Your favorite PC Gamepad? |
It’s no secret for those reading this blog that I’m a huge gaming fan. I don’t play as many games on the computer as console systems like the Xbox 360 and most recently the Nintendo Wii (I’m really grooving on Wii Sports bowling). In the past I’ve only played a few games on the computer (mostly casino-oriented games), despite having a monthly membership for a full year to Vegas Reel Deal Casino (not real online gambling) that I barely played. Just cancelled that membership in favor of trying some other online PC game services.
Decided that one reason I might not play as many games on the computer is that using the keyboard and mouse isn’t as good an experience with some games I like to play (specifically fighting games) as a controller. Last night — yes, on Thanksgiving — I decided I wanted to go out and buy a PC Game controller. Wal-Mart sold a controller for $14.97 called the Recoil (pictured above and below) that is USB-based and looks and feels a lot like the PS2 controller, only it’s white.
At the store I noticed there are also wireless PC game controllers (about $10 more expensive than the Recoil). I like the idea of using a retractable cord, but in the past with other items I’ve seen the cords stop recoiling. Wireless could be good but I’ve tried some wireless controllers that really suck (for console games), so this is an area where some checking around and reading reviews helps. There are also a bunch of joysticks — most for flight simulator games — out there.
Curious about the wide variety of PC controllers I whipped up an Amazon PC Gamepads aStore and used an iframe to insert below [learn how to create your own Amazon aStore].
Any readers that play games on their computers that can recommend good PC Gamepads? The Recoil, although inexpensive, seems to work fairly well, but I’m curious if there is some state of the art gamepad that I should be considering instead. I like how the Recoil comes with software to map the keyboard controls and that it was recognized by Windows XP without needing to install an additional driver.
Did this post make you go hmm?
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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I just got one as well they are excellent for the pc, But if you wanted to try getting a playstation controler converter for pc they work great as well they sell for 5.99 at most stores.
Comment by Pat — December 16, 2006 @ 2:27 pm PST
Just got a recoil myself at Wally’s so I could play some golden oldies on my laptop. Really diggin’ the old school play of N64 games with an emulator. Mario Golf rocks!
Comment by Cutter — January 8, 2007 @ 12:27 am PST
The recoil is awkward to use for oldschool games. I’d recommend a $10 logitech precision instead. It doesn’t have analog controls, but nothing beats it when it comes to emulating NES, SNES, etc games.
Comment by DarkPhotn — August 25, 2007 @ 7:44 am PST
I got one, the only problem I have with it is that the buttons aren’t that responsive for button-mashing (found this out in certain minigames in Mario Party 2) and that the D-Pad can momentarily register as diagonals. Weird.
Comment by Ratchet — June 1, 2008 @ 6:31 am PST
[…] 2006 I paid for a subscription to GameTap service. Even went out and bought a PS2-like controller for the PC that worked with the GameTap service. Didn’t really care much for the whole subscription […]
Pingback by Launching in September 2008 GOG = Good Old Games DRM-free » VTOR - Virtual TO Reality — August 3, 2008 @ 3:03 am PST
that recoil controller is trash as far as I’m concerned. The button’s aren’t responsive, namely on the d-pad, it’s generally awkward as far as the grips go, button placement stinks, and after using it for a little while I’ve developed a little blister. Granted, I have pretty small hands, I could get around the size and shape, but after trying to play several different games and not being successful on any of them, I decided I’m going to take it back to the store, because it’s crap.
It really proved it’s self to suck while playing gundam wing endless duel.
Comment by Ryan — November 26, 2008 @ 5:20 am PST