Poll: which is the best controller

[xPixelatedx]

I honestly don't know how anyone pick anything but the Play Station controller.

You people must have giant hands! The PS1/PS2/PS3 controller is the most snugly fit, light and nice feeling control pad I have ever used, and I have owned basically every home-console since NES. There is a reason why I use the PlayStation pad as my PC controller. Nintendo's controllers where great up till the N64 era, then they just got convoluted and weird. And every iteration of the Xbox controller has always been fat, heavy lacking with the cross pad.

 

[theSteamSupported]

To me, there is no best controller. There won't be one until haptic feedback multi touch screens are available for consumers.

 

[Pr1ns]

I had no problem with the n64 controller design, but my problem with it was that the thumbstick would wear out, and playing zelda and only being able to walk can be quite agitating and I got a similar problem with the NGC controller, the ruber on the stick will rip. I've never had the same problem with xbox or playstion or my great dreamcast *cuddles*. but did had to fix up a xbox controller because the wire got fucked up and had to glue the rubber of my ps3 controller once...

my #1 controller will be dreamcast although the wire is connected at the bottom of the controller >.< and the wire clip in thing on the back wasn't optimal. but I like how it fits, survived the many hours of play and i'm biased towards the Dreamcast =]

 

[Lt._nefarious]

As someone who plays both a PS3 and 360 I have to say I prefer the 360 as I find it's triggers more responsive than the flap things on the PS3 controller and think it is a better size.

 

[The White Hunter]

I've grown up with playstations, so that's the controller I find more comfortable.

Same with me, though I personally loved the early PS3 concept controller. The 360 one is justbit too chunky for my tastes.

Though I'm oddly enamoured with the dreamcast controller.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Has to be Xbox 360 for me. Felt comfortable in my hands since the day I started using it, and the only other controller I can say that about is this one.

And perhaps the PS2 Dualshock, but that would be cheating since I'd been used to the PS1's version for so long.

 

[Major_Tom]

PS2. I still use it (with a cheap USB adapter) whenever I play racing games on my PC.

 

[renegade7]

I would say the Gamecube has the most comfortable controller, just barely ahead of the Xbox 360. I hate the D-Pads on both of them, gotta say.

Playstation controllers I'm not an incredibly huge fan of, but I'm ok with them (I don't like having to stretch my thumbs).

The Wii remote/nunchuk setup is a joke, since I can't rest my hand and let it lie slack while I'm using it, it must be pointed at the tv AT ALL TIMES lest whatever character you are controlling have a shitfit. The classic controller is great though. I never use the sticks on it since I use a gamecube controller for N64 games, so basically it's just a throwback to the SNES controller, which was also great.

The N64 controller was a bit uncomfortable, but held a place near and dear to my heart as being my first gaming console, and once I was used to it I was ok.

NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis are all very good controllers. The Atari 2600's joystick was also pretty good, though having to grip it could be a pain.

The worst controller ever would have to go to the Colecovision and Intellivision. I regret the day we found those in my cousin's attic and thought it would be fun to play with them. It wasn't. I feel phantom pains in my hands to this day.

 

[Idlemessiah]

360; its comfy, all the buttons and sticks and triggers are in the right places. Can play for hours on end with those.

KB/M; not as comfy, but far more utility.

PS2; while similar to 360 comfort-wise, its just a bit too small.

Gamecube; never really played it enough for the layout not to feel awkward.

PS3; no weight and buttons made from marshmallow, ugh.

 

[SpAc3man]

PC gaming master race checking in.
My controllers of choice are:

The Microsoft Sidewinder X8 wireless gaming mouse.

Spoiler: Clicky

The CMStorm Quickfire Rapid mechanical keyboard with MX Cherry Black switches.

Spoiler: More Clicky

If I ever need a gamepad for my PC I will likely get a Logitech one. Layout is the same as a PlayStation controller. I did used to play a lot of PS1/PS2.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I want to point out that the Xbox 360 and, PS3 controller are virtually identical in that they both have the control-cross, two control sticks (each can be used as a button), 4 shoulder buttons and, four face buttons. There are also a start-select-home button in the center of the controller. The main differences being the placement of the left-stick/command cross are inverted and the PS3 has marshmallow buttons instead of triggers. Also A,B,X,Y, vs X-circle-triangle-square. Also the 360 controller is more rounded.

THAT ASIDE. I prefer the 360 controller over the PS3 (because Rumble) and I prefer the Gamecube controller over both of those. Really, each controller suits its console. I love the SNES controller but I know it wouldn't work with any current gen games.

 

[gnihton]

PC gaming master race checking in.
My controllers of choice are:

The Microsoft Sidewinder X8 wireless gaming mouse.

Spoiler: Clicky

The CMStorm Quickfire Rapid mechanical keyboard with MX Cherry Black switches.

Spoiler: More Clicky

If I ever need a gamepad for my PC I will likely get a Logitech one. Layout is the same as a PlayStation controller. I did used to play a lot of PS1/PS2.

I feel dirty for having a Razer Blackwidow, but I wanted Cherry Blues (which are a joy to use, might I add) and the Blackwidow was the only Cherry Blue kb that wasn't of some unknown brand and was less than £100. Maybe I should've spent ~another £40 for one with NKRO.

As for mouse, not afraid to say I have a DeathAdder v2, it is by no stretch the best available, but is incredibly comfortable due to its design.

 

[hazabaza1]

Mouse and keyboard supplemented by a joystick for niche genres is the only combo for any real gamer. Any of the console controllers are for casuals and non-gamers.

Hahahahahahaha.
Using 'casuals' in actual discussion. You're funny.

OT: Depends on the game. Generally, if I want precision or games which don't work with controllers, like RTS or something, Keyboard and mouse. Otherwise, the 360 controller is quite nice to hold.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Honestly I really liked the old xbox controller

It fit perfectly to my hands I never had to clinch the controller. I just laid it in my hands like a phaser in Star Trek. Total comfort.

Then all the little handed people complained and they stopped making them

 

[FamoFunk]

PS3, or any of the PS controllers. I have a PSone, 2 and 3 so it's the controller I've used the most over the years and I like the lightness and snugness of it.

I've never really had a problem with any controller tbh, the only little niggle I have is fact 360 has a space for batteries.

 

[odBilal]

N64!

so you never used the left side of the thing....as long as its there!

[img/]http://www.projectcoe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/n64proto.jpg[/img]

(if you stare at it long enough it starts to look strange..)

I just recently played on the N64 and I was surprised how small the controller actually is. As a kid it always looked so huge to me. Now I can hold it on the left handle and still reach the analog stick (still fells weird though).

 

[theevilgenius60]

The 360's controller is probably the best I've ever used. Playstation comes in second simply because of the placement of the analogs and the thing about them being convex instead of concave(plus it's smaller, but that's really only a negative from my POV as I have huge hands). The others listed, I can live without. Did like the GC's pad for Mario Kart and Smash Bros.

 

[GundamSentinel]

PS3 for me. The 360 one feels slightly better and has better shoulder buttons, but it's just too heavy to be really comfortable for me. And I think it looks ugly.

 

[bobmus]

Mouse and keyboard supplemented by a joystick for niche genres is the only combo for any real gamer. Any of the console controllers are for casuals and non-gamers.

Anyone else watch this conversation with interest? Masterful PC elitism.

Anyway, my personal favourite is the Xbox 360, perfect sizing for my hands, and really comfortable for those Joystick games.
I do like my K+M though, play a lot of PC myself nowadays.

EDIT: Choice of K+M eh?
I use a budget setup, but I've got a Razer Deathadder (On the Razer Goliathus alpha, for extreme size) and a cheapy Razer Arctosa (still better than the dropouts from my old Microsoft Wireless). Yes, it's a cult. <.<
<spoiler=Deathadder>http://www.productwiki.com/upload/images/razer_deathadder_1.jpg
http://www.razerzone.ru/media/matsizes/2011-01-15/goliathus-alpha_1.jpg
<spoiler=Arctosa>http://drh1.img.digitalriver.com/DRHM/Storefront/Company/razerusa/images/product/gallery/razer-arctosa-gallery5.jpg

 

[MasterMasamune]

I honestly prefer the PS2's controller, specifically this third-party controller:

I like that the D-Pad isn't broken up like on first-party controllers, all of the buttons (barring the shoulder buttons) are on the same plane, and it's just plain comfortable to hold.

Not to fond of the PS3's controller, specifically the decision to turn the L2 and R2 buttons into triggers. Just doesn't feel right to me, probably since before I first used a PS3 controller, I'd spent weeks using a PS2.

The GCN and 360 controllers are fine.