Playstation controllers work with the PS3 via USB!

[SickBeast]

I just wanted to post this as a PSA.

I managed to hook up a pair of old DualShock controllers to my PS3 using an old USB adapter that I sometimes use to hook them up to the PC. They were plug and play and worked perfectly.

It saves quite a bit of money on extra controllers if you have some of these lying around. I assume it works with PS2 controllers as well.

 

[gorcorps]

What adapter? I'm a little surprised this would be possible at all, but it would still be dependent on the adapter since each one had it's own drivers/software.

 

[SickBeast]

What adapter? I'm a little surprised this would be possible at all, but it would still be dependent on the adapter since each one had it's own drivers/software.

It's a generic one that I ordered from Hong Kong about 5 years ago. It doesn't list a brand name on it. It's made of clear blue plastic and has two controller ports on it. It works with two controllers hooked up at the same time which is nice. I don't know if the rumble feature works yet.

 

[Ross Ridge]

What adapter? I'm a little surprised this would be possible at all, but it would still be dependent on the adapter since each one had it's own drivers/software.

Actually it's all pretty standardized. The USB HID protocol defines the basics of how it all works, and just about any USB controller will work with the PlayStation 3 more or less. Not all the buttons and controls may work or be mapped right, but you should be able to get something. Sony released their own adapter for connecting PlayStation and PlayStation 2 controller to the PlayStation 3 so any other third party device would just have to use the same HID assignments to get something 100% compatible.