Controller suggestions

ashpi · 17 May 2018, 21:16

Hi guys. Im looking at buying a new controller for my setup and was after some suggestions for a decent controller. I currently own a ibuffalo snes and a wired Xbox 360, both are pretty good but fancied something new. I play older systems as well as new including psp, Dreamcast and psx.

What have other people got and what are your experiences? I'm not overly fussed about wireless either so any suggestions would be great.

Thanks in advance

flagrant99 · 18 May 2018, 01:01

8 Bit-do SN30GamePadPro is the best overall . I like the PS4 D-Pad. 8-Bit Do NES30Pro looks amazing but a little small to play on. I also have XBox One X Patrol Tech. The Rubber grips are amazing, and I like the stick in the upper left but I am having connectivity issues with it. Like I said at the start though the best over all is 8 Bit-do SN30GamePadPro. Love it.

ByteThis · 18 May 2018, 02:16

Wii U Pro controller (wireless /bluetooth) . Very best in overall performance plus has both left and right analog sticks. Matches every emulator selection for controls. Have three and play three in every game possible with awesome gameplay. And the charge / battery time is the very best (around 80 hrs - unless you tinker a lot).

Clyde · 18 May 2018, 05:08

@bytethis said in Controller suggestions:

Wii U Pro controller (wireless /bluetooth)

I can second that. I have two Wii U Pro clones from Qumox for players 3 and 4 at my upright cabinet. But I have to use a bluetooth dongle from Mayflash to avoid ghost inputs, i.e. random button/joypad inputs without user interaction. There's a whole thread about them with different wireless controllers. I didn't test if they still appear on Retropie 4.4, though.

ashpi · 18 May 2018, 06:25

Thanks for the responses guys. Ive been scanning the net and seen good reviews on the 8bitdo controllers. Are the sn30 pro larger than the standard snes pads? Reason I ask is I have quote big hands. And although my buffalo controller has good build quality, it's a little small for prolonged use. How easy are the wireless ones to map and configure with the likes of reicast? I know the lr cores are easier but I know reicast can be fiddly.
I can't say I've seen the Wiiu controllers. What sort of money would I look to pay? Do they have wireless built in or do they need a dongle? I'm using a pi3b+ with retropie 4.4.

mitu · 18 May 2018, 06:31

@ashpi The (non-pro) SN30 controller from 8Bitdo are about the same as the originals in size (see http://muchreviews.com/index.php/8bitdo-sfc30-vs-original-snes-teardown/ for a side-by-side comparison). I don't use reicast so really can't comment on its configuration.
As far as both 8Bitdo and Wii U Pro controllers are concerned, they use standard Bluetooth so you don't need any additional dongles. The 3B+ model has an improved wireless chip and Bluetooth is better than a standard 3B, where it was advisable to use a BT dongle instead of the on-board chip when multple controllers + Wifi was used.

ashpi · 18 May 2018, 06:32

@clyde
Having a quick look on Amazon and those qumox controllers do look smart and reasonably priced too.

Clyde · 18 May 2018, 21:00

@ashpi The main reasons why I chose this model:

Symmetry. I don't like asymmetrical controllers like those for Xbox.
The placement of the analog sticks. I don't use analog controls very often, so they don't need to be placed centrally like they are on Playstation controllers. In fact, they tended to bother me there.
Size. (Yes, sometimes it does matter. 😉 ) They fit nicely in my adult hands.

edit: I usually prefer joysticks over gamepads, so I can't provide a seasoned gamepad player's judgement about these controllers. All I can say that I like to play with them.

jamesnj · 19 May 2018, 03:43

I have the iBuffalo Classic USB Gamepad, and am getting a bit tired of the ghost inputs on idle ... I think it messing up kodi movins on me as well.

Is there something of similar price? Maybe I should get a dual shock clone of some kind, but I need wired controllers due to bt interference in my house.

Clyde · 19 May 2018, 06:55

@jamesnj You could try a usb bluetooth dongle if there is one compatible with the iBuffalo gamepad. It fixed the ghost inputs coming from my Qumox gamepads.

UDb23 · 19 May 2018, 10:55

What about PS4 controller ? Apart being very expensive is it good ?

mitu · 19 May 2018, 15:05

@udb23 The Sony Dualshock4 is a good controller, works without problems with RetroPie (bluetooth or wired) and has excellent D-Pad.

jonnykesh · 19 May 2018, 15:37

@udb23 I wouldn't call it very expensive. With SONY OEM stuff, you really get what you pay for. It's a solid, durable, well laid out controller that works very well with RetroPie and has all the controls you would need on one controller for multiple systems.
Highly recommended and well worth the extra initial cost.

UDb23 · 19 May 2018, 15:53

@jonnykesh @mitu Apart from arcade joysticks I currently mainly use the xbox 360 controller with the (known) not so great d-pad. Would you recommend the Sony PS4 controller over the xbox as having a much better d-pad ?

jonnykesh · 19 May 2018, 16:07

@udb23 Yip. I own both. The 360 D-pad isn't as bad as the rep it gets but it's not brilliant, to be fair. The DS4 is certainly better by a significant margin. Not perfect, mind you, but definitely a vast improvement over the 360.
I really don't like giving personal recommendations but I would urge you to try it. I'm sure you must know someone with a PS4 than can give you a loan of one for a week or 2.

UDb23 · 19 May 2018, 16:18

@jonnykesh Thanks for the feedback. Just got tempted by an offer for a brand new one for 21 euro on ebay: bought it.
Let's hope it's actually an official one as described (if not, Paypal will cover ;-) ).

jonnykesh · 19 May 2018, 16:19

@udb23 With ebay you have a 50/50 chance. Just make sure it is genuine. Also it does take a little while to "break in" in my experience.
So, give it a fair chance.
Sounds like a good deal if it is a genuine SONY OEM DS4.

ashpi · 20 May 2018, 11:41

Thanks for all the advice here guys. I really like the look of the qumox Wiiu controllers. I may have to give one a go if people can vouch for them. So am I unlikely to experience ghost inputs and lag from using a pi3b+ because of the better WiFi chip? I have to agree that the dpad on the 360 controllers isn't great. And the ibuffalo is a bit small so I'm looking for something in between. Does the Wiiu controllers use the xpad driver or is it independent?

mitu · 20 May 2018, 11:44

@ashpi said in Controller suggestions:

Does the Wiiu controllers use the xpad driver or is it independent?

No, it's not using the xpad driver.

UDb23 · 20 May 2018, 11:55

@jonnykesh said in Controller suggestions:

Just make sure it is genuine.

Too good to be true. Ebay wrote me that the seller's account had been compromised. No payment was finalised luckily.
Bought another one from Amazon ;-)