¶ Introduction
Below are some common questions about the sum of controller information presented in the Research Data appendix, and what the process is for changing that information.
¶ Who's contributing to this information?
This information was compiled through the effort of several people who have experience with the controllers described in the Research Data appendix. Please see the Credits page for actual names.
¶ What is "sentiment"? How do we use sentiment to gauge the quality of a controller?
"Sentiment" is gathered from people who have direct experience using a controller and separated into "positive" and "negative" categories. A controller may have sentiment from only one person, or several. Below are the sentiment descriptors used for controller data.
¶ Sentiment Descriptors
| Sentiment | Description |
|---|---|
| Very positive | Standout controllers that have very few issues with them. Reserved for controllers that have quality similar to or better than the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for their price points. |
| Positive | Controllers that have more benefits than problems. |
| Slightly positive | Controllers that have slightly more benefits than problems, or controllers that have one or two prominent issues holding them back that don't affect their general usability very much. Example: a controller that has a flaw that keeps it from doing Gold Skip sometimes, but is well-constructed otherwise. |
| Mixed | Controllers that have roughly the same amount of problems as benefits. |
| Slightly negative | Controllers that have slightly more problems than benefits, or controllers that are obsoleted by a different controller. For example, the 8BitDo Pro 2 is similar to the 8BitDo SN30 Pro+, but the Pro 2 is a better controller in pretty much every way. |
| Negative | Controllers that have more problems than benefits, or controllers that are obsoleted by a different controller. |
| Very negative | Reserved for controllers that have "showstopper" issues that make them actively hard to use, or controllers that have poor quality aspects to them and are still expensive despite that poor quality. |
It's important for as many people as possible to contribute to a controller's sentiment to get the most impartial picture of how the controller behaves.
¶ How is sentiment different from a recommendation?
We wanted to reserve the word "recommendation" for controllers that have a lot of data from several different people compiled on them. A controller will never be recommended based on sentiment provided by only one person. Because sentiment is opinion-based, it may lead people to make poor decisions if promoted as a recommendation without consensus.
¶ What is Sentiment Power?
Sentiment Power represents the number of people who have submitted sentiment for a particular controller. Any controller with a Sentiment Power of 
cannot be considered for recommendation.
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| |
Sentiment provided by three or more members of the community. Controllers with at least positive sentiment at this Sentiment Power level should be considered candidates for recommendation. |
| |
Sentiment provided by two members of the community. |
|
Sentiment provided by just one member of the community. Controllers at this Sentiment Power level cannot be considered for recommendation until they have more sentiment. |
¶ Who recommends controllers?
A controller is added to or removed from the Recommended Controllers list by individuals who have extensive experience with cataloging data on the various controllers that are available on the market for purchase. These individuals take a combination of the positive and negative sentiment displayed on the controller's research page, Amazon reviews, and offhand comments about the controller in the Metroid Dread Speedrunning Discord server, as well as other Nintendo Switch game speedrunning Discord servers from time to time. A controller should have substantial sentiment in its page to be considered a candidate for recommendation.
If you think a controller should be added to or removed from the Recommended Controllers list based on your experience, give feedback in the #community-suggestions forum on the Metroid Dread Speedrunning Discord server.
¶ What is a "Budget Pick"?
For a controller to be a "budget pick", it must meet the following criteria:
- The controller should have an average price point of $20 USD or less.
- The controller should have an overall quality or utility that is unexpected at that price point. Qualifying properties include: turbo-optimal qualities (the controller is capable of leaderboard-legal Gold Skip), accurate sticks, good ergonomics, long battery life, good build quality, etc.
A controller that has received the "budget pick" designation is considered a low risk investment. Budget pick controllers are ideal for runners who don't have a lot of disposable income, runners who live in countries where the currency strength is low compared to the United States Dollar, or runners who don't want to invest a lot of money into a new controller in order to play the speedgame.
¶ My experience with a controller is different from the consensus in the Research Guide. What can I do?
You can start by editing the "Testimonials and Criticism" section of the controller to include what you think about it. Describe, in a sentence or two, your personal assessment of the controller and add your input to either the "Positive Sentiment" or "Negative Sentiment" subsections.
¶ My controller isn't in the Research Guide!
If you think a controller should be added to the Research Guide, give feedback about it in the #help-and-troubleshooting channel on the Metroid Dread Speedrunning Discord server.