Using Xbox 360 controllers on the PC

[newwiseman]

You need the wired controller or the usb wireless sensor for the controller.

On another note you will want a controller profiler if you plan on using the controller for anything but the latest windows live games.

I recommend Pinnacle Game Profiler, you can find it for free if you search but it's only $20 for a license and is regularly updated.

I like that I can use my controller for everything from Morrowind to Borderland to RE5 to MapleStory without developing carpel tunnel from my keyboard.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

One of the nice things about the 360 controller, is so many PC games come with native support for this over the wild range of third party controllers.

sure a monopoly is rarely a good thing,but damn, it does make life so much easier to just load up a game on Steam that I've played on my mate's 360, and know the controls will be just the same.

As for the controller/mouse debate, come on guys, some games are better with mouse and keyboard, such as RTS,FPS, 'tycoon' style games, and some are just horrible with mouse and keys, fighting games, racing games, etc.

 

[The Funslinger]

Personally, I don't see the point. What's wrong with using a keyboard and mouse?

Some of us find controllers more comfortable.

yeah, despite the lesser amount of buttons, I find controllers more immersive than the flat, button prodding layout of a computer. I got into consoles first, but I do PC game, so don't hate me. x3

 

[SFR]

Looks like this is already turning into a minor skirmish over which controls are better. Really it just comes down to the platform you were raised on, there's no definitive "best".

I would also like to know the answer to this question, as it happens. When I finally get a decent PC, I plan to play Tribes 2 and would quite like to be able to plug my 360 controller in rather than having to use WASD or the arrows (which I hate using, btw) and the mouse.

As an aside: I know next-to-nothing about PC FPS games... so how do you look up on a PC? Scroll wheel?

Is it safe to assume you were joking on that last sentence?

I find that my thumbs rotating joysticks makes me a hell of a lot more accurate than my whole hand moving the mouse. That, and I don't really have the arm-room at my desk for the long mouse swipes that most players use for FPS games on their PCs.

Arm swipes? No movement is going to be greater than the mouse pad. You move the mouse off the pad and it stops registering anything.

And you must just be more use to joysticks then. From a physical standpoint, a mouse is by far more accurate, but that will only be the case if your use to it. Also, console games use a lot of partial auto aiming and more magnetic bullets, so you may find it sort of impossible to play some PC games with a console controller.

 

[Hashime]

Well for some games I can see the advantage. If you want to do it cheap, get an original Xbox controller, wired, and making an adapter to hook it up to a usb port is a breeze. Just google is.

 

[repeating integers]

Looks like this is already turning into a minor skirmish over which controls are better. Really it just comes down to the platform you were raised on, there's no definitive "best".

I would also like to know the answer to this question, as it happens. When I finally get a decent PC, I plan to play Tribes 2 and would quite like to be able to plug my 360 controller in rather than having to use WASD or the arrows (which I hate using, btw) and the mouse.

As an aside: I know next-to-nothing about PC FPS games... so how do you look up on a PC? Scroll wheel?

Is it safe to assume you were joking on that last sentence?

No, because I am clueless. Seriously, I've never played a PC FPS, never read much about them (beyond them apparently being OMG TEH BEST THING EVARS on here) and never seen anyone play them. 'Tis what comes of living in console central and only ever having played RTS games on a PC (where I fervently believe they should remain).

Do you just move your mouse forwards and backwards?

 

[Gxas]

I find that my thumbs rotating joysticks makes me a hell of a lot more accurate than my whole hand moving the mouse. That, and I don't really have the arm-room at my desk for the long mouse swipes that most players use for FPS games on their PCs.

Arm swipes? No movement is going to be greater than the mouse pad. You move the mouse off the pad and it stops registering anything.

And you must just be more use to joysticks then. From a physical standpoint, a mouse is by far more accurate, but that will only be the case if your use to it. Also, console games use a lot of partial auto aiming and more magnetic bullets, so you may find it sort of impossible to play some PC games with a console controller.

Any chance I get I turn off aim-assists, so I can do just fine on PC games with a controller. The assists hinder my gameplay, anyway. I may be more used to joysticks, but they have always been and will always be my go to for FPS games.

Keyboard/mouse is for RPG and RTS games in my book. Controllers for FPS and certain 3rd person games. Flight games are played with a full-on joystick. Racing games with a decent wheel/pedal controller.

EDIT: Forgot the "arm swipes". When I play FPS games, I like to be able to have a clear spin without breaking the motion, ie: picking the mouse up and moving it back to the center of the pad. If you've ever watched people play games like CS or Quake, some of them have huge mouse pads so that they can move their arms a long time without breaking their motion. I don't have the space on my desk for that, the controller, however, provides me with a simple way to keep that motion.

 

[US Trooper]

I mostley use that on my emulators

 

[Joshimodo]

I have the wireless 360 controller with the usb charger cable and I want to know if its possible to use this on the PC at all as I have a couple of games that I feel are more suited to controllers than a mouse and keyboard (raises flame shield)?

No, it won't work with the charge cable. You need to buy a wireless receiver, or better yet, a wired 360 controller.

No, because I am clueless. Seriously, I've never played a PC FPS, never read much about them (beyond them apparently being OMG TEH BEST THING EVARS on here) and never seen anyone play them. 'Tis what comes of living in console central and only ever having played RTS games on a PC (where I fervently believe they should remain).

Do you just move your mouse forwards and backwards?

Yeah, you just move the mouse forwards or backwards. However, I just roll a ball, since I've got a trackball (AKA far superior to accuracy and speed).

Personally, I don't see the point. What's wrong with using a keyboard and mouse?

Go ahead and play a platformer properly with a keyboard and mouse. It's not half as good as a controller. Shooters and RTS games, however, are FAR better with mouse/keyboard.

 

[Buizel91]

Personally, I don't see the point. What's wrong with using a keyboard and mouse?

Some of us find controllers more comfortable.

Thank god i aint the only one!

May have to get one, will feel alot more comfortable playing games on the PC.

 

[CrimsonStrife]

ok, ill admit that the controller is better suited for -some- games, like fighting games, and some simulators, but FPS and RTS dam near need a mouse, for me at least, the precision of the mouse for aiming in a FPS is necessary, and the full keyboard is necessary for a RTS (on a side note, thats probably my biggest issue with halo)
-on subject- should work without any issue, and any modern windows os should find the drivers for you, may have some more advanced software u can find on their site to better customize key bindings to the controler, not sure

Dunno if anyone stated this, but yeah, you can get a program called Xpadder, its easy to find on google, and it works for numerous types of controllers to customize a key or mouse action to the controller, which is real handy if you want to use it on a game that doesnt support controllers.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Link [http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/download.aspx?category=Gaming]

Yeah, go to above link, get the software (Free) and plug in.

 

[Mistermixmaster]

Of course it's possible to use an Xbox controller on the PC, they're both developed by Microsoft A friend of mine plays some games with the controller, and he just stick in the USB thingy he bought, and the install went by itself.

Now, if you're like me though and don't own an Xbox but still want to use a controller, you'll download a different driver, along with a program so that you can use the PS3 controller on the PC.

It's all about preference though, some enjoy different games in different ways

 

[Fuselage]

There are wireless adapters for the PC which run around $14 on ebay, I personally sprung for an extra $4 to just get a wired controller off ebay, which you can plug directly into a USB slot.

Yep..Alot more reliable considering I usually lose my XBOX controllers within a week after buying them.

 

[Yopaz]

Yes, you can buy an official Microsoft peripheral that lets you hook them up together.

I have it and it works like a charm for my yearly Link To The Past playthrough

What he said.

Personally, I don't see the point. What's wrong with using a keyboard and mouse?

Platform gaming with mouse and keyboard can be really annoying. Just like shooters with controllers are really annoying.

Looks like this is already turning into a minor skirmish over which controls are better. Really it just comes down to the platform you were raised on, there's no definitive "best".

I would also like to know the answer to this question, as it happens. When I finally get a decent PC, I plan to play Tribes 2 and would quite like to be able to plug my 360 controller in rather than having to use WASD or the arrows (which I hate using, btw) and the mouse.

As an aside: I know next-to-nothing about PC FPS games... so how do you look up on a PC? Scroll wheel?

Is it safe to assume you were joking on that last sentence?

No, because I am clueless. Seriously, I've never played a PC FPS, never read much about them (beyond them apparently being OMG TEH BEST THING EVARS on here) and never seen anyone play them. 'Tis what comes of living in console central and only ever having played RTS games on a PC (where I fervently believe they should remain).

Do you just move your mouse forwards and backwards?

Yes, forward for up, backward for down, scroll wheel is usually to change weapon.

I like using the xbox controller for some PC games. Especially those games that sometimes require you to push more than 3 buttons at the same time, spinning around or those who have multiplayer. I have connected 4 xbox controllers to my PC once and I had a lot of fun with that. Street Fighter 4 only got room for 2 players, but playing as 2 would be impossible with the mouse and keyboard. Also playing it as one with keyboard is awful too.
Some games all but require a special way of controlling.

 

[WestMountain]

BLASPHEMY!

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I find that my thumbs rotating joysticks makes me a hell of a lot more accurate than my whole hand moving the mouse. That, and I don't really have the arm-room at my desk for the long mouse swipes that most players use for FPS games on their PCs.

Arm swipes? No movement is going to be greater than the mouse pad. You move the mouse off the pad and it stops registering anything.

And you must just be more use to joysticks then. From a physical standpoint, a mouse is by far more accurate, but that will only be the case if your use to it. Also, console games use a lot of partial auto aiming and more magnetic bullets, so you may find it sort of impossible to play some PC games with a console controller.

Any chance I get I turn off aim-assists, so I can do just fine on PC games with a controller. The assists hinder my gameplay, anyway. I may be more used to joysticks, but they have always been and will always be my go to for FPS games.

Keyboard/mouse is for RPG and RTS games in my book. Controllers for FPS and certain 3rd person games. Flight games are played with a full-on joystick. Racing games with a decent wheel/pedal controller.

EDIT: Forgot the "arm swipes". When I play FPS games, I like to be able to have a clear spin without breaking the motion, ie: picking the mouse up and moving it back to the center of the pad. If you've ever watched people play games like CS or Quake, some of them have huge mouse pads so that they can move their arms a long time without breaking their motion. I don't have the space on my desk for that, the controller, however, provides me with a simple way to keep that motion.

You do now that those arm swipe are completely unnecessary you need to seriously adjust sensitivity if you ever want to use mouse. There is no need to ever use big mouse swipes. It can help if you like to have a super low sensitivity for using shotguns and snipers primarily but no need for other weapons.

OT: All you have to do is buy a peripheral that lets the PC pick up the wireless signal. You also need to download the driver. If you have an actual Wired controller (ie not a wireless one with play and charge) then download driver and plug in and play. Although I would advise against using a 360 controller as they are awful controllers. It really depends on what type of games you will be playing as to make of controller though.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Yes, you can buy an official Microsoft peripheral that lets you hook them up together.

I have it and it works like a charm for my yearly Link To The Past playthrough

What he said.

Personally, I don't see the point. What's wrong with using a keyboard and mouse?

Have you ever tried playing something like Megaman with a keyboard and mouse? It is not something you want to try unless you like a daily dose of stress.