Gamecube controller was the best of all time.

[exar333]

The GC pad, while much better then the fetid abomination that the N64 pad was (awful layout rendered 1/3 of the pad largely unusable, awful analog stick, terrible balance; even more so with a rumble pak. I lopped half of the left grip off of mine for comfort and stuffed pennies in the middle grip for balance) it is far from optimal. Mainly the wonky layout and size of the ABXY buttons and the slightly recessed dpad made it less then optimal for quick tapping through menus.

Agreed.

I liked some third-party N64 controllers that were more similar to the modern ps3/xb360 styles.

For modern controllers, the X360 is the best
For classic, the SNES was my favorite.

 

[Anarchist420]

The Super NES controller (and maybe the VB for what it was) was the only good Nintendo controller IMO. I don't know whether it was the GC itself or due to a chip in the GC controller, but the input lag was awful on every GC game I ever played... same for the N64. The worst Nintendo controller other than the wiimote was the N64 controller because the control stick could get all crusty and because the Dpad was super stiff on them. The gamecube controller sucked because of the placement of the z button (they should have just made it a select button alongside the start button), the placement of the D-Pad, and the input lag if it was the fault of the controller. I've never used the PS3 controller, but the Xbox360's d-pad kills it IMO.

I should note that while nintendo may have innovated with the control stick, the first well done execution was by Sony so they should both get credit for it... nintendo for the idea and Sony for the proper execution.

I'd have to say the PS2 and Super NES had the best official controllers from the ones I've used followed by the Sega Saturn's 3D analog controller, then the best of the 3 3DO controllers I used (I think it was the smaller panasonic one). The first Xbox's original controller is tied for the Jaguar's regular controller for absolute worst in my opinion. The best looking controller, though, is the Sega Saturn's original U.S. controller, just like the Sega Saturn itself is the best looking console... Sega went pretty damn far with the aesthetics.

Good Keyboard (and good mouse if applicable) FTW overall, because it works the best for first person shooters (which would exclude Metroid Prime which the GC controller was actually great for, for the most part) and it works well enough for fighting games (for me anyway) and all others compared to any console controllers for their uses.

 

[reallyscrued]

No, in fact it is one of the best shooters ever made.

I feel like the term 'shooter' has a different connotation than how Metroid Prime presents itself.

Let's call it an FPA, first person adventure.

 

[NiceCold]

I really liked the Gamecube controller, too. Unfortunately, most people were lead to believe that Gamecubes were for kids and never gave it a chance.

I can't stand the 360 controller. It is cramped, heavy, the sticks are cockeyed for no reason which causes problems. I adjust to it fine but I greatly preferred the Duke Xbox controller, and like the PS3 controller a lot more.

That brings me to my point for this thread that this is all opinion. What is good for you is shit for me and vice versa. I wish more companies would release quality controllers with different layouts and I am super excited to use the WiiU controller because it is nice and big.

I've always thought this layout would be cool:

^
< O > This would be the left joystick, repped by O, surrounded by the Dpad
~ buttons repped by the ^<>&~. I would also do the same with the right joystick where the buttons surrounded the joystick for quicker access and improved fluidity while trying to aim. Then, of course, I would also improve the shoulder/trigger buttons as putting them on top of the controller gets cumbersome after awhile.

yes i think 360 controller is cramped too but not sure what kind of cramped you talking about. I think the layout analog is cramped. it's perfect for kids hands though.

 

[coldmeat]

The xbox controller is near perfect IMO, and I have fairly large hands. I used to like the PS controller, until I bought my 360 and I realized just how much better a controller can be. My thumbs hit each other when I use the PS pad.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Metroid prime was not terrible game design.

Ok, now I get what you're saying (before I thought you mean pressing A, B, X, and Y all at the same time), but now what you posted just seems even more baffling. What on other controllers make's that impossible for you? Stuff like that is even easier on controllers like the 360 for me personally.

 

[BenSkywalker]

I'm curious if you guys that think the 360 controller is the best were all born with severe deformity in your hands? The analog sticks are at rather severely different angles, the d pad is simply atrocious and the buttons are slippery, poorly spaced and poorly placed.

Better then Duke? By miles, but still close to textbook in anti ergonomic design.

DualShock has plenty of its' own problems, being far too small being the largest, but at least it isn't Carpel Tunnel in a single sitting.

 

[crisium]

The Sega Saturn controller is the finest ever for games that don't require dual analog control.

Oh yeah.

The 3D controller is better than the Dreamcast because of a better D-Pad and 6 face buttons. I was always shocked that Sega dropped down buttons for the DC controller.

It has the greatest D-Pad ever, by far. Plus 6 face buttons makes it great for fighting games. I bought a USB version of the 2D controller which I use my all my retro gaming on emulators (and 2D games on the PS3). I don't know how they did it, but in 1994 Sega engineered perfection in a D-Pad. I wish they would make it public domain and that all controllers for future consoles would use it. The Xbox 360 D-Pad is the worst used in a console in many, many years. Sony's is horrible too, and I can't stand the fact they still use it on PS3, but that's what my USB Saturn controller is for.

However, besides the d-pad, the 360 controller is the best for modern games that need dual axis. The Gamecube controller is too peculiar for me, and impossible to play most fighting games on. I also hate the "analog" triggers on it.

 

[HeXen]

i toss between PS3 and Xbox controller being the best ever created. I like both, i can do both equally well. i think the PS3 controller is lighter and batter lasts longer, i don't have the rumble pad version. Plus i like how you can use a standard mini usb cord to charge it.
the 360 one requires propriatary cord, heavier but still and excellent and well designed controller....i don't see how it could be better than those 2.
though i do have a logitech one, that looks like the 360 but you can swap the dpad and analogue around. its ok, but doesn't work with most games by default.

 

[reallyscrued]

Ok, now I get what you're saying (before I thought you mean pressing A, B, X, and Y all at the same time), but now what you posted just seems even more baffling. What on other controllers make's that impossible for you? Stuff like that is even easier on controllers like the 360 for me personally.

..what?

Don't tell me you can comfortably hold A and press Y in the heat of battle.

And you'd have to be freaking double jointed to press B while holding down A.

This translates into silly control schemes like "hold X to do something that should take a millisecond but now takes 2.5 seconds"

You're blinded by either fanboyism or you made up your mind before reading my post.

The face buttons made the GCN controller were underrated.

Furthermore, the digital click on the analog triggers was a great innovation. That should have caught on also.

 

[neomartin]

..what?

Don't tell me you can comfortably hold A and press Y in the heat of battle.

And you'd have to be freaking double jointed to press B while holding down A.

This translates into silly control schemes like "hold X to do something that should take a millisecond but now takes 2.5 seconds"

You're blinded by either fanboyism or you made up your mind before reading my post.

The face buttons made the GCN controller were underrated.

Furthermore, the digital click on the analog triggers was a great innovation. That should have caught on also.

I do like the Gamecube controller a lot, but only if the games do not require super weird button combinations. I really like the sticks, but the layout of the A, B, X and Y buttons is quite atrocious. But I don't know. Playing Mario Kart Wii, SSBB and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, I just kinda got used to the format of the buttons.

 

[Aikouka]

xbox 360 is by far the best controller.

I got into a discussion with a friend over this. She was complaining about the controller's joysticks not being parallel and how it was weird in FPS games compared to the PS3 controller. I never play FPS games on a console, and I've never had a problem with the 360 controller. I have much larger hands than her, which makes the size of the controller a non-issue. Hell, I had no problem with the original XBOX's controller.

 

[DigDog]

poll or it didn't happen.

cuz the way i see it 99% of people prefer the Dualshock, while 1% haven't tried it.

 

[darkswordsman17]

..what?

Don't tell me you can comfortably hold A and press Y in the heat of battle.

And you'd have to be freaking double jointed to press B while holding down A.

This translates into silly control schemes like "hold X to do something that should take a millisecond but now takes 2.5 seconds"

You're blinded by either fanboyism or you made up your mind before reading my post.

The face buttons made the GCN controller were underrated.

Furthermore, the digital click on the analog triggers was a great innovation. That should have caught on also.

Do you only have a thumb on your right hand? The only one that gives me trouble in your silly scenario is the Y button and I can push it easily with either my index or middle finger while holding the A button with my thumb. Holding A and pressing B, I can accomplish with just my thumb and I'm anything but double jointed.

How are you having this much trouble and not having the same amount with a Gamecube controller? Nothing you've described would be any less of a problem for me on a Gamecube controller, and is not some incredible feat of agility on just about any controller that has a regular layout for those buttons.

The face buttons on the Gamecube controller were tied for second worst part of that design (with the C stick nub, with the Z button being just horrendous).

 

[Dumac]

The face buttons on the Gamecube controller were tied for second worst part of that design

The face buttons on the gamecube controller are the best face buttons on any controller ever.

 

[reallyscrued]

Do you only have a thumb on your right hand? The only one that gives me trouble in your silly scenario is the Y button and I can push it easily with either my index or middle finger while holding the A button with my thumb. Holding A and pressing B, I can accomplish with just my thumb and I'm anything but double jointed.

How are you having this much trouble and not having the same amount with a Gamecube controller? Nothing you've described would be any less of a problem for me on a Gamecube controller, and is not some incredible feat of agility on just about any controller that has a regular layout for those buttons.

The face buttons on the Gamecube controller were tied for second worst part of that design (with the C stick nub, with the Z button being just horrendous).

Holding A down with your thumb...then taking your index or middle finger off the triggers to hit Y, right. That sounds efficient. Better than just holding down A with your thumb and rolling in the direction of any adjacent button? To each his own I guess.

Let's just agree to disagree. If I haven't already shown you the light with logic and reasoning, you won't get it.

 

[Jaskalas]

Stop making new controllers, and just admit perfection has already been done.

 

[zerocool84]

Stop making new controllers, and just admit perfection has already been done.

It's very good as is the 360 controller but both definitely need some refinement to be perfect.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

[. . .] Y button and I can push it easily with either my index or middle finger while holding the A button with my thumb.

Fail.

 

[micrometers]

Stop making new controllers, and just admit perfection has already been done.

This controller stinks as an FPS controller.

Also, there is more of a learning curve.

 

[Bobisuruncle54]

Stop making new controllers, and just admit perfection has already been done.

For any game that requires precise inputs with analog sticks, the PS1/2/3 controllers are perhaps the most unergonomic controllers you could use. They require your thumbs to pivot on an axis that does not allow for the most accurate input. Ideally the best controller out there would have both analog sticks at the same height as the ones found on the left side of the Xbox and Gamecube controllers, and use the same design as the Gamecube stick as it allows the most accurate input overall (they also have the most minimal dead-zone). You would then put the buttons that were previously occupying the space on the right on the underside of the pad where your fingers would rest to hold the controller. Additional buttons could also be placed in a similar fashion on the left hand side if necessary.

 

[exdeath]

Good Keyboard (and good mouse if applicable) FTW overall, because it works the best for first person shooters (which would exclude Metroid Prime which the GC controller was actually great for, for the most part) and it works well enough for fighting games (for me anyway) and all others compared to any console controllers for their uses.

Metroid Prime only worked well on a controller for ONE reason alone: auto aim lock. Same reason Fallout 3 worked for me on 360 because of VATS.

I can't stand any other FPS on a joystick controller where your movement speed is dictated by AXIS_POSITION * PREDEFINED_MAX_CHARACTER_FOOT_SHUFFLE_SPEED.

I also can't stand console constructs to get around the limitations of sticks finite axis range, such as forced auto centering, limited FOC (field of control) dictated by the constricted range of motion of the stick, and the need to continually hold your hands in some frozen contorted position to keep the sticks held as still as possible to pan or fixate on something in the sky without being able to rest or let go.

Then there is the issue of built in forced acceleration resulting in aggravating non linear sensitivity that makes aiming and tracking a moving target with your reticle a game of overshooting, undershooting, overshooting, undershooting, awwhh fuck it already just hold the fire button down in full auto mode as the reticle crosses the target between those two points. This is a pure CONSOLE construct. I NEVER did that on the PC playing Q3A DM17 Instagib railguns only with a mouse. It was all point and click pixel perfect precision by me and me alone without any "auto aim helpers" that are prevalent in console FPS for the sole reason of hacking around a limitation of the physical input device.

I honestly don't know why the stupid thumb sticks haven't been replaced with a pair of equally sized trackballs yet. Precision mouse reflexes on a console, yes please. How fast you turn = how fast you swipe the ball, start and stop on a dime. Look and lift your thumbs and the avatar stays put locked on to the point of interest and doesn't try to force auto center at all times. And most importantly lacking in ALL FPS console games, the ability to LIFT AND RESUME for infinite axis range (lift thumb off left side of trackball, move to right side, same as picking up a mouse). No more "holding the stick in place" BS. 180-360-720 you just flick the track ball and send it spinning hard under inertia then stop it on a dime with your thumb. THAT I could learn to instagib rail with.

Honestly it's the final evolution of the convergence of PC FPS and console FPS. Cursors would also be possible for inventory (eg: Bioshock's LACK of a SS2 inventory system and Dead Space's obvious console oriented "d pad" style inventory are both "consolizations"), select and drag (RTS), etc.

The outer ring around the trackballs could even be 8 way D pads as well for weapon selection, item hot keys, etc.

 

[exdeath]

It's a start:

http://trackballcontroller.com/

 

[pandemonium]

I did like the Gamecube controller minus the button size priorities. The hold positioning was pretty good.

No matter how many times I've picked up the Xbox controller, I can never get used to it. It's always felt awkward to me; primarily due to how much excess face there is below the buttons. Granted I don't console nearly as much as I used to, but the only joystick that I felt worked well was the N64's. I liked how natural holding it was (it didn't feel like I was forcing my hands to adopt an odd position).

Looking at the Wii classic pro controller it does appear to be more of the natural design that I'd like. Haven't held one personally, so it may not fit as well as I'd hope.

For mouse and keyboard, I'm a "claw" gamer. I wonder if this translates into what type of controller you prefer. For example, if you prefer to rest the majority of your fingers and hand on your mouse and keyboard, or "laying" your hands/fingers, then you'll feel more comfortable with a broader (more front face) gaming controller?

I used to play piano, so that may have some effect on how I use my input devices. I wonder if the same is for those that guitar? (Have the claw grip preference.)

 

[coldmeat]

For mouse and keyboard, I'm a "claw" gamer. I wonder if this translates into what type of controller you prefer. For example, if you prefer to rest the majority of your fingers and hand on your mouse and keyboard, or "laying" your hands/fingers, then you'll feel more comfortable with a broader (more front face) gaming controller?

I use a claw grip with my mouse too, but I like the 360 controller