How important do you think "accurate" gamepads are when emulating older consoles?

[Kestrel]

Curious what y'all think about this, as I'm debating picking up one of those third-party bluetooth gamecube controllers (specifically the Retro Fighters BattlerGC Pro), but these things aren't exactly cheap and ultimately I'm just not all that enthusiastic about adding yet another gamepad to my collection. I already have way too many of these damned things.

And while playing on PC, or while emulating older games on PC, I find my DualSense gets the job done more often than not -- the platforms I'm most interested in all used gamepad designs that align pretty closely with Dualshock template.... but then there's the Gamecube controller, with its fancy triggers and unusual face-button layout.

Obviously if I want the really-truly-most-authentic experience, I can just plug in my old consoles and use the correct first-party controllers... but emulation is kind of a different beast, yeah? So what do y'all think: when you're emulating games, do you like to try and mimic the experience of playing on the original hardware as much as possible, or is just using the same default gamepad you use for everything else "good enough?"

 

[Shameless]

I cant really enjoy a game if I'm constantly having to remember what buttons iv mapped everything to, but its only a problem for consoles that have a odd layout controller like the Gamecube or the N64. personally I'm working to get a Gamecube controller and 6 button controller which i think will cover most consoles, it goes a long way with my overall enjoyment of a game.

 

[Vexicrypt]

I use Dualshock 4 for everything because I mostly play PS1, 2 and PSP games anyway. I thought about getting a 8BitDo's Xbox-like controller because this ds4 is very worn out and the left stick is bad, but idk if I can get used to playing Playstation games with Xbox buttons after so many years doing the opposite.

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

Ideally I would use an accurate clone controller for every console I emulate, but that's more money than I want to spend. Instead I only buy a new controller for consoles with an unusual button layout like the GameCube.

 

[SoThankful]

For me, it just feels right to use a controller that matches the system I’m playing on. So no matter what I play on PC, I always use one controller that fits it.

 

[Lena CE]

A lot of times it doesn't really matter, but for systems like the N64 or the Gamecube using anything but the original controller feels utterly bizarre. In general being the purist that I am, if I can't play on OG hardware I wanna get as close to the original experience as possible even when emulating. I won't upscale much if at all, I won't uncap framerates and I'll plug in a controller adapter to use the original whenever possible.

 

[Slayereon]

When it comes to emulating retro games on my PC, I do indeed always use either a modern replica controller that matches 1:1—or very close to it—with the original controller (such as Retro-Bit's USB Genesis/Mega Drive and Saturn controllers), or I use an actual OEM controller with a USB adapter, usually one from Raphnet which are high quality and minimal latency.

For me personally, using a controller that matches perfectly or near perfectly with that of the hardware being emulated is an integral part of recreating the feel of playing a retro game, just as important as something like using a proper CRT shader and aspect ratio to capture the correct look on the output display. I want the experience of playing an old classic game to transport me back in time, back to the era when these games were new.

Recreating the experience of the era in these ways adds up and contributes to helping me get into the right frame of mind to set aside my biases and expectations that come from living in a modern context and being exposed to much more advanced tech and graphics. When I pick up and plug in an old OEM or replica controller, and start up a game with a CRT shader turned on, I find I'm better able to just take in and appreciate a game that might otherwise look, sound, and feel dated, as though I'm experiencing something fresh, new, exciting, and genuinely visually beautiful.

Having a controller that simply matches, and not having to mentally translate button prompts on the fly, is so much more conducive to just relaxing and enjoying the game in front of me.

This is so important to me, that I honestly have an entire drawer in my dresser filled to the brim with various retro console controllers and their associated USB adapters as needed, which I've collected over a number of years. I don't even collect old retro games or old consoles, mainly for lack of disposable income , yet I own OEM controllers for consoles that I've never even seen in person firsthand. For example, in that drawer, you would find a Sega Mark III control pad, PC Engine 2-, 3-, and 6-button pads; a pair of Neo Geo CD controllers, a Panasonic 3DO controller, and even a Saturn 3D Control Pad, among many others.

Yes, it is true that many of these controllers are easily mappable onto a modern Xbox or PlayStation controller, and, yes, it often requires a bit of work to get each and every controller set up properly in RetroArch, my preferred emulation software. But even there, for the setting up, I find I enjoy the process, even with as cumbersome as RetroArch can be. And while the number and layout of buttons might usually be similar between retro and modern controllers, the shape and size of the controllers is often drastically different. Not to mention that the names/icons of the buttons the old games tell you to press often don't match up with the actual buttons on your controller or they aren't in the same physical location, if you do try to use a modern controller. Plus, compared to retro games or vintage consoles, old controllers sold by themselves are often very resonably priced, so I find even affordability is not really a barrier to entry in this regard.

When I use the actual controllers that the games were designed for, it all feels just so seemless and natural, and the games themselves really come alive in a new way for me. It's definitely worth the expense and the effort to recreate the feel as closely as possible in my book.

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

I use a PS4 controller for pretty much everything with the exception of GameCube, Wii (Obviously) and Sega Saturn since they had very specific button layouts that are (for me anyway) hard to comfortably replicate on other controllers.

 

[yourdemise]

these things aren't exactly cheap and ultimately I'm just not all that enthusiastic about adding yet another gamepad to my collection.

It sounds like you're reaching a limit where you're getting less fun out of it than it's worth to keep adding controllers. Might be time to stop.

On the other hand, Gamecube is unique. For me it's absolutely one of the most comfortable controllers I've ever used. And it was so perfect for some things, like all the Resident Evil games on the system. It's like the controller was designed for them.

I've missed using the GC controller for GC games ever since the CRT i had died. I haven't found a solution that makes gc/wii console output look good with my modern tv. And something like a retrotink would be overkill when it's pretty much just wii and n64 that I still want to hook up the actual consoles.

I've even considering getting a gc to pc adapter. It's not like regular controllers don't work, but GC is so distinctive that it does change how it feels to play them. So GC might still be worth it for you.

It sounds like you've never held a GC controller. If there's any way you can get your hands on one (literally) to see how it feels in your hand before buying that's what I'd recommend.

 

[Sumea]

Mostly same as up there.
One lucky happenstance is that Xbox controllers match dreamcast so well that using one is just better time than actual controller when emulating dreamcast. Also, while dualshock 3 matches better it is easier to pair DS4 for playstation emulation.
Aside that, I use a lot of 8bitdo stuff to use matching controllers, though most mileage for this comes from Sega Mega Drive/Saturn controllers that just make playing games for those platforms make more sense because of the unique layout. Would match PC-Engine 6 button as well.
I still do like genuine SNES controller (SNES mini one though) with SNES games and such, it is pretty good universal retro controller too, but I have few more on top of that and also arcade sticks.

 

[kbcinharoxa]

Well, I wish I could use several different controllers for different platforms, but it’s kind of a hassle and it takes money XD
For now I only have one GameCube controller and one SNES controller, but I’ll probably switch to just a single controller to keep things more practical and simple.
Lately I haven’t really been bothering myself with remapping :/
That’s something my past self would definitely have been annoyed by

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

For games that don't have analog control I'll use my arcade stick, if it does I use my Xbox pad. I just love playing things on stick if I'm able to I do. When emulating I'm not to worried about using an "accurate controller" because I play on original hardware so often anyway.

 

[Sheepy765]

I got my normal gamepad for (some) ps1 and n64 onwards, and i got my playstation classic controller for (most) ps1 and before.

 

[PhrawzT]

I try to use an original controller with an USB adapter if possible, but I also have wireless controllers that mimic the SNES, Playstation, Saturn and Gamecube controllers.