that would probably be pretty sweet.

 

[drohne]

yeah, just get an adaptor for the console controller of your choice. i know they sell ps2 adaptors at fry's, if you have one near you. it's pretty neat playing emulators or doujin shmups with a nice arcade stick.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

emulators or doujin shmups with a nice arcade stick.

Now he's speaking my language.

Be forewarned though, I've yet to play emu fighting games properly with an adapted stick. I've used multiple adaptors (both Radio shack really, but different models) and multiple sticks and something is off about how they read input. It seems like you are missing your QCFs when if fact it is your input that is being missed. This might not apply to all adaptors though.

Just a quick plug, I still do emu with my X-Arcade solo, and that thing inputs perfectly. I got used to it before I got snooty about parts so it gaets a free pass from me.

I was up at Game Junkies in Westchester, OH and they had a huge MAME cab set up. They gave me a free token, so I went through a good chunk of Metal Slug 3 with it, because the kid was being a smartass and I had to show 'em. Anyway, that cab was missing my input. I could press the fire button super fast and you would see the character stop firing for whole seconds sometimes. They said the input was being put through Ultimarc's iPac device, which would make the sense, but that kind of thing looked like joy-adaptor lag to me, though I still bet there was an iPac in there.

Same deal happened with my MAS's PC cord, so uh, don't buy MAS's PC support.

 

[Vandiger]

Make sure the adapter supports dual analog control, the one I bought from radio shack didn't thus I couldn't play several pc games that required dual analogs.

 

[Oh! My Car!]

 

[Spectral Glider]

Yeah, I'm going to have buy one of those smartjoy adapters. I've tried like 4 different PC joysticks and hated every single one.

 

[jooey]

I chose the SmartJoy and couldn't be happier!

is there some stranglehold on the PC patent for a decent d-pad?!?

 

[Ristamar]

I think Nintendo patented the soild plus/cross design. Not sure about other styles.

 

[impirius]

Guillemot Thrustmaster Dual Analog, Dual Power (rumble), or Firestorm Wireless

All have a Dual Shock style design with a good D-pad and plenty of buttons. This is one of the only real usuable D-pads on PC controllers.

 

[Ristamar]

I've also heard good things about the wireless Saitek P3000 w/charging station. I think the P2500 is the wired version.

 

[Enigma]

Guillemot Thrustmaster Dual Analog, Dual Power (rumble), or Firestorm Wireless

All have a Dual Shock style design with a good D-pad and plenty of buttons. This is one of the only real usuable D-pads on PC controllers.

These threads come up a lot, and people always recommend these, but sadly it seems to be ignored. This is the best controller on the market for anything. Just replace the second set of triggers with analog ones and you'd have absolute perfection.