I'm sure you're all aware that the 360's dpad is a fucking shit baguette! I have 3 official pads and I must've lucked out, 'cause one of them had a PERFECT dpad! But this pad is now dead (one of the bumpers just stopped working). I've gotten used to playing Virtua Fighter 5 with the analogue stick 'cause I had no other choice, I'd still rather play it with a dpad though.

I've seen a few tutorials for sanding down the "well" that the dpad sits in for improved dpadiness, but to be honest, I really can't be bothered to do that, and messing up a £35 controller by sanding too much off would be quite upsetting. People keep telling me to just get an arcade stick, but I could never get used to them, I need dpad precision!

So, does anyone know where I can get one of these pre-sanded pads? Or have any of you used a third party pad with a better dpad than Microsoft's?

Try http://www.cheapassgamer.com/. They usually have pretty good deals.

People keep telling me to just get an arcade stick, but I could never get used to them, I need dpad precision!

geez raziel

You're weird, Grindie.  How can you honestly play a fighting game with the D-Pad?  Even with the SNES I had to shell out money to buy an arcade stick.

I've seen a few 3rd party controllers that actually have a REAL d-pad (as in it's set against a flat surface like the SNES/NES controllers).  I can't remember the name but just do a "xbox 360 controller" search on amazon.uk or whatever the hell you guys have over in Queenland.

I have trouble understanding how people prefer arcade sticks. They're big and cumbersome, and I hate having to use my entire hand to wiggle around a giant stick to make a virtual man move.

To each his own, though.. Not knocking it, I just don't like using them.

You're weird, Grindie.  How can you honestly play a fighting game with the D-Pad?

He can't. I whip his ass up, on a keyboard!

I have trouble understanding how people prefer arcade sticks. They're big and cumbersome, and I hate having to use my entire hand to wiggle around a giant stick to make a virtual man move.

To each his own, though.. Not knocking it, I just don't like using them.

I only prefer them in fighting games, I have a hard time pulling off moves right with anything else.  Not sure why, that's just how it's always been for me.

normal answer: no clue bucko!

obligatory elitist fighting game answer: get a fucking arcade stick you scrubbbbb

I have trouble understanding how people prefer arcade sticks. They're big and cumbersome, and I hate having to use my entire hand to wiggle around a giant stick to make a virtual man move.

To each his own, though.. Not knocking it, I just don't like using them.

They aren't all huge, set it on your lap. The sticks can be somewhat smaller too.

The pros of a stick are an easier to comprehend directional system (its easier to tell when its a Down Forward on a stick than on a analog stick), bigger buttons that are all lined up (useful for games like marvel where you can mash buttons for bigger damage during supers, or games like Street Fighter where you dont really care what version of a Hadoken comes out as long as one does, do QCF+ rapidly tap all 3 buttons to increase the chances of one coming out...), plus its pretty natural if you're used to going to arcades.

I'm thinking yes, man, because that really wasn't even funny in that sense.

I am with UPRC, I can't stand arcade sticks. They just feel cumbersome to me I guess. :< (to each their own, though!)

He can't. I whip his ass up, on a keyboard!

Wait 'til you get VF5, son. I'm gonna beat you up and down that virtua ring!