There are so many Console -> PC ports, I thought it's about time I bought one, so many to choose from, playing Mass effect 1, fedup of having to take my hand off the mouse to press enter, to interact with objects. [mass effect 2 used the spacebar, which was more comfy]

Also I play Fifa, and Pes, and play Gallop racer 2006 on PCSX2 [horse trainng requires rotating one analog stick anti-clockwise, the other clockwise] Impossible with the keyboard

I do play Don Bradman Cricket, using Vjoy with no problem.

I'm looking at this one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003VD56KW/ref=pe_385721_51767431_TE_dp_1

Anyhelp would be appricated [in choosing a gamepad]

All the best

[edit] also would a gamepad be anygood for IL-2 Sturmovik™: 1946, or do I need a joystick?

A lot of people love that model but I bought it and sent it back. It felt terrible and functioned worse.

you mean it had lag?

Thats the one I brought. Have a Saitek rumblforce as well, thats really nice, but unfortunately (no conspiracy) most games now support the Xbox controller and there are problems with other ones. The Xbox one is ok, bit on the chunky side.

I don't remember mass effects pc versions supporting gamepad.

Otherwise xbox controller for windows is pretty safe bet for usual compatibility. I myself have xbox one controller and otherwise it is good but the bumper buttons are a bit crap. Xbox 360 version had better. Which I had before and it lasted couple of years.

I've been using the Logitech F310 for a while now. It works both in XInput and DirectInput, good for newer and older games, respectively.

I have also acquired an Xbox 360 controller recently. So far I'm pleased with it, but I suck with it even more as I do with KB+M.

No it just didn't set up well, which might have been my PCs fault. More than that, it just felt awful. It was too small, really light; I was afraid I might break the damn thing if I gripped too hard.

Yeah, I have the older model but http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-940-000110-Gamepad-F310/dp/B003VAHYQY/ref=dp_ob_title_ce is the new model and if it is nice as the old model, probably exactly what you're looking for.

I'm really excited about the Steam controller

xbox 360 game pads are good safe reliable controllers for the most part.

Thats Gabe no? Fat Controller - its all mine, mwahahaa!

See here:
http://www.gog.com/forum/general/release_system_shock_89a2b/post486

For games that only support M$ new stupid "standard", you'll have to use stuff like this:
http://blog.designs.codes/run-generic-usb-gamepad-xbox-360-controller-windows-pc/

...and please help completing this list:
http://www.gog.com/forum/general/list_of_games_trying_to_force_you_into_buying_an_xbox_gamepad/page1

You'll probably want either an x360 or an xbox one controller for the least hassles. They're both good controllers too. As noted above the bumpers on the xbox one controller are worse, but otherwise I like it more, the sticks are a a bit lighter and and the dpad doesn't suck like on the x360.

There are wired and wireless models of the x360 controller. The wireless ones require a USB receiver unit that you may have to get separately. The controller is powered by AA batteries, or a rechargeable battery pack that you again need to buy separately. The wired one doesn't require batteries.

AFAIK there are no wireless receivers for the xbox one controller for the PC. I hear one is coming up, but will require Windows 10. Meanwhile you can connect it with a standard microusb cable, and won't need batteries that way.

I haven't played that game specifically (although I want to), but I believe a joystick will add much to the experience. For me, that is exactly the type of game you wait to have a joystick to play, for me, they tend to be much much much more fun and feel like I'm flying the contraption, but it could be because I am ingrained that way from playing that way from very young. Alternately, using a gamepad to fly feels very weird to me, to me they're for fighting games and platformers pretty much exclusively.