One Controller to rule them all!

[Karak]

What is your favorite console controller and why?
Make and Model.

For me Madcatz Dreamcast controller. The trigger broke more often than I care to remember but they were so fucking comfortable and responsive for games.

[GigaFuzz]

I don't have an extensive experience with past generations of consoles, but the Xbox 360 controller is my favourite. The shape and stick placement suit me fine, the triggers are great, the sticks have just enough resistance to them, and I can access all the functions with very little shifting of my hand required. The D-pad isn't great, but thankfully that's not used much.

[EternalGamer]

In the 2D era it was no contest. The Japanese Saturn controller was far superior to all others. It had the best D-pad and a great button layout whether you wanted to play with your thumbs or your fingers (arcade style).

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/ps2/segasat.jpg

In terms of the current generation, I consider it kind of a wash. The analog stick on the 360 is far superior. But the buttons on the PS3 controller are far better positioned for action games (play any game on the 360 that requires rapidly hitting switching between face buttons for long periods of time and you'll see what i mean). Then there is the 360 D-pad which is just all kinds of ass even after you mod it by carving out the well (which improves it, but not to a larger degree).

[astranoir]

I used to really like the Sony controllers because I have very small hands and they fit my hand size well, but after using an Xbox 360 controller, it has become my favorite due to comfort and responsiveness (I think the triggers and bumpers respond exactly the way I would like them to respond).

[Soap]

Red Xbox 360 Limited Edition Controller. Got a pair of them for my birthday last week and new controllers always feel so sweet. The D-pad is noticeably more responsive.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419f9ZJggUL._SS500_.jpg

[Schnoogs]

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/651/651988/tgs-2005-our-love-affair-with-the-xbox-360-controller-20050918005748647-000.jpg

[Thanasimos]

First Party Gamecube. I'm partial to Jet Black. Bought four of 'em brand new last Christmas, and so far they're broken in just right. Oh, I should buy some more for when they eventually wear out.

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

After that, I'm partial to the 360 controllers, excepting the d-pad.

[Wraith]

Red Xbox 360 Limited Edition Controller. Got a pair of them for my birthday last week and new controllers always feel so sweet. The D-pad is noticeably more responsive.Seriously? I thought that D-pad improvement was only for a limited-edition European controller...

[Johan]

I'm pretty partial to whatever is in my hands at the moment.

Oh, excuse me...gotta go. :D

[yeti]

In the 2D era it was no contest. The Japanese Saturn controller was far superior to all others. It had the best D-pad and a great button layout whether you wanted to play with your thumbs or your fingers (arcade style).

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/ps2/segasat.jpg



This.

Current gen, 360 pad. D-pad sucks but I rarely use it. PS pads give me cramp, always have since PS1 days.

[KamaItachi]

In the 2D era it was no contest. The Japanese Saturn controller was far superior to all others. It had the best D-pad and a great button layout whether you wanted to play with your thumbs or your fingers (arcade style).

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/ps2/segasat.jpg

In terms of the current generation, I consider it kind of a wash. The analog stick on the 360 is far superior. But the buttons on the PS3 controller are far better positioned for action games (play any game on the 360 that requires rapidly hitting switching between face buttons for long periods of time and you'll see what i mean). Then there is the 360 D-pad which is just all kinds of ass even after you mod it by carving out the well (which improves it, but not to a larger degree).

Have to give you props where they are due. This was a favourite for a long time. The PS and select button confused me for a moment though.

Recent pads would have me going with the 360 controller easily.

[Soap]

Seriously? I thought that D-pad improvement was only for a limited-edition European controller...

Well, my white controllers were breaking down on me...the little nubbins on the analog controllers were all worn down....the Y button on one controller was really sticking (could have been the ketchup) and on the other one, the left analog "click in" was broken from COD4.

Maybe it's just me, but the diagonals on the new D-pad are very responsive now. Like I didn't even know they were there before.

[Dukefrukem]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Playstation_Controller.jpg

by far... giant 360 = worst

[violent]

http://www.stusld.co.uk/images/black-ps2-pad.jpg
or
http://www.axess.com/twilight/console/detail/nes_max.jpg

[KingGorilla]

http://gogamermadness.com/spotimage/Razer/Razer3G_BLUE.jpg

One of the Gaming gods' true gifts.

[Nura]

I'm going with the

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/651/651988/tgs-2005-our-love-affair-with-the-xbox-360-controller-20050918005748647-000.jpg
Crowd.

What can i say, big things need love too! And i'm willing to give it!

[Mike Kelehan]

My favorite would have to be the 360 controller with the Sixaxis' internal, lightweight battery, the Wii remote and MotionPlus' motion sensors, and the Japanese Saturn's d-pad. It exists only in my head, but man, it's great.

Then there is the 360 D-pad which is just all kinds of ass even after you mod it by carving out the well (which improves it, but not to a larger degree).

Have to disagree there. I modded two of my controllers, and now the d-pads are great. And I use them more than the sticks. I play a LOT of XBLA stuff.

[Xerxes]

It's the 360 controller. It's the design of it I like it.
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/651/651988/tgs-2005-our-love-affair-with-the-xbox-360-controller-20050918005748647-000.jpg

The Duke. It's the first controller that blew my mind. It fit in my hands so perfectly.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/XboxOriginalController.jpg
I always use to wish it had bumper buttons, or a second set of triggers.

[Wraith]

[PS1 Controller]

by far... giant 360 = worstWait... so you're saying the 360 controller is worse than the original Xbox controller?

http://pfrfan.homestead.com/files/ps1_vs_xbox01.jpg

(I didn't actually hate the original Xbox controller. Just don't see how someone could say the 360 controller is "worst.")

[Dukefrukem]

Wait... so you're saying the 360 controller is worse than the original Xbox controller?

http://pfrfan.homestead.com/files/ps1_vs_xbox01.jpg

my bad. i m3ant th3 original xbox... that thing suckd ass

[Xerxes]

Wait... so you're saying the 360 controller is worse than the original Xbox controller?

http://pfrfan.homestead.com/files/ps1_vs_xbox01.jpg

Man that controller was awesome. I sooo hate the PS1 and PS2 controllers. Something about the DS3 is acceptable however. I think because the L2 and R2 buttons are longer.

[Gorvi]

I'm good with pretty much any controller. Except the Jaguar's. That thing was a monstrosity.

[squirrelTactics]

my bad. i m3ant th3 original xbox... that thing suckd ass

Is your E key broken?

[Dukefrukem]

Is your E key broken?

y3s (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?p=39915#post39915)(mor3 words)

[KingGorilla]

Man that controller was awesome. I sooo hate the PS1 and PS2 controllers. Something about the DS3 is acceptable however. I think because the L2 and R2 buttons are longer.

It has grown on me, I was never really a fan of the PS1 or 2 controllers. The latest one still feels strangely tiny in my hands. But the face layout is very good. It is a controller I never need to look down on. My big gripe on the Xbox was I always had to hunt for those tiny fucking white and black buttons.

[JediSanf]

DS3, they just need to concave R2 and L2.

[rinichanraar]

I used to really like the Sony controllers because I have very small hands and they fit my hand size well, but after using an Xbox 360 controller, it has become my favorite due to comfort and responsiveness (I think the triggers and bumpers respond exactly the way I would like them to respond).

I'm with you on this one. The original Xbox controller was a bit too big. I used to like Sony's Dualshock 2 a lot, but now my favorite by far is the 360 controller. I don't like the d-pad on Sony's controllers because they give me blisters if I play too long... and if I use the analog sticks instead, the left stick is in an awkward spot (in my opinion), and there's not enough traction. Also, the triggers feel weird when I pull them a little. I think the 360 controller's got it perfect.

[EternalGamer]

DS3, they just need to concave R2 and L2.

If you took the DS3 and gave it concave R2 L2 and gave it the analog sticks on the 360 controller (more taut), it would be the ideal controller.

[JediSanf]

If you took the DS3 and gave it concave R2 L2 and gave it the analog sticks on the 360 controller (more taut), it would be the ideal controller.

For FPSs you're probably right. I did find navigating menus while playing Lost Odyssey frustrating due to overshoot though. I never had that problem on a DualShock.

[Xerxes]

My big gripe on the Xbox was I always had to hunt for those tiny fucking white and black buttons.

Exactly. If someone made a duke sized 360 controller, I'd probably kill over and ice creme would come out of my mouth. That's how sweet it would be. :D

[Dukefrukem]

Exactly. If someone made a duke sized 360 controller, I'd probably kill over and ice creme would come out of my mouth. That's how sweet it would be. :D

Duke Sized?

[Xerxes]

Duke Sized?

http://pfrfan.homestead.com/files/ps1_vs_xbox01.jpg
It is normally referred to as the Duke.

[Troggles]

Gotta be the SNES controller. Simple, elegant, and I have the most experience with it.

[Orca]

The 360 controller. The only thing I'd change is the d-pad. After using the 360 controller, I can't go back to using sticks in the side-by-side configuration anymore. That, and the terrible triggers, push the PS3 controller down the list quite a bit.

[Wraith]

Gotta be the SNES controller. Simple, elegant, and I have the most experience with it.I think the SNES controller was good for the time, but it's not nearly as ergonomic as, say, the PS3 or 360 controllers today. I remember my fingers getting a bit sore after long play sessions with the SNES. Not so much from button-mashing, but from the way you hold the controller.

[Troggles]

I think the SNES controller was good for the time, but it's not nearly as ergonomic as, say, the PS3 or 360 controllers today. I remember my fingers getting a bit sore after long play sessions with the SNES. Not so much from button-mashing, but from the way you hold the controller.

I still have some long sessions with my SNES and I never get sore. Then again, everyone has different hands.

[Wraith]

It may be from holding the controller tighter than normal (the back edge kind of rests on the middle fingers), or from arching index fingers over shoulder buttons.

[J Arcane]

Best: The N64 controller. That thing had, hands down, the best fucking stick ever designed. You could actually play an FPS with the thing and not feel utterly crippled which was good because the console had basically almost every actually good console shooter ever made.

Worst: The PS1/PS2 Dual Shock controllers. For basically the exact opposite reason. The PS sticks were pretty much completely and uselessly awful, badly made, innacurate, badly utilized, and just all around painful to play really much of anything with, but especially FPS games.

Unfortunately for us, the way history played out, not only did the PS1 design somehow wind up the dominant style, but for some reason this managed to lead to a boom in console FPS that dwarfs the N64's accomplishment by orders of magnitude.

The world makes no fucking sense.

[Suave Peanut]

I still have some long sessions with my SNES and I never get sore. Then again, everyone has different hands.
I firmly believe that I don't get sore from playing Nintendo because, from playing so much NES and SNES as a child, my hands grew around them and naturally adapted.

High five!

[Dukefrukem]

http://pfrfan.homestead.com/files/ps1_vs_xbox01.jpg
It is normally referred to as the Duke.

i love how you include that picture every time you talk about it. :)

[Xerxes]

i love how you include that picture every time you talk about it. :)

I can't stop laughing. :D

[KingGorilla]

Exactly. If someone made a duke sized 360 controller, I'd probably kill over and ice creme would come out of my mouth. That's how sweet it would be. :D

Now, this is not me being a word nazi, but I believe the proper phrase is "keel over."

[Zero]

Super Nintendo. I still think it's the perfect controller after all these years.

[Xerxes]

Now, this is not me being a word nazi, but I believe the proper phrase is "keel over."

:rolleyes: Who cares... It's ice creme flowing out of my mouth.

[Norse]

Easy; The Competition PRO for the C64

http://wii-fan.net/media/competition-pro_2.jpg

A close second: The 360 controller. The d-pad is shit, but I rarely use it, so I can live with it. Triggers, buttons and sticks are close to perfect for my hands though.

[muddi900]

The 360 controller loses for its crap-tacular dpad. I prefer Dualshock just for that.

How can anyone actually prefer the "Duke"? Wasn't DoA3 a launch game for the Xbox? How did you play it with that monstrosity and its dpad-that-wasn't.

[Jeffool]

Absolutely the Duke (though I'd like to see a model of it with bumpers,) or the Dreamcast. I need a big controller. I've never been able to stand the Playstation shape. It's just to tiny, and causes me to crumple my hands in uncomfy ways. :(

[Savok]

N64 pad, still the best thumbstick I've ever used (even if it did die from things like Mario Party and murder you thumb).

[Xerxes]

The 360 controller loses for its crap-tacular dpad. I prefer Dualshock just for that.

How can anyone actually prefer the "Duke"? Wasn't DoA3 a launch game for the Xbox? How did you play it with that monstrosity and its dpad-that-wasn't.

I just don't recall it being a issue. <shrug>

[Disgustipated]

360 controller. No contest.

[Xerxes]

If you think the 360 controller is giant, you must have small, girly hands. The 360 controller is perfect.

Every time you try to troll against the 360, it just makes you look more and more retarded. Par for the course, I suppose.

Read the thread a little more. He meant the Duke.

GOTCHA: You won't ninja edit bitch! :D

Also! 1001! ARABIAN KNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHTS!!!!!!!

[Disgustipated]

Read the thread a little more. He meant the Duke.

GOTCHA: You won't ninja edit bitch! :D

Also! 1001! ARABIAN KNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHTS!!!!!!!

That's why I edited. You're a cock for not editing too.

Figured he was trolling the 360 as usual.

[Farsight]

The Slik Stik.

http://www.syntaxerror.nu/joy051.jpg

Not only was it the first thumbstick, but it cost < $5 new, which meant that you could shatter it in frustration and not even care.

The best part was that after shattering it in frustration, it was 99% likely that you could put it back together and would still work perfectly. :)

[muddi900]

Also! 1001! ARABIAN KNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHTS!!!!!!!


This only reminds me of that opening song from Aladdin.

[Kelegacy]

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/651/651988/tgs-2005-our-love-affair-with-the-xbox-360-controller-20050918005748647-000.jpg

Same here. I hated the Duke, thought the S was much improved, love the 360 controller for button layout. D-pad sucks though.

I also enjoy the Dual Shock, but it's not as ergonomic as the 360's.

[yeti]

Easy; The Competition PRO for the C64

http://wii-fan.net/media/competition-pro_2.jpg


This stick is indeed awesome, I'd forgotten all about it and the Cheetah 124(?). Brilliant!

I also love the Megadrive/Genesis pad. It is imo the pad that started all this ergonomic nancy-ness!! :P

http://carmdu.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/megadrive-pad.jpg

And this...
http://www.videogamecritic.net/images/systems/mastercontroller.jpg
The Sega Master System pad, just because of all the great times I had playing Psycho Fox, Alex Kidd and Shinobi.

[Virtual Machine]

The 360 controller schools the Dual Shock when i'm playing a first person shooter or a racer, but in every other category, i've got to give it to Sony's venerable Dual Shock. The fact that it is at the very least competent for any genre of gaming gives it the edge. The 360 con is hopeless for fighters, and i prefer the feel of Sony's design for most 3d action games (Devil May Cry,God of War, Force Unleashed, Conan, that sort of game).

[Karak]

I just don't recall it being a issue. <shrug>

I would have to agree. I don't think anyone I knew, realized there was some horrible problem until we heard about it on the internet. I never switched to the new controller and did fine.

[Khrymsyn]

Sorry... gotta go with this...

http://www.tweak3d.net/reviews/madcatz/pantherxl/images/joystick.jpg

Could play FPS games (with analog movement! No on/off arrow keys here!), Flight Sims, driving games, you name it. Awesome damn controller.

[crazyD]

KB&M, followed by Wii remote, followed by a tie between the 360 controller and the DC controller.

[Drayven]

I used to really like the Sony controllers because I have very small hands and they fit my hand size well, but after using an Xbox 360 controller, it has become my favorite due to comfort and responsiveness (I think the triggers and bumpers respond exactly the way I would like them to respond).

I've always hated the Sony controllers because I have giant paws. Holding those tiny little things I always end up with blisters on the inside of my palms from the corners of the controller.

[TheKeck]

I honestly loved the N64 controller. :p

[Ondo]

The 360 controller for me.

Honorable mention goes to the Atari 2600 paddle controllers. You had to design the game around them, but for those games they are still pretty much the best controllers around - if you can find controllers that still work, anyway.

[itchyeyes]

The 360 controller loses for its crap-tacular dpad. I prefer Dualshock just for that.

How can anyone actually prefer the "Duke"? Wasn't DoA3 a launch game for the Xbox? How did you play it with that monstrosity and its dpad-that-wasn't.
Some of us have large hands. Personally I prefer the 360 controller because of the better button layout and wireless, but I never had a problem with the Duke. Dualshocks hurt my hands after long periods of gameplay. They're too small and the way the grip hits my palms can cause a lot of stress.

[Zero]

The Duke made my arm go numb after playing DOA3 for many hours.

[LongStepMantis]

In the 2D era it was no contest. The Japanese Saturn controller was far superior to all others. It had the best D-pad and a great button layout whether you wanted to play with your thumbs or your fingers (arcade style).

http://www.gamesarefun.com/consoles/ps2/segasat.jpg



I actually loved the Genesis controllers for the same (stylistic) reason. The way it was shaped was like they were built specifically for my hands. The bonus was that I still used my Atari regularly at the time, and I could plug the Genesis controller into my Atari and use it.

[Dukefrukem]

I honestly loved the N64 controller. :p

I did too. I played more Bond than any other console game ever.

[Mr. Murphy]

I did too. I played more Bond than any other console game ever.

I loved it too, and also played GoldenEye to death. I always thought I was a freak for liking the N64 controller! I'M NOT ALONE

[LongStepMantis]

I loved it too, and also played GoldenEye to death. I always thought I was a freak for liking the N64 controller! I'M NOT ALONE

Honestly, the only thing I disliked about the N64 controller was that the analog stick felt...weak. Like it could snap off at any moment. Otherwise I think they did great. I was really skeptic the first few times I used one, it just seemed so odd, but it was a good move after all.

[SPBTooL]

I find the 360 controller to be the best I have ever used. But there are some things I would change. Of course there is the needed fix for the D-pad. I would also shorten the sticks to help a against accidental clicking. Next I would add a toggle switch for the triggers that would limit their movement so they could act a more like buttons for games that do not need the analog input.

Second would be a mouse and keyboard accompanied by a Thrustmaster flight stick.

I think the most innovative controller was the ones that came with the Intelivision. Those controllers allowed for games that were barely being realized on PCs.

[TheKeck]

I loved it too, and also played GoldenEye to death. I always thought I was a freak for liking the N64 controller! I'M NOT ALONE
We should start a club.

Support group?

[Everyone vs Dinosaurs]

I don't really like the 360 controllers.


Well, I love them, except for one thing.

My hands are so big, that I am continuously pressing right bumper by mistake.

:(

[RandoM51]

TAC-2 on commodore 64.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2dlqlh1.jpg

[biosc1]

TAC-2 on commodore 64.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2dlqlh1.jpg

Pffft..it was alright, but the Wico, now there was a nice joystick (not very durable, but great).

http://www.thosewerethedays.de/items/joysticks/wico_command_control.jpg

[pseudopseudo]

Mine's definitely the 360's controller. I wish that when Sony was thinking of a controller revamp for the PS3, they would've... revamped the controller. It could definitely stand to be a little more ergonomically-friendly. (read: more organic-feeling, not so many rigid lines/edges that become uncomfortable during long play sessions)

[Laughing Penguin]

http://www.vidgames.com/ps/hardware/alpspad.jpg

The Alps Interactive Gamepad (aka: the Batarang) is by far the most comfortable controller I have ever held in my many years of gaming. If they made an upgraded DualShock version, it would still be in use today. When it came out, I worked in a video game store, and always kept an open box handy. I only had to plce it in someone's hands, and it would sell. It was *perfect*.

My feelings are so strong on this that I actually traded in my lurker status and registered for the site. It was that good.

[Troggles]

Mine's definitely the 360's controller. I wish that when Sony was thinking of a controller revamp for the PS3, they would've... revamped the controller. It could definitely stand to be a little more ergonomically-friendly. (read: more organic-feeling, not so many rigid lines/edges that become uncomfortable during long play sessions)

Wish they had stuck with the boomerang? :P

[KingGorilla]

The Duke made my arm go numb after playing DOA3 for many hours.

I think that is less the controller, and more a need for you to drop the Doritos and go for a walk. Maybe eat an apple or a salad once in awhile.

[rinichanraar]

My feelings are so strong on this that I actually traded in my lurker status and registered for the site. It was that good.

Haha, that's hilarious. I've never actually held that controller before, but I'm surprised that it's that awesome. It actually looks awfully uncomfortable to me, but if you went so far as to create an account to discuss how great it is, I think I believe you. :)

[pseudopseudo]

Wish they had stuck with the boomerang? :P

Based on Laughing Penguin's post... yeah. Yeah, that looks and sounds a lot more comfortable.

[Zero]

I think that is less the controller, and more a need for you to drop the Doritos and go for a walk. Maybe eat an apple or a salad once in awhile.

I'm on my feet nine hours a day. It wasn't my physical condition. More likely it was a bad mix of it being big, oddly-shaped and my tiny little girl hands.

[Laughing Penguin]

Based on Laughing Penguin's post... yeah. Yeah, that looks and sounds a lot more comfortable.


Actually, I was really looking forward to getting my hands on the PS3 boomerang controller, it was a genuine selling point for me. Really not a fan of the DualShocks. I still haven't talked myself into a PS3 yet (although that's for more reasons than just the controller).

[quidmonkey]

http://ajsp.se/blog/img/powerglove.jpg

[Borthcollective]

I used to have a controller for my Genesis called the Chimera, I think Interact made it. It was awesome. It was like nothing that I had seen before almost more like half of a radio control box and half video game controller. I would love to find one for my current Genesis but I can't even find anything about it anywhere on the nets.

[MalReynolds]

360 controller

[Wolvie]

Best? 360 controller hands down for me. It's just so damn comfortable I forget it's there.

Worst? The original Xbox "duke" controller. That thing deserved all the "bread box" and "boat anchor" jokes it got. It was huge cumbersome and uncomfortable. I was so happy when the S type came out, I was happy I had a controller for people with normal sized hands, and could stop using the one that was made for people that can palm a Basketball.
Also it's slanted buttons was unintuitive and had me hitting the wrong button all the time. That and the black and white buttons were way up on the top and were a pain in the ass to hit.

... yeah the duke sucked ass.

[Xerxes]

I'm on my feet nine hours a day. It wasn't my physical condition. More likely it was a bad mix of it being big, oddly-shaped and my tiny little girl hands.

Yeah, girl hands would do it. MS did go really big with the Duke. All the jokes were spot on. It wasn't for the average hand. But in the end it finally felt like a controller made for my hands. The black and white buttons always seemed like a bad idea, even on the S-Type. I used to wish they would have just made some shoulder buttons, so all would be right in game controllers. I even asked my engineers friend if we modify it for that action. He kind called me crazy and left. I haven't checked back with him a while now. Should ask him about the 360 controller, "who's crazy now."

[Mdot]

Definitely the 360 controller. I'd like the placement of RB/LB to be a little more accessible (just personal preference), but other than that, I dig it.

[Loki_09]

Microsoft Wireless 360 Controller, hands down. The only downside is the D-pad and the Li-ion batteries that only hold a charge for 2 years.

My next favorite is the mouse / keyboard. Online FPS'ers are the best on the PC.

[Inspector Fowler]

I love the 360 controller. I hate the PS3 and PS2 controllers. They make your wrists angle too much - not ergonomic, and after long play sessions, painful.

[Variable Gear]

The 360 controller would be my favorite, if it weren't for the horribly shitty D-Pad.

I prefer the SNES Controller over anything else.