Game pad suggestions

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,558
20
81
What's a decent, but fairly inexpensive game pad to pick up for use with Roms?

Would prefer something that BB, CC, or OM sells so I can pick it up today.
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
take an old NES/SNES/GENESIS/PSX gamepad and wire it up to your parallel port.
 

HiTek21

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2002
4,391
1
0
Parallel -> PSX Port works the best. I tried using the USB Logitech Dual Stick Action Pad and it worked but the slightest movement off the x or y axis will usually make the control stop moving in ZSNES and SNes9x. The analog sticks worked fine though.

Do not buy Kikyjoy or Kikyjoy X Series they suck. If you move the dpad controller too fast it won't read the diagonal (i.e half circle movement for a fireball in street fighter 2)
 

GhettoFob

Diamond Member
Apr 27, 2001
6,800
0
76
I have the classic ms sidewinder (game port version) and it worked well for nes and snes games.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
radioshack also sells a cheap adapter that lets you use a PS1/2 controller through a USB port.
 

UnatcoAgent

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 1999
5,462
1
0
Minendo, I just picked up the new MS sidewinder gamepad for 15$ CDN strictly for emulation purposes. So far it's been great, take a look at it.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
The only acceptable USB console adapter is the N64 Adaptoid. The optional driver even supports the DirectX Force-Feedback -> Rumble Pak support. You can manage Memory Pak saves too. You can even swap axes on-the-fly. The optional driver includes an API that allows all N64 emulators to access the controller directly, so you can even use hardware such as the GB Transfer Pak, Bio Pak (Japan-only ear clip heart rate monitor), Mouse, Microphone Pak, etc. Also, the direct-access driver fixes a major problem that affects ALL other console adapters: It allows the emulator to bypass the circle-square-circle axis conversion. With other adapters, precision/accuracy is aawful due to this problem.
 

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
Originally posted by: Actaeon
Xbox S-controller with USB adapter.

Best controller period.

Not really. I made an ultimate adapter myself, but the 4-way D-Pad is so inaccurate, I could never play SNES games like Tetris Attack on it. I was pretty disappointed, because I *really* like the design of the S-Controller.

Teh Adaptoid RoXXorZ!
SNES RoXXorZ!
Tetris Attack RoXXorZ!
 

cw42

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2004
4,227
0
76
DO NOT BUY THE LOGITECH DUAL ACTION. I have it, it worked great for a while. Then it started to have calibration problems which could not be solved. I could plug it in, it'd work fine for 2min, then the analog sticks would be be off. It's a nice controller, but the drivers or something about it sucks.

Can anyone PM me and tell me where to get the USB adapter for the xbox controllers? i'd like to get one of those.
 

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
XBOX controllers are actually USB devices. You just have to cut an extention cable and splice it with a USB cable. Then you need drivers, which can be found easily.

The trick is to find an extension cable with a socket (most of them plug into the breakaway connector). I found mine at CompUSA. A socketed adapter will allow you to insert the receiver for a wireless XBOX controller or other devices that may or may not have drivers yet. When you splice the cables, you'll just ignore the yellow cable in the XBOX controller. I've heard that this is used only by light gun accessories, though I can't imagine why those wouldn't work with within standard USB 1.1 specs.

If you have a soldering iron and some heat-shrink tubing, you can make a really nice connector. I peeled the rubber away from a USB head and opened up the metal housing to solder the wires directly. Then I closed up the housing and used several layers of heat-shrink tubing to build a gripping area around the connector. I didn't have a heat gun, but the tubing shrinks instantly in boiled water anyway.