You generally need a card from the country too but with the advent of disposably Visa cards you can top up online it's not such an issue add to that companies like Boxit that give you an address in that country you can get around almost all limitations as long as your proxy isn't a well known one and theres dozens of proxies out there that aren't

If your SSL certificate doesn't say that the domain doesn't match the cert (IE7 and 8 as well as FF and Opera give way obvious warnings of this) they can't perform a man in the middle on the SSL encrypted content, which includes your credit card. If the site uses a self signed cert then you need to trust your proxy or actually remember what the cert is and take note when it changes (no browsers warn you about this last one and they should).
Why did he do that...? Lol, does it add something or he just hated the POS?
So are you saying that the Saitek ones are decent or did you just miss them on your suck list? I always thought their joysticks were cheap, the demo models always had broken buttons in the stores.

Who is "he"? I made it! XD

No, I used a MadCatz controller because they're much easier to modify than an official PS2 controller, as well as far cheaper. As for what it adds, I'd say "usability" and "comfort", among other things. I bought the controller specifically for modding. It was about $5 at a thrift store, but I tested it before modifying it to make sure that it worked. It worked, yes, but it was a cheap piece of junk for which I had no remorse in gutting the PCB out of it. ;)

The case is a cardboard box, and it's actually getting a little worn out. Unfortunately, I'll need to invest in something more effective than an exactoknife if I want to use a plastic case, such as the ever common tupperware arcade sticks.

I'd make a proper case out of wood, but I've not the space, the tools, or the know-how to do that. I wish they taught woodshop back when I was in school, but school wasn't exactly made to teach you how to do anything practical, and I've never known anybody with any practical skills, either. :/

Don't underestimate it, though. The modest, dirt-cheap case is only that; a case. The joystick and buttons are high-quality Sanwa parts. They are very sensitive and accurate. I guarantee you will never botch another Shoryuken or Raging Storm because of your controller ever again. ^_^

They suck... less. The d-pads on most of them are too stiff and have an odd "ergonomic" shape, and the shoulder buttons often seemed to be misaligned, so your presses oftentimes wouldn't register unless you pressed close enough to the center.

Whatever works for you, you know? I just haven't found a PC gamepad that I've liked, but it no longer matters as I'm no longer searching. I already have both a gamepad and arcade stick that I do like.

Hmm... interesting... when I borrowed a Xbox360 controller (to test whether I might want to buy one), it was a MadKatz one. Do I take it that test may have been less than optimal?

I didn't realize you were the modder, well, it's ugly but if it's an improvement, rock on.

I'm not a hardcore gamepad guy, I just want something to play some occasional racing game drunk at LAN parties. I was kind of interested in the Logitech one because it wasn't overpriced (well, at least compared to controllers these days) and it was wireless, which means I don't have to reach behind and plug the bastard in when I want to use it.
MadKatz 360 controllers feel different. They're better than the knockoff ones, but considering you can get a real 360 controller in an unpopular color for 20 bucks there's no reason to pay MadKatz prices.

Note, you cannot get the new designs for 20 bucks, but the old ones are cheap, especially white and pink (since I have a daughter I totally have an excuse for having one pink XBox controller, now the pink DS, well that's a sad story...).

Yeah, it's ugly. It was intended to be temporary, as a proof of concept that I have the skills to make designing a better case worth the effort. However, I haven't gotten around to upgrading it to something better yet. That, and I've grown a little attached to it. It has a certain coolness (the whole 'they laugh at you until you kick their ass' and 'I just played through Ghosts N' Goblins with a shipping box I had lying around' appeal) and sentimental value. Being that it's a cardboard box, I'll be obligated to sooner or later.

Well, if that's the case, all you need to worry about is if it works. Logitech gamepads work. They aren't the best quality and can wear out quicker than some, in my personal experience, anyway, but it's a familiar brand, so it'll definitely work just fine.

I was just giving my honest opinion, but I think you'll enjoy this controller just fine. Go for it, then! :)

Even if you're perfectly content with a MadKatz controller, it's worth noting that they are manufactured cheaply. Quality is overall inferior, and they are less expensive to make, so they are often favored for modding for these reasons. For example, on PlayStation 2 controllers, there is a coating on the small copper pads that keep them protected from basic wear, sweat, and anything else of the sort. This makes it much harder to solder wires to.

MadKatz controllers, on the other hand, have much larger copper pads that are completely exposed, making it far easier to modify. Those new to this kind of work are advised not to use official controllers for all of these reasons.

They work, but they're cheaper and lower quality by nature. This is true of most third-party controllers on consoles. That's why they're a viable alternative, you get what you pay for (Unless you find an official controller for less, of course).

I love the original Xbox controllers. They discontinued them early in favor of the 'Controller S' after too many people complained it was too big. I don't like small controllers I have to hold on the tips of my fingers, I like them hand sized. :D

Hmm... I didn't like the MadKatz one. Apart from anything else, it was too small for my hands... My intention was to buy an official Microsoft Xbox360 controller, under the impression those were bigger, but I'm now told that was the old original ones. As I didn't like the MadKatz controller, I'm still indecisive as to whether to buy one... I do have quite a few games designed for that type of controller.

Well, at 20 bucks (and sometimes they'll come with a rechargeable battery pack!) you aren't in much on an official XBox 360 controller. Just hunt on slickdeals.net for a week, one will come up on sale, they always do.

Unfortunately they come a bit more expensive in the UK...

Madkatz re-uses as much as possible from their PS3 controllers etc in the xbox controller i'd say go into your local game store and ask to have a play on their 360 (local stores will generally have a 360 for testing used games set up in back or even in the front)

as for cost you can get them cheaper by hunting around or even ocassionally by paying import fees

Well, it'll be well into the New Year now anyway, maybe I'll look into it again for my Birthday in March... Meanwhile I'll check out the local Game 7 Tesco selection.