4 ms·

> Buying a good controller for a PC is not hard Is this actually true? I've been looking for a decent PC gamepad for a long time. The default recommendation se

> Buying a good controller for a PC is not hard Is this actually true? I've been looking for a decent PC gamepad for a long time. The default recommendation seems to be the Xbox 360 controller, but with the caveat that the d-pad sucks. I play a lot of games that use the d-pad. What's a good PC gamepad with a good d-pad?

adefa 13y ago
The PS3 controller.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
sliverstorm 13y ago
Maybe try finding a 360-compatible controller with a good dpad?
mheathr 13y ago
Well, provided that you find the 360 controller's d-pad acceptable, the wired xbox 360 controller works directly, however the wireless 360 controller does not work directly, a different wireless controller that specifies working with the PC has to be purchased and uses a specialized receiver as well. However, once that is accomplished it works well. I do find it obnoxious that it both requires an external USB receiver and the typical wireless 360 controller does not work with the PC. Still, that is the one I use, and it works well.
- Negitivefrags 13y ago
  That isn't true. The wireless controllers for the 360 work just fine with the PC. I personally swap mine between them all the time.
  - mheathr 13y ago
    Are you talking about the ones advertises for PC or the ones not sold for PC? When I bought mine (circa 2010) I had to purchase one advertises for PC as the one I had for the 360 before would not work with it otherwise. It seemed nonsensical to me that such was the case.
    - Negitivefrags 13y ago
      I'm talking about this product here: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/xbox-360-wireless-controller-for-windows http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/xbox-360-wireless-... Though mine was in white. From the page. "Xbox 360 Controller for Windows works with most Windows XP-based PCs and Xbox 360, delivering a consistent and universal gaming experience." It comes with a wireless dongle thing you plug in to your PC. Both the controllers that come with your 360 and this controller can be swapped between your PC and your 360 on demand by pushing the resync button on the controller and on the device simultaneously. I've never heard of a 360 controller that didn't work both with the PC dongle and the 360 itself.
      - mheathr 13y ago
        There actually exists two separate Microsoft Wireless 360 controllers, the one that specifies for Windows will work on both the PC and for the Xbox 360 (after syncing the controller with the appropriate receiver, something which is somewhat tricky if the PC receiver and the console receiver are within the controller's wireless range). However, the one which does not specify "...for Windows" will not work with the PC, which is the distinction I am attempting to express when recommending it as an option for PC gaming. On (US) Amazon the two separate listings are http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWKQ/ref=sr_1_2 http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Controller-Win... and http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Controller-Glossy-Black/dp/B003ZSP0WW/ref=sr_1_1 http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Controller-Glossy-Bl... The PS3 controllers may work differently, but I do not find them as comfortable to use as the 360 controllers personally.
        13y ago
T-hawk 13y ago
I have one of these that I've used forever, a Logitech Precision USB. If you just need a digital d-pad and don't care about analog sticks or triggers, it's great. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech-gamepad.JPG http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech-gamepad.JPG Although I've started seeing compatibility problems recently: the Xbox 360 controller has become such a standard that some newer indie games support ONLY them and not native PC gamepads.
afterburner 13y ago
I use a PS3 controller with my PC, using the Motioninjoy drivers. Better than having to buy an wireless receiver for my wireless XBox 360. The PS3 wireless controller actually sends control commands over the USB port if it's connected, whereas the wireless XBox 360 controller does not.
deelowe 13y ago
The street fighter xbox 360 controller. It has a different d-pad.

adefa 13y ago

The PS3 controller.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

sliverstorm 13y ago

Maybe try finding a 360-compatible controller with a good dpad?

mheathr 13y ago

Well, provided that you find the 360 controller's d-pad acceptable, the wired xbox 360 controller works directly, however the wireless 360 controller does not work directly, a different wireless controller that specifies working with the PC has to be purchased and uses a specialized receiver as well. However, once that is accomplished it works well. I do find it obnoxious that it both requires an external USB receiver and the typical wireless 360 controller does not work with the PC. Still, that is the one I use, and it works well.

Negitivefrags 13y ago
That isn't true. The wireless controllers for the 360 work just fine with the PC. I personally swap mine between them all the time.
- mheathr 13y ago
  Are you talking about the ones advertises for PC or the ones not sold for PC? When I bought mine (circa 2010) I had to purchase one advertises for PC as the one I had for the 360 before would not work with it otherwise. It seemed nonsensical to me that such was the case.
  - Negitivefrags 13y ago
    I'm talking about this product here: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/xbox-360-wireless-controller-for-windows http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/xbox-360-wireless-... Though mine was in white. From the page. "Xbox 360 Controller for Windows works with most Windows XP-based PCs and Xbox 360, delivering a consistent and universal gaming experience." It comes with a wireless dongle thing you plug in to your PC. Both the controllers that come with your 360 and this controller can be swapped between your PC and your 360 on demand by pushing the resync button on the controller and on the device simultaneously. I've never heard of a 360 controller that didn't work both with the PC dongle and the 360 itself.
    - mheathr 13y ago
      There actually exists two separate Microsoft Wireless 360 controllers, the one that specifies for Windows will work on both the PC and for the Xbox 360 (after syncing the controller with the appropriate receiver, something which is somewhat tricky if the PC receiver and the console receiver are within the controller's wireless range). However, the one which does not specify "...for Windows" will not work with the PC, which is the distinction I am attempting to express when recommending it as an option for PC gaming. On (US) Amazon the two separate listings are http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWKQ/ref=sr_1_2 http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Controller-Win... and http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Controller-Glossy-Black/dp/B003ZSP0WW/ref=sr_1_1 http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Controller-Glossy-Bl... The PS3 controllers may work differently, but I do not find them as comfortable to use as the 360 controllers personally.
      - 13y ago

T-hawk 13y ago

I have one of these that I've used forever, a Logitech Precision USB. If you just need a digital d-pad and don't care about analog sticks or triggers, it's great. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech-gamepad.JPG http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech-gamepad.JPG Although I've started seeing compatibility problems recently: the Xbox 360 controller has become such a standard that some newer indie games support ONLY them and not native PC gamepads.

afterburner 13y ago

I use a PS3 controller with my PC, using the Motioninjoy drivers. Better than having to buy an wireless receiver for my wireless XBox 360. The PS3 wireless controller actually sends control commands over the USB port if it's connected, whereas the wireless XBox 360 controller does not.

deelowe 13y ago

The street fighter xbox 360 controller. It has a different d-pad.