Buffalo SNES usb pad, who has one and is it any good?

[PenutButtaChikn]

Usually I'm pretty suspicious of so-called usb SNES controllers, most of them look rather dubious and the one time I did buy one it turned out to be utter crap (Dpad wasn't even the right shape and it was stiff as hell... Start / Select were plastic not rubber, and the L R were also stiff and hard to press). This Buffalo controller looks pretty legit, though. And sure, I could just get an adapter to hook a real SNES pad to, but that'd involve A: Shelling out something like $16 for an adapter, and then trying to hunt down an SNES controller that's in good shape which is a hard thing to find these days and unopened ones tend to go pretty high. There's a few sellers on Ebay with the Buffalo pads going for $34 with free shipping. From what the sellers say these are brand new (the box even says Windows 7 compatible) and Buffalo is a legit company not just some random bootleg people (http://www.buffalotech.com). But I'd like to get an opinion from someone who actually owns one of these pads... I just wanna know if it feels anywhere close to what a real SNES pad feels like and how durable it is.

Here's some pics.

[Johan_H]

I've never touched one of those, but would like to tell you that a good original SNES controller + adapter doesn't have to cost you more than $34. At least it didn't for me.

[fabian]

But I'd like to get an opinion from someone who actually owns one of these pads... I just wanna know if it feels anywhere close to what a real SNES pad feels like and how durable it is.

I just got mine yesterday - bought it on ebay for around 20EUR from a HK retailer and had to wait three weeks for delivery.

It has been quite some time since I held an original controller in my hands, but from memory I can tell that the Buffalo just feels like the real thing. It feels very light (around 100 Gram maybe), though, and the buttons are a tiny bit more stiff than I remember, but one gets used to it. I played Super Mario World with my wife for hours and we couldn't tell a difference between the Buffalo one and the original controller. I have no use for the "Turbo" and "Clear" buttons, though.

[paulguy]

I have a pretty good feeling that Buffalo did not make that controller, but their branding was just used. Anyway, trademark infringement aside, if it's a decent controller then that's good. The stuffness will probably loosen up, but overall, it may not wear well. It may quickly get loose/mushy.

[fabian]

The stuffness will probably loosen up, but overall, it may not wear well. It may quickly get loose/mushy.

Maybe, maybe not... so?

[Gonzo]

The stuffness will probably loosen up, but overall, it may not wear well. It may quickly get loose/mushy.

Maybe, maybe not... so?

Then maybe it's better to go with a controller you know will last the distance(as opposed to one that theoretically will fail within a few months of purchase), like an original snes controller with a usb adapter. Which is a cheaper option to boot.

[Gil_Hamilton]

The stuffness will probably loosen up, but overall, it may not wear well. It may quickly get loose/mushy.

Maybe, maybe not... so?

Then maybe it's better to go with a controller you know will last the distance(as opposed to one that theoretically will fail within a few months of purchase), like an original snes controller with a usb adapter. Which is a cheaper option to boot.

Also, the adapter opens up a swath of alternatives, like an AsciiPad or a Super Advantage.

[fabian]

Also, the adapter opens up a swath of alternatives, like an AsciiPad or a Super Advantage.

Sure, but in the end, for the 20EUR that it cost me, I'd buy it again and recommend it anytime. Although I also doubt that it's made by Buffalo, but the overall quality is decent enough.