Best Directional Pad

Some people seem to think that Sony makes a good d-pad, others want to believe that Nintendo knows how to make gaming hardware, and a seldom few claim that TG-16 is even worth looking at without laughing uncontrollably.

So in an effort to gather undeniable, empirical evidence, we will poll various gaming enthusiasts to see which directional pad is truly the superior design.

Directional pads chosen will be of common/revised designs. For example, no Genesis controller, only Japanese Saturn.


Candidates:

• Nintendo Entertainment System
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c5.jpg
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• SEGA Master System
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c6.jpg
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• Turbo Graphics 16
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c7.jpg
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• Super Nintendo
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c4.jpg
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• SEGA Saturn
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c9.jpg
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• SEGA Dreamcast
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c1.jpg
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• Nintendo GameCube
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c11.jpg
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• Microsoft XBox 360 (Transformable D-Pad)
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c3.jpg
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• Sony PlayStation 3 (Dual Shock 3)
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c8.png
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• Other
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c10.png
  .

I would have voted for the Master System, Genesis, TurboPad, and Saturn D-Pads as a group if I could have. But since this poll only allows one choice, I am stuck not voting.

The Nintendo, Dreamcast, Gamecube and Playstation "pads" cause uncomfortable rubbing against the plastic shell of the controller. The 360 Pad is just hard to use due to poor sensitivity.

Saturn, no contest

Saturn followed by Neo Geo CD...which isn't up there...

I would've voted for the Genesis controller, but since it's not there, I went with the Saturn, which is just as good.

6 Button Genesis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tanegashima

Saturn followed by Neo Geo CD...which isn't up there...

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I thought it was an analogue stick.

Saturn, then PSX.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kogen

I thought it was an analogue stick.

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The Neo Geo CD controller has a microswitched digital stick, known by many as the "Clicky stick". I believe the Neo Geo Pocket Color has a same one, and I have to say, it's really good, and very precise.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kogen

and a seldom few claim that TG-16 is even worth looking at without laughing uncontrollably.

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Hey, now. The TG16's controller isn't going to win any "best of" design awards, but it's a pretty comfy control pad. It's basically a better version of the NES control pad.

Speaking of NES, I really love the NES2's dogbone controllers, they are so comfortable! I'm not sure why the dpad feels different from the SNES, as it looks the same, but it controls like butter.

Genesis/Saturn tied for first. NES/SNES tied for last. The SMS dpad isn't that good, so I'm glad they made such incredible strides for the Genesis dpad. The TG16/PCE dpad is about the same as the SMS. Both are MUCH better than the NES/SNES.

Also not on the list, but good is the Jaguar dpad.

Genesis D-pad hands down. Oddly enough, some of the ones I have are stiff but the rest are nice and loose. Don't know if they get stiff overtime (mine are clean though) but I have a sneaking suspicion that that's just how some of them were made. I'll go for Saturn next since it's the next best thing. The SMS shouldn't even be up there. It's not much of a D-Pad at all as it looks more like a saucer. :p

Edit: I was referring to the 3-button pad ones that are stiff. The rest are identical to the 6-button pad d-pads.

6 button Genesis, best. Dreamcast, worst. I'll always be a big fan of the Playstation controller. Dreamcast and Gamecube are so hideous looking.

Attachment 4638

FUCK YEAH

This controller ruined almost every other pad for me. I used this with every system i can, even wore the membrane out :sweat:



Oh..

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Originally Posted by Kogen

Turbo Graphics 16

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Attachment 4639

Saturn.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kogen

• Nintendo GameCube
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/Kogen/c11.jpg
  
  

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I quite liked the GC pad, but come on - the dpad's shit. It's so fricking small to use, thus it's not comfortable or practical to use.

Nintendo really should get off their asses and "innovate" a new, better dpad instead of plastering the same crap one on each of their systems...

MD 6buttoner or Saturn JP/m2 or Saturn 3D pad d-pad. I voted Saturn

how could you make a poll and not include the genesis controller , I call shenanigans

PS3.
Despite a few broken PS and PS2 controllers which were my fault these are the sturdiest. The NES dpad dies over time--a long time, but so long now I can't pinpoint when it was my Ups and Lefts began to numb--and the Saturn slim pad loosens to the extent it feels like a touchpad w/o anything near touchpad sensitivity. The SNES pad was also in the running.
The inclusion of the DC pad was I assume one of your usual jokes. Maybe it was consigned to Pioneer.

I say Saturn (which by extensions includes the Genesis 6-button pad)

Classic Controller Pro has a pretty good D-Pad too, and the Gamecube controller is excellent for games that don't need a d-pad.

Saturn by a mile. I just had to "repair" my PS3 controller and now FF is gone

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kogen

Directional pads chosen will be of common/revised designs. For example, no Genesis controller, only Japanese Saturn.

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I don't understand what is meant by this?

Basically he means duplicates of essentially the same D-pad design won't be listed. The only two Nintendo D-pads that are actually similar are the SNES and N64 pads, and D-pads used on the DS-lite and Wii. Most of the others are somewhat unique.

When I was little I had read some published material that gave me the impression Nintendo had patented "the best" D-pad design while other companies had to use other methods like Sega's circle D-pad on the Genesis. I still find it strange hearing people say Sega's D-pads were superior, much like hearing anything from people who live in other countries... :?

I went for other, had to pick the classic controller, It's the ideal Dpad(It's good to see a company improve upon a design, unlike a certain company that just keeps making them worse).

Sega Dpads are generally awesome, but they are rather loose(which is both a good thing, and a bad thing(for some reason this causes the Dreamcast Dpads to not function perfectly after some use, they don't completely break often, but they never work the same after awhile of use). The NES Dpad is the exact opposite of Sega's, It's way too stiff, where the SNES D-pad is almost perfect, but the d-pad has a very slippery surface.


The Dpad on the GC is pretty crappy... Forget that, every aspect of the controller screams bad design choices, I don't know what Nintendo was thinking, but I happy they didn't carry that POS over.

The Sony controllers all suck pretty bad(the Dpad being the worst aspect of them), so I don't know why that's up there, should've listed the Genesis instead.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eddiespruce

The Neo Geo CD controller has a microswitched digital stick, known by many as the "Clicky stick". I believe the Neo Geo Pocket Color has a same one, and I have to say, it's really good, and very precise.

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A clicky stick - yes, I think I could enjoy that. Although I am not sure if this can be called a d-pad.

SNK should produce more of their PS3 USB controllers. I actually think SEGA produced them for SNK.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FamiDriveDuo

Attachment 4639

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GRFX

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Jackal

I quite liked the GC pad, but come on - the dpad's shit. It's so fricking small to use, thus it's not comfortable or practical to use.

Nintendo really should get off their asses and "innovate" a new, better dpad instead of plastering the same crap one on each of their systems...

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I think the GC d-pad is actually just the Game Boy Advance one.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guntz

Basically he means duplicates of essentially the same D-pad design won't be listed. The only two Nintendo D-pads that are actually similar are the SNES and N64 pads, and D-pads used on the DS-lite and Wii. Most of the others are somewhat unique.

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Ummm, in case you haven't noticed, NES, SNES and Gamecube D-Pads are nearly identical and all kill the thumbs after a while.

Neo-Geo CD

Nothing beats micro switches.

Some of the PSX third party controllers have the most comfortable D-Pads ever made.

Like the one in this picture. No thumb fatigue when using this design.

Attachment 4643

I don't like Sony's first party D-pads. They're pretty crappy but not as bad as the Game Cube D-pad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tz101

Some of the PSX third party controllers have the most comfortable D-Pads ever made.

Like the one in this picture. No thumb fatigue when using this design.

Attachment 4643

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Sounds good, perhaps I'll pick that one up sometime.

The SMS d-pad with screw-in knob is great. The NES dog bone d-pad is one of the best.

I've never like the Neo Geo CD pads or the NES Max.

I like the Genesis 3 Button controller D-pad the most. How is that not even an option in the poll?

Saturn wins close the SNES D-Pad

I wanted to vote for the genesis 3 button pad. So I voted for my second favorite, the super nintendo pad.

I liked the sega saturn dpad the most, nothing really comes close to it if we're talking only official controllers. not on the list but the sega 6 button dpad was great as well. some other ones I liked: neo geo pocket, neo geo cd pad, nes dog bone, gameboy micro.