There are millions of great controllers out there with good D-pads you can buy. There are a tiny hadnful that have a decent pointing-device (eg. the Wiimote), and none that come even close to comparing to a mouse.
That's why this pad is important. Anything to do with d-pads is just going to be gravy.
> There are millions of great controllers out there with good D-pads you can buy.
I'm open to suggestions. The Xbox 360 controller I have hooked to my PC is about the best I can find, and the d-pad on it is pretty terrible, but just on this side of usable.
I have drawer full of other old controllers as well because the d-pads were virtually unusable.
The original NES d-pad, which Nintendo has wisely brought forward on all their consoles, is simply the best 8-directional digital control interface ever designed -- it's so good it absolutely ended the age of joysticks as a home control interface.
A few comments here mention the Sega pads which are a very close second IMHO.
About the only device I've found with a reasonable d-pad alternative is my GP2x Wiz, which is weird at first, but ends up being a pretty good control interface. Even Sony's d-pad alternatives, which are better than the 360s, barely compare.
Since it's now basically free to use, there's very little reason for everybody to not just put the Nintendo d-pad on their stuff.
> none that come even close to comparing to a mouse.
True, but a mouse is a terrible interface for platformers, fighters, and basically the entire genre of gaming genres from pre-N64 pre-dual shock times.
That's why, if you're going to offer a controller with a new style of analog interface intended to replace a mouse, the complementary 8-way digital parts better be rock solid awesome.
Get the Saturn USB re-release from about 2006. They are white with blue buttons (ugly, I know -- they should have kept the black and grey). They have a "Play Sega" sticker in the middle. Do NOT get the "saturn-style" knock-offs.
I got a few new off of eBay for about $6 a piece, they are great for classic / MAME / shmups.
That's why this pad is important. Anything to do with d-pads is just going to be gravy.