Game Controllers Advice Needed

[SeaGtGruff]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum, since I'm trying to play the arcade version of Atari Millipede , but it *is* on my PC, and my question is about buying/installing/using game controllers for modern PCs (Windows XP OS, in particular).

 

Okay, I've been playing Millipede on the Atari Anniversary Edition CD, using my PC's keyboard, which means I'm not playing as well I could be. So I went to Wal-Mart to see if I could find/buy a joystick for my PC. Well, all they had were some game pad controllers, so I foolishly(?) bought one, thinking I should be able to use the joystick-thingy part of it to play Millipede.

 

The only trouble is, I can't get the steaming piece of... um, plastic... to work on my PC. Windows can't recognize it, the driver that comes with it supposedly (according to Windows) contains no information about the device, if I try to manually add the device to my list of Game Controllers then Windows says it isn't connected, etc. I Googled for any information about the game pad, and it seems that a lot of people (who I'm sure are a lot more installing-game-controllers-on-modern-PCs savvy than *I* am) have been unable to get this particular piece of... um, hardware... to work at all.

 

Somebody please suggest a brand and model of game controller that is easy to install-- and most importantly, that actually *WORKS*-- for playing games on Windows PCs, including older games like Millipede.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Michael

[joeybastard]

If you want to play Millipede why not get a cheap trackball type mouse? You will probably have to adjust the sensitivity in the mouse controls but that's no big deal. That seems like the best way to really emulate the arcade experience of it.

[SeaGtGruff]

If you want to play Millipede why not get a cheap trackball type mouse? You will probably have to adjust the sensitivity in the mouse controls but that's no big deal. That seems like the best way to really emulate the arcade experience of it.

Yeah, I was surprised they didn't have any joysticks at the store, because that's all I wanted. But then I thought, I do have Oblivion and other new games on my PC, so it might not be so bad to have a gamepad controller. I just wish I'd read up on this particular one before I bought it, because if I'd read all the negative feedback and "I can't get it to work" posts about it before I bought it, then I wouldn't have bought it. I'm going to try to return it to Wal-Mart tonight after I go to the movies (double feature Friday! ), and see about getting a different one.

 

Michael

[KrazyKaiju]

I've got a Kensington Expert Trackball which works really well. It's hefty enough to stay put during heavy games of Missile Command and has a nice large trackball on it. I got it from Newegg several years ago for around $75. I've seen some trackballs out there for around $25, but they usually are too light or have too small a trackball to feel right when playing arcade games.

[Video]

I believe in the arcades, that Millipede was a Trackball game. You can pick up a trackball for about $20 or so at Walmart (or probably cheaper) and this is the way the game was ment to be played.

 

My personal favorite for modern PC trackballs is the Kensington Orbit, though it's $30 or $35.

 

I just wish I'd read up on this particular one before I bought it, because if I'd read all the negative feedback and "I can't get it to work" posts about it before I bought it, then I wouldn't have bought it.

 

Let me guess, Axis Pad FX? (it's the one I got, cause it was cheap, available at our local walmart, and looked like a PS2 pad, and every game I've played so far, up to Morrowind, that supports a pad has problems with this spacific pad)

Edited April 27, 2007 by Video

[SeaGtGruff]

I believe in the arcades, that Millipede was a Trackball game. You can pick up a trackball for about $20 or so at Walmart (or probably cheaper) and this is the way the game was ment to be played.

Maybe so, but I do far, far better on Atari 2600 Millipede with a joystick than I do with a trackball. I'm not saying I don't ever want to buy a trackball, though.

 

Let me guess, Axis Pad FX? (it's the one I got, cause it was cheap, available at our local walmart, and looked like a PS2 pad, and every game I've played so far, up to Morrowind, that supports a pad has problems with this spacific pad)

No, it was actually a Game Elements GGE910 Wireless Gamepad. But thanks for the heads-up about the Axis Pad FX, I'll steer clear of that one, too.

 

Michael

[JB]

I've got a Kensington Expert Trackball which works really well. It's hefty enough to stay put during heavy games of Missile Command and has a nice large trackball on it. I got it from Newegg several years ago for around $75. I've seen some trackballs out there for around $25, but they usually are too light or have too small a trackball to feel right when playing arcade games.

Mmmmm...

I REALLY want an ExpertMouse, but I can't really justify the cost when my 20$ Logitech Marble Mouse works fine.

[shadow460]

Here's a second vote for the Marble Mouse. It stand fast during serious games of Reactor and Command & Conquer. In fact, I use it heavily for most of my PC games, and during Unreal Tournament, I pair it off with a Gravis Game Pad Pro USB.

 

If you do get a Marble Mouse, open it and swap the microswitches, because trying to use your thumb to left click and your finger to right click is just gay. Modding it saves you having to change the PC's settings if you wish to use a regular mouse.

[JB]

Here's a second vote for the Marble Mouse. It stand fast during serious games of Reactor and Command & Conquer. In fact, I use it heavily for most of my PC games, and during Unreal Tournament, I pair it off with a Gravis Game Pad Pro USB.

 

If you do get a Marble Mouse, open it and swap the microswitches, because trying to use your thumb to left click and your finger to right click is just gay. Modding it saves you having to change the PC's settings if you wish to use a regular mouse.

I thumb-click all the time, and haven't had any problems. I can't really see a situation where having your pinkie finger on the primary button is a good idea, though.

[rockman_x_2002]

The only trouble is, I can't get the steaming piece of... um, plastic... to work on my PC. Windows can't recognize it, the driver that comes with it supposedly (according to Windows) contains no information about the device, if I try to manually add the device to my list of Game Controllers then Windows says it isn't connected, etc. I Googled for any information about the game pad, and it seems that a lot of people (who I'm sure are a lot more installing-game-controllers-on-modern-PCs savvy than *I* am) have been unable to get this particular piece of... um, hardware... to work at all.

 

Somebody please suggest a brand and model of game controller that is easy to install-- and most importantly, that actually *WORKS*-- for playing games on Windows PCs, including older games like Millipede.

 

*Edit:* Read above the controller that you have. And yes, this is the one that I took back two of. Really craptacular controllers, if I do say so myself.

 

Actually what I've found to work best without any problems? Go to Radio Shack and purchase a USB adapter for PS2 controllers. Lets you connect any PS1 or PS2 controller to your PC and use it as a Windows-compliant PC gamepad. Works flawlessly with all the games, emulators, etc., that I own. Even gives decent vibration feedback. Not too expensive either at $12. Link here, but no picture. You can find these in local shops, though, I figure.

Edited April 29, 2007 by rockman_x_2002

[SeaGtGruff]

*Edit:* Read above the controller that you have. And yes, this is the one that I took back two of. Really craptacular controllers, if I do say so myself.

I took it back last night and got a refund. Personally, I suspect that the problem might be related to the wireless portion of it, but who knows? Anyway, I bought a Saitek P2500 Rumble Force (which was just about the only other PC gamepad they had at that Wal-Mart), and it works great-- I plugged it in, my computer recognized it right away (I didn't even have to install anything from the CD!), and now I'm able to play Millipede with it.

 

Actually what I've found to work best without any problems? Go to Radio Shack and purchase a USB adapter for PS2 controllers. Lets you connect any PS1 or PS2 controller to your PC and use it as a Windows-compliant PC gamepad. Works flawlessly with all the games, emulators, etc., that I own. Even gives decent vibration feedback. Not too expensive either at $12. Link here, but no picture. You can find these in local shops, though, I figure.

I didn't look at any of the PS1 or PS2 controllers at Wal-Mart, just the PC gamepads.

 

Michael

[Video]

He's talking about an adaptor to allow PS2 (as in Playstation, not computer) to work on USB.

 

Or if you like the X-box controller, you can get a (wired) 360 controller, and it hooks in direct through a standard USB.

[SeaGtGruff]

He's talking about an adaptor to allow PS2 (as in Playstation, not computer) to work on USB.

 

Or if you like the X-box controller, you can get a (wired) 360 controller, and it hooks in direct through a standard USB.

Yes, I got that. But I don't have a PS1 or PS2, so I'd have to buy a PS1 or PS2 controller before I could use it with an adaptor. So it was more convenient to just buy a PC gamepad.

 

The only game systems I have are Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Flashback 2, Nintendo NES, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, and a few Jakks games. No PS1 or PS2, no Sega Genesis, no X-Box or X-Box 360, no Wii, no nuthin'.

 

But if you count computers, I have a currently-nonfunctional Atari 65XE, a currently-nonfunctional Atari 130XE, an Amiga that hasn't been powered-up in about a decade, and a few Windows PCs.

 

Michael

[JB]

He's talking about an adaptor to allow PS2 (as in Playstation, not computer) to work on USB.

 

Or if you like the X-box controller, you can get a (wired) 360 controller, and it hooks in direct through a standard USB.

And if you like the XBox controller instead of the 360 controller, you can buy a soldering iron, an extension cable, a USB cable, download XBCD, and make an adapter to connect your XBox pads to the PC for about 5$.