The best joystick or gamepad to use in an emulator? 🤔

[qw90700]

This, and it was horribleView attachment 95796

Dude you can kill people with these!!! It's so sharp!!! I bet the UK government banned this gamepad lolol.

 

[thecrow2313]

This, and it was horribleView attachment 95796

Holy shit I remember that controller, then Logitech purchased the brand and what was left over from Mad Catz. I remember the OG Xbox controllers with cooling fan hand grips.

 

[Jake21TR]

I use Dualshock 4 or the Xbox Series controller (the red one because that one is the best) but I want to get a 8Bitdo Pro 2, I have heard good recommendations of that one

 

[thecrow2313]

Dude you can kill people with these!!! It's so sharp!!! I bet the UK government banned this gamepad lolol.

It's practically a weapon

 

[iisoide]

I just use Xbox controller now and it's pretty versatile. Sometimes Steam Deck handheld inputs don't pick up but that's to be expected

 

[CheesyExplosive]

Holy shit I remember that controller, then Logitech purchased the brand and what was left over from Mad Catz. I remember the OG Xbox controllers with cooling fan hand grips.

mad catz became alright with remotes!!!

 

[Don Patch]

Dunno exactly what the first one was.
But I remember it having a flat retractable usb chord.

Now, it's dual shock 4 or bust.

 

[Merlin Yggdrasill]

I pretty much exclusively use a PlayStation 5 controller (and before that, a PS4 controller) but certain consoles I have dedicated USB controller variants. Like I use my N64 USB controller for N64 games and I had a Saturn controller for Saturn games, but it always has trouble connecting for some reason.

 

[Nidstang]

I use a Hyperkin X91 on my PC, and a Razer Kishi for my phone.

 

[Ppapeno7135]

I use quite a few:

- an NES controller to play with the kids (2 buttons and small size), perfect for simple games
- an 8BitDo M30 to play Mega Drive, Saturn, fighting and arcade games
- a PS4 controller for everything else, mainly SNES, Playstation 1/2/3, PSP, XBOX and Windows games, etc.
- and keyboard + mouse for shooting games that need fast responde and/or precise aiming

 

[Adrastia]

My first PC controller was a Microsoft Sidewinder. Little Tykes plastic and haaaaard to push buttons. Dpad was a nightmare.



Currently I have an offbrand Xbox 360 controller and a Logitech F310. I need a new Xbox controller. The wire is wrapped with electrical tape because the some of plastic tubing around the wire peeled off at the base. I guess it was too cheap to wrap the cord around the controller and not peel.

 

[Pearly]

My first PC controller was a Microsoft Sidewinder. Little Tykes plastic and haaaaard to push buttons. Dpad was a nightmare.

View attachment 95860

Currently I have an offbrand Xbox 360 controller and a Logitech F310. I need a new Xbox controller. The wire is wrapped with electrical tape because the some of plastic tubing around the wire peeled off at the base. I guess it was too cheap to wrap the cord around the controller and not peel.

That's a horribly awkward looking controller, you'd know Microsoft really didn't put much thought into console style controllers back then. Still better than the controller steam put out once though.

I just use my ps5 controller, kinda tempted to use my switch one since I largely emulate GameCube and wii games mostly, everything else in emulated on a console of some kind, so I use my ps3, vita or 2ds.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

What was your first gamepad to use in an emulator? And which ones are the best?

I can't find a pic but it was a grey/silvery pad with blue buttons and no joysticks.

 

[resketreke]

Nowadays I just use an Xbox Series gamepad, but for years I used a Sega Saturn gamepad for 2D games and some flavour of Dual Shock for 3D ones, ans an Xbox 360 before that.

 

[aquova]

My ideal controller doesn't yet exist... I really like 8bitdo's controllers, and once they came out with their SN30 Pro, which was basically a SNES controller with joysticks, I was really hoping they'd make a M30 Pro -- a 6-button Genesis/Saturn controller with joysticks and shoulder triggers. I love the 6-button layout, as most modern controllers can't really play Genesis games easily, you have to use shoulder buttons to some extent. Alas, they have not made it... Instead, I mainly use their Ultimate 2 Controller https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2-bluetooth-controller/

I like it, but kinda wish it was an Xbox or Playstation layout, switching to use my Steam Deck gets confusing due to the different buttons.

 

[thumbsdown]

I mostly play SNES romhacks nowadays and a friend who's into MiSTer recommended me this one once. For other games I honestly just go for a classic XBOX 360 controller or just the keyboard...

 

[qw90700]

My ideal controller doesn't yet exist...

Same here. I get they try to make them for general usage, but for my hand it seems their size, especially button sizes are too small for me.

For example I can easily press all 4 buttons on PS2 gamepad with my thumbs with no hardship whatsoever. It kinda fits "just fine" on these 4 buttons enough to cover them all lol. I have to play games by pressing buttons with little bump of my nail especially to avoid pressing at least more than 1 button lol. When it comes to analog same issue, but due to nail usage surface of analogs gets fucked eventually lol. However at least Playstation 1-2 gamepads shape-wise okay to hold for me.

Because of this I dreamed of a gamepad that has adjustable size and shape. Imagine something like a playdough that has 2 modes that 1st mode allows you to change its size and shape so thus you can have it form the shape of your hand and 2nd mode locks the size and shape of the gamepad so it won't change until you active 1st mode lol. It can work like a balloon to inflate and decrease size of even the buttons!!!

Or IDK it would be valuable to make a company produce specially designed gamepad for your handshape and personal preference. It really matters a lot!!!!

 

[diet_orange]

I use a Hyperkin X91 on my PC, and a Razer Kishi for my phone.

Oh, I've got the transparent blueish/green one (actually found and bought it at the Goodwill that I work at) and it's such a great little controller! I pretty much use it for all my steam games

 

[thecrow2313]

My first PC controller was a Microsoft Sidewinder. Little Tykes plastic and haaaaard to push buttons. Dpad was a nightmare.

View attachment 95860

Currently I have an offbrand Xbox 360 controller and a Logitech F310. I need a new Xbox controller. The wire is wrapped with electrical tape because the some of plastic tubing around the wire peeled off at the base. I guess it was too cheap to wrap the cord around the controller and not peel.

I remember getting a Sidewinder bundle with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 for PC at Game Stop years ago. I used that controller for Kega Fusion.

 

[petran79]

My brother got some Mini consoles (Neo Geo, NES, SNES and Mega Drive) and because some came with two controllers, he gave me the Sega Mini 3 button controller and the SNES Mini controller.

While MD controller USB cable had no issues connecting to the PC, for the SNES Mini I had to order the 8bit Gamecube/Wii to USB converter

For the rest (PS3, Switch, PS2, PS1 etc ) I use either a PS5 original or Xbox One controller (Gamesir S7)

Have also a Hori arcade stick but do not use it as much

My first PC controller was a Microsoft Sidewinder. Little Tykes plastic and haaaaard to push buttons. Dpad was a nightmare.

View attachment 95860

Currently I have an offbrand Xbox 360 controller and a Logitech F310. I need a new Xbox controller. The wire is wrapped with electrical tape because the some of plastic tubing around the wire peeled off at the base. I guess it was too cheap to wrap the cord around the controller and not peel.

I remember that. I preferred the Gravis Gamepad. Problem was that to use Sidewinder for DOS games, you had to play via Windows as joystick was not compatible with native DOS. And playing DOS games via Windows 9x would be the last thing you'd want. And I think despite having 6 buttons, only 4 worked.

 

[Zooey]

We have one in the other room, I thought it was pretty rad!

You know, aside from the thumbsticks not being very good, and the buttons wearing out and becoming unresponsive. It was on the level of the Logitech gamepads in my experience.

Saitek made "OK" keyboards back when LED's were the hot thing, but the controller itself felt a bit awkward. This was the days before we had stuff like 8bitDo, and i think even Xbox controllers werent usable yet with USB, so it was dark times...

 

[DOOP169]

I use to use the logitech back in 2000 or so then I switched to GameSir for a few years, but you can't beat 8BitDo nowadays.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:21 AM

This, and it was horribleView attachment 95796

Had a buddy that got one of these in 2006 maybe, he bounced it off a wall within the first couple of days.

 

[Zero_X]

This, and it was horribleView attachment 95796

I've never seen that joystick, haha! But the important thing is that it has all the functions and works for what you want.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:30 AM

Esto, y fue horrible.View attachment 95796

View attachment 95790View attachment 95791View attachment 95792 ok... ya que estoy de mal humor, digamos que me he vuelto loco al creer que un soldador es un consolador.

Esa maThat brand is interesting, but in my case the price is high to get one. The only thing I see is that it doesn't have a Home button.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:35 AM

Mi primer mando de PC fue un Microsoft Sidewinder. De plástico, de Little Tykes, y los botones eran muy difíciles de pulsar. El pad direccional era una pesadilla.

View attachment 95860

Actualmente tengo un control de Xbox 360 de otra marca y un Logitech F310. Necesito un control de Xbox nuevo. El cable está envuelto con cinta aislante porque se desprendió un poco del tubo de plástico que lo rodeaba en la base. Supongo que fue demasiado barato enrollarlo alrededor del control sin despegarlo.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:37 AM

Saitek made "OK" keyboards back when LED's were the hot thing, but the controller itself felt a bit awkward. This was the days before we had stuff like 8bitDo, and i think even Xbox controllers werent usable yet with USB, so it was dark times...

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:54 AM

It seems the most popular is 8bitdo! In the future I will have to consider buying that one after trying a PS 4 controller.

Post automatically merged: Today at 4:57 AM

I use a Hyperkin X91 on my PC, and a Razer Kishi for my phone.

They seem to be of very good quality.

 

[Max]

My first controller was the Terios T3 X3, although very cheap, accessible and easy to configure, it was very poor in terms of material Button icons get erased easily, joysticks drift easily, shoulders can get stuck

In my personal opinion, the best controller I have used to emulate is the GameSir Nova Lite, it apparently has Hall Effect and does not suffer from the aforementioned failures.

 

[Nelson2001 Nelson2001]

My first controller was the Terios T3 X3, although very cheap, accessible and easy to configure, it was very poor in terms of material Button icons get erased easily, joysticks drift easily, shoulders can get stuck
View attachment 96189

Well I also had like 2 Bluetooth Controllers of the same design and style as well.