The 8BitDo M30 Wireless Pad Is The Best Control Option For Your Sega Mega Drive Mini

Worth noting this can also be used on a Switch with the receiver. Less versatile than the Bluetooth version, but still a nice bonus.

Personally I prefer the original 3 button controller, it is how I always preferred to play Sega Genesis games back in the day and it is the most comfortable to hold and the d-pad on it was amazing.

I guess this is cool if you really desire a wireless controller, but the 6 buttons are only useful for Street Fighter. This is definitely for specific needs.

@JayJ I loved the American Genesis controllers with their big, squishy buttons. Maybe not good for fighting games, but very comfortable for almost everything else.

@dedant Worth noting that the bluetooth version works on Switch and also on the megadrive mini with an adapter. EDIT the snes mini retro receiver can be used as well

I'll stick with the official 6 button one. But there's more than just Street Fighter that utilises the six button pad.....

8bitdo need to do an N64 pad.

@MaseSco Yeah I remember a couple of other games that used more than 3 if you had a 6 button controller, but they are very few and far between and I don't know if any of those are included. For the most part it was just fighters that used the 6 buttons, the vast majority of Genesis games were designed around only using 3.

@MaseSco On the Mega Drive Mini I'd say it's needed for Eternal Champions too. Comix Zone and Streets Of Rage 2 are also 6 button compatible but those two games play perfectly fine with just 3 buttons IMO.

This would be nice to have, but I’m kinda iffy about it too. The 3 button controller works just fine for the other games. It’s just Street Fighter that’s the problem.

I’ve got mine on preorder. Looking forward to it. I’ve got a couple of Nintendo form factor controllers from 8bitdo, but this will be my first Sega one.

I use mine with the Mega SG and it's very well made and works perfectly. One of the best 3rd party controllers I've owned.

The best original Mega Drive controller was, of course, the 6-button IR wireless pad:
https://consolevariations.com/variation/controller/remote-arcade-pad

I'm impatiently waiting for 8bitdo's 'Pro' revision of the M30 pad, with double joysticks. It won't get any better than that.

I need one of those in my life. Cheap too...

@Wavey84 Yeah that is why I don't worry about having the highest quality connection when it comes to 90's consoles, they were never meant to have the clearest connection and there isn't much to gain with upscailing, at least IMO.

I just don't get why some people act like a 6 button controller is essential for the Genesis. Only game I would really play that really took advantage of it was SF2 and I prefer playing the Anniversary Collection versions today.

I went with retrobits wired 6 button pad just to eliminate any bit of input delay I can.

Now just waiting for news from the modder community! I really need to have Mercs on this thing...

I always have bad luck with their controllers. Tried a few of them in the past. I can't seem to stay connected, updated and all.

@JayJ when I first heard about upscaling, it was to output old systems to progressive scan monitors at 480p. Now, the purpose for upscaling is to take the processing away from the HDTV, which will do it otherwise. Different TVs provide different results. When I hooked up my SNES to an old HDTV, the results were terrible. Upscalers don't make the old systems look better. They just make them look they way they should, aside from using a CRT.

I agree about not worrying much about getting the best connection. With that said, some systems have pretty terrible video output in RF and composite. The Genesis was notorious for jail bars and rainbow banding. And RGB output takes care of that.

@Wavey84 I always liked Street Fighter 2 for Genesis. And I ended up with the SNES games back in the day, so they're the ones I played the most. After comparing SF2 for the SNES, Genesis, and PC Engine, I came away with the opinion that they all have things going for them. The SNES version is the only version that has music I would rather avoid. Ken's stage sounds horrible to me. But that's just me, and I know you're not the only one with those issues with the Genesis version. I will say, they would have been better off making the Genesis version the same as PC Engine and arcade versions which would only play a single voice sample at a time which would have helped clean up the quality.

I’m surprised Sega hasn’t made a statement on the logic or reasoning behind not including the 6 button in the west!! Thankfully only a few games really need it but still! 🤔

@JayJ Yep there actually are more games:
Beyond Oasis
Comix Zone
Contra Hard Corps/Probotector
Eternal Champions
Shinobi 3
Virtua Fighter 2 lol

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/216133-6-button-games/

@Bomberman64 Yeah I remember the XYZ buttons working with the odd game here and there. Thanks for the research!

I am enamoured with that controller. Tis a shame that I have no real use for it when i have my other 2 8bitdo controllers.

@Diogmites You can play it wired too, the controller came with a receiver and a USB charging wire which you could just plug from the M30 controller to the Genesis Mini. By doing that you're charging the controller at the same time you're playing it.

@Wavey84 i know but hey it’s not a deal breaker for me as I bought 2 of them lol. I’ve just seen tons of complaints about it on the internet and I’m just curious about their decision process. I have a Sega brand 6 button for my Genny and never gets in the way of the 400 carts i still play whether it be Street Fighter II championship edition or the 1- button Columns. But at least the 6 button is there if you need it. 😉 but yup like you said there are options like this 8bitdo.

Does anyone have this controller? I wonder how the d-pad feels. I had the SF30 but I sold it. The d-pad felt too stiff and clicky.

For now I'll just stick with the pads it comes with. The original controllers are very comfy for me and are the ones I remember.

@jobvd Have you managed to get this to work?

I have the M30 controller (the NON-2.4G) and I bought the USB Wireless Adapter. I updated the firmware on both the controller and the adapter and I still can't get it to work.

@Yorumi
Thanks for your answer. I've ordered the SN30 Pro+ on Amazon yesterday. First thing I'll do is to test the d-pad. If it feels the same as on the SN30, then I'll send it back and order the M30 instead.

@Dijita What wireless adapter?

@Yorumi
Well, I got the SF30 Pro+. Ergonomically it's a super comfy controller! More so than the Switch Pro controller. But the d-pad is just as "bad" as on the SF30. I created a return for this controller and I ordered the M30

Edit: YES! This d-pad is perfect! Now I wish we could have the SF30 Pro+ ergonomic feel with the M30 d-pad...