The PSP had the best D-Pad

[sushkis2]

Am I the only one who thinks that the PSP had the best D-Pad? Just look at it.

The best thing about it is that each button is separate, meaning that no other directions can be pushed, like on that horrible disk thing on the XBOX controller (and on many others such as Logitech controllers), which left me in such situations as - while playing Dark Souls PvP, i wanted to switch my item, but i pressed slightly off to the side, thereby changing my weapon to empty hand, leaving me with 13 less humanities. So, what do you think about the D-Pads? Maybe there are some others, that have something better, like that one XBOX controller, where the buttons are made like mouse buttons.

 

[bananafishtoday]

I think the Xbox disk is universally maligned.

My fave is the SNES-style, but apparently Nintendo owns a patent on the idea of a cross design, so the other companies have to settle for crappier alternatives.

 

[Olikar]

Everything is perfect about the Psp, it's the best handheld ever made.

 

[Uriain]

I am actually really enjoying the Battlefield 3 xbox controller D-pad. its triangled button style is quick and easy, as well as sturdy and can take a bit of abuse.

Above and beyond that, I would say that either the Nintendo and Playstation D-pad's are in close contention. Nintendo has a great style, but their placement isn't always optimal, while Playstation's d-pad is slightly less "awesome" I feel its similarly rugged durability as Nintendo and its optimal placement on all of its devices (cause its always in the same spot, even on vita/psp) keep it in contention.

*edit*
Forgot image of Battlefield controller

 

[MajorTomServo]

Regarding those disk D-pads, I have a couple for NES, and while they are usually useless, they kick ass in Contra.

 

[SilkySkyKitten]

No, just no. While it was very similar to the typical Playstation d-pad, the buttons themselves were just that tiny-bit too far apart in my opinion to be excellent. Made playing certain games on it frustrating since diagonal directions were iffy and slightly hard to pull off properly; and since my PSP was hacked and I played a lot of emulated games on it, my issue with the D-pad popped up way too often.

If you ask me, the "Greated D-Pad Ever" award goes to the Sega Saturn Type-2/Japanese Controller:

I mean, you might look at it and say "ewwww! It's all circular and not cross-shaped!" but believe me when I say this: it was brilliant. Somehow someone must have worked some bizzare voodoo magic on this thing to make it work amazingly well, better than anything else I've ever used. Plus, it's shape made diagonal-directions easy to pull off, and luckily it wasn't loose and overly sensitive like the Xbox 360 d-pad to the point you'd accidentally hit a diagonal direction when you didn't mean to.

The thing was just fantastic. Perfect even. I mean, there's a damn good reason why purpose-built fighting game controllers (not fightsticks) are based on the Sega Saturn controller's design. Not only do you have those six-buttons right there on the controller; it was one of the only controllers that had a D-pad that was actually really good for fighting games. And considering how precise you need the d-pad to be for those, I think it's safe to say that, yeah, this thing was damn good d-pad wise.

 

[an annoyed writer]

I actually like the updated Xbox controller's D-pad quite a bit. You can configure it to be the normal shitty "disk" for games like Gears of War, or you can make it much closer to Nintendo's cross-pattern just by a simple turn. it's one of the most brilliant designs in controller history.

 

[shrekfan246]

Yeah, but it's got the worst analog nub in the history of ever to balance it all out.

I'm actually enjoying the Vita's D-Pad, myself. It's a bit like a hybrid between the Sony and Nintendo D-Pads, it's really comfortable to use. Other than that, aside from thinking the normal Xbox controller's D-Pad is a pile of tripe, I don't really have any preferences.

 

[sushkis2]

*edit*
Forgot image of Battlefield controller

Yea, that's the one I was referring to as with the mouse clicks.

Nope.

Sorry, but in this area of design, Nintendo simply have it down.

Vita has pretty much a cross Though, I don't own one, so I couldn't tell, whether it's good or not.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well I don't know what sort of claw fingers you have to make that work but PSP was horrid for me, really the simplest design still works the best, which is the all mighty cross.

And yes while that new xbox dpad is at least 50x less horrid then it was it still has the same problem of those busy spaces, if you don't leave enough room it's still only a shitty circle.

 

[Inconspicuous Trenchcoat]

Sony, you sneaky bastards...

I tried a demo Vita in a GAME shop a few weeks ago, for the first time. Never got round to trying the D-pad, as I was instantly underwhelmed with how flimsy and insubstantial the analogue sticks felt. Sony, why bother putting dual analogues on your system if you're going to make them out of tissue paper?

Anyways, I think the D-pad might still be separate buttons, looking at that pic there. They're just arranged in a more blatant cross shape than the PSP.

I own a Vita, so I can correct you

The D-pad is not four separate buttons, it's a single mold that rocks on top of a pivot point. It's one of the best D-pads I've tried. Does that mouse clicky thing--electrical contact switch things, like arcade buttons use. Mortal Kombat is certainly 10x easier to play than it was on a 360 controller.

I don't really know what you mean by the joystick nubs being like tissue paper... but they're fairly sturdy. They're a step up from nubs but not quite a full joystick. They feel surprisingly similar to the PSP's nub, but they don't get stuck from rubbing up against the casing. Anyways, remember this was a demo unit at a store, so it's probably been heavily abused by people with no respect for another person's property. The joysticks don't cave in or anything; once again I have no idea what you meant by they're like tissue paper.

OT: Vita's D-pad is better than the PSP's in my opinion. It's small enough for quick maneuvering and it has nice clicky switches. As to which D-pad is the best? I don't know, Genesis, NES and SNES D-pads are swell. I like them better than Sony's dualshock D-pads.

Worst D-pad ever goes to this terrible idea:

I have this controller. Needless to say, I've never used the D-pad as a primary control method... and the 360's old D-pad might still be worse xD

 

[-Seraph-]

The Vitas D-pad is the best damn D-pad I have ever used, trumping everything else. If it was a tiny bit bigger, I'd be even more happy, but I've grown accustom to the size. When I initially tried it, the size was my biggest issue as it felt a tad too small after using the PSPs D-pad for so long. But that quickly vanished, and trying to play a fighting game with any other D-pad SUCKS. Seriously, I've logged untold hours into Blazblue, and this D-pad just never fails, I can pull off TKs and DPs in my sleep.

Nintendo I guess come in second for me, though I never felt their D-pads were good or bad, just respectable. I never had any real problems with them overall, though I wasn't fond with the DS D-pads, they felt kinda bleh to me.

Though my biggest benchmark for a good D-pad is how well you can play a fighting game with it. Most crucial test, and failure will be met with angry and soar thumbs.

 

[TrevHead]

The best d-pad by a long mile is the Sega Saturn / Megadrive D-pad, The design is on par with the arcade stick in the precision dept. Infact many pro shmup players prefer this d-pad to sticks as making inputs with a stick has a slight delay even if the throw is very small like a Seimetsiu stick (LS-32) and is designed for shmups.

That's why so many arcade games like Street Fighter 2 and Streets of Rage 2 were far better on the Mega Drive than on the SNES which had slightly better graphics. (although it processor was slower than the MD) The Megadrive pad was very rugged in design too, unlike modern pads that quickly wear out, a MD pad could be button mashed for years. Modern pads wear out so quickly playing shmups and fighters (& Anarchy Reigns) that it's almost like they are designed to wear out quickly so ppl need to buy replacements every 6 months.

That said the traditional Ninendo cross d-pad isn't that bad, but it's more suited to platformers like Mario than genres like Fighters, Shmups, Beat em Ups and Run and Gunners where directional movements need to be more precise.

It's a shame that the MD d-pad isn't used in modern pads, even "Fight Pads" don't copy the design 100%. I wonder why that is? Does SEGA hold a patent for it's design? If so SEGA should make a modern Saturn Fightpad for the 360 and PS3, they'd sell like hot cakes. Like the PS2 sega staurn pad is worth alot of money on ebay with many hardcore gamers wanting it to play shmups and fighters with it through ps2-ps3/360 converters.

I really wish those Chinese PC saturn pad clones were still available on ebay.

 

[Fluffythepoo]

I too like the old psp dpad more than the vita one.. having something firm to press down on while your thumb is in position (without actually pressing the button) is so much more reassuring/comfortable than trying to shove it between in the analog stick and the dpad. Its not like your gonna make mistakes on a 4 button dpad, but the new one does make it slightly less comfortable. That said, vita>psp all day long

 

[Aaron Sylvester]

I always preferred d-pads with independent buttons instead of 1 big "floating" thingy. It felt like pulling off combos in arcade fighters was much easier.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

The D-Pad was fine, but the analogue nubbin is so uncomfortable to use. 30 minutes on the PSP and my left hand is cramping like a mofo.

The SNES and N64 controllers were the best of their generations. I still think the N64 controller is one of the best ever. I could actually play FPSs on it for one thing, almost as good as a mouse. FPSs on XBox simply suck.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Worst D-pad ever goes to this terrible idea:

I have this controller. Needless to say, I've never used the D-pad as a primary control method... and the 360's old D-pad might still be worse xD

Holy crap, that's the same controller I've been using for years on the PC. Only really used it for a handful of games though, mainly the older GTAs and the odd space sim. Configuring it is a pain too.

Gave in about 18-24months ago though and bought a USB receiver to use my wireless 360 controller on the PC. So much better than the Wingman.

 

[TheWhereItsAt]

Yeah, but it's got the worst analog nub in the history of ever to balance it all out.

I never found the nub that bad really... But i guess i just used it a lot and got used and accustomed to it.