Videogame controller recommendations?

First of all, I wasn't sure if this would go into the accessories board or the gaming board, but I figured I'd take a stab here first since everyone who usually trolls around here are going to be gamers of some kind anyways and might offer some great advice.

I'm looking for a solid, easy to configure but feel great controller for SNES game emulation.

Back in the day I used to have a great Microsoft Sidewinder that I used for NES/SNES games about five or six years ago, but I've since lost it.

Any suggestions? Thanks all.

-Dan, dying to go through Secret of Mana and FF3 again after a decade...

 

A wired Xbox 360 Controller.

A wireless one would be tricky to set up, but it's doable as well.

 

Ohhh, I never thought of that. FANTASTIC idea. I love the feel of them. A friend of mine has a logitec controller, but I just HATE it. RPG's it was ok, but something quick and responsive like say, Street Fighter was a nightmare.

One million rep points for you + a coffee.

-Dan

edit: just thought of this now: Should I anticipate any driver issues? or anything in regards to 32bit vs. 64 bit vista with using an Xbox 360 controller to play emulators?

Thanks again.

 

No'p, Microsoft supports those controllers, check out the 'games for windows' webpage. The wired ones are obviously easiest to set up and play though.

As for the emulators -- you can then configure the 360 controller just like the logitech ones in control panel, or all kinds of '360 controller for windows' software will allow you to map the buttons any which way you like.

 

Excellent, thanks alot. I have no problems at all shelling out the extra money for an Xbox controller to play some hardcore SNES awesomeness. The general feel of the controller is just superior to any of the PC ones I've ever tried. (Although I'm sure that's just a matter of preference.)

Ciao for now.
-Dan

 

what I would recomend is if you have the money go buy a wireless 360 controller and the wireless gaming reciever. It comes out to around 55$ total but you get wireless now

 

are you sure a 360 gamepad could work on EMU's?

 

I use a PS2 controller for many PC games as well as Snes emulation. Wired and wireless work fine. I use a small MY-Link PS PS2 to PC USB adapter to make it work.

http://tinyurl.com/MY-Link-PS-PS2-to-PC-USB

 

Everything works but some emulators don't recognize the analog triggers...

 

He's going to be playing SNES with it, in which case it has the two bumpers for L + R, and the four face buttons, start/select, and a D pad, that's pretty much all you'd need. For that purpose I'd say ANY pc controller would work since they all have this setup that I know of. The PS2/PS3 style ones have a better placed D pad since you'll be using that and not the analog stick. But I guess that's all down to personal preference.

 

yeah the D-pad on the 360 isnt really that great to be honest i have alot of problems on fallout 3 with it when i go to select a weapon and press like up/left and up/right it takes out either the gun on the top arrow, right arrow, or left arrow. That means i select the wrong arrow and sometimes i get killed because i pull out the wrong gun its frustrating.

 

i've been pondering the controller issue for a while now. i've been wanting to get myself a couple of PC games to pass the time with, maybe somethin like Madden, COD or some racing/driving game, but back when i played 18 wheels of steel on Pc i got soo tired of using the keyboard layout. is there a limit as to what kind of games using a PS/Xbox controller w/ USB adapter would work on?

 

We have quite a few threads about this question already (next time try a forum search), and the xbox 360 controller by far gets the most recommendations.

I've used it on plenty of emus from SNES to N64 to PS1 and haven't had any complaints in that department.