Let's talk gamepads and joysticks for the PC...

lost_soul on 31/3/2010 at 01:51

How many PC gamers use these? I recently purchased a logitech one, and it is pretty good. It is exactly like a PS2 controller, so you really can't go wrong. One issue I have had in the past with controllers for the PC is that they don't seem to be made as well as console controllers. I have controllers for consoles that are 10+ years old and they still work.

What kinds of games do you use the controllers for? i pretty much only use them for old FPS games like Wolfenstein 3D or Doom. They are also great for racing games. I don't think I could stand playing a modern FPS game like ut2004 with one though.

Also, instead of having to set the thing up in every single game you want to play, has anyone tried setting the right stick to control the mouse and the left to do WASD? I might have to give it a try with Thief, as it doesn't require fast and good aim to play. This will also solve the problem where some old games do not even support multiple analog sticks.

june gloom on 31/3/2010 at 02:56

Is that Logitech of yours a Rumblepad 2 with the 2 thumbsticks? If so, does the right thumbstick work? Mine doesn't for me- if I so much as bump it, it automatically recenters way off in a corner. I've never been able to fix it.

Jason Moyer on 31/3/2010 at 03:06

I've owned a Dual Action gamepad and a Rumblepad 2 and the analog sticks died within a month or two in both of them (lots of jitteriness and calibrating off center). This is a known issue with both pads and I've never seen a legitimate fix.

Best analog gamepad on the PC is by far the wired 360 controller, although it doesn't work with some older games without using 3rd-party drivers. If you don't need analog, you can't beat a Gravis Gamepad Pro, assuming you can find one. As far as which games I use a pad for, basically Psychonauts, sports games, and the Lego games. For space/flight sims or driving I don't find an analog gamepad to be nearly accurate enough, and for shooters/sneakers it's all about the mouse/keyboard.

Yakoob on 31/3/2010 at 03:14

Seconding 360 controller, it just works so well.

lost_soul on 31/3/2010 at 05:08

This is the Dual-action analog controller, and it is funny that you mention that. The first one I got had a defective left analog stick. I tried it on 3 systems, Vista, XP, and Linux and it kept moving down. This new one works great though. If it fails, I suppose I can just splice up my old XBOX controller with a USB connector. They do also have those playstation-to-usb adapters, which is another good option. None of the stores near me seem to carry these adapters though.

I think the original XBOX controllers are pretty good, especially the controller S. I have never touched a 360 though.

nicked on 31/3/2010 at 05:49

Definitely another vote for 360 pad - it's comfy and easy to plug n play.

PS3 pad gave me all sorts of hassle - word of advice - don't try and install drivers for it unless you know what you're doing. I tried it on Vista and it destroyed my USB drivers, preventing me from using the mouse and keyboard, and basically turning my PC into an expensive paperweight.

EvaUnit02 on 31/3/2010 at 06:24

Aside from the rubbish d-pad, the official MS Xbox 360 controller is the finest gamepad available for PC, both in terms of hardware design and software support.

Thirith on 31/3/2010 at 06:26

Another vote for the wired 360 pad. It took me a while to get used to it, after ~20 years of joysticks, then mouse and keyboard, but for some games it's simply the better option. My default control method is still KB&M, though,; it's how I played Sands of Time, Assassin's Creed and now Batman: Arkham Asylum - anything where you can look around freely, either with the right stick or the mouse. The gamepad's perfect for Lego Star Wars, though, or for DIRT.

WingedKagouti on 31/3/2010 at 09:29

I have an old Rumblepad 2, it's been working flawlessly since I bought it several years back ('04 if not earlier). Games it's been actively used with include the LEGO SW/Batman stuff, Prototype, various Sonic games, Psychonauts, Overlord and emulators.

Games I attempted to use it with, but ultimately stuck to keyboard in include Batman: Arkham Asylum, Saint's Row 2, Street Fighter IV and PoP: Sands of Time. They were either so poorly done that the KB/Mouse combo didn't lag behind the controller or they were properly implemented so that both control methods were good and I stuck with what was comfortable.

Matthew on 31/3/2010 at 12:15

I have a wireless 360 pad, a cheapo gamepad that was bundled with Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (but which looks like a rebadged Saitek) and a Saitek X52 flightstick and throttle, because fuck desk space.