What was the worst controller? - Toss up between the Steam controller and N64 IMO

[MembersSchoolPizza]

I actually had this monstrosity. I don't know why I bought it. I was young and stupid. They also made one for the N64.

It's basically the deformed mutant offspring of a Power Glove and a one-handed accessibility controller, but it's just not good.

The training video for it (linked above) can't even make it look good.

View attachment 2154344

It doesn't look that bad, but The D-pad on this thing was a torture device. After ten minutes you could feel the blisters forming.

I thought Amstrads were one of the 1-button club? Wrong side of the pond, personally, but I thought most of the Brit micros had the same flaw the early American ones did.

 

[Kulee Baba]

Can't forget the most absurd of PC Gaming Hardware, the Novint Falcon.

I get what the developers were going for, wanting to add more immersion to Gaming. But barring Virtual Reality I don't see how such a device would be so effective. At least it could be used in the bedroom.

 

[Pissmaster]

Some other random controllers that are pieces of shit:

MadCatz Retrocon for the PS2:

Spongy buttons, and the covers of my sticks popped off in under a week, revealing two sharp metal knobs. Somehow, it's more uncomfortable than the NES controller.

MOGA Pocket, a 2013-ish smartphone controller:

• Needs a proprietary app to even function, and only works with games it officially supports, which weren't even very many at the time
• Needs a hacky third party app to use anything it doesn't officially support (emulators)
• Doesn't work with anything but Android, can't even use it on PC
• No D-pad, but it has a right stick, at a time when phone games barely even used them
• Phone holder doesn't fold out all the way, it goes out to an uncomfortable ~120 degree angle
• Takes two AAA batteries, with unusually difficult-to-open battery holders on each side of the controller
• Buttons are actually really nice and clicky, but very small
• I got mine on clearance for like an 80% discount and still felt ripped off
• Came with a free copy of Sonic CD because it's just that autistic

These things:

• It's just a thumbstick
• Covers up a big chunk of your screen
• Not even a real controller
• Slap a couple of suction cups to your telephone's screen but still have to put up with shitty virtual buttons
• See this is why cell phone gaming is degenerate and disgusting and nobody respects it

 

[Geralt of Rivia]

 

[Stilgar of Troon]

Did anyone ever actually buy one of these?

The new DualShock 5 is an absolute travesty; I've already had some come in for repair on drifting sticks, stuck buttons. Shoddy AF, doubly so given how good Microsoft's Elite II is. Switch JoyCons are hands down the most unreliable for mechanical failure, though.

 

[LullerDerbyRollin]

Worst controller I've ever used would be Power Glove. Worst controller ever? Anything using phone pads imo. Now for a rant, the GameCube controller is not good. How does anyone like MS/Switch Pro over Dualshock? 2/4 are great. 1/3 are fine, I haven't used 5 yet, if it wasn't made of the shittiest parts imaginable like most first party controllers these days, it'd be great. I think my fave controller is DS4, but fuck the left stick on it.

 

[CreamyHerman’s]

The funny thing about the shit Xbox controller is it is a result of Microsoft's brief work with Sega back before the began the Xbox fiasco. A large portion of the failed first Microsoft console's fanbase were bitter and angry Dreamcast fans who latched onto the Xbox after their console took a dirtnap.

And they have been stuck with their shitty layout ever since.

One would imagine after almost twenty years and 0/3 in the console market they would have bit the bullet and come up with something that is a good as the PS2/3/4 controllers.

If that’s the case why did Nintendo copied the layout if it sucked?

 

[TFT-A9]

Worst controller I've ever used would be Power Glove. Worst controller ever? Anything using phone pads imo. Now for a rant, the GameCube controller is not good. How does anyone like MS/Switch Pro over Dualshock? 2/4 are great. 1/3 are fine, I haven't used 5 yet, if it wasn't made of the shittiest parts imaginable like most first party controllers these days, it'd be great. I think my fave controller is DS4, but fuck the left stick on it.

My main complaint with Dualshocks before the 4 is how lacking in substance/heft they are. The DS3 really feels like a cheap toy and I don't like the knobs on the sticks before the DS4 (also getting a DS3 to work with a PC is a pain in the ass). DS4 feels nice and while people complain of stick drift I've not had that issue yet. Haven't tried the DS5 and honestly from what I hear the PS5 in general isn't really exciting. I liked the 360 controller in some ways and HATED it in others (d-pad and battery mostly, also wasn't fond of how the L/R bumpers felt).

 

[LullerDerbyRollin]

My main complaint with Dualshocks before the 4 is how lacking in substance/heft they are. The DS3 really feels like a cheap toy and I don't like the knobs on the sticks before the DS4 (also getting a DS3 to work with a PC is a pain in the ass). DS4 feels nice and while people complain of stick drift I've not had that issue yet. Haven't tried the DS5 and honestly from what I hear the PS5 in general isn't really exciting. I liked the 360 controller in some ways and HATED it in others (d-pad and battery mostly, also wasn't fond of how the L/R bumpers felt).

I totally understand the heft problem, I feel it too in DS1 and 3. Stick drift happens, then again, I subject my left stick to a lot of use between MonHun and other action games. I legit can't get into how sticks are placed on Xbox/Pro. It's so uncomfortable to have them at weird elevations and near the buttons. Makes claw griping a bitch.

 

[SIGSEGV]

Not sure if this is the best or the worst.

View attachment 2155031

>that minimalism
This is the single greatest controller I have ever seen.

 

[ArnoldPalmer]

Madcatz had some hilariously shit controllers for other systems (they made an N64 controller that managed to be worse in every way than the original).

Though I'm remembering something else and remembering how little I liked it when I tried it.
View attachment 2154517
NIGGA DAS A CIRCLE.

That guy's actually not so bad. It takes a pair of adult hands, but it's pretty much the same as the Dreamcast controller, when it comes to hand-feel, and the Dreamcast controller is one of the best feeling controllers ever made.

I just realized

Colecovision controller ---> Atari 5200 controller ---> Sega SG-1000 controller ---> Atari 7800 controller
Sega then realizes these suck shit and come up with actual usable controllers for the Mark III/SMS and then the Genesis, then:
Genesis controllers ---> Saturn controllers
Saturn large controller ---> Duke
Saturn Japanese controller ---> Xbox Japanese controller ---> Xbox 360 controller
Saturn 3D controller ---> Dreamcast ---> Xbox 360 color scheme.
combine the latter two ----> rest of the line

SEGA did have some significant role to play in the Xbox's development. I believe their controller designers went to Microsoft if memory serves.

Surprised no-ones threw this bad boy out there yet.

View attachment 2154948

I own one. It doesn't work. None of them work. They never did.

 

[McAfee'sCorpse]

Never mind AM was a pretty good controller.

 

[Kikkoman]

Some other random controllers that are pieces of shit:

MadCatz Retrocon for the PS2:
View attachment 2159032

Spongy buttons, and the covers of my sticks popped off in under a week, revealing two sharp metal knobs. Somehow, it's more uncomfortable than the NES controller.

MOGA Pocket, a 2013-ish smartphone controller:
View attachment 2159041

• Needs a proprietary app to even function, and only works with games it officially supports, which weren't even very many at the time
• Needs a hacky third party app to use anything it doesn't officially support (emulators)
• Doesn't work with anything but Android, can't even use it on PC
• No D-pad, but it has a right stick, at a time when phone games barely even used them
• Phone holder doesn't fold out all the way, it goes out to an uncomfortable ~120 degree angle
• Takes two AAA batteries, with unusually difficult-to-open battery holders on each side of the controller
• Buttons are actually really nice and clicky, but very small
• I got mine on clearance for like an 80% discount and still felt ripped off
• Came with a free copy of Sonic CD because it's just that autistic

These things:
View attachment 2159059

• It's just a thumbstick
• Covers up a big chunk of your screen
• Not even a real controller
• Slap a couple of suction cups to your telephone's screen but still have to put up with shitty virtual buttons
• See this is why cell phone gaming is degenerate and disgusting and nobody respects it

Dont forget your clip on triggers for your suction thumbstick



Android exclusive controllers are sadly still a thing, the 8bitdo + xbox SN30 pro is only for xcloud game streaming. Apparently it might work with some other android games but you cant use it on PC.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

My main complaint with Dualshocks before the 4 is how lacking in substance/heft they are.

You should get your hands on the Dual Analog just to see how your mind will react when picking it up. It's the old Dualshock without the rumble motors so it weighs absolutely nothing.

 

[ToroidalBoat]

Not exactly a controller, but the Apple "hockey puck" mouse.

Not exactly comfortable to use after awhile.

 

[SIGSEGV]

I used to play TF2 with a trackpad, it was fucking miserable. Aiming was literally impossible unless I stood still because keyboard input would block any input from the trackpad.

Chewed through AAs like a motherfucker.
As for the best controller I've ever owned, it's probably this one:

I had two of these except they were wireless. One of them no longer works because I lost one of the battery compartment covers and after a while the battery will get hot and make it painful to hold the controller. The other one still has both battery covers and works almost flawlessly despite being over 16 years old.

 

[Pargon]

The Switch Pro controller, by virtue of being far and away the most comfortable controller I've ever held and having a drift problem endemic to its fucking design that to this day Nintendo refuses to fix without robbing its customers. I tried the home fix that got published all over the place and was too much of a mong to make it work even after dropping another $10 on materials to do it which means I spent an eventual $70 on a thing that was destined to fail no matter how much I loved it.

Genuinely heartbreaking. Fuck the goddamn Japs.

 

[Pissmaster]

The Switch Pro controller, by virtue of being far and away the most comfortable controller I've ever held and having a drift problem endemic to its fucking design that to this day Nintendo refuses to fix without robbing its customers. I tried the home fix that got published all over the place and was too much of a mong to make it work even after dropping another $10 on materials to do it which means I spent an eventual $70 on a thing that was destined to fail no matter how much I loved it.

Genuinely heartbreaking. Fuck the goddamn Japs.

Fuck whomever is the CEO of analog sticks because for whatever reason you can't get one that doesn't eventually drift anymore.

Speaking of which, have any of you tried to play a Switch game with one Joy-Con?

It's horrible. The right one is at least a little more comfortable if you're used to stretching your thumb for a PlayStation controller, but it still feels very out-of-balance.

I guess it's strictly for kids who just wanna play Mario Kart together and mom doesn't wanna drop another $80 on another set of Joy-Cons, but it'd give me hand cramps to try and play anything seriously for longer than like 15 minutes.

 

[Pargon]

Fuck whomever is the CEO of analog sticks because for whatever reason you can't get one that doesn't eventually drift anymore.

Speaking of which, have any of you tried to play a Switch game with one Joy-Con?

View attachment 2161685

It's horrible. The right one is at least a little more comfortable if you're used to stretching your thumb for a PlayStation controller, but it still feels very out-of-balance.

I guess it's strictly for kids who just wanna play Mario Kart together and mom doesn't wanna drop another $80 on another set of Joy-Cons, but it'd give me hand cramps to try and play anything seriously for longer than like 15 minutes.

It would be very nice if Nintendo could make a great console that didn't simultaneously suffer from some epic fuckup that could've been avoided if they looked at their competitors' last two generations. My original PS3 controllers still operate just fine with no drift even after all these years. That Pro controller lasted seven months.

 

[Agent Abe Caprine]

Anyone remember that Pelican wireless controller for PS2? The thing only worked about half the time. When it did work, it wasn't all that comfortable.