What are the best PC controllers out there? and what are the worse controllers out there?

So far I have the Game Elements PC Controller, I have to say it is pretty horrible using, perfect for playing PS1/PS2/SNES ROMs, however it won't let you direct diagonally. You have to just quickly press up and left or something depending on what game your playing. The durability isn't that great considering the one I have, the left part of the directional pad it takes awhile for it to respond and the buttons even stick after about 20 mins of use. The price it is charged for is all that its worth, it should be $10 instead of 15 though.

Haven't came across any good controllers yet besides Logitech stuff and turning your console controller (like the NES) to a USB PC controller yet.

The best PC game controller is easily the Xbox 360 Wired controller. Or the Wireless one if you have Vista and the Wireless adapter.

Comfortable, versatile, and officially supported by a lot of games. The d-pad isn't fantastic, but you can map the left analogue stick to be used as a d-pad if you desire.

I agree with Raidenex, although I use a PS1/PS2 to PC coverter to use my Dual Shock controllers on PC. I only use controllers for emulations so it doesnt bother me!

Well, I do like Roki do. I have a Rockfire PX-205 PSX-to-USB converter (two, actually, both my laptop and gaming PC have one each) and use my DualShock controllers on my PC as well. Although I tend to use it for more than just emulation - the 12-button, 6-axis setup of the PSX controller allows me to control nearly every aspect of Toontown Online right from the gamepad using Joy2Mouse.

I have the saitek "Rumble" and it's pretty decent, though my cousin had the wireless version, which was slightly better, but I never see much reason to use it, unless I was stupid enough to get a football game or a GTA game on PC.

They're useful if you do emulation (I use PS1/2 and Xbox emulators cause I don't have the systems anymore, but still have the games).

Never been too fond of Saitek, they usualy break on me in a couple months time. I typically try to find good USB converters and go with the 1st party Sony/Xbox controllers.

Never been too fond of Saitek, they usualy break on me in a couple months time.
I have an old Saitek gamepad from 2000. The thing has become a sorry, gross piece of crap (the buttons doesn't work right anymore - need to mess with the turbo switches to get them to work all the time. Plus, the plastic has become grossly sticky and oily).

great thread. i've been through this dillema myself. my greatest struggle was finding a D pad that allowed me to do the sick combos i can do in Killer instint. very few can do that or are shaped properly to do it.

ps2 control? can't do it. the D bad has a gap in the middle so doing down to right or any type of movement is harder or not as quick unless your the type that doens't SLIDE their thumb to the next direction. which is wierd. sliding is key.


but i also hate the D pads that stick out too much and are just a big disc shape with indents or directionals that were embossed on it. those suck too since then you have the problem of pressing two buttons at once all the time when you only want one. (i pressed down not down-left!! wtff!!)

good D pads are hard to find in the pc gamepad industry. that's why i wish i had a snes controller usb converter. most godly control ever.

I got a Z controller from my brother, he just up and gave it to me. I had a GamePro or GamePad or something shitty like that, but after awhile it broke on me too. This new controller's awesome, but what I really want is an N64 controller, and an adapter to use on my PC, since that is the best controller ever.

what I really want is an N64 controller, and an adapter to use on my PC, since that is the best controller ever.
I just did a google and found that such N64-to-PC devices do exist. You could probably get them off eBay or something.

The best PC game controller is easily the Xbox 360 Wired controller. Or the Wireless one if you have Vista and the Wireless adapter.

Comfortable, versatile, and officially supported by a lot of games. The d-pad isn't fantastic, but you can map the left analogue stick to be used as a d-pad if you desire.

the wireless controller works just fine with my XP computer! it also works just fine with my friend's vista computer!
It probably is the best, though. It's definitley my favorite "traditional" controller around at this point.

I just did a google and found that such N64-to-PC devices do exist. You could probably get them off eBay or something.

Yeah I know, I just need to buy one.

There are console controllers-to-PC for almost every controller, except current generation

True.

Seeing how two of the current generation ones (Wii and PS3) uses Bluetooth and the other current generation one (xBox360) uses USB anyway, you could porbably just get a bluetooth adapter (~$8 would get you a cheap, wierd-branded USB Bluetooth adapter), write some codes, and use the controllers on the PC.

Come to think of it, I just googled, and apparently, it has already been done for both the PS3 and Wii controllers. And the XBox360 controller is natively supported by PCs.

for me, the best pc gamepad would be the the Logitech dual action. Ive used several pc gamepads in the past, but this is by far the best. what makes this device so great is that there's no goofy, irritating D-pad.(the reason which kept me away from most pc pads) The Game Elements controller was indeed garbage. the D-pad stuck out too high, and was a absolute pain to play my classic games with.