Contents
● You *must* get a gamepad
● Recommended gamepads
● Gamepads not to use
● Using real controllers via special adapters
● Real controllers modified for USB
● Especially for arcade
You *must* get a gamepad
The emulation experience is not complete without a gamepad. I mean,
think about it. Mario and Sonic weren't meant to be played with your darn
keyboard. Also, long use of the keyboard for emulated games is bad for your hands.
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Recommended gamepads
I recommend the Logitech Dual Action Gamepad. It's USB,
plug-and-play, compatible with Windows and Mac, and it's cheap. It
generally
goes for $20-25 US. With its 10 buttons it can easily be used for any classic
gaming system.
•
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad @ TigerDirect ~$15.99 US
•
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad @ CompUSA ~$15.99 US
•
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad @ Best Buy ~$22.99 US
If you want to browse more good gamepads:
•
All of TigerDirect's gamepads
•
All of CompUSA's gamepads
•
All of Best Buy's gamepads
But read through "Gamepads not to use" before
choosing other gamepads.
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Gamepads not to use
1. DO NOT use gamepads designed for a 3D environment. These gamepads
look like the ones in the thumbnail to the left. The direction pad for these gamepads
are built like a highly sensitive trackball, which I call a
trackball-type d-pad. They're for the purpose of easy navigation in 3D games. Using such a direction pad in classic video games, which are only up, down, left and right, results in very poor play control.
For example, if you press UP you'll go LEFT instead. So how can you be sure
if a gamepad's d-pad is trackball-type or not? Well, if you're going to buy
the gamepad online, all the cheap gamepads generally are not trackball-type.
Computer supply stores like Best Buy and CompUSA have demos laid out of
their gamepads, allowing you to test 'em yourself before your purchase.
2. I highly recommend that you
do not purchase those cheapo gamepads that only come with 6
buttons. Remember that the SNES controller, the 2nd version Genesis
controller, and many arcade games require at least 8 buttons.
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Using real controllers via special adapters
You also have the option to use your own video game controllers with your PC via a special
adapter. Such as the controllers from your Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Playstation, Gamecube, X-Box, etc. They
usually go for around $20 US. The best brand for these types of adapters is
Smartjoy.
Here's Smartjoy on Froogle to give you some places where you can
purchase them.
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Real controllers modified for USB
You also have the option to use authentic video game controllers that had
been modified to USB. Yep, they cut off the end of the chord and replaced it
with a working USB plug. They range from $22-$32 US. Or you can purchase the
$17 USB kit to modify your own controllers to USB. Click the following link
to visit their site.
• RetroZone. USB-modified controllers for
NES, SNES, Genesis, TG16, Saturn, Atari, and more!
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Especially for arcade
And then there are the Classic Authentic Arcade Joysticks. To my
knowledge, there's only one company that makes these special PC joysticks,
and they are X-Arcade. The following is an informative review of
the X-Arcade brand joysticks from this website. It'll answer any question you have about it.
Manufacturer: X-Arcade
Price: $129.95 US (2-player model)
Requirements: PC, Mac, or gaming console
Those who experienced the classic arcade games of the 70s and 80s remember
excitedly manhandling the joysticks and franticly beating the large buttons
on the arcade machines. Many times the excitement of the game was amplified
by getting so physically involved, the spastic tap-tap-tap of the buttons
and clunking of the joystick movement as a player used his entire arms to
strive for the high score.
Over the years game controllers have evolved to require as little space and
physical involvement as possible, with everything fitting into the player’s
hands and the physical requirement only being the wiggling of fingers and
thumbs. While there is nothing wrong with this evolution, the tactile
experience from playing games has all but disappeared.
Even worse, trying to play the classic arcade games with a handheld
controller creates frustration from control problems because the games were
not designed for modern handheld controllers. Try playing the cornucopia of
80s maze-games using a directional-thumb-pad and the problem becomes
obvious.
The X-Arcade controllers fill this void. These controls duplicate the
classic arcade with real joysticks and large buttons, all reintroducing the
tactile experience and subtleties missing from handheld controller gaming.
The X-Arcade controllers can also be used with modern games, giving a more
solid experience to modern gaming on your Mac, PC, X-Box, Game Cube, or Playstation.
Hardware Overview
The X-Arcade 2-player controller is a large, solid unit measuring 24 inches
wide, 14 inches deep, and 6 inches high (including the joystick height and
connections on the back). It is made of 1/2 inch cabinet board with a black
melamine surface, making it solid and giving it the required weight to
remain stationary during gameplay.
The controls are equally solid and taken directly from the arcade. With 2
large joysticks, 8 buttons for each player, 1 and 2 player game start, and
side-mounted "pinball" buttons on either side of the unit, this controller
is designed to match almost any gaming demands.
Installation
As delivered, the X-Arcade controller comes with the main controller unit
and an adapter unit for the specified platform. The Mac and PC units include
a USB adapter, but specific adapters are required for each console. The
adapters plug into the X-Arcade controller cable and then into your computer
or console. No additional drivers are required for computer installation.
Configuration
For computers, the X-Arcade sends keyboard commands as feedback from the
game controls. Configuration with games and emulators is simply a matter of
changing the game’s keyboard settings. Games that normally don’t work with
other hand-held controllers work with the X-Arcade as long as the game has
keyboard setup options.
The controller has 4-modes: one setting is the default, and the other
three are programmable. All are accessed by moving a slide-switch on the
back of the unit and pressing a button next to the switch to verify the
setting change. Our games worked perfectly using the default setting, but
the programmable setting might be useful for others needed greater
customization.
Configuring games to use with the X-Arcade is similar to most
controllers, but instead of configuring controller settings the keyboard
settings are used. Open the keyboard control settings in your game and
activate the X-Arcade controls when prompted to setup the corresponding game
actions.
Setup for MAME,
MAME32,
MacMAME,
X-MAME, and other emulators was equally
simple, using the General Input settings to configure all games. Individual
games can also be setup differently as needed.
As shipped, the X-Arcade joysticks are 8-directional, but some gamers may
want this limited to only 4 directions. This constraint requires opening the
controller and flipping a part on the joystick hardware.
Results
After using handheld game controllers for so long, the solid and tactile
feel of the X-Arcade took a few minutes to get used to. The joysticks offer
resistance and self-center upon release, but are surprisingly sensitive to
directional movement. The large arcade buttons make many games easier
because of the ability to “rapid-fire” using the entire hand.
One of the most noticeable differences while gaming is auditory feedback.
The X-Arcade delivers solid clicks and other sounds as the joysticks and
buttons are used.
The 2-player X-Arcade offers a feature that the one-player unit does not.
Some of the classic arcade games (such as Robotron 2084) use 2 joysticks for
control, something that is very difficult to reproduce without... 2
joysticks. These games are played perfectly with the 2-player controller,
with one hand on each joystick.
There are no complaints about this product, and its purchase is highly
recommended.
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