Hi all, I'd like your expert gaming opinions on they types of controllers you use!

Do you own an assortment of joysticks, gamepads, etc. and mix-n-match with the game? Do you use the keyboard?

I use the keyboard a lot for MAME games, and I have a Sidewinder gamepad that I use for new games as well as MAME. I was about to just get another gamepad for some 2-player action, but thought I'd ask for some opinions about joysticks and other controllers. I'd love to get a dual-joystick for Robotron/SmashTV, but it just seems a little too special-pupose for me. Any suggestions?

-- John Winning (jwinning@inreach.com), December 07, 1998

Answers

MAME controllers

I don't use anything out of the ordinary. I find myself to be more comfortable with the keyboard method for games that require a little more precise cornering (i.e., Pacman or any of the maze-type games)

I also use a Gravis Gamepad and Gamepad Pro. I've used these together for the dual joystick games, but they prove to be quite difficult to handle once the action gets heavy in latter stages of games like Robotron or Black Widow.

Hopefully I will soon get away from playing games long enough to attempt to make my own setup with trackball, dual-joysticks and multi-button layout that would handle most all of the games on MAME. Then the scores should take a considerable leap (I hope!). Using the actual arcade joysticks seems to be the logical way to go as their response would be superior to the garden-variety PC gamepad.

JoustGod

-- JoustGod (pinballwiz1@msn.com), December 07, 1998.

Me, use controllers? na.......

j/k Absolutely! Would use nothing else! I have to have the feel of the original arcade controls as best as possible. In fact, I use a excellent joystick controller that gives me the EXACT feeling of the arcade controls.

It just so happens to be my very own product I'm in the process of marketing! :) It's called the "Ultimate Joystick" and features a sturdy made aluminum box with 2 joysticks for Robotron, and 6-buttons for Defender and Stargate right in the middle!

My company's name is called "Custom Stixs" by Steve Krogman and the company is still pretty new (about 18 months). I have made about 6 of these so far from locals here in the states to as far as Germany! At the moment I had to unfortunately put a hold on processing orders because my job at Sega GameWorks is making me work close to 70 hrs a week in preparation for the grand opening in Miami on the 17th.

I also am in the process of redesigning the structure and production process of the Ultimate Joystick making it easier for me to make more at a faster rate with less the labor!

Regards, Steve Krogman

PS I'm hoping to finish 3 prototypes I'm currently working on at the moment. One will have a track ball and the other one will have a paddle in place of having 2 joysticks. The 3rd one will be a joystick just for Tron! The same type of joystick and paddle controller like the one used in the original arcade game!

Regards,

Steve Krogman

-- Stephen Krogman (skrogman@concentric.net), December 07, 1998.

Controllers

All I use is an Interact PC Powerpad Pro... it's not much, but I like it better than the Sidewinder that everyone and their dog seems to have. My only real beef with it is how the directional pad is at an angle.

For the dual joystick games, I use the pad to move around, and the arrow keys to fire. This works amazingly well once you get used to it! Heck, I think have the high scores on all the current ones, unless there's some I missed... :)

-BBH

-- BBH (lordbbh@aol.com), December 10, 1998.

NO damn wonder why I can't win, all I have is my poor little keyboard.... No Gravis, no ultimate joystik, nothing. Stephen Krogam, could you be the nice guy and put up one? ;-) It was worth a try...

-- Chris Parsley (cparsley1@hotmail.com), July 09, 1999.

I've been waiting for 18 years for some other company to this but none has addressed the authentic replication of a Defender controller.

Custom stix is obviously a hobby of his or I'd be able to find something on the web. I guess his job at SEGA swallowed all his time.

I am in the process of designing actual replica control panels for MAME etc, Should be able to manufacture something for Defender within 2004. Need lot's of cash, almost there. Plan to sell a Defender Panel for $79 with more to follow.

It's senseless to put it all on one panel that's chaos. The answer is so obvious I won't spoil the surprise though. Very clever design so far. Some interest from a manufacturing company. Wish me luck and please let me know if you want one. I'm planning a direct deal for the first 20 customers who contact me.

Now to build the game portal!!!

-- Clive Appleby (clive2k@yahoo.com), August 25, 2003.