About controllers

[dale_coop]

Hi guys,

I was wondering what controller do you use to play your NES games on pc (or Mac or Linux) ?
Joe, I saw in one of your old videos, that your are using a USB NES style controller and a 8bitdo NES30 ... are they good ? Feeling close to the original NES ones?




I test the NESMaker games with my keyboard, starved wanting to buy a NES-style USB controller... but wich one ?
I already have a USB Buffalo SNES Controller, but would like something more... NES like

You guys, what controller do you use to play ?

 

[DChilders84]

I got an 8bitdo SF30 Pro for casual emulator and steam game play. I usually just do the testing with my keyboard, however, as it's much more convenient when you're exporting and testing every 10 minutes or so. Just my opinion.

 

[dale_coop]

Nice
And, the sfc30 Pro looks good, very polyvalent with its analog sticks. I put it in my wishlist (and i red it’s compatible with the Switch).

 

[Mihoshi20]

This may be a bit blasphemous, but I just use a logitech gamepad F310 on my retropie for everything except mame where I then use a usb arcade stick and a non-analog playstation 1 controller plugged into a USB adapter when playing on the PC. I find them easy to hold and buttons well played but hand comfort can vary. With my famicom AV I use the dogbone but I recently found a rounded controller from gamerztek that i really like. I also want to try the Hyperkin Cadet and see how it fairs. on SNES and N64 I use the default controllers, though I always wanted to try that N64 gamepad design.

 

[DChilders84]

This may be a bit blasphemous, but I just use a logitech gamepad F310 on my retropie for everything except mame where I then use a usb arcade stick and a non-analog playstation 1 controller plugged into a USB adapter when playing on the PC. I find them easy to hold and buttons well played but hand comfort can vary. With my famicom AV I use the dogbone but I recently found a rounded controller from gamerztek that i really like. I also want to try the Hyperkin Cadet and see how it fairs. on SNES and N64 I use the default controllers, though I always wanted to try that N64 gamepad design.

I have a MadCatz TE Stick, the MvC3 limited edition one, that I have been wanting to use but they aren't compatible with the chipsets of the last two PCs that I've built. I could buy a new one, but the ones compatible with PC aren't that cheap. Instead, I bought a dedicated USB card that has a compatible chipset. Hoping to build a new PC later this year with more PCI-e slots so that I will eventually be able to use my arcade stick with the PC.

I use my original NES dogbone controller with my AVS and original NES though. You can't beat the original. I modded a few of my controllers to have LED lighting and what not just for fun. It adds a little personal flair that people see and are like WOW I don't remember THAT!

 

[dale_coop]

I agree, "You can't beat the original." so NES original ones are the best feeling (in hands). I don't have dogbone one, (I think the top loader ones never been released, here, in France), I have the original square one, but love it.

 

[Mihoshi20]

I agree, "You can't beat the original." so NES original ones are the best feeling (in hands). I don't have dogbone one, (I think the top loader ones never been released, here, in France), I have the original square one, but love it.

I've never been a big fan of the original rectangle controllers either back in the day or now. They always dug into my hands or cramped them. I'll use them though when I want that classic feel, like if I'm playing on the original front-loader 'toaster' console then I'll always used the original controller out of principle, or the nes advantage for specific games for that arcade feel like Gyrus, Galaga, or TMNT 2 the arcade game. If I'm playing on a famiclone/NOAC, toploader, or famicom AV, then I'll use something else, either the dogbone or a recent controller I found that I really enjoy.

 

[Mihoshi20]

This may be a bit blasphemous, but I just use a logitech gamepad F310 on my retropie for everything except mame where I then use a usb arcade stick and a non-analog playstation 1 controller plugged into a USB adapter when playing on the PC. I find them easy to hold and buttons well played but hand comfort can vary. With my famicom AV I use the dogbone but I recently found a rounded controller from gamerztek that i really like. I also want to try the Hyperkin Cadet and see how it fairs. on SNES and N64 I use the default controllers, though I always wanted to try that N64 gamepad design.

I have a MadCatz TE Stick, the MvC3 limited edition one, that I have been wanting to use but they aren't compatible with the chipsets of the last two PCs that I've built. I could buy a new one, but the ones compatible with PC aren't that cheap. Instead, I bought a dedicated USB card that has a compatible chipset. Hoping to build a new PC later this year with more PCI-e slots so that I will eventually be able to use my arcade stick with the PC.

I use my original NES dogbone controller with my AVS and original NES though. You can't beat the original. I modded a few of my controllers to have LED lighting and what not just for fun. It adds a little personal flair that people see and are like WOW I don't remember THAT!

What OS are you using as it might be a driver issue more then a USB chipset issue. I tend to do my classic gaming on Linus these days and it tends to live everything I throw at it while Windows tends to be more picky or I have to hunt down a driver for the controller and install it before it can be used. Still sounds nice though, I thought about getting some of those MadCatz stick but ended up going for an X-Arcade instead.

 

[TurtleRescueNES]

I use the Buffalo SNES Controller for my PC. I've found that the rectangular NES controller just doesn't feel right when playing long-term. The rounded SNES controller feels much better.

If I play an NES game on my GameCube emulator, I use an authentic SNES controller using an adapter.

 

[DChilders84]

This may be a bit blasphemous, but I just use a logitech gamepad F310 on my retropie for everything except mame where I then use a usb arcade stick and a non-analog playstation 1 controller plugged into a USB adapter when playing on the PC. I find them easy to hold and buttons well played but hand comfort can vary. With my famicom AV I use the dogbone but I recently found a rounded controller from gamerztek that i really like. I also want to try the Hyperkin Cadet and see how it fairs. on SNES and N64 I use the default controllers, though I always wanted to try that N64 gamepad design.

I have a MadCatz TE Stick, the MvC3 limited edition one, that I have been wanting to use but they aren't compatible with the chipsets of the last two PCs that I've built. I could buy a new one, but the ones compatible with PC aren't that cheap. Instead, I bought a dedicated USB card that has a compatible chipset. Hoping to build a new PC later this year with more PCI-e slots so that I will eventually be able to use my arcade stick with the PC.

I use my original NES dogbone controller with my AVS and original NES though. You can't beat the original. I modded a few of my controllers to have LED lighting and what not just for fun. It adds a little personal flair that people see and are like WOW I don't remember THAT!

What OS are you using as it might be a driver issue more then a USB chipset issue. I tend to do my classic gaming on Linus these days and it tends to live everything I throw at it while Windows tends to be more picky or I have to hunt down a driver for the controller and install it before it can be used. Still sounds nice though, I thought about getting some of those MadCatz stick but ended up going for an X-Arcade instead.

Windows 10, but I have had the stick since around 2009 and it was a known issue at the time, and still is with their sticks made for PS3. The Xbox controllers worked with PCs because they used the same drivers that Xbox controllers use and thus, worked with Windows. There are modification PCBs that will fix the issue, but I only have a couple fighting games that I'd really use it for now. I was way in to Super Street Fighter 4 back then on console. Not so much any more.

 

[Mihoshi20]

I use the Buffalo SNES Controller for my PC. I've found that the rectangular NES controller just doesn't feel right when playing long-term. The rounded SNES controller feels much better.

If I play an NES game on my GameCube emulator, I use an authentic SNES controller using an adapter.

Yeah, when the SNES came out, I was blown away, first console I bought with my own money as my parents didn't want to buy it for me and not only were the games great but the controller is still one of my favorite retro controllers of all time. It and the genesis, I like the way the genesis controller feels in the hands too.

 

[darkhog]

I use a no-name Dualshock knockoff I got for $5. They feel as good as Playstation controllers and are very cheap in case they'll break (I have to replace the one I have on average every 5-6 years, more so due to misplacing than actual damage, although one time analogs went bad but it's rare). Both for emulators and gaming in general (though I need to use that XInput emulator, what was its name, x360CE? These dualshock knockoffs usually only support DirectInput, unfortunately). Don't have any famiclone (can't afford a real hardware and why would I need to anyway, since there are so many famiclones available on the market - it's not like Nintendo gets a cut anymore) or other console right now, but if I did I'd probably use whatever came with it.

 

[MistSonata]

I've found personally that 8bitdo has an issue with the d-pad being a bit slippery (as in, when you're holding down on the d-pad, the slightest shift to one side will make it read a left or right press, and it's annoying when you're trying to do precise movements). Didn't stop me from buying a few anyway, they're just so neat.

Keyboards are fine, but I find the iBuffalo is really convenient for testing the games. It's a solid controller and the fact that it's wired USB means I don't have to deal with the wireless controller turning off.

If you're a purist, and don't mind a little soldering, I think retroUSB still sells USB conversion kits that you can use to make an OEM controller into a USB xinput pad. I have a couple of those now, but I try to save them for playing retropie, and letting the iBuffalo be my workhorse.

 

[dale_coop]

I didn’t know retroUSB had USB conversion kits for oem classic controllers, good to know.

And I saw this week that 8bit do announced (released?) Bluetooth conversion kits for classic controllers, too.

A lot of choices. Nice!

 

[MrElephant]

I have a nes to usb controller converter, but I also have the usb snes controller. Really think it is cool they have stuff like that-so you can use your original controller.

 

[tornotlukin]

I use the 8BitDo controllers (now they come with 4 triggers and two analogs) and my XBox Controller for my gaming needs. Excellent for emulation! The SNES version is pretty rad too! They keep a charge forever.

 

[dale_coop]

Nice ...
I think I will try to get one of those new 8BitDo DIY Mod:

I have some spare NES controllers, I can make a NES bluetooth (that I will be able to use with my Mac)

 

[opt2not]

I love the 8BitDo Mod Kit. I can’t stand the extra buttons on 8bitdo’s NES30’s, just doesn’t feel right to me.
I chose to buy a Classic Mini controller to mod instead of modding my originals. The Classic mini controllers can be had for $15 on eBay so I figured its cheap enough.

It's nice to have a good bluetooth NES pad with the proper buttons.

When I play on my big TV, I use these on my RetroUSB AVS, but when I’m playing on my CRT TV I use my original dogbone controllers on my NES Top Loader (which is RGB modded). The dogbone’s are just so comfortable to play with!

 

[dale_coop]

Wow PERFECT setting!
<3

 

[Kitsune]

I Use various logitech too. Man, these NES pad, very simple, were so perfect. Even now, when you use it, you can feel how simplicity is equal to perfection. We are far from things like atari jaguar pad ^^