How bad is the dpad on the 360 controller?

Thinking about picking up a 360 controller for my PC, but I've heard the dpad is quite bad. How bad, exactly?

I wouldn't say it's 'bad' personally - it's just more sensitive in some games than others. Works fine in Skyrim, for example, where it's used to access a hot menu. It's a little more temperemental in Fallout 3 inm my experience, where you can assign certain weapons to certain positions - anything on a diagonal position requires some precision to select quickly, but you soon get used to it.

theres a silver one for sale that twist to make it was more accurate for up/down/lft/right.Trinitarian

I heard about that one, with the "transforming" dpad. I've read that it breaks really easily under normal usage (even watched a ton of videos of people showing their broken dpads). So I'm probably going to pass on that one. Is the normal 360 controller not worth getting?

Had the transforming d-pad controller for a year and a half and mine is still in the condition it was when I got it, I use it everyday as well.

Had the transforming d-pad controller for a year and a half and mine is still in the condition it was when I got it, I use it everyday as well.VelocityEvo

Sounds like you might've gotten lucky with yours. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOfoC7Sxoaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhVY2AjPR88&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Rtv7EzjoQ

Ton of reviews on amazon with people who've had the same problem as well. It seems to break in the exact same place every time.

The d-pad is absolutely awful. But if you just use it for commands like open door, switch weapons etc then it's ok. If you plan on playing a game that uses only the dpad then forget it.

You can use PS3 controllers with PC just fine as well using motionjoy. I was just using mine a few weeks ago and the only bad thing about it was the sixaxis, if I tilted my controller to the right, the screen would follow, might be a way to disable it though.

The first version of the Xbox 360 controller. The D-pad is mushy and not responsive. The Xbox 360 S model. I am not sure if Micosoft has released a version of that new controller for the PC. The D-pad on that controller is way better. The new transforming D-pad is much better for gaming then the old one.

Overall the 360 joypad is marvelous... except the d-pad, it's terrible. Most games use the analog stick so most gamers don't notice or care but I like my retro titles and that bloody d-pad just spoiled most of them.

It works but it's not really something you want to use for fighting games or paltformers. There is a new 360 controller that has a silver, smaller D-Pad, but I don't know if it's compatible with PC.

never used it ... never used the d-pad ever since analog sticks came out now that i think of it

even for fighters i use analog sticks

Only time I've a problem with it is when playing a fighting game.

It is not preferable for a fighting game or something that requires precision like that, otherwise there's really nothing wrong with it.

horrible to use with fighting games...nothing would come out right.

i guess for all other games its ok though..

Compared to the Ps3 D-pad (or even Nintendo's), it's terrible. I played Mortal Kombat like a champ in the Ps3 version. Then I played the 360 version and I was unintentionally performing jumps. In other words, it sucks for competitive fighting games.

Don't expect it to help you in any way with fighting games or, say, the new SSX.

Not that bad.

I wouldn't want to use it for navigation, but it works just fine selecting weapons like in Assassin's Creed.

I like the 360 controller especially the triggers imo.

As long as you aren't using it for a game that uses d-pad for movement, it's fine.funsohng

These are definately a rarity nowadays... hence the left stick position being opposite the face buttons, the natural place for the left thumb to control movement... if only Sony would see this.

I have the Changeable DPAD and it works perfect... :)

To put it simply, it sucks for everything besides using it to scroll through menus. Thats all its good at...Menu's...

It's honestly not that bad. A little useless with some games, but it's fine overall.

If your concerned about the D pad.. Just buy one of the silver Xbox 360 controllers..

Check out the review on You tube for ''Silver Xbox360 controller":)