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Post by TrekkiesUnite118 on Aug 7, 2013 2:52:58 GMT
I recently got 2 Skeleton Saturn pads. However I noticed upon using them that they both felt a little mushy/flat/less springy than my US Model 2 controllers. Basically the A and X buttons are almost flush with the plastic on the controller. My initial thought was that the rubber pads were worn (though it seemed odd that A would be worn out as it seems B and C get more use than A in most games from my experience). So I opened up the controllers to compare pads. However what I found in the Skeleton pad was a bit interesting. Basically it seems Sega used some cheaper rubber pads in these later controllers. The pads weren't actually worn out, but the rubber padding on the top of them is thinner than it is on my US Model 2 pad. So while the pads are good and springy, they don't sit high enough to push the buttons up as far as the US pad does.
Another thing I noticed upon opening it was that the screws used in the Japanese Skeleton pad were significantly worse quality. The threads were looser and the screws stripped very easily, where as on the US pad the threads were much tighter and the screws seemed to be a bit stronger and didn't strip at all. So it seems at least these later Saturn pads use some cheaper materials.
I was curious if anyone else has Skeleton pads to confirm if this is a trend with them or if it's just mine that are odd like this.
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Post by MIK on Aug 7, 2013 7:06:21 GMT
Nope, all official pads for Saturn that came with the machines here and spares of those. Best thing to do is open them both and compare. If they look the same then good chance they are and have not been tampered with in the past. Obviously you can push the button up inside the pad to see where it could sit to show it's true height. You can also put a small amount of packing under the button to lift it up.  |
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NeoGeoNinja
Shadow Warrior
Joined: August 2011
Posts: 6,616
Location:
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Post by NeoGeoNinja on Aug 7, 2013 9:27:49 GMT
I'VE GOT QUITE A FEW... Black, White, Grey & Skeleton Model 2 pads - and yeah, they all feel different, from one another even. It's something that really irks me about the Saturn controller: they never feel consistent. Therefore, I have favourites > my other Saturn pads EDIT: forgot to mention, I'm completely familiar with the X+A issue you speak of. So much so that I have always (over the past half decade) re-configued the buttons from the left to the right (i.e. make Y+B what X+A were etc). B is my 'fire' button in shmups for example, although, it should be A. But A just doesn't have good enough feedback to be the main for button for me... |
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Post by TrekkiesUnite118 on Aug 7, 2013 13:39:44 GMT
Nope, all official pads for Saturn that came with the machines here and spares of those. Best thing to do is open them both and compare. If they look the same then good chance they are and have not been tampered with in the past. Obviously you can push the button up inside the pad to see where it could sit to show it's true height. You can also put a small amount of packing under the button to lift it up. I'm pretty sure I was the first person to open these Skeleton pads. From the outside they were in perfect condition and the screws gave that nice crack sound that they should give when you open something like that for the first time. So I don't think they've been tampered with. The rubber pads are just slightly shorter than the ones in my US pad. They don't seem worn though, the rubber pad on top the nipple part of the pad is just not as thick as it is in my US controller. |
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Post by zyrobs on Aug 7, 2013 20:42:12 GMT
I just took ~100 photos of 8 different controllers a few weeks ago but funnily enough the only part I didn't bother picturing were the rubber membranes.
Sigh.
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mick_aka
Kickin' it lively!
"Mick is moderately adequate."
Joined: April 2007
Posts: 9,817
Location:
XBL: mickloaf
PSN: mickloaf
Nintendo ID: segamick
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Post by mick_aka on Aug 7, 2013 20:47:44 GMT
Man zyrobs what are you doing with all this?!
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Post by zyrobs on Aug 7, 2013 21:25:14 GMT
Collecting information.
The fun stuff will begin once I have time to publish the info online, and ask people to contribute.
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Post by assman on Aug 7, 2013 21:27:56 GMT
I got one of these controllers a while back and it's in immaculate shape, but after using it a bit I was disappointed with how it felt in comparison to my US pad (which is out of action, so I can't really do a direct comparison anymore), especially in regards to the D-pad.
I was considering buying another US pad to be sure, but was assuming that either my original pad had become worn to my liking or that I had finally passed the honeymoon phase with these pads and they really aren't as good as I've always maintained. I was under the impression that these pads were identical throughout their life span, so I thought it was just me.
I don't really have a screwdriver that fits up with those screws well enough to open it reliably, though. The last time I opened up one of my controllers it was a huge pain in the ass.
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Post by MIK on Aug 7, 2013 23:56:37 GMT
Nope, all official pads for Saturn that came with the machines here and spares of those. Best thing to do is open them both and compare. If they look the same then good chance they are and have not been tampered with in the past. Obviously you can push the button up inside the pad to see where it could sit to show it's true height. You can also put a small amount of packing under the button to lift it up. I'm pretty sure I was the first person to open these Skeleton pads. From the outside they were in perfect condition and the screws gave that nice crack sound that they should give when you open something like that for the first time. So I don't think they've been tampered with. The rubber pads are just slightly shorter than the ones in my US pad. They don't seem worn though, the rubber pad on top the nipple part of the pad is just not as thick as it is in my US controller. Normally I can't fault stuff from Japan, quality and made to do the job. A lot of 3rd party stuff as in the cheap/crap pads you might get on Megadrive/Genesis tend to come from China. No 3rd party pad was as good as Sega's own on MD any way in my view. If you like using it because it looks cool which they do then I would be tempted to grab the contacts out of an official one that came with your machines if it fixes the problem. |
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Post by TrekkiesUnite118 on Aug 8, 2013 0:37:40 GMT
I'm pretty sure I was the first person to open these Skeleton pads. From the outside they were in perfect condition and the screws gave that nice crack sound that they should give when you open something like that for the first time. So I don't think they've been tampered with. The rubber pads are just slightly shorter than the ones in my US pad. They don't seem worn though, the rubber pad on top the nipple part of the pad is just not as thick as it is in my US controller. Normally I can't fault stuff from Japan, quality and made to do the job. A lot of 3rd party stuff as in the cheap/crap pads you might get on Megadrive/Genesis tend to come from China. No 3rd party pad was as good as Sega's own on MD any way in my view. If you like using it because it looks cool which they do then I would be tempted to grab the contacts out of an official one that came with your machines if it fixes the problem. They're definitely NOT bootlegs. They have Sega written on the boards, chips, and cases. It's not the contacts that are bad, its the rubber membrane that's just different. Basically the rubber pad on the tip of the nipple portion isn't as thick as the one on my US pad. The membranes are just as springy as my US pad, they just aren't thick enough to push the button the whole way up. And the rubber membrane looks just like the legitimate one in that AssemblerGames thread. |
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Post by MIK on Aug 8, 2013 0:44:25 GMT
Your Pad on the left SaturnHST, that D-pad with the two locating holes is an odd one, I can't see it's second locating pin. Not something you would expect from Sega, extra waste... circuit board looks shite as well and not of Sega's build quality. And yeah I have never seen a Sega pad with individual rubber contacts like that.
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Post by MIK on Aug 8, 2013 0:51:26 GMT
Makes me wonder if they are 3rd party pads licensed to use the Sega logo or something but were sold in Japan. Or... they are just copies of the original pads shape, using cheaper components but made in China?Normally I can't fault stuff from Japan, quality and made to do the job. A lot of 3rd party stuff as in the cheap/crap pads you might get on Megadrive/Genesis tend to come from China. No 3rd party pad was as good as Sega's own on MD any way in my view. If you like using it because it looks cool which they do then I would be tempted to grab the contacts out of an official one that came with your machines if it fixes the problem. They're definitely NOT bootlegs. They have Sega written on the boards, chips, and cases. It's not the contacts that are bad, its the rubber membrane that's just different. Basically the rubber pad on the tip of the nipple portion isn't as thick as the one on my US pad. The membranes are just as springy as my US pad, they just aren't thick enough to push the button the whole way up. And the rubber membrane looks just like the legitimate one in that AssemblerGames thread. Could be a manufacturing error then... pressed out of a slightly thinner sheet before it was moulded or fault with the mould or molding process... Does happen in all sorts of manufacturing. 101 different companies doing different things and the night shift messing about. The word fuckit is normally said and it's passed just to get the numbers out of the door. Been there my self.  |
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Post by TrekkiesUnite118 on Aug 8, 2013 1:03:22 GMT
Well if that was the case I would assume both of my Skeleton pads wouldn't have the same exact issue.
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Post by MIK on Aug 8, 2013 1:32:49 GMT
Manufacturing errors could be any number before something is picked up and if it's doable they will use it in some cases other wise it's money going in the bin.
Not saying that's what happened, I don't honestly know. Strange tho.
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NeoGeoNinja
Shadow Warrior
Joined: August 2011
Posts: 6,616
Location:
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Post by NeoGeoNinja on Aug 8, 2013 10:18:51 GMT
CHANCES ARE, MOST PROBABLY...
that this is simply a case of a reduction of costs in future production runs, with the newer pads being made with slightly cheaper parts, cheaper compounds of plastic and rubber etc
Will probably experiment with my... 'bag of pads' at some point.
(not to be confused with 'bag of dicks' )
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