Poll: which is the best controller

[General Twinkletoes]

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.

Oh christ, get over yourself. Games on consoles can be just as good.

And anyway, does that mean anyone who enjoys racing games is a casual? Even on a PC, I'd prefer to use a gamepad for 99% of racing games.

PC elitists are really annoying. I game 90% of the time on a PC, doesn't mean consoles are any less legit for gaming. Again, get over yourself.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

It really depends on the genre. For FPS/RTS/Point 'n' Click I prefer keyboard and mouse. For fighting games only the 6 button Megadrive or SEGA Saturn controller will suffice (having never done much gaming in arcades, I, unfortunately, find it extremely difficult to play fighting games with an arcade stick =[) and for 3D action adventure/platform games I prefer the PS2 controller or at least something similar. I just like the Dual Shock 2 because it fits my hands nicely and everything is where I want it to be. Plus it's the only controller I've used where I've noticed the pressure sensitivity of every button... comes in handy when playing MGS 2/3, lemme tell ya.

 

[Scarim Coral]

It got to be the Gamecube for me. That controller and my hand go hand in hand since it felt like a good grip, I can reach all of the buttons with no ache and best of all using that all day didn't make my hands ache at all.

 

[Sassafrass]

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.

Oh christ, get over yourself. Games on consoles can be just as good.

And anyway, does that mean anyone who enjoys racing games is a casual? Even on a PC, I'd prefer to use a gamepad for 99% of racing games.

PC elitists are really annoying. I game 90% of the time on a PC, doesn't mean consoles are any less legit for gaming. Again, get over yourself.

Dude, did you see the keyboard though?

I mean, that's such a great penis extension keyboard, they have a right to be like that because they feel inadequate it's so much more expensive than Viagra anything a console player could buy. We are in the presence of insecurity greatness here, bow down to their egotistical destruction of PC gamers rep superiority.

OT: N64, closely followed by the original Xbox, PS2 then the 360. The 360 just feels like a bigger version of the PS2 controller to me.

 

[Vigormortis]

My favorite "controller" is either the Gamecube controller or the original Xbox controller. Yes, I mean this one:

I've got big hands with long fingers, so that thing fit my grip like a glove. It was amazing.

However, my favorite input method is definitely keyboard/mouse. If I were to list controllers, in terms of preference, it would look something like this:

Keyboard/Mouse
Gamecube
Xbox Original
Xbox 360
Wii-mote
Snes
Joystick/Throttle
N64
Nes

Was never a fan of the Playstation controllers. Primarily because of the placement of the analog sticks and the awkward feel of the D-pad and shoulder buttons.

No sir, this is what you really need.

Spoiler

QFT. Anyone who tells you you can't compete in professional gaming unless you buy a $250+ keyboard is either a fool or an idiot.

I've competed in, and won, quite a few tourneys (both amateur and pro league) since the Quake 3 days, and I've pretty much always used a cheap, mechanical keyboard.

Simplicity and tactility outweight LCD screens, dozens of macro keys, and other pointless bells-and-whistles.

Though, the one place you don't want to skimp is in the mouse. With those the mantra of "pricier is better" is usually true.

Also...wired or GTFO. :/

 

[Vigormortis]

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

I feel your pain. I loved that thing so much. I honestly hated the "revised" edition they released later on.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

While I love the Nintendo titles (meaning the In-house developed titles) I've always found their controllers to be a little unwieldy except for the Wii's gamepad accessory. But naturally for me the PS2 Dualshock (and subsequently the PS3 controller) has always felt the MOST natural of all controllers for me, with the analog sticks down by the thumbs.
People have said over the years that mouse and keyboard are best, and in some respects (RTS's, MMO's and TBS games) thats true. But for ME (personal taste and comfortableness) gamepads like the PS3 remote have always been the most accurate. I just play 20x better on FPS games with analog sticks than I do mouse/keyboard, and this coming from someone who has been playing since the word "Deathmatch" was inaugurated.
Sure you can argue with me the merits of kb/mouse but thats opinion.
I do love KB/Mouse, and PC games but whenever possible I prefer the gamepad, and since I have a PS3 controller and an xbox controller option for my PC, and Xpadder, I can play most games with my fave device.

 

[DTWolfwood]

as a Playstation fanboy, i'll have to say the 360 has the best controller design. Most comfortable factory direct controller i've held.

 

[neverarine]

regardless of the ps2 vs xbox thingy i like the 360 controller better, since its got triggers which are a must have lol...

keyboards & mouse are best though...

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Xbox controller or N64 controller for me. The rest are just annoying to hold.

 

[rocketdive2001]

I really wonder if those who have lived through the 8-bit era to present would remember how ...

1) The Super Famicom (or SNES) controller was like? That was one of the best 6 button controllers ever made to date ... I really loved how it felt using it - played RPGs, fighter games, adventure games with it and it was really awesome. The only difference between the SFC and SNES one was the buttons - the Japanese SFC had 4 coloured rounded buttons but the SNES ones had 2 rounded and 2 sunken in ones - which were a tad discomforting. Think the PAL SNES version had it all rounded but followed the color scheme of the SNES...

2) How the Sega Saturn controller felt like? That was one of the best controllers i've ever used to this date - wish i bought the PS2 re-release of that controller! It was really great for many types of games, especially if you played SF or KOF a lot ... that saw me through the periods of playing KOF 95, KOF 96, SFA at my friend's house ... it was really awesome.

Present day controllers aren't too bad, but for comfort, i still prefer those 2 classic ones. No need to agree or disagree with me ... it's just my 2 cents. Try them if you can.

 

[flying_whimsy]

while I have a softspot for the saturn and original large xbox controllers, my two faves would be:

best construction/response: gamecube

best layout: dual shock 2

(and for all the pc elitists, I regularly pc game and use mouse and keyboard supplemented by joysticks, and the one thing you all overlook is that sometimes it's nice to sit farther back and not be reliant on a flat surface to place your interface )

 

[Zantos]

I grew up with the PS controller, but I now much prefer the 360 controller to the PS3 sixaxis.

Though after a recent purchase these options are now invalid since the best controller in the world is me.

I have absolutely no idea how I ever used an N64 controller comfortably. I think it's a skill that deteriorates with age.

 

[Torrasque]

Xbox > Gamecube > N64 > the rest

I don't like Playstation controllers because they give my hands cramps after a long time (depends on the game) and the joysticks are kind of blah.

 

[TraumaHound]

Best: Atari 2600 Joystick. We had one stick, one button; it was simple, it worked, and we liked it!

Worst: Atari Jaguar Controller. It was like playing a game using a paperback book with squishy buttons embedded in the cover.

 

[kommando367]

I'd say X360 becuase it's pretty much a toss up between My PS3 and 360 controllers and my 360 controller has never quit on me.

 

[SpAc3man]

*snip*

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.

The Blackwidow is a very good intermediate keyboard for those first making the jump to mechanical. A few of my friends own one and love it. I absolutely love Cherry Blues for typing and would go for them in a heartbeat if that was all I did. When gaming (mainly fps) I have an odd habit of "floating" the keys a bit which means occasionally when using blues I would fail to lift to the release point. The Blacks are ideal for in that the actuation and release points are in the same place. I spent a lot of time trying different mechanical keyboards as you might have guessed.

My dream keyboard is the Filco Majestouch Ninja TKL

Spoiler

They aren't that easy to get hold of and aren't cheap. I saved about NZ$100 (US$78ish) by getting the CMStorm which is made by the same OEM as the Filco so is pretty much the same bar the branding and Ninja keys.

Razer mice are awesome. Comfortable as anything and good quality. They also seem to have one for just about any grip type so there is one to suite everyone. I did nearly get one but I wanted wireless and the Mamba was expensive as hell while the X8 had a better charging system.

 

[Goofguy]

I'm going to have to go with the 360. I have big hands so it's the most ergonomic one to use. Plus, I like the heft of it, don't know why.

 

[TrevHead]

the 360 (slim) pad is a OK controller

+ ergonomic design is good for big hands, has a good weight to it

- D-pad in the original 360 pad is rubbish, the slim version is better but still mushy and subpar to a fightpad. Triggers have too big a deadzone on them, L1 + R1 buttons are a bit naff, the whole pad makes your hands sweat which quickly collects in the buttons making them stick.

Imo the 360 pad is best for analog 3D games, however the Sega Saturn is king for oldschool digital games, although the NES pad is great for 2 button platformers.

 

[Offworlder_v1legacy]

The 360 controller has always seemed the best to me. The right stick just seems to work perfectly with the buttons, well, they do for me anyway.