17 replies to this topic

[jadedrakerider]

It feels extremely sacrilegious to say such a thing, BUT:

I LOVE my Sega gamepad to play my Atari Flashback 2!

I modified my Atari joysticks to be a little more ergonomic (with shorter sticks), but I have to say the Sega gamepad is the superior controller.

I admit it.

Yay Flashback 2!

[Dreammary]

I like using Sega Master System control pads on my VCS 2600 and Flashback 2. Very nice controllers.

[jadedrakerider]

Dreammary, on Thu May 5, 2011 1:46 PM, said:

I like using Sega Master System control pads on my VCS 2600 and Flashback 2. Very nice controllers.

I saw one of those at the local used book store. I think I'll pick one up. My girlfriend may want to play a few games with me.

[wongojack]

I can't use the NES gamepad for more than about 30 minutes without my thumb growning 100 calluses (it hurts). Is the Sega gamepad any better?

But really . . . whats the point of playing these games on Original Hardware or the Flashback if you aren't going to use the joystick? Just play them on your PC with a $10 gamepad for free.

[RevEng]

Most people compromise somehow - playing on LCD TVs, composite mods, alternate joysticks, harmony cart, etc. If a different controller makes the classics more enjoyable for someone, then where's the harm?

Plus, you can use your genesis controller to play the 2 button game hacks!

[wongojack]

Its just more work to acquire the system . . . then you acquire a controller that is essentially the same as a readily available USB controller. Why not just fire up the emulator to begin with.

[BrianC]

wongojack, on Sat May 21, 2011 5:27 PM, said:

Its just more work to acquire the system . . . then you acquire a controller that is essentially the same as a readily available USB controller. Why not just fire up the emulator to begin with.

You asked if the Sega pad is better than NES than assume it's the same as a readily available USB controller? There are a variety of different Genesis pads, but many of the official ones are well made. Many can be found for cheap, as well. I like the Atari controller, but I use the Genesis pad becuase it works great for the 2600 and flashback and is a very nice controller. What exactly is your beef anyway? Some of us take time to play and enjoy games and it takes "work" to aquire many things in life. Also, jakedrakerider mentioned that he uses modified Atari joysticks as well as the Genesis controller, but still gets crap about not using the Atari sticks (which he shouldn't have gotten crap for in the first place)?

The emulators aren't perfect (sound issues and input lag with some games) and I find it very frustrating that the equvilent of sneaking into someone's house and playing thier games without premission is now considered to be the same as a free game. I think emulators have done quite a bit for the preservation of games, but I find the lack of respect games get to be disappointing. 20 dollar collections with a ton of titles are a ripoff when one game isn't included (though at the same time it seems some emulation collections don't get the same love as older or stand alone ports of the games). A small amount of money is too much for older games because they can be downloaded to use in emulators for "free" (even though they aren't free).

Edited by BrianC, Sat May 21, 2011 9:33 PM.

[RevEng]

wongojack, on Sat May 21, 2011 5:27 PM, said:

Its just more work to acquire the system . . . then you acquire a controller that is essentially the same as a readily available USB controller. Why not just fire up the emulator to begin with.

If the joystick is the only difference, then why are you bothering with a flashback or original hardware? Just buy an $19 legacy Engineering stick or stelladaptor, and fire up an emulator on your PC. Why bother acquiring the system?

Me, I'll be enjoying my Genesis controller on my composite modded 2600 with a Harmony cart. (and the Flashback 2)

[wongojack]

RevEng, on Sat May 21, 2011 11:42 PM, said:

If the joystick is the only difference, then why are you bothering with a flashback or original hardware? Just buy an $19 legacy Engineering stick or stelladaptor, and fire up an emulator on your PC. Why bother acquiring the system?

Question 1 - I did and the stelladaptor is expensive
Question 2 - for paddles


IMO current USB gamepads are better than the NES gamepad - I dunno if the SMS one is somehow better, but I don't really care to find out unless someone gives me one for free.

Among other things, message boards are for a difference of opinion - the thread starter was trying to pick a fight with his claim, and I just chose to respond to be interesting. I'll be exchanging crap at random with other people who make such singular claims in the future too.

[RevEng]

wongojack, on Sun May 22, 2011 12:23 AM, said:

Question 1 - I did and the stelladaptor is expensive

It's about the same as a flashback 2, without the hassle of adding a cart slot. Seems like a win if the controller is the only consideration.

wongojack, on Sat May 21, 2011 5:27 PM, said:

Its just more work to acquire the system . . . then you acquire a controller that is essentially the same as a readily available USB controller. Why not just fire up the emulator to begin with.

wongojack, on Sun May 22, 2011 12:23 AM, said:

Question 2 - for paddles

Yup, your answer works the same for me too.

It may be more work to acquire a system, but there are advantages to having real hardware over emulation, with the ability to use alternate controllers being just one.

wongojack, on Sun May 22, 2011 12:23 AM, said:

Among other things, message boards are for a difference of opinion - the thread starter was trying to pick a fight with his claim, and I just chose to respond to be interesting. I'll be exchanging crap at random with other people who make such singular claims in the future too.

I'd never claimed you shouldn't.

[Dreammary]

wongojack, on Sat May 21, 2011 3:45 PM, said:

I can't use the NES gamepad for more than about 30 minutes without my thumb growning 100 calluses (it hurts). Is the Sega gamepad any better?

But really . . . whats the point of playing these games on Original Hardware or the Flashback if you aren't going to use the joystick? Just play them on your PC with a $10 gamepad for free.

I hate emulation personally and was not from the 2600 generation so using gamepads instead of the joystick seems quite fine to me.

[jadedrakerider]

wongojack, on Sun May 22, 2011 12:23 AM, said:

Among other things, message boards are for a difference of opinion - the thread starter was trying to pick a fight with his claim, and I just chose to respond to be interesting. I'll be exchanging crap at random with other people who make such singular claims in the future too.

I can assure you, WongoJack, that I was in no way attempting to pick a fight with this thread. In fact, I wasn't even aware this fight existed in the community until tonight.

I was merely surprised that the Sega controller worked so well for my gaming experience on my Flashback 2. In fact, I have enormous respect for th original hardware, but that doesn't mean they did it right the first time.

I figure the Sega game pad isn't overly sacrilegious since Atari did release a compatible gamepad eventually (albeit for the 7800). It works well and comfortably; what else should matter? The games are the focus here right?

[Dreammary]

@jadedrakerider -
Using whatever controller you choose is fine, many people choose to use unofficial controllers instead of the CX-40's or CX-41's. Do not be bothered by wongojack's purist beliefs.

[jadedrakerider]

Dreammary, on Tue May 24, 2011 8:22 AM, said:

Do not be bothered by wongojack's purist beliefs.

Nah, no worries. 29k on Missile Command!

Edited by jadedrakerider, Tue May 24, 2011 3:00 PM.

[kool kitty89]

wongojack, on Sun May 22, 2011 12:23 AM, said:

IMO current USB gamepads are better than the NES gamepad - I dunno if the SMS one is somehow better, but I don't really care to find out unless someone gives me one for free.

Among other things, message boards are for a difference of opinion - the thread starter was trying to pick a fight with his claim, and I just chose to respond to be interesting. I'll be exchanging crap at random with other people who make such singular claims in the future too.

A lot of modern controllers are crappy on the d-pad end . . . many may be more comfortable than the NES pad, but far less accurate. (a few are decent, but it's really hit or miss unless you do research on a specific controller)

I personally don't mind the NES pad at all . . . I like it more than the Atari joystick for many things. (the Atari stick is OK comfort wise, but it can get a bit annoying at times -the really good part is the high accuracy of the joystick . . . something the FB2's controllers totally lack ) The intellivision and colecovision controllers are worse in every respect than either of those though. (the CX-10 and CX-40 are pretty good controllers in general, but not my favorites . . . plus adding more buttons would get sketchy -you might manage 1 or 2 more before it became impractical, albeit that probably would have been a better idea than the 5200 or 7800 controllers -well, except the 5200 sticks might have been pretty good if they'd used a slightly scaled down CX-40 like stick -with analog only as an accessory, and the flex circuit and buttons issues fixed)
Oh, and that one handheld epyx/konix joystick is pretty nice. (iirc the konix version was the speedking)

I definitely find the Genesis controllers more comfortable and very accurate, but SMS is definitely worse. (comfort wise, it's more or less the same as the NES pads -worse in some areas, better in others- but the accuracy is poor on many -not sure if it varies, but I've seen many others make similar comments)
Some people also dislike the size of the 3 button genesis pad, but I have big hands and really like it.


Honestly, the only gamepad I've ever really had a problem with (comfort wise) is the Sony ones (you know, the ones that have gone virtually unchanged for 3 generations ), ergonomics and buttons aside, the d-pad is among the worst ever IMO. (accuracy isn't necessarily bad, but the ergonomics are just terrible IMO -I have no idea why they haven't fixed it over the years)
The NES dogbone has an annoying d-pad too (same as SNES, but with a stupid convex domed seat around it -N64 did it right with a concave seat making lots of room for your thumb), and aside from various 3rd party controllers, most others range from OK to good. (the 7800 d-pad is pretty decent, more comfortable than the SMS or NES pads IMO, but the buttons are too springy and convex . . . they should have just re-used the old concave CX-10/40 joystick buttons)









As to real hardware, there's a lot of things that emulators can't do perfectly . . . or even adequately well in some cases, plus there's the fun of just playing on your TV in general, and the charm of using the original system. (and a lot of systems are pretty cheap to collect for, the 2600 is among those -7800 a bit less so, but still pretty cheap for the most part)

[kgenthe]

I use my Genesis controllers with my Flashback 2. Retro controllers, retro system, gaming bliss

[SRGilbert]

Considering the 2600 has an insane amount of 3rd party controllers (not to mention unintended compatible controllers), to say anything but a CX-40 is wrong somehow is silly.

[BrianC]

kgenthe, on Wed May 25, 2011 5:35 PM, said:

I use my Genesis controllers with my Flashback 2. Retro controllers, retro system, gaming bliss

I have my Genesis, Atari 800 XL, and FB2 hooked up in the same place. Makes it easy to share controllers.