Game pad replacement? [Archive]

bothered

10 Jul 2003, 12:41pm

Aarrghhh, My beloved Microsoft game pad pro has been discontinued and mine has packed up.
It has 8 buttons and a shift giving 16 fully programmable buttons. I've looked around for a similar replacement but they all seem to have joystick knobs and look very complicated. I just want a 'D' button, Two triggers and around six other buttons. Can anybody recomend a fully programmable game pad that is simple to use?
I could set any button on the pro to any keyboard key, The sidewinder won't do that. That's what I want.

bothered.

bothered

10 Jul 2003, 11:52pm

Right then, No replys eh?
Well if I haven't had some suggestions by Friday morning I'm going to Aria computors and buy a Saitek p3000 wireless pad.
You have been warned.

bothered.

profdlp

10 Jul 2003, 11:56pm

...I'm such a crummy gamer that I wouldn't know where to begin.

Maybe the competition is trying to handicap you by not recommending a good game pad.:confused:

Prof

Nixxer

11 Jul 2003, 12:05am

Will this (http://www.microsoft.com/uk/sidewinder/gamepadusb.asp) do?

leishi85

11 Jul 2003, 12:23am

i think the gamepad usb is good, i have 2 game pad, one is the game pad usb, and the other is my playstation controller with a converter, they both work really well, i like the PS one better for racing games and stuff, becuase of the analog stick.

bothered

11 Jul 2003, 8:47am

I have the sidewinder on the other PC, It is a good pad but you can't set the buttons for anything you want. With the pro you click gaming options, properties, And all the buttons are there, even all 8 D pad positions. Then you select one and press a keyboard key ,or combination of keys, and that button is set. Totally versatile.

bothered.

Necropolis

11 Jul 2003, 9:51am

Bothered,

Shorty recommends the Belkin Nostromo N50 gamepad over <a href="http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=10268#post10268" target="new">here</a>. Might be worth having a look.

bothered

11 Jul 2003, 11:50am

I saw that post before, I don't like the look of it. I wanted a gamepad to hold so I can move my arm around a bit, That N50 looks like another keyboard, ie static. Anyway I've just bought the Saitek p3000, Playing with it as we speak. Works a treat in Tomb raider but a bit dodgy in UT, I think I'll have to set it up properly. Quite nice though, Wireless, Fully programmable buttons, Spare rechargable batteries etc. Looks like it's out of star wars though.
We'll see, Thanks for the suggestions though all.

bothered.

Thrax

11 Jul 2003, 11:53am

Playing UT with a gamepad?

I can see my score moving to the negatives....

bothered

11 Jul 2003, 12:45pm

No, As I've said before I use the pad basicaly to go forward and sideways with the 'D' button and jump with the left trigger. I use the mouse for direction and fire, next weapon etc.

bothered.

Nixxer

11 Jul 2003, 12:51pm

?

Edit: I just tried to imagine using that and thought that it would be rather hard. Can you explain the advantage to you of it?

Necropolis

11 Jul 2003, 12:56pm

Nixxer,

Did you forget to type something or is there a point to the above post :confused:

And I have tried what bothered is using, its a good idea, plays quite well:)

bothered

12 Jul 2003, 1:38pm

It's just that I can hold the pad in my left hand with my thumb on the D pad and my finger on the trigger, My right hand on the mouse. It just means I don't have to keep my left hand stationary on the kboard, More comfortable. Try it.

bothered.

T-BirD

12 Jul 2003, 5:03pm

I was gonna suggest maybe giving an XBox controller S a look with a USB converter - the software driver is pretty good for it.

CodeUnderground's XCTRL (http://www.codeunderground.com/)

Nixxer

12 Jul 2003, 5:48pm

Is there any other place to buy the converters from? $15 seems a bit steep, the controllers themselves cost only a little more.

T-BirD

12 Jul 2003, 11:56pm

There are others around (google search for XBox usb adapter), but this is the only one I have experience with. $15.00 seems fine to me, and it works well.

bothered

19 Jul 2003, 8:38am

Any way, Got the Saitek p3000 wireless pad and I like it. You can set anything to anything, Key, Macros whatever you want, I works very well.
Thanks all.

bothered.

Wahoogie

22 Jul 2003, 3:29am

macros own sometimes... i heart macros.

rdwitty

26 Jul 2003, 11:49pm

I suggest the Nostromos Speedpad n50. Its perfect for FPS games. I use it all of the time. It's like a mini keyboard.

bothered

5 Aug 2003, 6:56pm

I had a spot of trouble with the battery packs, One doesn't work and the others dodgy. I emailed Saitec tec support about it and within an hour got a reply saying they have popped two replacement packs in the post. How's that for service?

bothered.

Jurdz

6 Jan 2007, 5:42pm

I just started using my Saitek P3000 again after a LONG time. Two of the battery packs wouldnt work even though the base station said they were fully charged. The packs are easily opened removed the batteries and tested them. One was at 3/4 charge and the other was zilch. Discharged them both and replaced them in pack and now they are charging quite happily.

Does anyone know where I can download profiles (other than the Saitek site - they dont have many at all)????

bothered

6 Jan 2007, 6:47pm

I have the same pad and have had similar problems with the batteries, like you say though they are easily fixed.
Why do you want to download profiles? They are very easy to set up your self. I only use a couple but change the ingame settings to suit, that way all my games use the same controls.

Jurdz

6 Jan 2007, 7:14pm

profdlp

6 Jan 2007, 7:40pm

Coz im a lazy sod.
;D ;D ;D

You are not alone in that - we lazy sods have got to stick together. :cheers:

bothered

6 Jan 2007, 8:47pm

I demand to be included in the lazy sod group.
Ironically, I make my own because I'm too lazy to look for some.

Jurdz

7 Jan 2007, 9:14am

I demand to be included in the lazy sod group.
Ironically, I make my own because I'm too lazy to look for some.

Haaaarrrrrr.

If this carries on we will have to register as a company and start paying wages!!!!

I take it there are no sources for download other than the Saitek website then??