usb ps3 gamepad, will it work in xp?

[SLC2509]

I've been looking at getting a game controller for my pc. It's an HP mini 311 atom with ion, for what it matters compatibility wise. I was initially looking at getting a bluetooth dongle and using a dualshock 3 controller, but then I stumbled across this:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5391273&CatId=3145

I know that the usb initialization for a ps3 controller is different, would the same apply to this? Is there anything special I'll need to do to make it work?

I appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks ahead of time!

 

[schenks]

If it is a wired USB controller, Windows would read it as such. The reason the official PS3 controllers don't work as USB controllers is due to the fact that they only use the USB for power, and not for data. however, the controller above seems to be completely wired, so it should work just fine.

Granted, at this point, with Microsoft's XInput libraries in DirectX, I would recommend generally getting a wired 360 (or derivative) controller, since those will generally have better 'official' support on the PC side at this point in terms of their integration into games.

 

[SLC2509]

I'm not too worried about game integration, for the games I need I can re-assign buttons/axes as I need. The cost is the biggest thing for me, I could go wireless with the PS3 cotnroller but then I'm out $45 for the controller and another $20 for the bluetooth dongle, or the windows 360 controller which is $80 the last time I looked a while ago.

Compared to a $15 gamepad that feels better (IMHO). I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to jump through any hoops to get it to work.

 

[DDigital]

Actually, you can use a PS3 controller on your PC either through Bluetooth or USB. In fact, the first drivers that were released were ONLY USB... so the controller can and does send information through the USB cable.

You do however have to download separate drivers/software to run the controller on a PC.

For USB, Use PS3 Six Axis

For Bluetooth, use PPJoy (though you do need a dongle if your computer doesn't have built in Bluetooth)

They both work fine. I used Six Axis a couple years back to play Halo and a couple other FPS on my computer through USB. More recently I used PPJoy to play some emulators and a couple racing games through Bluetooth.

PPJoy is a bit more obtrusive, and re-assigns the controller to the PC from the PS3 (so if you want to use it for the PS3 again, you have to attach it though USB to re-assign it to the PS3, and vice versa), but it works just fine, though it does run quite a bit more software.

I would imagine that Six Axis would work for that generic PS3 controller you linked above since the same principle should apply, but don't quote me on that. I've only tried it on the Sony Controllers. YMMV.