[PC] PC gamepads

What do you guys use for a gamepad when playing games on your computers? Whether you use it for emulation or other actual PC games, what suits you the best?

Me, I use my trusty Xbox 360 controller combined with the wireless receiver. It's pretty great, but the D-pad leaves much to be desired when playing old school games.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I use a spare SIXAXIS for all of my emulation needs.

Don't believe I have ever actually used it for anything other than emulators though.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I use my 360 controller too, but I use the a wired one. When I bought it for PC I didn't have a 360 console yet, and they hadn't released the wireless attachment for PC use, so I just bought a wired one. Works just the same though.

Can't say I'd use anything else though... But I didn't know that you could use a SIXAXIS on a PC, either.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Wired 360 Controller as well. Mostly just for emulation needs. Since I just got my Hori Arcade Stick for the 360, I've been messing around with some games with that controller also.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Yeah; here's a link to the SIXAXIS driver.

Most amazing jew boots

The Gravis GamePad (and its brother, the GamePad Pro) have been the two main controllers for me since maybe going back as the Commander Keen days, whether it's been for emulation or regular PC gaming. Since analog games are more prevalent nowadays I use a Playstation 2 controller through a Joybox for those types of games, but for some reason I haven't switched to it for overall gaming. Maybe I think the analog sticks are in the way? Dunno.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

An old school Microsoft Sidewinder



try sixaxis GRANDAD

No, it's fine. I haven't emu'd on my PC since I got a PSP, so I only need a pad for one game and that's Subspace. This is quite a sturdy mould of plastic, you really feel like you've got something solid in your grip, which is comforting in its own way. There are 6 face buttons on there which is a fact I consider important though I've long forgotten the reason why. It's recognised by all the awkward DOS apps without any messin'. Only downside is the d-pad makes your thumb ache after prolonged sessions.

7/10

If I used a pc joypad more often though I'd definitely get a Saturn pad converter or replica. Best pad ever.

FELIPE NO

Heh, I had one of those Gamepad Pros a few years back (Which reminds me, what the hell happened to it?). Evidently at some point later on I lost it or something, because now I use this USB -> PS2 Thingy where in you plug in your PS2 / GC / Xbox 1 controller on one end and then plug it into a USB Port on the other.



I WANT to use my 360 Controller, or even the Wii-Mote for the hell of it, but both are wireless and I have no bloody idea how to get them connected to my PC.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I use the same thing as Dopefish, a Joybox so I can use my PS2 pad for most PC Games. I also use my Fighting Stick EX2 to play GGPO and 2DF, so this move to USB functionality has made things really cool these past few years. I play old game mostly, so I haven't had a reason to use the 360 or PS3 controllers, but it'd be great for multiplatform titles like the Last Remnant or Devil May Cry 4.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Since PC gamespads tend to be fucking pathetic I've always used Playstation controllers (PSX->PS2->PS3).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The Logitech Wingman Rumblepad would like to talk to you, Seanne.



This controller is awesome in every sense of the word. The right analog stick top has broken off, but it's still workable. I also have a really old Logitch joystick (forgot the name, sorry), but it's gotten very squeaky.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Mine looks a lot like a ps2 controller...exactly.
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad Game pad - 12 button - Mac, PC

I figure most of the games I emulate are ps1 games anyway, or super nes, and I wanted a controller that is a lot like the original controller. The only problems I've had with it is the diagonal keys are very stiff.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

the only PC game I use a gamepad is FFXI and mainly because the game was design for the ps2 so to be use with the dualshock, so I use my sixaxis plug via usb to play this game.

I use it too for ps1 games, but beside that I don't really use gamepad on pc game unless they were design to be played with it.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Freelance Wolf

This controller is awesome in every sense of the word. The right analog stick top has broken off, but it's still workable.

Well it can't be too awesome if it broke on you. Just saying.

Originally Posted by ComradeTande

Mine looks a lot like a ps2 controller...exactly.
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad Game pad - 12 button - Mac, PC

That's the same one I use. I don't play very many PC games, but it's been dependable for all the years that I've had it. I mainly got it because it's like a PS2 controller, which is great in my book.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Rockgamer

Well it can't be too awesome if it broke on you. Just saying.

That was after years of use though. It held up very well. I used it mainly for FFVII and FFVIII. It was too clunky with a keyboard. I also used it for emulated games too back when I used to collect those.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

The Gravis GamePad Pro

This has proven pretty nifty and cheap. It has been a staple for YEARS. I find that some emulators are pretty picky with some controllers for several reasons (it could be your windows or pc or type of plug in or device) but this one has been widely acceptable to most emulators I had find from nes to GBA. I haven't tested beyond that though. The only one system I know I couldn't get it to work with was WSC. (Wonderswan Color) That was ages ago, I imagine they improved the emulation on that one... or not.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Love the GamePad Pro, but the squishy d-pad makes it impossible to play fighters of any kind.

I actually bought a wired 360 controller specifically for use as a PC gamepad. The d-pad isn't much better than the one on the Gravis, but it does provide analog control + rumble. Pretty nice for PC ports, especially since a lot of them actually have pre-loaded profiles for it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Ages ago I made this adapter that let me hook two SNES controllers up to my PC through my parallel port, but eventually it broke (mostly because paperclips don't solder very well). I moved up to a PS2->USB adapter they sold at Radioshack for $8. Been using it for a pretty darned long time now and haven't ever had a problem with it.

I won a Wireless 360 controller off of the Microsoft Live Club thing a while back and use it when I need two controllers hooked up to my PC. It was nice when I was playing Lego Star Wars with my girlfriend and neither of us wanted to screw around with the keyboard.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Kolba

An old school Microsoft Sidewinder

How did you get it to work on newer computers? I just threw mine out after it was collecting dust since XP came along.

Originally Posted by Freelance Wolf

The Logitech Wingman Rumblepad would like to talk to you, Seanne.



This controller is awesome in every sense of the word. The right analog stick top has broken off, but it's still workable. I also have a really old Logitch joystick (forgot the name, sorry), but it's gotten very squeaky.

I have this but find the D-Pad can be hard to get recognized in emulators. My computer keeps reading the D-Pad as this weird "hat" thing that's hard to get recognized in older programs, and tends to diagonal a bit too much.

Being reduced to the joystick sucks on old fighting games and beatemups. A toward-toward-punch becomes a nightmare.

BUT, I have no better recommendation. This is way better than my previous gamepad.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

PS2/Sixaxis through USB is the best way to go, IMO.

Does Gravis make a USB version? I loved those old pads...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Yes Judge Ito, the post I made with the image was USB. Make sure you get it in black. I know the white one is serial.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by How Unfortunate

How did you get it to work on newer computers? I just threw mine out after it was collecting dust since XP came along.

Just add it using Game Controllers in the Control Panel.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I'm having a bit of trouble getting a SIXAXIS controller to work on Vista. I plug it into the USB port and go into my controller settings, SIXAXIS displays but when I go to calibrate it, nothing works.

Anybody have an idea on how to get it working?

FELIPE NO

the file with the plugin you got, theres also a file called ps3sixaxis_en. You would need to open that every time you want to use it (at least for me)
it's a black window that appears and disappears really quickly

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

for me those drivers never worked properly, I use this one instead: MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

you install it and now every time I plug in my sixaxis it recognize it automatically.

(there on thing I'm not sure is if you need to install the driver with or without the sixaxis already plug in, you'll need to test)

Jam it back in, in the dark.