Do you know if they make one with the left analogue stick in a better position? I hate the symmetrical Playstation style layout... I want an analogue controller to use the analogue sticks. :P

has anyone tried the Logitech Wireless F710?
saw some recommendations for the F510 before.
i liked that it emulated the Xbox 360 mode (ease of use) is the Logitech F710 as flawless in the same regard?
do they both work well for older games?

i like the mini usb receiver. i like it used the colors of the Xbox controller in the event of puzzles where you need to look at the controller if unfamiliar with 'standards'.
i like the button placement of the Logitech a lot better than the actual Xbox controller but if im going to have to fight each game to accept it ill probably skip it.

(im sure my preferences would be different if i ever owned an xbox of any kind. maybe when the neXtBox shows up the 360s will be a decent rate to buy, or if Shenmue 3 ever shows up = Shenmue 3 #GiveYuTheShenmueLicense )

my last PC gamepad = Belkin Nostromo N45 ^_^
(it never died on me it went mia after moving a few times. )

For general games, the Xbox wired controller, as quite a few people have mentioned. For fighting games specifically, I'd recommend an arcade stick, but if that's too expensive or too fiddly for you, the Madcatz Xbox Street Fighter controllers have 6 face buttons and a far, far better d-pad than the regular 360 one.

Basically all controllers copy the Playstation layout. The only Xbox configurations I have seen are from no-name brands and on that basis I wouldn't trust the quality of the hardware. If layout is that important, the Xbox 360 controller for windows is your only proper choice.

Logitech is about as mainstream as gaming hardware gets to be honest. :) My gaming mouse, gaming PC speakers, laptop USB speakers and laptop mouse are all Logitech, and I expect my next keyboard will be Logitech too (I have a Saitek Cyborg at present).

But yeah, the feature has seen far more use on my PC than I would have expected it to have. Generally speaking, switching from XInput mode to DirectInput mode is useful if you want force feedback under DirectInput, if you want to use the triggers in games that do not support a fifth analogue axis, or even if you want an easy way to switch out the d-pad and stick. Absolutely essential if you want to play the GTA 3 trilogy, flight sims can also be a bit of a pain with the 360 controller (yes, I know a proper joystick would be better :) )

Someone else above mentioned the F710. If you want a wireless pad that's probably your best bet. AFAIK it's basically a wireless version of the F510.

Oh, heh, I was just referring to the fact that 95% of people just say to go with the Xbox controller and there's usually at least one fringe guy extolling the virtues of a DirectInput only pad and claiming "just use Xpadder" is a sensible alternative for modern games. But obviously your suggestion does the exact opposite, which I rather like. The prospect of a perfect controller for both old and new games is sorely tempting, I'm a huge proponent of making things as simple as humanly possible when it comes to configuration.

So thanks!

Heh. I know what you mean. Despite the fact that I can't stand Microsoft, I was actually one of the few proponents of the XInput standard at the time it first really came into play when people were up in arms about it because they couldn't use their DirectInput joypads with modern games. Joypads in PC gaming really needed to have some kind of standard instead of the atrocious mess that the PC joypad market had become.

Nowadays, most XInput PC joypads have the same layout and developers don't need to worry about supporting dozens of different pads by default. What I do find a shame was that many devs felt the need to abandon DirectInput entirely and not allow a period of transition (GTA 4 initially only supported 360 controllers), but I do get the impression they were encouraged by Microsoft in order to encourage sales of 360 controllers.

Really? That would be odd, because I'd think there aren't many, if any, DirectInput-only PC gamepads sold anymore.

I think when people talk about Xpadder, they are usually talking about exactly the opposite what you said above, ie. they are using it with the XBox360 gamepad in order to make it work with some older PC games. Not the other way around, ie. making old DirectInput gamepads work with newer games, albeit I don't know if it can be used for that as well?

I think the XBox360 gamepad is now the default for newer PC games. Even though even the aforementioned Logitech gamepads _look_ like Playstation controllers (symmetric design etc.), in essence they are closer to the XBox360 gamepad, by the naming and coloring of the buttons, the trigger buttons etc.

I agree having a default setup for PC gamepads is a good thing, but I don't recall it being that messy in the DirectInput era either. Back then, almost all PC gamepads seemed to mimic the PS2 gamepad design, even by the coloring of the buttons etc. Now they are all following the XBox360 gamepad design, more or less.

In terms of form factor, yes, most emulate the PlayStation gamepad.

The catch comes with the button layout. Some joypads are missing buttons under the sticks, some have only two trigger buttons, some have six buttons on the face, some have no start and select buttons, the list goes on.

Not to mention that some joypads change the layout of the four face buttons. Some have button 1 on the bottom and button 2 on the right, some have button 1 on the left and button 2 on the top.

As long as the game allows the controls to be reconfigured, this isn't a problem, but if it doesn't, it can cause some major problems (Rayman 2 anyone?)

Acme GA-03 is the best evar.

I use the Hori Pad EX2 Turbo. Have no complaints so far. Costs about $35 bucks at Amazon right now.

Blew another R600($66) and bought this. it's a bit heavier than my old one, (the old one is a bit worn out from too much use) . Works nicely with my current setup. And like the old one It'll never see a xbox360 :P

For some reason I was much happier when they were called joypads.

(Groan)

(cheese is an excellent source of Calcium be grateful for it.)