Sega Genesis 3-button or 6-button Pad

[jboypacman]

Which of the two do you like you use the 3-button or 6-button Sega Genesis control pad?

 

Getting back into playing the Genesis myself as of late and i have both types of pads but i like the 3-button pad better due to its "bulky" build v.s. the Slim shaped 6-button one.

[figgler]

I guess it depends really. I prefer the 3 button controller, but good luck playing Street Fighter 2 with it. Mind you, SF2 for Genesis is pretty sucky anyway, so yeah 3 buttons all the way

[Chris Leach]

I really prefer the 3 buttn controllers cause the 6 button always had those 3 extra buttons that got in the way. They were raised wierd or something on the controller. so bothersome...but you need em for the fighting games....

[Devbinks]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan the the 6-Button controllers either. If it weren't for fighting games, I don't think I'd use mine at all.

Edited February 11, 2010 by Devbinks

[zylon]

Except for some fighting games, I prefer the 3 button.

[wccw mark]

i perfer the bulky 3 button controller.

[brojamfootball]

3 buttons came first. 6 button controllers came out later. As a result, some earlier games don't work well with a 6 button controller, hence the 'mode' button, meant to be held down during system boot to get the 6 button controller to act like the older 3 button one.

 

Some games just don't work like this. The only one I can think of offhand is Ms. Pac-Man. IIRC, when using a 6 button controller with this game, even if 'mode' button is held during system boot, you can't go up.

 

The Sega 6 button controllers are kinda small, with the buttons pretty darn close together. There were some third party controllers with individually selectable turbo functions(auto-fire) that used a shape more like the original 3 button Sega controllers. These 3rd party controllers had a lot more room for 6 buttons and worked nicely.

 

Of course, as is mentioned in previous posts, the 6 button control is a necessity for some games, especially fighters.

 

That being said, both kinds have their appeal.

[Chris Leach]

Nothing beats walking around some random world on Toe Jam and Earl with a bulky controller or having all your guys and trying to swim to the lower left corner hoping you can make it to the island of happiness. It just isnt the same using a six button controller since that controller didn't even exist when you were playing Toe Jam and Earl!

[littleman jack]

I guess I'm one of the very few that prefer the 6 button.

[littleman jack]

I guess I'm one of the very few that prefer the 6 button.

[BassGuitari]

6-button for me.

[SRGilbert]

Depends on the game, but for the most part, it's the original 3-button for me. I don't own an actual Sega brand 6-button, seems that every used one I pick up is broken, I have at least three that were DOA.

 

 

There are a few (especially Star Wars Arcade 32X and Doom 32x) that I like to use an aciiPad MD-6. I like the shoulder buttons as triggers.

 

[CGQuarterly]

I am all about the 6-button, but it has to be a Sega 6-button, and not the later Majesco job. The 6-button has the best d-pad ever made - almost the exact same d-pad as the later Saturn controller.

 

Chris

[Austin]

Definitely the original Official Sega 6-Button pad. Hands-down.

[mbd30]

3 button since I don't play fighting games on Genesis.

 

 

I really liked my Genny arcade stick when I used to have one. I'd be happy to find something similar for PC to use with MAME, etc.

 

[phaxda]

I am also a 6-button fan. I can't even play NBA Jam with the larger 3-button controller. My hands are kind of small and dainty. I also agree that it MUST be the official Sega version--all of the 3-party options kind of suck.

[Austin]

3 button since I don't play fighting games on Genesis.

 

 

I really liked my Genny arcade stick when I used to have one. I'd be happy to find something similar for PC to use with MAME, etc.

 

I'm pretty sure you can get Genesis -> PC controller adapters, and those joysticks go for hardly anything these days.

[Rev. Rob]

Many of the later games, including non-fighting games, required the 6-button controller, otherwise you had to do funky button combos for regular gameplay.

 

I've never heard of a 6-button not working with any game ever, or having to use the "Mode" button during boot-up. I once called SOA and they told me that all it was used for at the time was the code in Doom 32X.

[Austin]

There are a couple of games that won't work without using the mode button. I can't give specifics, but I've had to hold it down on boot-up in one or two games in the past. Hardly a deal breaker, though.. the pad is too good to be ignored.

[mbd30]

3 button since I don't play fighting games on Genesis.

 

 

I really liked my Genny arcade stick when I used to have one. I'd be happy to find something similar for PC to use with MAME, etc.

 

I'm pretty sure you can get Genesis -> PC controller adapters, and those joysticks go for hardly anything these days.

 

I want a decent 6 button stick for PC use. Some games need more buttons.

[+save2600]

I have to chime in with my preference for the 6-button. It's buttons and d-pad are so much more responsive and accurate to this gamer. D-pad on the 3-button Sega is too large and you often end up accidentally pressing a direction you didn't mean to. 6-button pads are elevated and a touch smaller for more refined directional movement.

 

As an aside, I like using the 6-button pad on just about any game system it's compatible with. Great for the Amiga, C64, A8, Vic, Atari 2600/7800, etc.

Edited February 12, 2010 by save2600

[mbd30]

I have to chime in with my preference for the 6-button. It's buttons and d-pad are so much more responsive and accurate to this gamer. D-pad on the 3-button Sega is too large and you often end up accidentally pressing a direction you didn't mean to. 6-button pads are elevated and a touch smaller for more refined directional movement.

 

As an aside, I like using the 6-button pad on just about any game system it's compatible with. Great for the Amiga, C64, A8, Vic, Atari 2600/7800, etc.

 

I've always noticed the 3-button pad being somewhat too stiff for "Marble Madness". That game requires very precise control.

[DeadlyDiskKun]

I prefer the original 3-button controllers. They have a nice feel in my hands, much nicer then the 6-buttons do.

[J.Max]

I like the 6-button. The D-pad is "floatier" on it.

[Great Hierophant]

I prefer a 3-button pad myself. I would estimate that 85% of Genesis games do not support it. Those extra buttons get in the way. I also like bigger buttons and the D-Pad, I also have big hands. However, I have noticed that the 6-button controller has a longer cord than the 3-button.