Poll: Which would you rather use use in a fighting game? D-pad or joystick?

[ZenMonkey47]

While I like playing the new Tekken 6 in the arcade, I've never really gotten the hang of using a joystick. For me, they've always seemed clumsy and awkward (especially for 'shouryuken' movements) when compared to my console's d-pad, however my roommate claims the exact opposite.

So I'm wondering what the rest of humanity thinks on the subject.

 

[Nettacki]

I'm okay with both, but I use the d-pad more because I play fighting games at home more often than at the arcades. Plus, I don't have one of those "arcade sticks for home consoles" sold by companies like Hori.

Although the joystick is more precise... I still pick d-pad based on experience alone.

 

[Razzle Bathbone]

I don't know how anybody plays anything on a d-pad. My thumbs aren't anywhere near as dextrous as my fingers.

Hell, if it hadn't been for for d-pads, I never would have abandoned console gaming.

 

[wilsonscrazybed]

Other: Flight Yoke and pedals.

 

[ZenMonkey47]

Looks like d-pads are in the lead so far, maybe they should make USB ports into arcade machines...

 

[PurpleRain]

I own Virtua Fighter 5 with the D-Pad. Although I sometimes quickly move to joystick to pull off a few moves taht require more 'finess'. I use the D-Pad a lot more though.

 

[Terramax]

Looks like d-pads are in the lead so far, maybe they should make USB ports into arcade machines...

I'm not sure what this quote means, but if it's because d-pads are more available for systems like PC or home console, try this as a solution-

http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/xarcade.php

As for me, arcade stick.

Two years ago I used pads for fighters, racers and shmups. I think it was the Dreamcast's arcade that did it for me, but I realised it was a lot easier to pull off moves on games like Street Fighter 3rd Strike and sticks just seem so much more responsive on shmups.

Analog isn't so bad, but I've always had a hard time with d-pads because after a while THEY BLOODY HURT!

Try obsessing over a Street Fighter game with a d-pad for a few hours and you know what I mean. D-pads just dig into my fingers and I get that pain the next day.

So over the last year or two I've made a complete change over to arcade sticks. The X-arcade for my PC emulators (Saturn, Mega CD) and PS2, Dreamcast official sticks for the DC. I'll never go back to D-pad.

 

[shadow skill]

You know I have never really bothered with sticks, I'm absolutely horrible with arcade style sticks. For everything other than fighting games I tend to use the analog sticks though. Dpads tend to be more suited to double tapping type inputs where as sticks excel when you need a "roll." I have never been able to do 360 rolls with any real consistency however.

 

[Tacroy]

I like directional pads, but only on the computer. Then I can use three fingers on the arrow keys, which is far better than just a thumb clumsily mashing arrows or shoving an analog stick around.

 

[ZenMonkey47]

Looks like d-pads are in the lead so far, maybe they should make USB ports into arcade machines...

I'm not sure what this quote means

I was thinking if arcade machines (in an arcade) had usb ports, you could plug a controller into it and play that way if you so desire.

 

[Bodb]

For rolls and diagonals, I find a joystick more comfortable because personally, having to press two arrows on a Playstation controller at the same time is frustrating. Even with my limited experience with joysticks, they really are superior.

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

I always preferred using the d-pad and have recently started using the thumbstick. Not because I want to, but I just can't do certain moves on Virtua Fighter 5 using the D-pad. Curse you microsoft for your cheap, clicky d-pads!

Does anyone know any 3rd party controllers for the 360 that have a decent d-pad? Because the 360 d-pads are truly terrible.

 

[shadow skill]

I always preferred using the d-pad and have recently started using the thumbstick. Not because I want to, but I just can't do certain moves on Virtua Fighter 5 using the D-pad. Curse you microsoft for your cheap, clicky d-pads!

Does anyone know any 3rd party controllers for the 360 that have a decent d-pad? Because the 360 d-pads are truly terrible.

I second your hatred of the 360 dpad and I would like to know of a 3rd party controller with a decent dpad as well.

 

[Cooper42]

Joystick (analogue if need be, but always preferably an arcade stick)

Given that most fighting games are designed for arcades, the movements are often based around quarter or half circles - which is always easier with a sitck. Even fast single movements are easier with a stick that using your thumb.

The (S)NES and Megadrive have a lot to answer for in terms of the legacy in game controllers. I love the Wii, if only because it dared to try something new.

There's something fundamentally un-ergonomic and, for me at least, non-intuitive about D-Pads and traditional controllers.

 

[Watershed]

I think it has a lot to do with whichever one you used first. I accept that Sticks are probably superior, especially for pulling of quarter/half circle moves, but I can't use the damn things for fighters. I'm just too used to having a d-pad, probably due to my first console being a Mega Drive. I'm fine using them for scrolling shooters, but I can never get them to do what I want in a fighter.

 

[Terramax]

Looks like d-pads are in the lead so far, maybe they should make USB ports into arcade machines...

I'm not sure what this quote means

I was thinking if arcade machines (in an arcade) had usb ports, you could plug a controller into it and play that way if you so desire.

Nah, that would take out the experience of being at an arcade.

Anyway, I was looking at this link below and it reminded me of this thread.

I'm sure these sticks are something we'd all like to be waggling in our homes?

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery/album35?page=1

 

[shadow skill]

I just tried to play street fighter 2 hyper fightin with the dpad and the analog stick and I think I messed up my left hand...T_T Guess I'll wait till Guilty Gear arrives and try it with a decent controller.

 

[Darth_Dude]

Joystick, D-pads are too unwieldy

 

[H.R.Shovenstuff]

15 a piece. oooh