[SpeedStarTMQ]

Hey guys, thought it would be best to post this here rather than anywhere else on the web, because you all seem to know your stuff. I'm really looking to expand this page with more useful information as well as get some advice for myself.

So I've got a Model 1 Mega Drive, and this came with two 1650 pads with white start buttons and short leads.

I've also got a Model 2 Mega Drive with the longer leaded controllers with the red start buttons, these are model 1650's also.

I've also got another 1650 white short leaded and a short leaded SJ- 3500 with a blue start button.

The reason why I'm posting these is because they all seem to perform differently and I'm really looking for opinions on the best controllers so I can go out and buy the highest quality ones, as well as confirm any extra information I have so that the SEGA retro wiki can be updated.

The white start buttoned controllers all seem to be really nifty, well built with strong solid d-pads. I've never had any problems with them, though they've been used less than the others.

The blue start buttoned control seems to be built very basically, internally there's not much to them, though they seem to be of fair quality. The d-pad however is more pushed in and there's less of a clicking feeling when pressing the buttons. However in many ways this helps because the Mega Drive controllers were prone to wearing d-pads and this issue doesn't seem to affect this model as much because it's softer to press and move. 8-way directions are also a breeze because the definition between each click of a direction is less and thus you can glide it in a 360 rotation with your thumb and not stick the d-pad.

The red ones, though having a longer lead, are a fucking nightmare. They're built with larger rubbery internals for the d-pad, meaning that pressing is soft yet also loose and difficult. The d-pad is attached to the innards by a tube mechanism which slots together with the d-pad presser inside, which seems to also cause more of an issue because it leaves too much space for the pad to slide around. They're prone to breaking and they don't seem to push down fully either. All in all, they're not fantastic by any stretch of the imagination.

Now, I probably sound like I've answered my own question here, as I own the three main types of Mega Drive controllers, but I don't know what other types are out there. Am I best sticking to white start buttoned ones? Are there extra ones out there which are even better build? What about the official 6-button controllers? What experience have you guys had with them? Are they reliable?

It would be nice to document this further for future use as well as figure out which ones are the best out there.

I'm open to unnofficial, though I really would prefer official ones. I'm an official whore.

Thanks guys,


-SpeedStarTMQ



(here's a pretty picture because I like having them in my topics)

This post has been edited by SpeedStarTMQ: 04 July 2012 - 05:03 PM

[Meat Miracle]

Didn't we just have a thread where someone posted the 6 button competition pro pad and it was followed by an entire page of people saying "yeah, I had that pad, it's awesome"?

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Oh, I don't know! I don't often come to this forum and I couldn't see anything related, though I hope I haven't accidentally skipped over it.

Still, interested to know though

[Joltanz Mantis]

http://forums.sonicr...showtopic=29153
T'was in the Member's Lounge.

[dsrb]

…and SSTMQ even posted in it and then somehow forgot.
Right after all the fangasming* over said controller, albeit talking about something totally different.

*probably totally justified, I mean look at that sexy beast

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Ah I recall that, but I was looking primarily for official ones and which of those were best quality rather than 3rd party ones. I was at work posting in that topic too so I was here and there but contributing more to finding those rubber components Good call though, personally I think it looks a bit tacky, but I guess looks ain't everything.

Competition Pro usually do some nice things, had some good stuff for my GBA years ago which served me well.

Looking around I seem to be of the opinion that the 6 button controllers seem to be the best of the official controllers? I'm really looking for durability and stability in equal measure. Some controllers seem durable but have d-pad issues, others are downright tacky and break easily but for their run have decent innards.

[Vangar]

The arcade power stick 2 (http://segaretro.org...ade_Power_Stick) is pretty awesome.

[Trunks]

Hey, I've got one of those. I'm fond of the fact it's got a metal bottom to it.

[SpeedStarTMQ]

That looks absolutely amazing. I will need to get one of these for Terminator 2: Arcade.

I actually also found a Menacer- manual, box, like new £22, but I have no CRT TV. Makes me really sad. Recently I've gone crazy for Mega Drive stuff, I don't know why, it's not like I've never had one, I've owned one my entire life, it was my first console.

I'd love a Sega CD and a 32X too, but that ain't ever gonna happen and I'd only buy 'em to say I own Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix and thus the entire original Sonic series.

[MooMoo]

SpeedStarTMQ, on 05 July 2012 - 05:27 AM, said:

That looks absolutely amazing. I will need to get one of these for Terminator 2: Arcade.

I actually also found a Menacer- manual, box, like new £22, but I have no CRT TV. Makes me really sad. Recently I've gone crazy for Mega Drive stuff, I don't know why, it's not like I've never had one, I've owned one my entire life, it was my first console.

I'd love a Sega CD and a 32X too, but that ain't ever gonna happen and I'd only buy 'em to say I own Sonic CD and Knuckles Chaotix and thus the entire original Sonic series.

You'd be surprised how cheap you can find Mega CDs and 32xs on ebay, some even boxed.

Also, if you'd like a CRT for that Menacer, check out British Heart Foundation furniture shops, you can get a big ass CRT for next to nothing, and they usually deliver.

[Skyler]

I have one of those arcade sticks, it works really well. I tried playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles with it, needless to say it was a new experience.

[MooMoo]

Im really beginning to get picky with my pads these days. I've swapped between a red and white button in the last day or so, and red really did seem a lot looser and harder to press to get a reaction. I don't know if its anything to do with how much they've been used, these are pads I don't use often on account of 6 button pad preference, but since thats now duff Im stuck with the red and white 3 buttons till my haul comes in the post. Its really irritating when nothing you use seems to do the job well. I guess you cant expect much when these things are 20-odd years old and have been well used though.

[SpeedStarTMQ]

Red (I got mine with the MD2) is harder to use-they're looser and this means you have to press further/harder in the direction you want to go. I've checked the internals and it's just the way they're built, they're built differently. The MD1 controllers which have white buttons are very good. All three of mine have stood the test of time, though I you had them as a child you may have given them more of a bashing than you thought- I know we all did in my household, especially my two younger brothers.

[LocalH]

Can't speak to MD-branded controller, but in the US, the 3-pad v2 with the metal ball bearing is the best pad ever. I have one of those as well as a couple of older v1s with the red lettering on the ABC buttons, and the v1s have squeaky and mushy d-pads while the v2 is so boss, it's almost better than the Nintendo cross d-pad. From reading Sega Retro it seems that all the EU-released controllers were similar to the US v2, but I dunno if they used the updated design as the earliest v2s have the same d-pad mechanism as the US v1s.

I prefer the v2 3-pad over the 6-pad, although that might be because I've used the 3-pad much more recently.

[TmEE]

There are 3 designs of 3 buttoners. The ball bearing one is pretty much what all pirates use (with slight modification) and it can be very good if done right. There's also a design that is like arcade stick and its very mushy and unresponsive and final design is like what 6 buttoners got (and what my MD2 3buttoners have) and it is very awesome. That is the v2 that LocalH talked about. I prefer it over 6 buttoner due to larger d-pad.
I need to make photos of all the types, I have access to all of them right now.