Video game controllers in tandum with PC games

[spottedzebra]

i enjoy games as much as the next person but i have come to find i do not particularly enjoy using the mouse and keyboard interface to play. I would much rather have a controller in my hands with 8 or so buttons and two analog sticks.

Now here is my problem I dont know what controller to get or if i have to get a new one for each different console to play its released games. I play some shooter games ie halo, MW but i also like being nostalgic with zelda and others. I am sure if i started playing with a controller i would pic up other that i really enjoy.

I also need to know how the setup works. do you just get an adapter and plug it in as a peripheral or what? do i have to get any kind of emulator for the controller (obviously i need one for games that are not released for PC)? is there anything else i need to know before i go on this venture?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

[TyrantTru]

You can use an xbox 360 controller with a PC, and it works wonderfuly - there are also some hackjob stuff that converts a PS2 controller to USB (adapter) and then uses some drivers to make it work - Anyways, your best bet is to get an official pc controller - I liked the Logitech Chiller one, it was a good controller. - or check newegg and shop for a controller with high reviews that looks comfortable. Most games will display on the box weither it is compatible with controllers, and lately it is most of them - games like NFS:Shift suck without a controller due to steering range.

[AruisDante]

That is definitely one thing to be careful of... many games that you'd expect to support controllers (such as some FPS's) don't. Check to make sure your games actually will work with a controller before you make the investment.

[Maniac]

I have a Saitek P2600, it's all right.

There's a few issues with controllers right now:
recently developers have been LAZY AS HECK and many games only support the 360 controller. It takes 0.2 seconds longer to support another controller, yet they don't. So if you don't mind the feel or exorbitant price of the wired 360 controller you can just get that. Personally I find it uncomfortable and expensive, but I bought one as I have a 360 too. I don't use it for the PC unless my one of my other controllers aren't suited to the game.

All that being said, most emulators support using controllers, so that shouldn't be an issue. You just setup your button mappings and you'll be golden.

Personally I have a variety of controllers and use what fits the game best. For FPS I use mouse/keyboard, racing I use my wheel, space/flight my joystick, brawling/action my gamepad.

Sometimes games surprise you too... like Batman Arkham Asylum plays better with a mouse and keyboard than a gamepad. I ended up playing the whole way through mirror's edge with a mouse and keyboard too, it felt perfectly natural. But trying to play Assassin's Creed or Prince of Persia with a mouse and keyboard is meh, gamepad works better .

[travy25]

Kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it? Don't mean to be a ****. Console gaming?

That said, I would go with the xbox controller.

[TyrantTru]

Check around, I just bought an xbox wireless controller with a PC USB wireless reciever (both in same package, official from microsoft) that allowed me to play my emulated games, FF's and such with the wireless controller connected to my big screen TV - I LOVE IT!

[Vengeance]

I use my 360 controller for most of the games I play. For the ones that don't support it, I use joy2key or w/e.

[jmilch]

Originally Posted by abacciweelf

Pretty much the same here, I have an account over there but I am not really use it. Anyway, I have some good news for all of you who would like to get some info about device from reliable person before purchase? Are you curious what I am talking about

Hmm spamish?

[Scubar]

I use my Xbox360 Wireless controller to play any controller based games on PC. Works like a dream.

[krone6]

Originally Posted by Scubar

I use my Xbox360 Wireless controller to play any controller based games on PC. Works like a dream.

Same. Good for a lot of racing games. Too bad sites like tigerdirect.com has taken it off the shelves for some odd reason.

[5hiftyL1v3z]

Well personally I use a wired 360 control for a few things. Plug and play with vista. And a lot of games are coming out now with inbuilt support for them i.e: GTA 4, Ghostbusters (which rocked) and...

The list goes on, but not but someone who is still up at 8:30am on a sunday.

I found that using a control for NES, SNES etc emulators was pretty awesome, tho past that I didnt really like it.

But if you cant get or afford a 360 control, any standard USB control will do (or a orig xbox with a little modding)

http://pinnaclegameprofiler.com/ - Allows you to map keyboard/mouse to a USB control. Can set buttons to multi task (Hold, Press, Scroll). It uses different profiles for each game thats ran, which it automaticly detects, so you can set them up with your normal controls so you can decided to use it or no and there is no changing. Also the site has a large amount of premade profiles for 99% of games. Downside, not as precise and cost some $$ but personally I thought it a good investment. (Can map just about anything to anything with it. Even works for use oon the desktop)

http://xpadder.com/ - The freeware alternative. Not as nice of a GUI, not as many options, and not as smooth to use personally. But for simple stuff (emulators etc) it will definatly do the job.