What controller do you use for shmups on the PC?

[ZenErik]

I use a SFIV arcade stick, but I have had issues with at least 2 doujin shmups on this setup yet most other games work fine. Can anyone point me to a guide on mapping keyboard games to a controller/arcade stick.

http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key/Jo ... ersion.htm

I've used utilities like this before with much success. I don't think this is the exact one I usually use but it's close and should work if you're a windows user.

I am using a version of joytokey, but there are just a few games it doesn't seem to work correctly work. I am not sure why. For example, in Exceed 3rd the buttons don't work correctly. All of them trigger bombs and the main shoot button won't work when held down. It's a mess.

[deathsled]

this is what I use in lieu of an actual saturn pad, the original sidewinder:



Same 6 button + 2 trigger layout. God I love this controller. Put a Soundblaster32 back in my PC and loaded just the drivers to get the gameport working in Windows 7 for this bad boy.

I've been using one of these for 15 years and its action is still great.

[Breetai]

this is what I use in lieu of an actual saturn pad, the original sidewinder...

I actually liked that controller. What baffles me is why Microsoft (and basically EVERY other company) thought it was a good idea to go from 6 face buttons to, essentially, 4 on the XBox (the black/white buttons were not ideal face buttons).

Still, not having used that since the mid-late 90s, how is the d-pad on it? I mostly used it for NHL games, Magic Carpet, Doom, Duke 3D, etc. back then.*


*yes, I am aware not that a mouse/kb is better for FPS games. I grew up on the 2600/NES.

[Dylan]

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. After looking around I'm thinking a Saturn pad is the route I'd like to take. As most of you are aware however, finding them is quite the task. I've managed to come across this one:

http://www.dhgate.com/gray-genuine-sega ... trol%20pad

and it looks like one of the legitimate ones, but I'm not totally sure. It has the Sega logo on the front, but I can't help but be bothered by the garbled item description that's a lot like the ones you read for the knockoffs on ebay. I take it the GTRON and Retrolink ones on ebay are garbage?

[deathsled]

Still, not having used that since the mid-late 90s, how is the d-pad on it? I mostly used it for NHL games, Magic Carpet, Doom, Duke 3D, etc. back then.*

Fantastic if you ask me. I like it way more than 360 or ps2/ps3 dpads.

I take it the GTRON and Retrolink ones on ebay are garbage?

I just got a black retrolink "saturn" pad the other day. Works great if you ask me, no clue how long it will hold up though. It does feel a little cheap though and I'm not in love with the action of the L/R buttons, but it certainly gets the job done. Plus it was only like $7-8 shipped....

[Clearness]

I'm stuck using my 360 pad. I often resort to just using the keyboard. It works fine for me.

[D.D.D.]

I'm stuck using my 360 pad. I often resort to just using the keyboard. It works fine for me.

I guess for shooters the KB could be okay but IMO even the 360 pad is better than a KB.