The GameSir X2 has a micro switch one, as well as DSi and 3DS. To be honest I prefer those DS pads a lot to SNES / Switch ones. Also I think at least a few Anbernic devices have the same pad.
The fat DS d-pad is nowhere near as bad as newer ones, at least it's big. The tiny shit on the 3DS hurts my thumb and it's still a bunch of snap domes. D-pads were always meant to be rubber dome and Microsoft fricked up just because people complained about the inaccurate d-pad on the 360 controller.
I'm unsure how it's possible to have such an incorrect opinion. Why would you want an indefinite dpad? Tactility is what makes it more useful than a stick in the first place.
There's been some weird implementations over the years that work pretty good
One of the Logitech controllers for the OG Xbox has individual springs under each button of the dpad that make it feel like a clickier Saturn dpad with a lot more travel. It's great.
Another one of my personal favourites is the Mega Drive reverse dpad where the conductive rubber is mounted on the other side of the PCB. When freshly lubed it is especially great.
Conductive rubber.
I grew really accustomed to microswitches in high school because I just played everything on my DS in class. It works well enough, but buttons just feel more responsive with a bit of travel.
Diagonals are also far more reliable with a membrane in my experience (this probably isn't true with something like a NGP slider, but it's a real problem with dome switches in d-pads).
And that audible click you get with every button press just makes microswitches feel cheaper and less substantial than a soft rubber membrane.
Never really known microswitched dpads.
The classic plastic key > rubber sheet > metal dome > PCB construction is tried and tested. Even your standard remote control will likely have been factory tested for half a million key actuations.
do people consider metal domes to be microswitches or do people just feel a click and assume it's always a microswitch
yea I think there's some confusion over terminology. metal domes are metal domes, some have membranes on top but they are all clicky. so that's the newer xbox controllers, the 3ds/2ds/dsi, switch joycons.
I was going to say that microswitch d-pads don't exist, but then I remembered the raion which I think does technically use them. I can't think of any other examples though.
SNES style conductive rubber dome is probably my preference. DS1 and DS2 are alright also, but a bit small, think they're also conductive rubber. Never used a microswitch, but I've used metal domes like the Xbox One and 3DS (think the 3DS metal dome is under rubber?), not a fan of those.
I choose whichever is better, but, nowadays, is there still a new controller with a decent d-pad? I'm getting paranoid lately, my old controllers might stop functioning soon, so is there a new option that I could buy and be pleased?
Rubber. I've used the xbone d-pad and it's never worked that well for me. I need it to be mushy. I refuse to buy a fricking series X gamepad because I was told it's the same. The only clicky buttons I like are the ones on the fat DS. Hell, I'll even go further on that. I don't like stiff rubber either. I don't like overly tactile buttons like the ones on newer controllers. I don't like this clicky sticky shit that sounds like you're chewing gum when you're mashing.
I really wish 8bitdo would make one of their pro controllers with an Xbox one style clicky dpad. But also have it use RF and I include a dongle. Everything Bluetooth from 8bitdo has a bit too much lag.
I have the Pro+ and I can't notice any more input lag on it than the xbox one controller on PC specifically. I can notice a slight difference with the DS4, but that's at a polling rate of 500hz and a battery of a measly 6 to 8 hours. Where it's really laggy is on my phone, even wired. I bought a clip and planned on using the Pro+ wired with a small USB-C to USB-C cable to use my phone as an emulation machine but besides it being generally annoying (weight, having to deal with dumb shit and some standalone emulators on Android) I couldn't really enjoy it due to how much input lag there was.
My only complaint about 8bitdo's controller is the D-Pad doesn't really have a fulcrum in it so you can press left-right and up-down. It's also got a problem when I roll my thumb from down to right or any other clockwise or counter-clockwise direction because sometimes the original input continues to hold, or if I go too far I get the new input and the previous one's opposite (IE, going from down to right becomes up-right).
There's also an issue with a lack of recoil back into a neutral state, if I'm holding a direction down, it can sometimes encompass the two adjacent directions, though usually that only happens when I'm rolling my thumb between them. I've wound up going back to using a Playstation controller in the meantime for most games because the D-Pad on the 8bitdo isn't that reliable for very precise inputs.
What gets me is I like everything else about the controller. It works fine for any system where the analog stick is the primary input over the D-Pad. It connects up quick to any bluetooth device, the battery lasts forever, and the controller is quite responsive even when using bluetooth to the point I've never felt like I've died due to latency. It's just the damn D-Pad kills it for most retro games.
I bought it to play Legend of Zelda 1 and Mario 3 for randomizer leagues and while I was initially happy, I was soon disappointed. What's worse is it was a $50 price tag, and now the controller is only really good for playing turn based games like Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, and Front Mission, unless I opt to use the analog stick over the D-Pad (Which works ok, but is not a very authentic NES feel.).
A what? Speak English like a normal person, I can't get what you're trying to say. Are you implying I should just use my keyboard for emulation or something?
2 years ago
Anonymous
Bro just get a Wii Classic Controller (model 1 for analogue shoulders) with a decent USB wired adapter, a Snes mini controller also works
2 years ago
Anonymous
So you're suggesting I buy something else in place of what I got? Isn't that just consumption as well, if that's what you meant? I'm still trying to understand your original complaint.
2 years ago
Anonymous
I meant using something good. Your comparison is a false equivalance.
2 years ago
Anonymous
That would be wonderful if I had perfect knowledge of what was good. I've never used either of your controllers, and using a USB adapter for my old ones wasn't great on account of needing a controller that can handle many different systems.
The irony is that I like the 8bitdo controller better for PSX and beyond and the PS3 controller for older games due to the d-pad. It would be nice to find an all-in-one solution like 8bitdo's that keeps a smaller form factor than a sixaxis, good bluetooth compatibility, but has a working d-pad. I might try modding the controller to salvage it though, I'm thinking something simple to keep the center of the d-pad from depressing would make a world of difference, though I'll have to see if that alone is enough to make the controller workable.
It's a compromise since they use off the shelf BT hardware. My Pro 2 measures out to 10ms on average, which is more than acceptable for me. My Xbox 360 controller with the original dongle is 7ms.
They do make their own 2.4ghz dongle which may be faster and may be overclockable but I don't have one.
I really wish 8bitdo would make one of their pro controllers with an Xbox one style clicky dpad. But also have it use RF and I include a dongle. Everything Bluetooth from 8bitdo has a bit too much lag.
To add: Receivers have an effect with 8bitdo controllers. A cheap CSR8510 BT4.0 USB dongle gives the aforementioned 10ms result, but a Realtek BT5.0 dongle gives double that. I can also feel my phone is higher latency than PC also, but I don't know how to measure on Android.
The MiSTer Controller Latency page is an excellent source for this type of stuff although their Pro 2 lag is 18ms, not close to my 10ms result at all.
>Micro-switch D-Pad
Huh, never heard of that.
All D-pads I've seen are rubber (silicon) dome ones.
The GameSir X2 has a micro switch one, as well as DSi and 3DS. To be honest I prefer those DS pads a lot to SNES / Switch ones. Also I think at least a few Anbernic devices have the same pad.
SIR DO NOT REDEEM
Whatever the sort used in the GBA SP and the original DS is, that's the best.
Rubber dome because the microswitch D-pads on the GBA SP and original DS were fricking awful and only suitable for navigating menus in RPGs.
The fat DS d-pad is nowhere near as bad as newer ones, at least it's big. The tiny shit on the 3DS hurts my thumb and it's still a bunch of snap domes. D-pads were always meant to be rubber dome and Microsoft fricked up just because people complained about the inaccurate d-pad on the 360 controller.
I'm unsure how it's possible to have such an incorrect opinion. Why would you want an indefinite dpad? Tactility is what makes it more useful than a stick in the first place.
There's been some weird implementations over the years that work pretty good
One of the Logitech controllers for the OG Xbox has individual springs under each button of the dpad that make it feel like a clickier Saturn dpad with a lot more travel. It's great.
Another one of my personal favourites is the Mega Drive reverse dpad where the conductive rubber is mounted on the other side of the PCB. When freshly lubed it is especially great.
3ds doesn't use just a micro switch, there is a membrane over the top
Conductive rubber.
I grew really accustomed to microswitches in high school because I just played everything on my DS in class. It works well enough, but buttons just feel more responsive with a bit of travel.
Diagonals are also far more reliable with a membrane in my experience (this probably isn't true with something like a NGP slider, but it's a real problem with dome switches in d-pads).
And that audible click you get with every button press just makes microswitches feel cheaper and less substantial than a soft rubber membrane.
Never really known microswitched dpads.
The classic plastic key > rubber sheet > metal dome > PCB construction is tried and tested. Even your standard remote control will likely have been factory tested for half a million key actuations.
yea I think there's some confusion over terminology. metal domes are metal domes, some have membranes on top but they are all clicky. so that's the newer xbox controllers, the 3ds/2ds/dsi, switch joycons.
I was going to say that microswitch d-pads don't exist, but then I remembered the raion which I think does technically use them. I can't think of any other examples though.
GameSir X2
SNES style conductive rubber dome is probably my preference. DS1 and DS2 are alright also, but a bit small, think they're also conductive rubber. Never used a microswitch, but I've used metal domes like the Xbox One and 3DS (think the 3DS metal dome is under rubber?), not a fan of those.
do people consider metal domes to be microswitches or do people just feel a click and assume it's always a microswitch
>gore
Rubber dome, no discussion.
The xbox one D-pad is fricking gross and only serves the purpose of navigating menus.
the best dpad ever made was the one used on the wiimode/wii classic controller.
baffling opinion
I choose whichever is better, but, nowadays, is there still a new controller with a decent d-pad? I'm getting paranoid lately, my old controllers might stop functioning soon, so is there a new option that I could buy and be pleased?
Sega Saturn controller, failing that - get a Hori.
rubberdome d-pad
Megadrive 6 button pad
Then Saturn
Then PS1 classic (non analog)
Then 8bitdo
Then wiiu pro controller
Then Xbox one
Whatever the NGP uses. Everything else is gay.
Saturn rubber > Microswitch (NGCD, PDP versus) > all other rubber > microswitch where it feels like stiffer rubber (DS lite, Switch) > "micro-switch" (Vita, Xbone)
Floaty mushy dpads are awful and shouldn't exist.
Rubber. I've used the xbone d-pad and it's never worked that well for me. I need it to be mushy. I refuse to buy a fricking series X gamepad because I was told it's the same. The only clicky buttons I like are the ones on the fat DS. Hell, I'll even go further on that. I don't like stiff rubber either. I don't like overly tactile buttons like the ones on newer controllers. I don't like this clicky sticky shit that sounds like you're chewing gum when you're mashing.
I really wish 8bitdo would make one of their pro controllers with an Xbox one style clicky dpad. But also have it use RF and I include a dongle. Everything Bluetooth from 8bitdo has a bit too much lag.
I have the Pro+ and I can't notice any more input lag on it than the xbox one controller on PC specifically. I can notice a slight difference with the DS4, but that's at a polling rate of 500hz and a battery of a measly 6 to 8 hours. Where it's really laggy is on my phone, even wired. I bought a clip and planned on using the Pro+ wired with a small USB-C to USB-C cable to use my phone as an emulation machine but besides it being generally annoying (weight, having to deal with dumb shit and some standalone emulators on Android) I couldn't really enjoy it due to how much input lag there was.
My only complaint about 8bitdo's controller is the D-Pad doesn't really have a fulcrum in it so you can press left-right and up-down. It's also got a problem when I roll my thumb from down to right or any other clockwise or counter-clockwise direction because sometimes the original input continues to hold, or if I go too far I get the new input and the previous one's opposite (IE, going from down to right becomes up-right).
There's also an issue with a lack of recoil back into a neutral state, if I'm holding a direction down, it can sometimes encompass the two adjacent directions, though usually that only happens when I'm rolling my thumb between them. I've wound up going back to using a Playstation controller in the meantime for most games because the D-Pad on the 8bitdo isn't that reliable for very precise inputs.
Oh so its horrible then? Why the people in charge of this website allow this chink garbage? Please dont follow for the memes.
What gets me is I like everything else about the controller. It works fine for any system where the analog stick is the primary input over the D-Pad. It connects up quick to any bluetooth device, the battery lasts forever, and the controller is quite responsive even when using bluetooth to the point I've never felt like I've died due to latency. It's just the damn D-Pad kills it for most retro games.
I bought it to play Legend of Zelda 1 and Mario 3 for randomizer leagues and while I was initially happy, I was soon disappointed. What's worse is it was a $50 price tag, and now the controller is only really good for playing turn based games like Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, and Front Mission, unless I opt to use the analog stick over the D-Pad (Which works ok, but is not a very authentic NES feel.).
Thats what you get for being a fricking Conzoomer.
A what? Speak English like a normal person, I can't get what you're trying to say. Are you implying I should just use my keyboard for emulation or something?
Bro just get a Wii Classic Controller (model 1 for analogue shoulders) with a decent USB wired adapter, a Snes mini controller also works
So you're suggesting I buy something else in place of what I got? Isn't that just consumption as well, if that's what you meant? I'm still trying to understand your original complaint.
I meant using something good. Your comparison is a false equivalance.
That would be wonderful if I had perfect knowledge of what was good. I've never used either of your controllers, and using a USB adapter for my old ones wasn't great on account of needing a controller that can handle many different systems.
The irony is that I like the 8bitdo controller better for PSX and beyond and the PS3 controller for older games due to the d-pad. It would be nice to find an all-in-one solution like 8bitdo's that keeps a smaller form factor than a sixaxis, good bluetooth compatibility, but has a working d-pad. I might try modding the controller to salvage it though, I'm thinking something simple to keep the center of the d-pad from depressing would make a world of difference, though I'll have to see if that alone is enough to make the controller workable.
It's only bad if you have big greasy fat tendie fingers slobbering bacon oil all over the d-pad, for normal people it's perfect.
>two cents have been deposited to youl social cledit comlade
It's a compromise since they use off the shelf BT hardware. My Pro 2 measures out to 10ms on average, which is more than acceptable for me. My Xbox 360 controller with the original dongle is 7ms.
They do make their own 2.4ghz dongle which may be faster and may be overclockable but I don't have one.
Meant for
To add: Receivers have an effect with 8bitdo controllers. A cheap CSR8510 BT4.0 USB dongle gives the aforementioned 10ms result, but a Realtek BT5.0 dongle gives double that. I can also feel my phone is higher latency than PC also, but I don't know how to measure on Android.
The MiSTer Controller Latency page is an excellent source for this type of stuff although their Pro 2 lag is 18ms, not close to my 10ms result at all.