PS1 Controller Love?

Gaming on the Playstation and Xbox Platforms
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Ghudda
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PS1 Controller Love?

Post by Ghudda »

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Seriously, does anyone else have a somewhat obsession of the original, pre dualshock, ps1 controllers? After spending a bit of time on PS1 titles this past month, I can't get over just how comfortable and, most noticeably, lightweight the PS1 analog controller is. The D-Pad also felt near perfect and responsive and the body of the controller itself felt extremely solid. I was actually using a wireless logitech controller on my PS2 to play PS1 games, but found that controller to just be way to bulky and heavy and lacked comfort.

After reading into the development and iterations of the PS1 analog controller, both before and after dualshock arrived, I was suprised to hear that there are actually a few variants. The one shown above, which is actually the controller I personally use for my PS1 games, is a revised model (evidently with Hori's involvement, which can be shown by the letter 'H' on the back of the controller) which has "a longer cord with a ferrite bead".

The OG model PS1 controller (SCPH-1010), had slightly shorter legs than the SCPH-1080 controller, which most of us know falsely as the "original" controller. I'd be interested in acquiring one of those and see it's more (doubt it) or less comfortable.

The controller obviously has game limitations, including games like Ape Escape, Metal Gear Solid, and other 3D titles such as Spyro and Crash, which demanded thumb sticks for camera control. But for the 2D RPG's, I personally feel that this is the ideal pad. Perhaps it was the heavily influenced Nintendo layout that this controller had.

How do you feel about the PS1 pad and do you use it with any other consoles?

Anyone else shocked to see that SF4 player, luffy was using a modified PS1 pad at EVO 2014?
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fastbilly1
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

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I found six of them in a box yesterday with my Snowkitty modded SCPH-1001. Team Buddies and Twisted Metal 3 were big with my friends at the time so I bought enough for four player, but ended up with two extra somehow.
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Ghudda
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by Ghudda »

fastbilly1 wrote:I found six of them in a box yesterday with my Snowkitty modded SCPH-1001. Team Buddies and Twisted Metal 3 were big with my friends at the time so I bought enough for four player, but ended up with two extra somehow.


Ah, Teambuddies. A party oriented game I really need to pick up at some point. I remember demoing the game at a local game shop back in the day and really enjoying it but never picking it up. Not sure I could get three other people together to play it, though.

Also:
Anyone ever use the RPG controller made my Hori?
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Exhuminator
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by Exhuminator »

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The PSone controller is the most comfortable controller ever IMO. The buttons have perfect buoyancy, with nice rounded edges. The rubber on the analog sticks is super comfortable and their resiliency is excellent. The pad itself feels a little thicker than the original PS1 controller providing better gripping girth, but has short legs so it nestles nicely in your palms. The start and select buttons consist of cushion-like soft rubber that feels great to press. The d-pad has an antislip surface making 2D action games a breeze to play. The actual plastic housing of the controller itself has a micro matte finish which feels wonderful against the skin, and somehow doesn't make my hands sweat like my other controllers do. It's just controller nirvana. I have used the same one since 2001 for emulation purposes and it still works perfectly. I keep a brand new spare in my gaming closet just in case it ever does break though.
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fastbilly1
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by fastbilly1 »

Ghudda wrote:Ah, Teambuddies. A party oriented game I really need to pick up at some point. I remember demoing the game at a local game shop back in the day and really enjoying it but never picking it up. Not sure I could get three other people together to play it, though.

It has skyrocketed in price over the last five years.

Ghudda wrote:Also:
Anyone ever use the RPG controller made my Hori?

I have used the similar ASCII Grip for the SNES. It takes a bit to get use to but works well for RPGs.
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by SpoonyBard »

fastbilly1 wrote:
Ghudda wrote:Also:
Anyone ever use the RPG controller made my Hori?


I have used the similar ASCII Grip for the SNES. It takes a bit to get use to but works well for RPGs.


I just used the ASCII Grip on the PS1 to play some RPGs. It's definitely comfortable and works well for most things. Anything requiring quick button presses can be frustrating, but can be overcome after spending some time with the controller.

As for the non-dual shock PS1 controller - I love it. I sometimes have a hard time going back to it after using a dual-shock, but I still have my original non-DS controller and definitely prefer it for most PS1 games.
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by Exhuminator »

What is the advantage of that RPG controller? So you have a free hand for chips and soda?
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by SpoonyBard »

Basically - Yes. If you find one for cheap, definitely try it out. It may seem pointless to you now, but you would be amazed at how convenient it is.
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

Post by fastbilly1 »

Exhuminator wrote:What is the advantage of that RPG controller? So you have a free hand for chips and soda?

It was created for people with limited hand control.
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Re: PS1 Controller Love?

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fastbilly1 wrote:It was created for people with limited hand control.

I did not realize that one armed gamers were such a large demographic in Japan.
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