MD/Genesis 6-button controllers?

Ok so I'm going to mod a pair of these for use with my SG until I can get some sticks sorted out. Now from what I gather there are 2 different types of official Sega brand 6-button controllers, at least in the USA anyway.

First up is the original version seen here, which has just start and the mode button.

And secondly is this version, which I beleive to be packed in with a Genesis 3 and features rapid fire and a slo-mo button, which wasn't present on the first version.

I have never used or even held one of the second version controllers so what I want to know is does the second version also have the mode button?

Also what do you think the better pad is to use for SG use, if there are any differences in the way they feel?

Thanx for looking.

I'll have to look at the second version of that pad, but the first version is quite nice for supergun use. Saturn pads (Japanese version) are better though.

Why thanks.
Now I have a pair of grey JPN Saturn pads here actually. These are my favourite pads of all time as far as fighters and pads go together and I didn't really want them hacked up. What actually makes them better to use for games such as SF2 over an MD pad, do you just like the way they feel more or do they respond better?

I like to use Saturn Hori Fighting Stick SS (same as Hori stick for Neo but w/ 8 buttons). The thing that sucks about Saturn pads/sticks is there is no select button. I got around this on the Hori SS by wiring one of the turbo switches as coin/select.

Actually on the Hori SS if you unscrew the pcb for the start button and turbo switches, there is a button pad for select (I suspect that Hori uses the same pcb for the psx or ps2 version). So I am thinking about trying to find the rubber part of these sort of buttons and drilling out the hole, but I may leave it stock looking instead.

I originally built my own sticks w/ x-gaming and happ parts...yuck. I can't even explain how much better these hori sticks feel...

You asked if there was a mode button on the second controller, but it is very visible in the pic. I do not see one on the first controller...it's been a loooong time since i've touched a genesis controller though and there may be one. I would go with the turbo one though, because you will have more options for buttons, also the turbo switches could possibly be used to change your button layout for different games.

Also I know there is a Hori Fighting Stick for SNES/SFC with capcom/MK button layout. One for the genesis/md too? I was going to use SNES sticks until I found those Fighting Stick SS.

cheers,
-DT

J0e Musashi said:

I have never used or even held one of the second version controllers so what I want to know is does the second version also have the mode button?

Click to expand...

Yes both versions have a mode button, and the Genesis 3 version is waaaaaaaay cheaper made than the Sega version.

J0e Musashi said:

Why thanks.
Now I have a pair of gray JPN Saturn pads here actually. These are my favorite pads of all time as far as fighters and pads go together and I didn't really want them hacked up.

Click to expand...

You can get grey pads dirt cheap on ebay, since everybody wants black or white pads anyway.

J0e Musashi said:

What actually makes them better to use for games such as SF2 over an MD pad, do you just like the way they feel more or do they respond better?

Click to expand...

Just and improved design, fits in you hand better.
Saturn pad > Genesis 6 button pad

Yeah, I like the way the Saturn pads feel, though the first version Genesis 6-button is nice enough: