What's the best control pad for shoot-em-ups?

[Spector]

There have been 'best controller' threads before, but I'm referring specifically to games that involve heavy use of the fire buttons. Sometimes when I'm playing certain games, I do feel a bit of pain afterwards (I use a black turbo duo controller), and I'm curious as to what the alternatives would be. Which controller for the PC Engine is least likely to result in that carpal tunnel syndrome thing that people go on about?

[WoodyXP]

As far as pads go I'd take an RX pad for comfort.  You might be better off getting a stick if you're having cramping
problems.

[Tatsujin]

for me just the original PCE controller with rapid-fire function. eventually the AVE 3-button pad.

[Necromancer]

I just use the plain ol' regular controller.  Like WoodyXP said, try a stick - preferably one with autofire (does the TurboStick have autofire, or does it just have slowmo?).

[nat]

The TurboStick, both the US and JP version, has the most configurable autofire function of any control device I've ever encountered. In stead of just one, two, or three settings, you get a long slider to control how rapid the autofire becomes.

The JP TurboStick is better than the US TurboStick because the bottom is heavily weighted to keep it in place while you blast away. For some reason they removed the bottom weight from the US TurboStick for reasons I'll never understand.

Also, on the subject of TurboSticks, the device is called the "TurboStick" in both regions, but for different reasons. Obviously in the US it was to fall in line with the whole "Turbo-" family of products. In Japan I guess it was just in reference to the aforementioned ultra-configurable "turbo switch" functionality. The US version is black to match the TurboGrafx, and the JP version is a beige/grey color which doesn't really match anything else in the Japanese 'Engine line.

But back to the original question.

Spector, I find the "Blaster" 3-button pad to be quite pleasurable for shooter runs. It's a sleeker design than the official NEC 3-button pad, and all three buttons have the normal three-setting auto-fire functionality. This third button is great for shooters since it takes the place of "SELECT" (speed change) in games like Gunhed and "RUN" (player rotate) in games like Forgotten World eliminating a lot of the akwardness of using those buttons.

But perhaps best of all about this pad, is the D-pad has a "clicky" feel to it. It's hard to describe, but it's the same difference those older "clicky" PC keyboards have as opposed to the normal "mushy" key feel. During long shooter runs, my thumb gets VERY cramped up using a normal Duo/TurboPad pad and is sometimes immobile for a time afterwords. Not so with the Blaster... The D-Pad is easy to depress, and has a nice feel to it.

If you can fault the Blaster on any front it's that the pad borders on being too small. Bigger than an NES controller for sure but not as big as the NEC 6-button pad which is probably my favorite controller overall for the system.

[sunteam_paul]

If you feel no pain after playing a shoot 'em up, then it's not doing its job properly!

[rolins]

Heavy use of any type gamepads, whatever shape, will give you hand fatigue/strain. The only gamepad I've had least problems in this area are the saturn pads, but thoses aren't available on the PCE...bummer.

Aside from the plain PCE pad, I liked the Hori PC Commander. It a snes-shaped controller with a snes-style d-pad, 6-buttons face front like the saturn pad, and auto-fire switch for each botton. They're about as comfortable as any other official and third party PCE controllers, but for fighting games this recommended. Still if you can't bear the pain with the plain controller, I'd think about switching to a joystick.

[guyjin]

Heavy use of any type gamepads, whatever shape, will give you hand fatigue/strain. The only gamepad I've had least problems in this area are the saturn pads, but thoses aren't available on the PCE...bummer.

The US-style pads or the Japanese?

[rolins]

Heavy use of any type gamepads, whatever shape, will give you hand fatigue/strain. The only gamepad I've had least problems in this area are the saturn pads, but thoses aren't available on the PCE...bummer.

The US-style pads or the Japanese?

I'm referring to the japanese Saturn controllers. They also came out in the US except they were all black and not in different color schemes. In the bottom right corner of the picture I use a white saturn pad and purple PS2 saturn pad. Those are my primary gamepads for everything including PC via usb.

[runinruder]

The TurboStick, both the US and JP version, has the most configurable autofire function of any control device I've ever encountered. In stead of just one, two, or three settings, you get a long slider to control how rapid the autofire becomes.

That slider rules.

Also, on the subject of TurboSticks, the device is called the "TurboStick" in both regions, but for different reasons. Obviously in the US it was to fall in line with the whole "Turbo-" family of products. In Japan I guess it was just in reference to the aforementioned ultra-configurable "turbo switch" functionality.

Yeah, I believe the "Turbo" part of the name is reference to the turbo switches.  The box for my Duo-R lists a "TURBO PAD" among the items included, while the box for my PCE multi-player tap calls it a "Multi-tap," not a "Turbo Tap." 

[Keranu]

Pretty much any standard Turbo/PCE pad.

[Spector]

That turbostick sounds good, though I wonder how often it crops up on Ebay. I've found that the turboduo pad is better for control than the original white japanese pad, but that might be just me.

[awack]

I like the turbo duo pad better also, thats because its slightly larger.

[rolins]

That turbostick sounds good, though I wonder how often it crops up on Ebay.

Found two on ebay, not too sure about the sellers' rep though. They appear to use the same kind of stick and buttons as the NES Advantage and ASCII Stick X Turbo. Although I'm just guessing here since I've never used one of these.
Ebay Link 1
Ebay Link 2

[Keranu]

Also, on the subject of TurboSticks, the device is called the "TurboStick" in both regions, but for different reasons. Obviously in the US it was to fall in line with the whole "Turbo-" family of products. In Japan I guess it was just in reference to the aforementioned ultra-configurable "turbo switch" functionality.

Yeah, I believe the "Turbo" part of the name is reference to the turbo switches.  The box for my Duo-R lists a "TURBO PAD" among the items included, while the box for my PCE multi-player tap calls it a "Multi-tap," not a "Turbo Tap." 

I'm going to further comment on this by mentioning the Core Grafx and Super Grafx names. Both the Core Grafx and Super Grafx use the same "graphic" spelling as Turbo Grafx 16, yet came out afterwards. I think that's no coincidence since no one spells "graphics" as "Grafx", so I think there is a possiblity that the Turbo Stick in Japan does get it's name from the TG16. Here's a question though: Was the Turbo Stick out in Japan before the TG16 was released to America?