Why is PS3 support for the PC and MAC so bad?

[Nvidiaguy07]

You would think that since its just a BT device that it should be relatively easy to connect to a pc and use as a controller, but on both the PC and MAC its been a PITA.

For the PC, took a little while to get it working, after installing a few different needed pieces of software. Problems i had with it, is theres never an indicator of the battery, no on/off button, or batteries to pull if your unsure. I've even heard stories that you cant use the software if your not connected to the internet. Also that it screws up your bluetooth stack (dont know anything about BT stacks, only that it messes it up).

I dont use BT for anything else, so should i care?

For the Mac: Couldnt even get it working on my macbookair. It kept asking me for a pin, which i tired 0000 1234 etc, but nothing worked. Other users said that you shouldnt even get that prompt anyway. Im sure eventually i can get it working, but i just dont get why its such a pain.

I have a wired 360 controller that i use at home, but i really wanted a wireless ps3 controller to carry with me to use on my MBA.

Which bring me to the subject of PC controllers in general. Many games now have support for the 360 controller built in, but it kinda sucks that you either have to use the wired controller or use the adapter (which for some reason doesnt work in some games when a wired controller does)

I'm hoping that the next xbox controller has BT, and has better support for the PC. If steam wants to be in your living room, i think this is one thing they NEED. Maybe theyll release a really nice BT controller?

 

[RavenSEAL]

Ummmm, I've never had a problem using my PS3 controller with my PC. I just downloaded motion joy, plugged it in and played.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Ummmm, I've never had a problem using my PS3 controller with my PC. I just downloaded motion joy, plugged it in and played.

which is part of the problem, why should there be additional software? Its giving me hell right now on my mac. I guess its not that bad on the pc, but ive heard many bad things.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

The 360 controller required me to install additional software. That was pretty annoying.

 

[DaveSimmons]

> which is part of the problem, why should there be additional software?

Because Microsoft likes the Xbox much, much better?

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

does MS have anything to do with it though? Should Sony release the drivers? How is linux support. I know its usable on android via BT, but is also a pain to get working.

I just dont get why its such a pain across all devices.

Id also like to know if theres a good BT gamepad out there besides the ps3 controller. I really just need it for some basic steam games and emulators, so it doesnt have to be as advanced as a ps3/360 controller.

I really hope the 720 controller works flawlessly with windows/osx over bluetooth. No dongle needed.

 

[RavenSEAL]

does MS have anything to do with it though? Should Sony release the drivers? How is linux support. I know its usable on android via BT, but is also a pain to get working.

I just dont get why its such a pain across all devices.

Ummm, no. The drivers for the PS3 controller are from someone who volunteered their time to translate the corresponding input info from the controller.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Ummm, no. The drivers for the PS3 controller are from someone who volunteered their time to translate the corresponding input info from the controller.

Then why is it so hard to pair and use with my mac? I dont know much about how or why, but i know it is sort of difficult.

 

[Dankk]

does MS have anything to do with it though?

Yeah... they do. Microsoft owns both the Windows and Xbox platforms. Naturally, they're going to provide full support for using the Xbox 360 controller on Windows.

Should Sony release the drivers?

Why would they do that? Sony doesn't want you to play PC. They want you to play PS3.

As a result, they would never provide support for their controllers on a platform that's not theirs (or do anything else that would potentially draw gamers away from the PS3).

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Yeah... they do. Microsoft owns both the Windows and Xbox platforms. Naturally, they're going to provide full support for using the Xbox 360 controller on Windows.



Why would they do that? Sony doesn't want you to play PC. They want you to play PS3.

As a result, they would never provide support for their controllers on a platform that's not theirs (or do anything else that would potentially draw gamers away from the PS3).

Yea i guess that makes sense. Any downside or reason not to expect a BT xbox 720 controller? I really hope its not a redesign, but i would like better bt support.

Personally i think they should just sell new BT gamepads, and make small improvements (d-pad, battery pack popping out). Then still make the old controllers compatiable with the dongle. The 360 controller design is perfect, and i hope they dont make too many changes.

 

[Ig]

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=42277

Apparently you need to use a usb cable to pair it to the mac.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=42277

Apparently you need to use a usb cable to pair it to the mac.

Seemed to work for some. When i plug and then unplug, it connects, but doesnt pair (or maybe the other way around). It keeps asking me for a pin, and according to guides online, there shouldn't be a prompt for password. I read somewhere it might have to do with the newer BT module.

 

[Dankk]

Yea i guess that makes sense. Any downside or reason not to expect a BT xbox 720 controller? I really hope its not a redesign, but i would like better bt support.

Personally i think they should just sell new BT gamepads, and make small improvements (d-pad, battery pack popping out). Then still make the old controllers compatiable with the dongle. The 360 controller design is perfect, and i hope they dont make too many changes.

I certainly hope they get with the times and add BT to the next Xbox. In my experience, Bluetooth is far more reliable than the standard radio system they have now.

Totally agreed about the 360 controller being superior (well, other than maybe the D-Pad). I don't even own an Xbox, but I bought a 360 gamepad just so I could use it on my PC. It oozes with sex in my hands. Best controller design yet, IMO.

 

[gorcorps]

Ummmm, I've never had a problem using my PS3 controller with my PC. I just downloaded motion joy, plugged it in and played.

I could never get it to work. I had it working for a bit, but then when I started trying to use the ps3 controller again it wouldn't pair right. So I just said "screw it" and got a 360 wireless adapter.

 

[Barfo]

I wanted a PS3 controller for the PC too. I ended up buying another PS2, I don't mind the cables much.

 

[arredondo]

Ummmm, I've never had a problem using my PS3 controller with my PC. I just downloaded motion joy, plugged it in and played.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

I wanted a PS3 controller for the PC too. I ended up buying another PS2, I don't mind the cables much.

Thats where i remember hearing about how crappy it is! lol

I think i might be giving up with trying to use it on my Mac. As for the PC, i have the "dongle" and have a wired 360 controller as well, so no big deal there. I probably would have only used it in just a few games since i prefer the 360 controller anyway.

I really wish the 360 wireless dongle looked like this:

rather than the huge thing that it currently is.

Is there a teardown somewhere of it? I would be interested in possibly making it more of an actual USB stick, so i might feel better about using it with my macbook.

What are my options now for gaming on the go? I really would prefer either BT, or RF with a really small dongle. I dont want to use a wire at all, and i need to be able to carry it around in my bag at all times.

I know it would suck for newer games, but how would a wii controller work on mac? It uses BT right?

 

[Sulaco]

The 360 controller required me to install additional software. That was pretty annoying.

Then you're doing it wrong.

None of the Vista or Win7 systems I've plugged a wired 360 controller into required any additional software whatsoever, nor any configuring.

Literally plug...and play.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Then you're doing it wrong.

None of the Vista or Win7 systems I've plugged a wired 360 controller into required any additional software whatsoever, nor any configuring.

Literally plug...and play.

i thought he was being sarcastic, and comparing the windows update thats available for the 360 controller to the ps3 software, basically saying its the same thing.

 

[IcePickFreak]

Then why is it so hard to pair and use with my mac? I dont know much about how or why, but i know it is sort of difficult.

Because who games on a Mac? :sneaky:

I have a PS3, but I grabbed a wired xbox controller for the few games that warrant a gamepad since it's natively supported in a lot of games these days.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Because who games on a Mac? :sneaky:

I have a PS3, but I grabbed a wired xbox controller for the few games that warrant a gamepad since it's natively supported in a lot of games these days.

I also have both a wired, and wireless 360 controller, not the issue here.

I have a bunch of games i bought on steam, plus emulators that id like to play on my macbook. I dont want to have to plug in and use a wired controller. I need a BT controller to take with me on the go.

 

[pw38]

Then you're doing it wrong.

None of the Vista or Win7 systems I've plugged a wired 360 controller into required any additional software whatsoever, nor any configuring.

Literally plug...and play.

Well, when the controller is plugged into the PC for the first time Windows downloads drivers for it but yeah there's no real "software" to download for it. It's about as plug and play as you can get with a controller and because MS supports it so well it's pretty standardized across most PC games. I love the controller and still use my first one I bought back in Xmas '05 when the 360 launched. Still works like a champ too.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

God I hope the new 720 controllers are BT, and work flawlessly with windows/windows 8 tablets.

Hopefully developers port full versions of their games to ARM and you can play them on windows 8 tablets.

Getting excited over playing a game like crysis 2, battlefield, or call of duty on a tablet.

I can totally see 5 years from now having ONE device that functions as a tablet/laptop/desktop(when docked)/gaming device/etc. Would really suck to have to plug a wired controller into it. BT is the way to go.

 

[Raduque]

Personally I hate Bluetooth. I also don't like the Playstation controller, the stick layout hurts my hand.

I'd NEVER want to use a DS3 to play a PC game. Xbox360 controller or bust.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

Personally I hate Bluetooth. I also don't like the Playstation controller, the stick layout hurts my hand.

I'd NEVER want to use a DS3 to play a PC game. Xbox360 controller or bust.

I kinda feel the same about BT (syncing to their native consoles - 360 wins), but BT is the only way that you would be able to connect to PC's without the need for an adapter (assuming BT is built in). If it were BT, im sure they would make a driver to connect to PC's easily.

I also prefer the 360 controller for almost every new game. When using emulators, the ps3 and its d-pad are a better fit. Wish there was a way to make a hybrid between the two controllers (either ps3 dpad in place of xboxes on a 360 controller, or swapping the dpad and analog stick, along with concave sticks on the ps3 pad, with the feel of an xbox pad)

If they stick with the current technology (which IMO is fine, I've played with my 360 in another room and the reception was great) they need to make a better receiver for pc's that is nice and small and can plug into and be left in laptops.

Either that or have the RF technology built in to laptops (probably wont happen).