Lack of a good controller is holding back my fun in PC gaming

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BoostFrenzy

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
Messages
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I have a gravis gamepad pro USB which used to be fine, but it simply doesn't have enough buttons nor analog to really enjoy gaming on PC like I do on PS2/XBOX

I have a 3200+, 6600GT, 512mb ram and I usually shy away from getting into games (have juiced/san andreas/NFS underground 2 installed right now) because my controller just sucks, is there an affordable solution I can buy that will rival the playability you get with say a PS2?

I like gaming on the PC better for graphics quality but I tend to give that up for playability
 
PS2 Dual-shock adapter or Logitech Rumble Pad 2, they have a wireless one also.

I love the Rumble Pad 2, even though I keep the rumble feature turned off most of the time. Works without configuration with most games. Even in the TrackMania demo and Pyschonauts demo.
 
Tiny said:
PS2 Dual-shock adapter or Logitech Rumble Pad 2, they have a wireless one also.

I love the Rumble Pad 2, even though I keep the rumble feature turned off most of the time. Works without configuration with most games. Even in the TrackMania demo and Pyschonauts demo.
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I currently have the Rumble Pad 2 and the wireless version as well. Basically a PS2 controller. Can't go wrong. Got both of them for $30 (wireless @ buy.com, wired @ BB---though the wired is prolly going back).
Use them to play MVP 2005. Good times.
 
I have the Saitek rumble pad, it's a sweet-ass controller. The only complaint is the analog sticks are a little tall. I just held the Logitech Rumble Pad 2 at the store last night and it feels good. Given a new choice I would go with the Logitech.
 
Get a converter and use the console controller of your choice. I use a PS2 controller and find it vastly superior in terms of feel to any controller designed specifically for the PC. They all just feel half-assed in terms of ergonomics and precision to me.
 
No prob, if you can't find a good controller for the PC, there are Console->USB adapters all over the place (Cheap too, i got a PS2->USB one for just a little over 6 bucks).

The advantage of the PC over consoles is the flexibility. Use it :)

@Craftish
Dunno how legal they were but i've seen quite a few USB controllers (all of them on the same rack too!) and they're deadringers for the more popular console controllers :p
 
I second the P2500 from Saitek...love it...I has ten programable buttons before using the shift button...Dpad and two analog sticks, which you can swap between the dpad and analog stick with the press of a button mid game...plus it has rumble....I have two of these pads, very sweet
 
BigFuzzyArchon said:
Mod Xbox controller to plug into your computer.

I just did it 3 days ago and it rocks.
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Man, I've been wanting to do this for a while. How hard/easy was it for you?
 
phobic said:
Man, I've been wanting to do this for a while. How hard/easy was it for you?
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I did this a few years ago before you could buy adapters. It's really easy... First get an Xbox extension cord, then get an old USB device with a cord that you no longer need.

Cut both cords, strip the wires back a ways, and then twist the matching colors together (I can't recall if they really matched, but just google it and find more specific instructions for that part) and tape the whole thing back up... No big deal at all (just make sure you use the right ends... Do you know good to have a mouse stuck to your extension cable, or an extension cable end that has no way of connecting to a controller).

The reason you use an extension cable is because it's cheaper, and because you can use ANY xbox controller with it from then on.
 
jebo_4jc said:
I currently have the Rumble Pad 2 and the wireless version as well. Basically a PS2 controller. Can't go wrong. Got both of them for $30 (wireless @ buy.com, wired @ BB---though the wired is prolly going back).
Use them to play MVP 2005. Good times.
Click to expand...

:eek: ACK! Don't say that!

It is better, by far, then the PS2 controller. It is slightly larger and the sticks have better resistance to them.

:)
 
I just use a pc recoil gamepad that I bought a wallmart for like 15$, it works for emulators and sport games, rumble features nice, Logitech pads are nice as well.
 
p880.jpg
 
I just play on an Xbox controller. The sticks work fine if you set the dead zone to 25% but this has always been a problem with PCs because there is no standard design. This will hopefully change with Longhorn.

But if I need to play a game with a controller, I'd prefer to play it on console. No contest. The controller on consoles work right and they work well. A lot of PC games hardly support controllers and the ones that do do a rather slopy job of it.
 
I recommend a PS2 USB converter as well. It is cheaper than buying a PC pad (around $10-$15). Also, if you are comfortable using a PS2 controller the PC games are easier to learn/faster learning curve due to more precise control. Radio Shack has one and so does Frys (both support FFB). If you shop on the net make sure it supports force feedback, if that is important to you. Some of the lower quality adapters do not.
 
iori yagami said:
keyboard and mouse is the best controller ever created
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Damn right.

What games are you guys using these gamepads for? Hopefully not FPS games.
 
Sir-Fragalot said:
Damn right.

What games are you guys using these gamepads for? Hopefully not FPS games.
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Would you prefer to play racing and flight games with a keyboard?

I hope not.
 
XBOXonPC.jpg


easy as pie.

yes, i made my cord ridiculously long.

yes, too long.

yes, i know.

drivers are here

pic of the control panel:

XBOXonPC2.gif


pwns.
 
Just a question relating to the topic here, I have that kickass Logitech Cordless Action for the PS2 and I love it, but I was wondering if it will work with one of those PC adapters. Just curious if there will be any problems because it's wireless. It's a great controller, better than the PS2 controller itself in my opinion, and I'd love to use it on my PC. I just want to be sure before I go out and buy an adapter.
 
Just went to cliffracer.com. They've got stuff to go from any controller to PC, and also to use keyboard and mouse on any game system. I googled and there are lots of things out there. The adapters are all $8-20.
 
Staples said:
Would you prefer to play racing and flight games with a keyboard?

I hope not.
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I was simply asking what games you guys were using these for. I don't play many driving games on the PC and never have. I also haven't found very many flight games worth while. And ZERO good space combat flight games since FreeSpace 2. So generally speaking I've got no use for a gamepad and couldn't think of one at the moment I posted that.
 
Sir-Fragalot said:
I was simply asking what games you guys were using these for. I don't play many driving games on the PC and never have. I also haven't found very many flight games worth while. And ZERO good space combat flight games since FreeSpace 2. So generally speaking I've got no use for a gamepad and couldn't think of one at the moment I posted that.
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MVP 2005 atm.
 
I'm going to second all the suggestions for a console game pad adapter. I use the Super Joy Box 13 with Gamecube controllers. You can get them at http://www.lik-sang.com They have adapters for every console controller you can think of. (Well, within reason.) :D

I love using GC controllers with the PC. It works great. Some games though, I have a feeling would feel a little better with an XBox S controller, so I'm going to order some adapters for those too.
 
Saitek P3000 rocks! Wireless, and dual analog. The best feature is the bateries though. It comes with 2, and they charge directly from the wireless station which means while you are using one, the other is charging. The charge last a good 3 hours of playtime, but if it runs out you simply switch with the one that has been charging and you are good to go.
 
I just tried those XBCD drivers. Last time I tried them I could not get them to work. I have been using old Ctrl+del or whatever those drivers were called forever. Something I have noticed is that the triggers could never be used for accel or brake and be detected as an analog input. I thought maybe there would one day be a fix but nope, I guess it is impossible. I am playing the demo of MotoGP 3 and still the triggers are digital buttons.

MotoGP is one of my favorite series on the Xbox because controllers actually work well on the Xbox and PS2. This one certainly does not on PC. The sticks and the face buttons work fine but the triggers sure do not. They never have and never will.

Are there any controllers that have triggers that actually work like they are supposed to? (and not in the CP. Sure the triggers register right in the CP but they do not in any game I have ever tried).
 
Here's what I got, it's called a 3 in 1 Magic Joy Box (o_O) It has 3 different controller ports all connected to a single USB device. You can use a GC, PS2, or XBOX controller. Best part is, you can connect all three at once and use them for multiplayer if you want.

You can get it on Lik-Sang for $20+s/h, or I got mine on eBay for $7.49 + $7.49 S/H. Pretty nifty thing to have.
 
sculelos said:
I just use a pc recoil gamepad that I bought a wallmart for like 15$, it works for emulators and sport games, rumble features nice, Logitech pads are nice as well.
Click to expand...

I gotta agree there. Its cheap, its nice fit for my hands (PS2 controllers are a tad small for me) and it just "works." Its no frills and inexpensive. Complaints are the cord is a bit flimsy for that retractable thing, but I'm not too hard on it.

Probably the best $15 I've spent on a peripheral in a good while.
 
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