PC Gamepad with REAL dpad

[Arrow_Raider]

I'd like a gamepad for my computer that has a real 4-way d-pad and not some crappy 8-way d-pad. I want it to have 4 actual buttons for the d-pad and not just some tilting circle thing. The PS1/2/3 and the super nintendo controllers are examples of controllers with good d-pads. Does such a PC gamepad exist that would have a d-pad like the ones found on those? Oh, and the xbox 360 controller is an example of the crappy kind of d-pad.

[kregg]

You may be interested in something like this if you already have a PS2 controller:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-PlayStat.../dp/B0009J1JAW

It's basically an adaptor to use the PS2 controller on the PC, which is handy if, in my case, you can't find one like your description. But then again I am looking at Amazon. UK.

The closest I could come up with that matched what you were saying was http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nyko-80650-A...9204431&sr=1-2. It's not 8-pad, but then again it's not 4 seperate buttons like the PS Dualshock/Sixaxis controllers.

And yes, I agree what you said. 8-way D-pads suck!

(BTW, watch this space for updates... I really mean that!)

[mendhak]

I'd like a gamepad for my computer that has a real 4-way d-pad and not some crappy 8-way d-pad. I want it to have 4 actual buttons for the d-pad and not just some tilting circle thing. The PS1/2/3 and the super nintendo controllers are examples of controllers with good d-pads. Does such a PC gamepad exist that would have a d-pad like the ones found on those? Oh, and the xbox 360 controller is an example of the crappy kind of d-pad.

You want 4 buttons for the direction pad? What sort of 2D games are you playing?

[Arrow_Raider]

sometimes i like to bust out the super nintendo emulator, but it is very hard to control with a circle 8 way dpad.

[wossname]

Can't you just rip off the circle thing and make your own 4 buttons yourself?

You can whittle some out of ivory and apply some gold leaf for that bling-bling effect.

[Lord Orwell]

i have a saitek controller with two thumb joysticks (and believe me THOSE suck) as well as a thumbpad. the thumbpad has a switch on it that disables 8-way functionality. perhaps that would be good enough. If not, you could always buy a cheap controller and wire in a snes controller into the hookups.

[Arrow_Raider]

I have found some sites claiming that it is possible to get a PS3 controller to work with a computer. I don't have a PS3, but I would be willing to get a PS3 controller and use it with my PC if I knew that it would actually work. Is there anyone here that has a PS3 and would be willing to try to get their controller to work on the PC?
http://www.google.com/search?source=...le+Search&aq=f

[kregg]

I've already tried, and the controller vibrates fail... that's if the controller actually vibrated.

The PS3 controller on Windows is a bit of a mixed bag. It works for some people, and then it doesn't. For me, I managed to get it temporarily working. I think all I managed to get working was the actual analog sticks, but the buttons didn't register. After I installed some WinSixAxis nonsense on my PC it just stopped working thereafter.

The reason why I didn't bother talking about the PS3 because personally for me it's never worked properly. Maybe it would work for you, but I hardly see the point of £35 for some Shrodinger's game controller. Just wait for a bit for more stable drivers to be released by modders and for me to test it and I'll give you the thumbs up.

[Lord Orwell]

have you considered a wii controller? these are actually pretty easy to get to work on a pc. they connect with bluetooth and i seem to remember they have a proper d-pad on them...

Held sideways, it almost perfectly resembles a nes controller, and there is free software allowing you to do all sorts of stuff with it, including use it as a mouse.

[DeanMc]

Pfft, use a keyboard you sissy!

[kregg]

Pfft, use a keyboard you sissy!

[Lord Orwell]

anyway... I personally use the wii controller with a bluetooth dongle and a program called glovepie. Among other things, it makes a great nes controller held sideways, but it also has many other functions such as media center remote, mouse, etc. You can also play fps games with it, but i haven't tried and don't really recommend you do that. It works amazing in emulators though. You can even program your own macros. In zelda for example, you can shake the controller to do a spin attack. And it's a rumble controller. Plus the benefit of bluetooth is you can be on the other side of the room and you're fine. The range is something like 50 feet.

[wossname]

*slap*

[Lord Orwell]

this is what he gets for not posting in general pc...

[Lord Orwell]

That is probably the nerdiest thing i've ever heard.

editing it now won't help you.

Allow me to go one step nerdier. you can create virtual joysticks with a program called paralleljoy, and with proper soldering skills and an old printer cable, any classic controller can be made to interface with your parallel port (if you have one).

[wossname]

I can has soldering skills.

[Lord Orwell]

the ps1 controller has a proper d pad. Radio shack sells a usb adapter for it for $1.99. The controller can be got at a trade-store for about $12.

[Arrow_Raider]

Using the wiimote seems to be the best solution. If you attach a classic controller to it, you can use that.

[wossname]

Use voice commands like in HAWX. You get used to the 1 second delay after a while.

[Lord Orwell]

the wiimote was an ok solution but the problem is battery life.