Using the XBOX 360 controller

[Ferneu]

My goal, as one of the few trully owners of a N64,
is to use my original controller to play on a emulator.
Since adaptoids have vanished and we all know the deal
with the BOOM adapter, I'm looking for alternatives.

I heard that the XBOX 360 controller is USB ready.
Have anyone here ever tried to use it on a n64 emulator?
Acctually, on a N64 emulator running on Windows 2000,
cause I heard some rummors that it's only compatible
with XP...

[ScottJC]

The Wired xbox360 controller is usb ready, all you have to do is plug it in and download the drivers, it works pretty much perfectly. If you get the wireless one it won't work.

[Ferneu]

The Wired xbox360 controller is usb ready, all you have to do is plug it in and download the drivers, it works pretty much perfectly. If you get the wireless one it won't work.

I was planning to get the regular one. The only thing holding me
back is that I've heard people complaining about it's compatibility
with windows 2000. It seems to work fine one XP though. I don't
know... can you confirm works on 2K?

Thx for the help

[ScottJC]

I have no way of knowing, I assume so because it is a USB device and XP is more or less windows 2000 with a new coat of paint. Only way to know is to try it I guess. There is one for Mac (a driver) i'd be suprised if there wasn't for win2000.

Edit: If in doubt, buy a Saitek p2500 usb controller, I own one, they are awesome for SNES, Genesis and N64 emulation, really they fit any emulator even PSX. Pic attached, look on amazon.com for this pad or a relative of it. I can say without a doubt this controller is way better than my xbox360 controller in this regard.

[Ferneu]

All I really want is a controller with a analog stick that is capable
of reproduce same sensitivity than a real N64 controller.

I thought about the XBOX 360 controller since it seemed somewhat
realible in this aspect. And it's also kind of easy to find one here
in Brazil.

Now, I've gone to amazon.com in order to take a further look at
that Saytek's p2500 contrller and, altought it looked very promissing,
specially for N64 emulation, since it has two rows with 3 buttons each,
perfect some simulating A,B and the 4 Cs, the reviewers on amazon
(most of them) had an opinion that is the exact opost of yours, saying
that the joystick sucks big time...

I don't know what to do now. Should I take my chances with Saytek?
Should I make uncle Bill a little bit richier? Should I just spent 10 f...
bucks and buy the BOOM adapter?

[ScottJC]

Most of the people on amazon are idiots then, if you think the controller I suggested looks good then get it otherwise go with your original plan, but I don't know of any better controler for emulation than saiteks P2500.

If you take a closer look there are reviewers who say the thing is good too but you should never trust anyones review because some of them don't know what they're talking about. This controller is pretty much perfect for n64 emulation because the 6 buttons can be put as the ab and c buttons, or the genesis's 6 buttons, or the snes's 4 buttons.

It even works for PC games but it is much better at emulation, at $18 what have you got to lose, thats cheaper than an xbox 360 controller (well actually dunno about that but its a great price, i paid more). Buy it and you won't regret... The P3000 model is the wireless version also you might want to look that up. its the same but wireless.

Check out the 360 controller, its not nearly as well equipped to deal with n64 emulation, I always found using the second analog stick for the c buttons a bit of a pain to be honest.

[Ferneu]

Yep,
as I've stated above, it seemed perfect for N64 emulation,
totally agree with you on that.

I have one question for you tough. When did you buy it?
Cause the most important thing for me, even more that
the buttons layout and position, is having a fully working
and sensitive analog stick, specially for racing games.

I wanna to be able to bread near the stick and see Mario
starting to move, just like it happens on my N64.

The reason I'm asking when did you buy it is because I
had one controller here (and not a cheap one) but it lost
it's sensitivity in a month. And the worse part is that I use
it like 1 hour a week, sometimes not even that, cause most
of my free time is during the weekends, and I usually like
to do other things with it.

[ScottJC]

I bought mine a few years ago, still works great to this day, the analog sticks are perfect, the pad fits directly into my hand very comfortably.

N64 emulation is a joy when i'm using this, as far as n64 emulation goes, if you get this pad I suggest you assign Z to the left shoulder button because the pad doesn't have a back button like Z, and L is rarely used so I assign it to analog stick press down. Yup, even the analog sticks serve as buttons when you press em down. You can even assign the D-Pad of the n64 with this controller and use it effectively.

It really is a great pad and definitely windows 2000 compatible. I'd recommend it for emulation, its even served me well in games like Ultimate Spiderman quite well.

Woo, 2,500th post!

[Ferneu]

thx for all the help Scott

PS: I wanna some credit for "helping" you to reach the 2500th post :)