Original Xbox controller buttons not working, depending on context

[donutguy640]

Are controllers for the original Xbox known to act strangely? I have a couple MadCatz wireless controllers, and I can't figure out what they're doing or not doing.

I started playing Halo 1 a couple days ago, and on my good controller, the buttons themselves seem to work fine, both during the game and on another game, but on the main menu, or when I pause during play, nothing but the start button and D-pad will do anything.

If I switch to the other controller, though, it all works fine. Of course, thanks to Murphey (and his law) that's the one with the broken joystick lol...

I have a similar but different problem with a third game (The Suffering: Ties That Bind, if it matters)...except that NOTHING on the "good" controller works at the main menu, but it DOES work on the pause menu, and works fine.

Any ideas what's going on, or what to try or do about it?

 

[Vali07]

The controller was a very bad design in my opinion, they have sorted it all out with the 360 pad though.

 

[TheViper]

Xbox original controller was just too big to start with. It felt uncomfortable when playing and sometimes felt I had to stretch to press a button.

They made it better with the 360 though.

 

[Dubs420]

I agree the original Xbox controller was too big and should have been better thought out. The 360 was an improvement though, it will be interesting to note what the 720 controller will be like. Currently my PS3 controller is broken, for some reason when you tilt it it presses in the D-pad and the square and circle button. It rattles when you shake it so my guess is it's almost certainly goosed.