Poll: What has been the best Console Controller (best layout, comfortable, easiest to use etc)

[Sketchy]

360 tied with Mega Drive. The Mega Drive had a great controller with more than enough buttons to get the job done. PS3 would be up there, but the triggers are too fiddly and the sticks are too lose in my opinion, and the PS2 is also good, apart from the fact that I have broken probably 5 in the time I have had my PS2 (8 years or so).

 

[jmd102993]

personaly i always thought the feel of the dreamcast controller was pretty good, maby a bit bulky but aside from that i liked it

 

[letsnoobtehpwns]

I like the Xbox 360 controller. It's comfortable and you can modify it! To bad the d-pad is absolute shit. You have no idea how many times I died in Gears of War 2 because I tried to pull out my shotgun and instead pulled out a smoke grenade!

 

[R4GNOR0K]

i would have to say the n64 controller it introduced analog sticks

 

[MrBrightside919]

Why is there no NES controller on that list?!?

Seriously, you get a D-PAD and 2 buttons. That is all you need!

My vote is for NES...

As I mentioned I couldnt fit them all on the list

You didn't really give people much to choose from...

 

[MrBrightside919]

Why is there no NES controller on that list?!?

Seriously, you get a D-PAD and 2 buttons. That is all you need!

My vote is for NES...

Dude, Atari 2600 controller! A joystick and ONE button!

Atari was like a year right before my time so I never got my hands on it...

 

[Cinder Block of Oppression]

The 360 controller is definitely the most comfortable. Most of the others feel like they were made to be symmetrical; not comfortable.

 

[thegrandtaco]

#orginal xbox- was like playing games with a dinner plate.
#gamecube- button placement was horrible. -c- that yellow joy stick thing...WTF is that worthless crap
#xbox 360- forms to your hands and makes you feel sexy. works well with all games. except the d-pad is shit.
#ps3- feels so unnatural to use in fps's. is it only me or does everyone elses thumbs bump each other when using this crap. except the d-pad works well.
#wii- makes you look like an idiot when playing with it. wins for innovation. you cant really classify this with the other controllers though because its more of and instrument. ex: such as the duck hunt gun for nes.

The Winner is....360 obviously

Xbox: Well, if you have large hands like some of us, the original fat Xbox controller was incredibly confortable.

Xbox 360: The D-pad is fine. Maybe yours just needs cleaning or is broken.

PS3: No comment, don't own one.

Wii: If you're worried about looking like an idiot, then you must take yourself too seriously... or must not have any friends. The Wii is one of the funniest things to play with friends over... sober or not. XD (Then again, if the alcohol starts to flow heavy, we break out the SEGA Saturn and see who can get through Virtua Cop the farthest while hammered, hahaha!)

i never meant to make it sound like it was bad too look like an idiot, while playing the wii. i think its an awesome remote. i dont really consider it a controller though.

 

[Peter Griffin]

I completely agree NES FTW!

 

[TraumaHound]

Other: The ColecoVison Super Action Controller [http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/188]

It had everything! A joystick, keypad, 4 trigger buttons, Speed Roller and a Custom Grip! Sure, you needed hands strong enough to compress coal into diamonds but man, it was sweet!!

 

[ArcadianTrance]

SNES controller and I don't care what anyone says, any controller that allows a todler to play reltively comfortably is beautiful in it's own wonderful right.

 

[thegrandtaco]

#xbox 360- forms to your hands and makes you feel sexy. works well with all games. except the d-pad is shit.

Works well with all games, with a shit d-pad? The 360 controller is horrible for RTS, and fighting. (Then again all consoles are horrible for RTS.) Makes you feel sexy?
Man I have a 360 and I don't think I'm sexy while I play it, I think; "Why did I buy this?"

#ps3- feels so unnatural to use in fps's. is it only me or does everyone elses thumbs bump each other when using this crap. except the d-pad works well.

Its just you placing your hands wrong on the controller. Quick lesson on how to hold a PS3 controller:
1.) Grasp the controller lightly.
2.) Your thumb tips go on the center of the joysticks, not the center of your thumbs go on the center of the joysticks.
If you follow those basic steps your thumbs will never touch each other. (I have big hands too.)
The PS3 controller never felt unnatural for FPS's and Im a huge connoisseur for FPS games.

For me the winner goes to the Dual Shock controller design, reasons are as follows.
1.) We are not just talking about the PS3 Dual Shock, we are talking about the Dual Shock design.
2.) Dual Shock has been around for 10+ years and has never really needed a change in design. The only changes were adding joysticks, and giving them six-axis. (If I am wrong please correct me.)

It seems that the majority of people are voicing their opinions on what they use for a primary gaming system.

lol where did RTS games come from man.( kinda random) i believe RTS games should be only on the PC. but if a game can make it work more power to them.
-as for the controller making you "feel sexy" it just meant its comfortable and is very ergonomic. dont take it too seriously guy.
-as for primary systems i own a PS3 and Xbox 360- and in what i have played. the comfort level of the 360 controller is better. putting favorite systems aside. and just talking about controllers.
but of course its still an opinion on which contoller you like the best and you will always have someone to disagree with you.

lol you asked why you bought the 360- the reason is that it has more titles, and almost every exclusive that was for the ps3 is going to 360. plus its cheaper, barely any game developers are taking the time to make a game that really takes full potential of the memory the blue ray has and the power of the system.

 

[Cleverpun]

I'm a sucker for the GC controller. As has been stated, it just feels so perfectly molded to my hands: the 360 controller is basically the GC controller but a bit smaller. GC controllers are still the controller for Soul Calibur (though I'll admit that 360 controllers are a bit more conducive to Street Fighter...)
My point is, the game you're using it for makes a difference too.

 

[thegrandtaco]

#xbox 360- forms to your hands and makes you feel sexy. works well with all games. except the d-pad is shit.

The d-pad is only shit if you try to use it for movement, which no games do. I think the d-pad is well suited for switching weapons and giving commands. I do agree that the 360 controller is the best though, they knew what they were doing when they built that.

sorry to disagree with the just movement thing but have you played oblivion. and try to use the spell "hot keys" on the d-pad...epic fail.

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

SNIPSES!

lol where did RTS games come from man.( kinda random) i believe RTS games should be only on the PC. but if a game can make it work more power to them.
-as for the controller making you "feel sexy" it just meant its comfortable and is very ergonomic. dont take it too seriously guy.
-as for primary systems i own a PS3 and Xbox 360- and in what i have played. the comfort level of the 360 controller is better. putting favorite systems aside. and just talking about controllers.
but of course its still an opinion on which contoller you like the best and you will always have someone to disagree with you.

lol you asked why you bought the 360- the reason is that it has more titles, and almost every exclusive that was for the ps3 is going to 360. plus its cheaper, barely any game developers are taking the time to make a game that really takes full potential of the memory the blue ray has and the power of the system.[/quote]
RTS came from the part where you stated that that the 360 controller works well with all games.
Also, reason I bought my 360.
Cannon fodder.
Paper weight.
Traffic cone.
Dishwasher.
Cookie cutter.
...360 exclusives.

Yes devs are not taking the time to program for the PS3 but the ones who are, are really putting out quality stuff.

 

[Sweep117]

I voted for the 360 controller but I may be a little biased. I have used every type of controller listed there, though. I hate the PS controller, but I don't know why. It's not at all hard to use. And don't even ask me about the Wii controller. I can't be held accountable for my actions after that.

The reason I chose the 360 over the original xBox is because of the bumpers. They changed Black/White into L/R bumpers. Maybe a slight bite of the PS controller but it works much better. You can do much more when your thumbs have less to press. Let those lazy fingers do something for once.

Nintendo sure can make the least comfortable controllers on the planet.

Amen, brother. Amen.

 

[brtshstel]

Honestly, there are several really good controllers, it just depends on the age of the system and the intended software. I'll make a quick run down by company, at the very least each hardware company a BEST controller out of all of their own designs. Obviously, its based on my own experiences and opinions but I'll try to be a little objective.

::snip::

SONY:
----
PSX Controller: The first iteration, a successor to the SNES Pad. Solid and ergonomic.
PSX Dual Shock: Dual Analog sticks are solid and responsive. Same nice design.
PS2 Dual Shuck 2: Improved design with touch-sensitive buttons.
PS3 Sixaxis: I don't own a PS3 so I can't comment much on it. I have heard mixed reactions.
PS3 Dual Shock 3: According to some, should have been the pack-in controller from the start.

Winner: PS2 Dual Shock 2
Second Place: Up to you...

You made a good list, and I like the way you approached the topic. Very well done, you seem to be a bit more calculating and intelligent than some of the members of this forum. As one "thinker" and "analyst" to another, I commend you.

Alas, you didn't mention the Dual Analog controller. It had two analog sticks, but had concave tops with no rubber texture, and had longer hand-grips. Also, it had the smaller-sized R2 and L2 buttons just like the original PlayStation controller. It was immediately replaced by the Dualshock to compete with Nintendo's then-band-new Rumble Pak.

ATARI:
-----
2600 VCS Joystick: One of the more recognized controllers ever. Near-impossible to break.
5200 Controller: 360-degree analog stick does no recenter itself. Heralded as one of the WORST controllers ever made.
7800 Controller: Don't remember much about it. Was probably more akin to the 2600 joystick.
Jaguar Controller: Simple face button layout. Keypad seems about 10 years out of date as an inclusion.

Winner: 2600 VCS Joystick
Second Place: 7800 Controller (Since I KNOW the other 2 suck, process of elimination.)

There were two 7800 controllers actually. The first one was a long brick with a joystick on top (similar to the 5200 minus the number pad and "pause" and "start"), but was digital and re-centered properly. That was the original american release. The European (and subsequent American) version was designed to compete with the then-brand-new NES controller. It also had flat-brick design, a D-pad, and two buttons side by side.

Panasonic 3D0:
--------------
Just an honorable mention for one simple feature... Though it was arip off of the Genesis Controller, its one neat function was each subsequent player's controller port being on the back of the previous player's controller. In theory it would have allowed infinite players to join in.

Actually, the TurboGrafx-16 was the first to do this. It only had one controller port, but every controller "piggybacked" onto each other.

-------------

To answer the post, I like the Saturn (later version) and the 6-button Genesis controllers the best as far as old games go. The DualShock line has never disappointed me, since I play more than just FPS games. The 360 controller is great for FPS and driving though, but I like other genres too. I've played enough COD and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 on a Dulashock 2/3 controller to have fun in a FPS with them.

 

[robinkom]

Alas, you didn't mention the Dual Analog controller. It had two analog sticks, but had concave tops with no rubber texture, and had longer hand-grips. Also, it had the smaller-sized R2 and L2 buttons just like the original PlayStation controller. It was immediately replaced by the Dualshock to compete with Nintendo's then-band-new Rumble Pak.

Good call, I really forgot there was a normal Dual-Analog controller prior to the Dual Shock.
At the time, around 1996, I still had by hands firmly wrapped around the Genesis controller as I was persistent in getting my money's worth out of my investment... that and because I had a subscription to SEGA Channel. Also, I jumped to Nintendo's end of the court when the ball was thrown back into play and I had the lumpy and awkward N64 on my team, missing all the free throw shots.

There were two 7800 controllers actually. The first one was a long brick with a joystick on top (similar to the 5200 minus the number pad and "pause" and "start"), but was digital and re-centered properly. That was the original american release. The European (and subsequent American) version was designed to compete with the then-brand-new NES controller. It also had flat-brick design, a D-pad, and two buttons side by side.

It wasn't until you explained that that I had forgotten about the NES-style 7800 controller. The long brick one I only vaguely remember in advertisements. Another good call.

Actually, the TurboGrafx-16 was the first to do this. It only had one controller port, but every controller "piggybacked" onto each other.

Okay, you got me there, I really didn't know the TurboGrafx-16 did that. That was one ship I saw drowning in the distance as I sailed alongside the S.S. Nintendo and the Cruise Liner Sega back in the early 90s. I had mentioned the 3D0 instead for having taken the time to sample it at a locally-run game and computer hardware store here (which was also our #1 supplier of Commodore hardware at the time). The system was, as everyone recalls, sub-par and was definitely not worth the asking price. In hindsight I would have been happier for a then-retired TG-16 at that point.

 

[brtshstel]

Okay, you got me there, I really didn't know the TurboGrafx-16 did that. That was one ship I saw drowning in the distance as I sailed alongside the S.S. Nintendo and the Cruise Liner Sega back in the early 90s. I had mentioned the 3D0 instead for having taken the time to sample it at a locally-run game and computer hardware store here (which was also our #1 supplier of Commodore hardware at the time). The system was, as everyone recalls, sub-par and was definitely not worth the asking price. In hindsight I would have been happier for a then-retired TG-16 at that point.

You're right, the TG-16 wasn't very cool compared to a Genesis/Mega Drive or later-released SNES. It was really popular in Japan, though, as the NEC PC Engine. My uncle bought one when it first came out, alongside a Genesis immediately after. He hated the TG, but still loves the Genesis.

 

[Fraught]

Xbox 360. Definitely. Ergonomic, comfortable, the weight makes it feel sturdy, which it good.
The triggers are awesome.
The only two bad things about the controller are the D-Pad and the big bulky poop of a battery it has on the back.