Xbox360 gaming controllers on PC.

[Jursa]

Over the years that I've played the fairly new games on the PC, a lot of them give the option to use a gamepad, however don't go up with glee that you can just use your new gamepad (they do have the upper hand at some points). Bioshock and GTA 4 and shining examples of games have some sort of policy for you to have a xbox360 gamepad only. Could someone explain to me what is the point for a developer of non microsoft origin to do such a thing?

 

[acsguitar]

Those games are made for PC and Xbox360. Therefore its easy to design. Microsoft is happy and you increase the likelihood that someone with both systems will buy the game possibly even on both systems.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

Well, the two examples you give already had control schemes mapped out for those controllers seeing as they had Xbox 360 ports... so including those is easy and free. I don't know how complex it would be to develop control schemes for different controllers... but it's hard to argue against including something that takes seconds to insert.

-- Steve

 

[SaintWaldo]

Those games are made for PC and Xbox360. Therefore its easy to design. Microsoft is happy and you increase the likelihood that someone with both systems will buy the game possibly even on both systems.

They are also made for PS3.

I have no direct experience with what you describe, and I can't think of any self-interest motivation to nerf a product like that. My only guess is that this is something imposed on the products by the Games for Windows branding. They most certainly can support other controllers (see: PS3 versions), but I highly doubt anyone with marketing training actually believes this would drive sales onto both platforms, or entice someone who owns it for one platform to buy it for another. Practically nobody would ever do that.

 

[not a zaar]

Are those games published under the "Games for Windows" brand? If so then there's your answer...

 

[raankh]

It certainly isn't an issue of consumer value or customer experience. Tying a game to a particular controller on the PC is just stupid, unless you have some sort of agreement with the manufacturer or brand of said controller. It's the same thing as MS forcing OEM:s to ship with Windows only.

Should be illegal, imo.

 

[Nimbus]

It's the difference between xinput and directinput games.

 

[jamesworkshop]

I thought the automatic 360 controller dectection was weird in Crysis but it seems like a popular device for PC gamers I use one myself for emulators or console ports Like devil may cry
I don't see the problem doesn't stop other gamepads from working the tomb raider games by CD detect PS3 controllers as well

 

[Virgil]

Are those games published under the "Games for Windows" brand? If so then there's your answer...

Games For Windows doesn't prevent them from supporting other controllers (though I believe it does require support for the 360 gamepad IF the game supports gamepads).

The 360 controller is very well supported in DirectX, and has a guaranteed set of features (number of buttons, dual analog capabilities, analog triggers ...). It's a standard, that's why it's widely used.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

Over the years that I've played the fairly new games on the PC, a lot of them give the option to use a gamepad, however don't go up with glee that you can just use your new gamepad (they do have the upper hand at some points). Bioshock and GTA 4 and shining examples of games have some sort of policy for you to have a xbox360 gamepad only. Could someone explain to me what is the point for a developer of non microsoft origin to do such a thing?

Bioshock had it introduced eventually if I remember right, and GTAIV introduced non-360 controller input (known as directinput) in the first patch. New examples please?

 

[shadow skill]

I hate it when that happens supporting a PS2 or PS3 controller on PC is really no harder than doing it for the 360 gamepads (You can easily find out how to do this on the internets.) there are well developed tools to do this. What I really hate is when the gamepad support does not allow complete mapping like it does for the keyboard or allow you to rig it so that you can use the mouse and the gamepad at the same time. (Though this last bit does not happen as often anymore in my experience.)

 

[Lift]

While I agree that it is stupid to use a 360 game pad EXCLUSIVELY, It must be said that after using the PS2, game cube, X box, and 360 controller on my PC, I Prefer my 360 controller second to the game cube wavebird. The only reason i prefer it is that I had one anyway I find it slightly gay that I need some Microsoft USB fob, when I have a box to use a GC/PS2/Xbox controller.

What I will say I like about my 360 controller is that its a perfect solution to school cafeteria gaming. The other day I was playing UT2K4 making my friends pelvis dance down a hallway via flack cannon, in public. and all I had to do is have my 360 controller in my laptop bag, which I already have a pocket the perfect size for in my bag. I still say the best controls for an FPS are mouse and joystick. But since a joystick doesn't fit well in a backpack being shared with a laptop as well as 2 hundred pounds of books. I'm going to say the 360 is a better solution. Especially if like me you have Mugen on your machine and find old 2d fighters stupidly fun.

Ok I'm a long way off topic. back to the "why"

I'm going to guess its not because 2k is a bunch of evil minded dickheads. I doubt their in their secret underground lair going "MUAH HAHAHAAAA! Now those fools we call our consumers will need to buy a controller that we approve of!" My guess is it's one of two things;

They where given a offer from Microsoft that was to the effect of "We have FAR too much money, would you like to restrict your game pad setting for a few yachts?" and 2ks response was probably "Hmmm, ok"

OR

2K believes that is the wisest choice for the market.

If your DESPERATE for an alternative Google up "JoyToKey" its an oddly powerful program, ive used it for Autocad, and photoshop in the past.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

I'm pretty sure you can use any controller as long as you download the drivers for it, though...the button assignments would look weird.