8bitDo FC30 controller - any good?

chubsta

I am looking for a new controller and am torn between a couple of the 8bitDo ones - the snes one looks nice and is very similar to the iBuffalo one i use now but wireless. I am however, interested in the FC30 because it appears to have 2 analogue sticks and i am a huge fan of Robtotron and Smash TV!

Does anyone have one of these controllers who can tell me how it performs with these particular games, and any other twin-stick shooters i guess, thanks for any and all advice

mikechi2

I bought the NES themed version last week. It's a nice looking controller with high build quality but the lag over Bluetooth was unbearable whereas my USB Buffalos work fine.

Also the controller is a bit small and stiff. Made my hands ache during playing.

chubsta

@mikechi2 said in 8bitDo FC30 controller - any good?:

I bought the NES themed version last week. It's a nice looking controller with high build quality but the lag over Bluetooth was unbearable whereas my USB Buffalos work fine.

Also the controller is a bit small and stiff. Made my hands ache during playing.

Is lag a common issue with bluetooth? I have never really used any bluetooth controllers for emulation.

A Former User

I have the SNES30 and I can say one thing: Amazing. The quality is worth it. It really feels like I'm playing the original.

Bluetooth is no problem, at least for me. Battery life is excellent. I think I got this a month or two ago and the battery recently died (as in I need to recharge it). You can tell it's good.

I recommend anything frrom 8BitDo, because they have the highest quality controllers you can ever get.

mikechi2

@chubsta Yeah any Bluetooth controller will necessarily have more lag than a wired one. At least for me, it was pretty noticeable playing a platformed like Mario - to the point where it became unplayable.

A wireless controller with a dedicated RF dongle should be better. I might give that a shot next.

I'll probably keep the one I have for slower stuff like RPGs. It's hard to beat the convenience of a wireless controller.

denisuu

I have it, it's an amazing controller!!

saccublenda

@chubsta Yes, I have a SFC30 and the bluetooth yields a noticeable lag. Not important for RGPs, but it definitely makes the difference when playing Contra or Battletoads.

A Former User

Is it just me that's not having the lag?

saccublenda

@itsnitro Don't know, I was playing A Link to the Past and I was getting my ass kicked all the time. Connected the SFC30 with usb and started playing like in the old times. Turning off the wi-fi helped a bit, though.

buddyscott

I am curious as to how many are using a dongle and if that helps with the lag. I know the built in bt and wifi arent that great on the pi 3. I am looking at picking one of these up and am probably gonna get a dongle for it too just to be safe.

saccublenda

@buddyscott I am using the built-in bluetooth on pi3, I will try a dongle to see if that helps.

gorgar

I initially had issues with the built-in Bluetooth and connecting with the 8bitdo but I don't know if that was the build at the time? I've been using a dongle ever since and never noticed any lag.

caver01

@gorgar By "using a dongle" do you mean you switched to a controller that has a dedicated wireless dongle, or that you switched to using a dongle for bluetooth, same controllers?

gorgar

@caver01 yeah same controllers with Bluetooth dongle.

windjammersfan

I've been using the 8butdo FC 30 Pro and NES 30 Pro with Pi3 on board bluetooth and no noticeable lag. Not the controllers the OP asked about but probably very similar spec. I've found them both to be very good.

caver01

@gorgar That's good news! Would you mind sharing the make/model of the dongle you are using? Maybe it doesn't matter much, but I figure a known working device is better than gambling on something. Besides, there are plenty of BT versions out there!

Eldrethor

I have the FC30 Pro and the NES30 Pro, and I have a love-hate relationship with those controllers. On one hand, they're really sleek and sturdy for a third-party controller, and I don't notice any input lag, so they're the best retro controllers that you can get right now. It's great if you're putting together a full retro ensemble (NES case, controllers, theme, CRT, etc).

But on the other hand, my PS2 controller performs way better in every possible way. When I compare the two, the NES30's D-pad feels clicky but almost to the point where it's a tad too stiff, which is not how it was on the original NES controller (or any first-party controller for that matter). I also think that the face buttons are small, and the L2 and R2 buttons are hard to reach (no faults of their, as I can't see where else on the controller that they could possibly go). The L3 and R3 buttons are perfect for activating hotkeys, but I otherwise haven't had a practical use for the analog sticks. If I play a PS1 game that uses analog, I use my PS2 controller to make the experience feel more "original".

Overall, it's still a good controller for what it is, and most retro games play just fine with them (fighting games are horrible on those things though), but it's in no way mind-blowing. Still, it's the highest quality retro controller that I'm aware of, and it goes really well with a retro Pi case.

mikechi2

@gorgar @itsnitro What kind of games do you play?

A Former User

Mostly SNES Games. I do dive in a little bit into Game Boy, but that's about it.

RumblinBuffalo

@Eldrethor said in 8bitDo FC30 controller - any good?:

But on the other hand, my PS2 controller performs way better in every possible way.

I've been looking at controller options and was thinking about giving the 8Bitdo model(s) a try. I've used the iBuffalo's to this point.

But I've read a couple times (and now here!) about the great performance of the PS2 controllers. I have access to a couple of these already - but what I don't know, is what adapter to buy to hook them up?

Would you mind sharing which adapter you use to connect them to USB?

Thanks!