I

f you want a task to keep you busy until the end of time, find a good PC controller. As someone who has been playing PC games since the days of the IBM PC Jr.–back when we had to manually calibrate our sticks–I have only ever seen one worth recommending: the original Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad.

Apparently people must agree with me, since Microsoft remade the controller in a USB edition several years back. It, like its predecessor, has since vanished from shelves.

The next best route is using a console controller on your PC. Chances are you already have a handful lying around and with advances in USB technology, using one on your PC no longer involves building your own parallel port adapter and using flaky USB drivers.

The adapter I selected for use with my laptop was the CYBER 3in1 Controller Adapter. I first saw it on Lik Sang, then I checked eBay–where they’re actually affordable and don’t involve insane $20 trans-Pacific shipping fees. I bought mine from the user halfastock, but he and most users label their auctions wrong. Just search for something like “PlayStation USB” or “Dreamcast USB.”

Unfortunately, no English Web sites selling the adaptor listed its controller compatibility aside from the usual, “Durr, it am have PlayStation, Saturn and Dreamcast ports.” I suppose they could have been even more vague, but it would require not even posting a picture of the device.

About a month after I got my adapter, I did a little digging on Google and found CYBER’s Web site, the original manufacturer of the device. They have a nice compatibility list–if you live in Japan. Truth be told 80 percent of the devices they list are not available for purchase in the USA. So, I decided to start a compatibility list of my own using my controllers and friends’.

If you have anything to add to this list, please E-mail me or post your findings on the forum. Please include the game pad’s part number if it there is one. Part numbers are usually located on the bottom of the controller, pressed into the plastic. The lowest of the low-end controllers probably won’t have one.

Compatibility List

Sega Saturn:

• Original Saturn Model 2 Controller (MK-80116)
• Performance Super Pad 8 (P-400) — Start button does not work
• Nu-gen Saturn Pad
• Sega Saturn Analog Pad (MK-80117) — Unsupported
• Sega Saturn Multi-Tap (MK-8012) — Unsupported

Sega Dreamcast:

• Original Dreamcast Controller (HKT-7700)
• Topmax Joystick Arcade Stick — Unsupported
• Sega Dreamcast Mouse (HKT-4200) — Unsupported
• Sega Dreamcast Keyboard (HKT-7620) — Unsupported

Sony PlayStation 1/2

• Original Playstation Digital Controller (SCPH-1080)
• Sony Analog Controller (SCPH-1200)
• Sony Analog Controller (SCPH-110)
• Performance GamePad (P-103A)
• Performance GamePad (P-103GSM)
• Pelican Retro Shock 2 (PL-642)
• Naki Pad
• ProductZ PlayStation Pad — Unsupported

Official Compatibility List

Sega Saturn:

• Original Saturn Controller
• Twin Sticks
• Sega Saturn Hori Pad

Sega Dreamcast:

• Original Dreamcast Controller
• Arcade Stick
• ASCII Mission Stick
• Racing Controller — Partial Support
• Dreamcast Keyboard — Unsupported

PlayStation 1/2:

• Original Digial Controller
• Original Analog Controller
• Dual Force 2
• Beatmania Controller
• ASCII Pad FT2
• ASCII Stick FT2
• Hyper Steering V
• Virtua Fighter 4 Stick
• Compact Stick
• Fighting Stick
• Biohazard Controller
• ProgramPad
• Hori Analog Turbo Pad
• Dual Force 1
• Namco Negcon — Partial Support
• Namco Jogcon — Partial Support
• DDR Controller — Partial Support
• ZeroTech — Partial Support
• Maestromusic Controller — Unsupported
• ASCII Triple Controller — Unsupported
• Namco Guncon — Unsupported
• Multitap — Unsupported

Sony PlayStation 2:

• Original Analog Controller
• Dual Force 2
• CYBER Analog Turbo Pad
• CYBER Vibrating Joystick
• Namco Tatacon
• Rock’n Photo Controller
• Dream Mania Controller — Unsupported
• Multitap — Unsupported