Third party controllers & impressions

[tony]

@Guntz: I've seen some "Rhino Gear" listings but nothing about Ascii on them so is this definitely by Ascii? I'm thinking of picking one of these up based on your mini review here.

[Defolto]

Most third party Sega genesis controllers sucked.

[tony]

I agree! I had some awful ones as a kid. That's why I'm asking questions here.

PS, does everyone love the SG Propad just because it's programmable or because it also has as good buttons + dpad as the Sega controllers?

[St Louie Bee]

I agree! I had some awful ones as a kid. That's why I'm asking questions here.

PS, does everyone love the SG Propad just because it's programmable or because it also has as good buttons + dpad as the Sega controllers?

Actually the Propad isn't programmable. You can program the shoulder buttons to one of the regular buttons (ABCXYZ).

Still I loved this pad! I remember it being comfortable and the slightly larger contoured buttons worked great.

Although...I say loved because I used it so much it broke. The C button works only intermittently now and I just haven't found the time to tear her apart.

Someone else earlier in this thread mentioned a broken cord. I wonder if there are quality/reliability issues with this controller?

[Spaced]

I recently needed a new 6 button controller so bought a gamester md6 cheap off eBay. Worked fine playing games but just tried it on Golden Axe II and the d-pad does not work. Buttons all fine just the d-pad? Any other issues like this with other pads, works with all other games I've tried just Golden Axe II.

[Lastcallhall]

Actually the Propad isn't programmable. You can program the shoulder buttons to one of the regular buttons (ABCXYZ).

Still I loved this pad! I remember it being comfortable and the slightly larger contoured buttons worked great.

Although...I say loved because I used it so much it broke. The C button works only intermittently now and I just haven't found the time to tear her apart.

Someone else earlier in this thread mentioned a broken cord. I wonder if there are quality/reliability issues with this controller?

I have two that both work perfectly. These pads were a staple of my Genesis gaming years, so much so that once I found out that there was a Saturn version of the pad, I picked two of those up right away! The only way I can see these cords becoming damaged is if the wire is wrapped around the controller so tightly when not in use, it pulls from the PCB.

[tony]

Well, there certainly is a lot of love on here for a propad so I will have to eventually pick one up. How about the programpad. Is that worth tracking down as well?

[St Louie Bee]

Well, there certainly is a lot of love on here for a propad so I will have to eventually pick one up. How about the programpad. Is that worth tracking down as well?

Probably not. It depends on you. I'm a collector so how can I pass a controller with a cool looking LCD screen! Plus fighting games aren't really my forte, since I can never remember all the moves.

However the controller is more of a novelty item than anything else. Unless you have trouble with fighting games you don't really need it. Plus the six button Programpad has a wonky button layout. A,B,C, and X are on the front, and Y and Z are shoulder buttons which takes a little getting used to.

The Propad is definitely the better of the two IMO!

[Da_Shocker]

I think that was my first and only 3rd party controller I bought and it sucked ass. I ended up getting rid of it or selling it back to the shop I got it fro,.

[tony]

I did notice the layout is odd. Almost as pad as the six button ascii controller I found at at a thrift store. That thing is a snes controller in disguise! I think I'll probably just find a propad later on to check out.

[Assman]

I recently needed a new 6 button controller so bought a gamester md6 cheap off eBay. Worked fine playing games but just tried it on Golden Axe II and the d-pad does not work. Buttons all fine just the d-pad? Any other issues like this with other pads, works with all other games I've tried just Golden Axe II.

Hold down "mode" while you turn on the console (or while plugging in the controller), which disables the X, Y and Z buttons, and it'll play just fine. Oddly enough, I just fired up GA2 last night and experienced this firsthand.

Anyway, that ProgramPad sucks. I remember picking one up for some stupid amount of money (something like $40 for a third-party controller back in the mid-90s) simply because I was having trouble with Brutalities in UMK3 and thought this would help. For a while it ended up being the only working 6-button I had lying around, which was quite depressing.

[Spaced]

Hold down "mode" while you turn on the console (or while plugging in the controller), which disables the X, Y and Z buttons, and it'll play just fine. Oddly enough, I just fired up GA2 last night and experienced this firsthand.

cheers Assman.

[Mista_Ed]

I think that was my first and only 3rd party controller I bought and it sucked ass. I ended up getting rid of it or selling it back to the shop I got it fro,.

ive been going to my local pawn-brokers for ages and seeing this pad in the bargain bin without realising it was a MD pad....looks a bit similar to that?

more similar to this to be fair:



it works fuccen ace tho....i actually thought it was a playstation pad for ages until i saw the plug end....

[MindController]

Hello!

So beware of this piece of shit. It say SEGA, but it's entirely another thing. The marks on the buttons are written in 3 different fonts, and it's cord measures 2 and a half feet. TWO AND A HALF, FFS!!!! Well, i said i would mention... BEWARE. Don't be fooled like me to buy this online (US 3,00 isn't much of a loss)

While searching for the original 6 button Genesis controller I kept coming across the above model on Amazon and Ebay.

They definitely attempted to draw most people in by branding this controller with the Sega logo. Not to mention that most pics of this controller are quite blurry, probably done intentionally to mask the discrepancies on this device.

But the biggest tell that this was a knockoff is that the start button is blue. The original controller has a gray start button. Except no substitutes!

Behold the original in all its glory.

[St Louie Bee]

I think it's about time someone posted some NEW controllers on this thread!



"Jet Fighter" controller. Works pretty well for what I thought was going to be a pure novelty item. It only has 3 buttons, but it feels comfortable to use, nothing sticks, and the directional pad is decent enough. Has two turbo speeds and slow motion. Can be used for SNES also. Has a red LED in the cockpit that lights whenever a button is pushed.



Just got this baby. Per4mer controller by Home Arcade Systems. Had to open her up when I got it as it was locked into turning left. Works surprisingly well. Have only played Super Monaco GP so far, but turning was very smooth and the wheel always comes back to zero position when released. It has A and B buttons on the front of the wheel and up and down on the back. They are positioned very well and it feels natural to use them. The four buttons on the side are up, down, C, and start. I highly recommend it!