Does anyone collect third party controllers?

[tz101]

I have somehow amassed quite a collection of Sega Genesis controllers without even planning it that way. Its just that in hitting all the thrifts and yard sales, I could never pass on different looking controllers for the system. Now, I feel somehow like I should try to complete it. I have checked ebay and noticed only a few other regularly listed that I do not already have.

 

Is there anyone else who has sought to complete a collection of controllers for any system like this?

Edited July 17, 2011 by tz101

[+bennybingo]

I love collecting 3rd party controllers for the 2600. Although, it has not been my focus (as I am still trying to get a complete loose cart collection), I have amassed a nice bunch of oddball controllers over the years. My favorite one in my collection is the VPI Tournament Master. I got it off eBay about a year ago for $15. It's hard to find and works awesome:

 

 

(I grabbed this pic of atari2600.com)

 

Also, the Battlestation II...I cannot rave enough about that controller. It works on my atari 2600/7800, Colecovision, NES, and Genesis. Fully gives the arcade stick experience! I would recommend it to everyone.

 

 

[tz101]

That Battlestation II is sweet.

[akator]

I've got a ton of 3rd party 2600 controllers, but I also have plenty for Saturn, PSX, and Dreamcast. For the later systems, the driving and light gun controllers are must haves. The 2600 controllers are fun to experiment with... some are awesome, the rest don't provide any advantage over the stock joysticks.

 

While they aren't 3rd party, some of my favorite 2600 controllers are the Sears models with the joystick and paddles together.

[tz101]

Y, PSX has a ton of 3rd party controllers, and I have quite a few of those as well.

 

I did not know that there were many Dreamcast ones out there though.

[jferio]

I've started seriously trending away from third party controllers lately, partly because it seems everything past the 16-bit era can get seriously quirky, especially when they're used on a "backwards compatible" system. I really had some issues with erratic controller behavior using some MadCatz PS1 controllers on my PS2.

 

So I tend to limit my current seeking of 3rd party to arcade fighting controllers, and specialty controllers like smallish handheld steering wheels. And even then, I try to take bulk into account. When one has 13 systems that can take a large number of controllers, one quickly runs out of space for things outside of joypads.

[gdement]

The only 3rd party controller I actively sought out was a KBM joystick for Genesis, which uses early 90s Happs parts. It's also nice for Atari.

"Unfortunately", it came in the retail packaging with all papers and was practically like new, so I felt compelled to save that stuff. At least it doesn't add much to the storage space vs the joystick alone.

I don't want that to become a habit though. I don't collect controllers, as I think they look messy sitting around and I don't want to use space storing them. I just buy what I'll use, and pass on everything else.

[jhd]

I have amassed a small handful of (original) PlayStation controllers from various thrift shops, etc. None are especially memorable or even very much better than the originals, though the Canadian made Commanding Player is pretty decent for playing Pac Man and the like.

[Rex Dart]

Me. I'm addicted. Have a powerglove, u-force, assorted quickshit pads, triax turbotouch pads, oddball sticks & pads for most systems, playstation mouse, playstation analog joystick...

[HatefulGravey]

I had a 3rd party N64 controller that didn't suck once! Even better then the original N64 controller by a long shot. I wish I knew enough to find it again. It was black, looked like a normal controller for a normal system and the analog stick was moved to the left so that one thumb could reach the d-pad and analog stick, much like a modern controller. Man I would love another one of those.

[Rex Dart]

Yeah, I had one of those for PC. I wasn't too impressed but I can see how it'd be a huge improvement over the 64's standard.

[HatefulGravey]

Found a small picture. I can't look at much "gaming" stuff at work, but I could get this small pic. Man I would love another one or 4 of these. Makes the N64 playable again.

[+save2600]

I have 3 or 4 large Rubbermaid containers full of various 2600 controllers. Guess I've passively collected them throughout the years and still do today if I happen to spot something out in the wild. Even controller accessories, such as extension cords, variable speed rapid fire dongles, etc. The 2600 is the only system I care to do that with though. The one accessory I wish I had were those large red balls you popped on top of a CX-40. For that "arcade" touch. lol

 

Would also like a pair of those Atari-branded pistol grip controllers where the joystick sits atop and your trigger finger activates the fire button.

[Rex Dart]

Found a small picture. I can't look at much "gaming" stuff at work, but I could get this small pic. Man I would love another one or 4 of these. Makes the N64 playable again.

 

Ditto on the work limitations. This is the InterAct Superpad. I seem to remember little analog adjustment levers for the stick on the PC version. Maybe that was a single lever, a throttle, though.

[DickNixonArisen]

I have a lot of controllers; I see loose pads more than loose games at thrift. I generally don't pass anything up for under five bucks; except gen and ps1, which are just waaayyyy too common, i have plenty. There are a lot of 8 and 16 bit era third party crap, made for clone consoles, a lot of them. Dozens, maybe hundreds. In the majority of cases the original controllers are better. There are the programmable ones, not worth it in my opinion, those are fun... the clear SNES pads with turbo switches aren't TOO bad. Really any third party n64, cv, 5200, or 7800 controller is worth tracking down.

 

2600 - gem, slik, gemini/dual command, 2style wico, epyx xj500 (FAVE), assorted generic garbage, quickshot ripoff

NES - advantage, max, epyx xj, five or six different type famiclone pads, quickshot flight stick, weird huge rockerball tank thing, uforce, powerglove

SNES - plenty of the colored button SFAMI ones, some purple button ripoffs, clear case turboswitchy ones, a few programmable, and a decent joystick similar to the advantage (forgot the name), both and official model and a third party

64 - third party maker, same design save better analog stick with metal shaft, tighter feel, more durable

5200, 7800, CV - nothin' but a bunch of half-working super action - I'd love anything to make those systems better

ps1 - some generic garbage, the boomerang lookin' one

DC - a couple madcatz

SMS - ugly official joystick with that huge knob

GEN - both official and thirdparty arcade style sticks, both decent

[tz101]

Found a small picture. I can't look at much "gaming" stuff at work, but I could get this small pic. Man I would love another one or 4 of these. Makes the N64 playable again.

 

I picked up 2 of these at Salvation Army for $2 a piece. They are great.

[tz101]

This thread needs pics. I want to see images of the 3rd party controllers you own. I will post some of mine soon.

[+save2600]

Ask and you shall receive.

 

 

...the Starplex and dual-joystick holder are a couple of my all time favs. IIRC, got 'em both from an old Usenet buddy: starsabre (jt august) years and years and years ago.

[tz101]

That M Network Tron stick is sweet. Also, what 2600 games do the dual controller holder work with?

[+save2600]

That M Network Tron stick is sweet. Also, what 2600 games do the dual controller holder work with?

Yeah, I guess some have even modded their TRON sticks to include blue LED's inside.

 

Guess you could use the joy holder for Spy Hunter (I believe that was the game it was bundled with), Riddle of the Sphinx, Stargate and other 2-button games with it, but I use it for 7800 Robotron. Friggin' awesome control and feel. Enhances that particular version of the game big time.

[goatdan]

I feel like for the 2600, you practically need third party joysticks. The originals are all right, but there are a number of them that are way, way better than the originals I think.

 

The N64 is a definite that it needs third party controllers. The originals absolutely suck, and no matter how nice you treat them, they will fall apart. Personally, I like the ones made by Hyperkin... that I know I have in stock at the GOAT Store but they aren't on the site, hmmmm... darnit, I'll have to update that I guess. I bought them after trying a bunch and they are the best sort of original-like controllers, but they have a metal joystick so they are actually responsive and they don't wear out.

 

Beyond that, there really aren't too many consoles I think third party "standard" controllers that are any good. I tried a TON for the Dreamcast for fighting games, and never found one I liked beyond the fighting sticks. The dogbone NES controllers are still the best, as are the original SNES controllers. 6-Button Genny, Jaguar Pro-Controller, Saturn Gen 2, any Playstation dual shock...

 

Oh, I guess I also did like the wireless Xbox controllers from some company I'm forgetting now.

 

And I do like the Tron PS3 controller

[gdement]

Found a small picture. I can't look at much "gaming" stuff at work, but I could get this small pic. Man I would love another one or 4 of these. Makes the N64 playable again.

 

I have one of those. I hate it because the joystick is crooked. I think they thought it was ergonomic that way, but my mind isn't based on ergonomics, when I try to push up, I actually push up, not at the ergonomic angle that's built in to the controller.

It's in good physical condition though, and some of my younger relatives seem to like it.

I've never opened it, I wonder if the joystick could be easily rotated to point in the correct direction.

[BassGuitari]

I generally only collect Atari/Commodore/etc-compatible controllers (not Sega). Otherwise I'll collect a "complete" set of controllers for a given system; for example, for Atari 5200 I've got the 5200 joysticks, 5200 Trakball, Joystick Coupler, Wico Joysticks, and a Competition Pro joystick (yeah, I still need the Masterplay and the Wico Keyboards). Beyond the Atari 5200 though, I'm all about first-party pretty much exclusively, and I'll collect them for any system where they happen to be missing from my collection. Although, I'd be all over an Intellivision II Wico or an Odyssey 2 Wico Trakball.

 

Again, the exception is Atari VCS/400/800/7800/VIC-20/C64-compatibles. If I find it, and I don't have it yet, and I have the cash on hand, I grab it (the Atari VCS is one of the few systems where I will pick up ANYTHING I don't have in my collection yet, be it software, controller, accessory, or console...bank account willing). My favorites are the Slik-Stik, TAC-2, Archer/SpectraVideo joystick, and Zircon Video Command. My rarest is probably my Triga Command.

 

[DickNixonArisen]

I love to find homemade controllers... they're usually for the 2600. Got a couple in storage somewhere, dont' work well, but so interesting to me. One of them the guy did a pretty nice job but the other was a real hack. Love to find more...

[BassGuitari]

I love to find homemade controllers... they're usually for the 2600. Got a couple in storage somewhere, don't work well, but so interesting to me. One of them the guy did a pretty nice job but the other was a real hack. Love to find more...

 

I've got a couple like that. One is this metal box (with no sides), with five pushbuttons (one for each cardinal direction, one for fire) connected to the cord of an Atari joystick. The previous owner had built it for a school project in the late '80s, apparently.

 

The other one is a standard Darth stick that someone added a two-way switch to, presumably for rapid-fire. I don't think I've ever actually used it, though.