Favorite non-standard controllers?

exodus · 08/08/2013, 11:36 PM

Hey y'all.
I was just going through some of my lesser-used pc engine stuff, and noticed how many weird controllers they made.
I've got the avenue 6, the 3-button blaster, two hori PC Commanders, the american joysticks, the mouse, and three different color variants of the main PC Engine controller.

Then there are all the ones I don't have - the avenue 3, the pc-fx-style controller that came with the duo RX, and more...

So, what's your favorite?

The Blaster is nice, but not really necessary for most games. I find the Avenue 6 to be a bit too bulky. I actually think the PC Commander has a great form factor, and is super responsive and nice, which is typical of a Hori product. But!! One of the two doesn't register presses on the 1 button, and has an inferior turbo slider which I suspect may be the culprit. Maybe I'll clean it?

Anyhoo! Curious to hear your opinions on these weird controllers!

Gillian Seed · 08/09/2013, 12:01 AM

I haven't used one, but I think I'd feel right at home with an Avenue 6. My favourite controllers are the Saturn model 2 and Genesis 6-button controllers.

CrackTiger · 08/09/2013, 12:11 AM

The Hori Fighting Commander (or whatever) pad is nice.

The Duo RX/PC-FX d-pad sux compared to stock PCE pads, but gets the job done for simpler games.

exodus · 08/09/2013, 12:19 AM

Gillian, the Saturn pad is fantastic, and the genesis 6 button is decent - but the avenue 6 is really big and meaty, with a fair amount of wasted space (it feels). The others are contoured for hands, but the avenue 6 seems to poke your palms in all the wrong places.

CrackTiger - I agree re: the hori PC Commander... but the durability problem :\

Gillian Seed · 08/09/2013, 12:28 AM

That's a shame. I did get that feeling from looking at it actually.

esteban · 08/09/2013, 01:20 AM

I use the Pachinko controller for every game.

exodus · 08/09/2013, 01:42 AM

yesssssssssssss now that is a true soldier

Official Ninja · 08/09/2013, 09:37 AM

I have and use the Avenue 3 pad. It is really big though. I do like it better than the Duo-RX pad I have. I find the diagonals very hard to hit with that one.

Lately I have been using an adapter to use a Turbo Pad with my Duo-R. They are comfortable controllers. I actually don't own a stock PCE controller yet. I'd like to pick one up someday.

In the 90's I almost exclusively used the Turbo Stick.

exodus · 08/09/2013, 03:05 PM

I found the turbo stick even tougher to do Fighting Street moves with, somehow.

some of those original pc-e controllers have nice colors. I'll take a picture of a few varieties and post it in a bit.

wildfruit · 08/09/2013, 03:11 PM

i like the colour scheme of the PAL controller
does that count as non standard?

hoobs88 · 08/09/2013, 03:31 PM

The Bee-otch pad!

exodus · 08/09/2013, 05:50 PM

haha, nice work there. clearly official!

Gillian Seed · 08/09/2013, 09:13 PM

That's so awesome.

whisper2053 · 08/10/2013, 01:45 AM

Gotta say, I swear by my hori fight stick. It's built like a tank and just makes all of the shooters a dream to play. Wouldn't trade it for anything!

Now I just need to find a second one lol.

exodus · 08/10/2013, 02:19 AM

as promised, here's my paltry selection of controllers.
low res due to my phone dying ;_;

esteban · 08/11/2013, 09:01 AM

Quote from: exodus on 08/10/2013, 02:19 AMas promised, here's my paltry selection of controllers.
low res due to my phone dying ;_;

Nice. I never bought the mouse, but came close years ago—I was curious about the game or three that support it.

Power Golf 2 supports mouse? I think that was the game that got me curious.

If Baby Jo supports the mouse I'm getting a mouse today.

PunkCryborg · 08/11/2013, 01:48 PM

I pretty much only use the shuttle pad unless the game benefits from the button mapping feature from the ave 3.

Bardoly · 08/11/2013, 11:52 PM

Quote from: PunkCryborg on 08/11/2013, 01:48 PMI pretty much only use the shuttle pad unless the game benefits from the button mapping feature from the ave 3.

So, is the Shuttle pad really comfortable to use? I know that I'm really enjoying my 6-button Hori Commander that I recently got. It feels rather like a SNES controller, and playing 2-button games on it still feels good.

PunkCryborg · 08/12/2013, 12:44 AM

Yeah The shuttle pad is the most comfy controller imo.

Bardoly · 08/12/2013, 01:10 AM

Now, you've got me thinking... Is there a good complete resource of all of the various PC Engine controllers? Like with pictures and comments about each?

esteban · 08/12/2013, 01:18 AM

Quote from: Bardoly on 08/12/2013, 01:10 AMNow, you've got me thinking... Is there a good complete resource of all of the various PC Engine controllers? Like with pictures and comments about each?

Aaron Nanto (Mr. PCEfx) used to have a nice section covering all the hardware, but that was years ago.

--> My favorite PCE guide

--> My favorite TG-16 guide

NOTE: Aaron may have simply recycled the photos from the site above and included translated commentary...regardless, it was a handy reference guide in English.

exodus · 08/12/2013, 02:43 AM

wow, look at all those things!!!

Nazi NecroPhile · 08/12/2013, 12:57 PM

I like the wireless pads and use 'em most of the time.

Quote from: esteban on 08/09/2013, 01:20 AMI use the Pachinko controller for every game.

Baller Status: Max OBEY

Bardoly · 08/12/2013, 02:00 PM

Quote from: guest on 08/12/2013, 12:57 PMI like the wireless pads and use 'em most of the time.

I've been interested in the wireless pads. Are they actually comfortable to use? How long to the batteries last? Can you run five wireless controllers simultaneously? Is there a 6-button wireless controller and/or a 3-button wireless controller?

Sorry for all the questions, but any of them that you can answer would be appreciated.

hoobs88 · 08/12/2013, 02:26 PM

Quote from: Bardoly on 08/12/2013, 02:00 PM
Quote from: guest on 08/12/2013, 12:57 PMI like the wireless pads and use 'em most of the time.
I've been interested in the wireless pads. Are they actually comfortable to use? How long to the batteries last? Can you run five wireless controllers simultaneously? Is there a 6-button wireless controller and/or a 3-button wireless controller?

Sorry for all the questions, but any of them that you can answer would be appreciated.

The wireless multitap receiver will allow 5 wireless controllers to be played simultaneously. The controllers are similar to duo pads but have a battery compartment in the back that might get in the way of your grip if you have big hands (not so much of a problem for me). Not sure how long the batteries last but I've gotten a decent amount of use from them before having to recharge.

There are only 2 button wireless pads... Although you might be able to use the PS2 controller adapter to use wireless PS2 controllers.

Nazi NecroPhile · 08/12/2013, 04:59 PM

Vest covered most of it, but I'll add my zwei pfennigs:

- Other than the battery hump on the back, they're the same shape and just as comfy as a normal controller.

- The batteries last a long, long time. I only change mine a couple times a year and I try to sneak in 10+ hours a week of play(withmyself) time.

- The receiver acts like a tap (a switch on the controller sets which one of the five each controller is), but it can be used as a single controller on a wired tap if necessary.

- The only other wireless controller I know of that was made specifically for the Turbob is the Acemore Freedom-16, which is two button and rather shitty. It has it's own receiver and is not compatible with the first party pads at all.