Gamepad Recommendation

[GZFant]

Hello Fellow Anandtechers,

Was wondering if you guys had good suggestions/experiences with wireless gamepads for the PC?

I've learned that some games are just better with a controller..
Search queries come up with people using a Xbox360 controllers but, I wanted to confirm this.

Also, I don't know if this is possible, a friend has a PS3 and I often borrow it. Is there a controller that can also work with the PS3 alongside the PC?

Thanks again!

 

[Dorkenstein]

I think I have heard of people using the sixaxis controller with a pc, not sure if it's easy but I imagine it isn't. If you use a 360 controller you need the wireless usb receiver, if you use wireless anyway. I am looking into a Logitech Chillstream since it looks exactly like the 360 gamepad and usually gets detected as one.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Plug in the Sixaxis using the USB cable, download the Sizaxis USB driver, done.

 

[GZFant]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13
Plug in the Sixaxis using the USB cable, download the Sizaxis USB driver, done.

XP will automatically detect?

I can buy a normal PS3 controller and Badaboom Badabing?

 

[zerogear]

Yes, but you need to download and install the driver. Its everywhere, just search PS3 Controller drivers on google. Doesn't work for Vista 64 though.

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: zerogear
Yes, but you need to download and install the driver. Its everywhere, just search PS3 Controller drivers on google. Doesn't work for Vista 64 though.

It doesn't work on Vista 32 either (last time I tried it was when GRID came out)

 

[Qbah]

Xbox 360 wireless pad with the Receiver. Works like a treat! Then again I already had one that came with my xbox... had to only buy the receiver

 

[WraithETC]

USB xbox 360 controller works great.

 

[mxyzptlk]

when using the sixaxis drivers, are the motion controls available for mapping, or just the regular buttons and analog sticks? How about the analog triggers? Analog buttons? Is there anyway to get it to sync with a PC over bluetooth?


For me, I've been using a dual shock 2 controller on a psx -> usb adapter that I got from radio shack long ago. Works great.


I used my google-fu and it looks like a lot of work getting a sixaxis to work under bluetooth and while there is support for the motion controls as well, it all seems very hackish.. I used to be into that sort of thing, but these days I just want stuff to work.

 

[Chronoshock]

I use a logitech cordless rumblepad 2. It's got a nice feel to it and I've used it for a while on my computer to play a PS2 emulator.

 

[ja1484]

Logitech Dual Action USB. Does everything I need it to, but I don't play much on the PC that's better with a gamepad than KB/Mouse (Prince of Persia series is about it).

 

[MustangSVT]

there are NO decent pc gamepads.

get an adapter and use PS2 or PS3 or Xbox or Xbox 360 pads on PC

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: MustangSVT
there are NO decent pc gamepads.

get an adapter and use PS2 or PS3 or Xbox or Xbox 360 pads on PC

except Microsoft makes and markets 360 gamepads specifically for the PC, even though the pads themselves are completely identical and can be freely swapped, its still a PC pad as much as it is a 360 pad

 

[skace]

The Xbox 360 wired controller was the easiest peripheral I ever setup. Just plugged it in and went. However I think the wireless one requires something extra which I didn't want to bother researching, the wired one comes with 900x more cable then you'd ever need on a PC (because you are sitting right there).

 

[Emultra]

Got the Logitech Dual Action. Works well.

 

[ultra laser]

Wired Xbox 360 controller. Wireless is dumb.