As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
PC Gaming (it's been a while) I have questions...
Venkman90
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, after some time using a Macbook and a 360 I am looking at getting some new hardware, having heard that the PC versions of Dragon Age and Borderlands will be > the console ones (and the idea of Diablo 3 this decade) I am looking to make the leap back.
So, controllers on the PC, can you buy a black elite controller and use it on windows? is it ONLY the wired ones that work?
Will it work on games like Splinter Cell: Conviction which would be a pain with the keyboard, I prefer them for FPS will it work on MW2 without me getting capped (I hear mixed things)?
So, controllers on the PC, can you buy a black elite controller and use it on windows? is it ONLY the wired ones that work?
Will it work on games like Splinter Cell: Conviction which would be a pain with the keyboard, I prefer them for FPS will it work on MW2 without me getting capped (I hear mixed things)?
Venkman90 on
0
Posts
Enjoy staring at the respawn timer.
Like the above poster asked though, having a 360... What good is the controller? I hear it works great for champions... But I also hear it works wonders on 360 games.
PSN: Kylogue
They can be wireless for the PC as well. They just cost a bit more.
Gamepad support for games varies. It's more common nowadays, though, and if a game also came out for the Xbox it's safe to assume the PC version will allow you to use the 360 controller without any configuration; if the game is Games for Windows branded then this is virtually guaranteed. The good bulk of games that come out nowadays will probably support the gamepad.
This is not universal, though. For example, Crysis, a PC exclusive, has native bindings for the controller, but the mulitplatform Call of Duty [Insert Subtitle] does not (this is why I'm going to assume MW2 won't let you either). Mass Effect started on the 360, and when the interface was retooled for the PC, controller support was also removed. Dragon Age specifically started as a PC game, and I'd be surprised if the PC version supports a controller.
You can probably get away with controller profiling (i.e. binding button inputs to virtual keyboard and mouse presses using some utility), although this is a little less than ideal depending on the game and quality of the profiler.
Oh, and just FYI, the Splinter Cell games play great with keyboard/mouse.
Recent example is that someone in the Champions Online thread reports configuring an xbox 360 controller for it just fine.
Oh and the 360 is getting sold, my brother wants one, I hardly touch it now.
PSN: TheScrublet
If you play FPS for multiplayer and only want to use a controller then don't buy FPSs. You'll just be wasting your time.
It'll work for singleplayer if you jack the difficulty way down though.
Generally speaking, controllers will work with most modern PC games without too many difficulties, but for some genres (lol RTS) you'd be crazy to consider using it over a mouse. Unless of course you hate fun. Then it would be great.
Good point those were the types of games he was talking about right?
Splinter Cell, Modern Warfare 2, Dragons Age, Borderlands, Diablo 3...wait a minute
PSN: TheScrublet
Especially in pub games.
Kinda silly. And some of you are being almost hostile about it.
Then get "unused" to it, dude.
Pads on PCs are great for some platformers (like nuPoP) and racing games, oh and Saints Row 2 and GTAIV too (except for shooting in GTAIV, yeah, I actually drop the pad and pick M+K when the shooting starts). But they totally and utterly SUCK for FPS games.
And Splinter Cell PC plays much better on K+M too.
Yeah...it would be for SC, MW2 IF it worked and then any other action games. That said, I have well and truly been put off the idea, it's keyboard and mouse for moi.
For those games that only work with 360 controllers, you can download a decent emulator at http://www.tocaedit.com. It has a controller mapping app, the only problem is you have to remove your pad, run the program, then plug it back in, close the program, and open it up again. That might just be a Windows 7 thing though.
The Raid
Of course, I also have one of these sitting on my desk
See that shit? It's got a fucking flap that says "SAFE" on it, beacuse it's such a bad the fuck ass joystick that the button is DANGEROUS.
I do this a lot.
Sometimes the PC version is better, but pretty much as long as it's not an FPS or an RTS the 360 pad works better with it. I can't imagine playing, say DMC4 or Prototype or Dead Space with KBAM.
Also, to the OP, there's a 360 receiver you have to get, which should run about $20 if you can find it on its own in the wild. It's a wonderful little thing.
Though for FPSs.... get a comfortable and good mouse(G5 bitches), or in MP you'll get creamed. Actually with a good mouse you'll probably continue to get creamed at the beginning. PC MP in FPSs is some crazy assed shit. Really, you'll get used fast to a KBAM setup for RTS/FPS, even a few cRPG games... most of them have great controls for KBAM, and some(Crysis) just can't fit everything onto a gamepad well.
EDIT: Or just get a joystick with a safety. For all the flight sims that are released. I'm sure you'll use that when you play... HAWX and.....
Prototype and Dead Space control better with mouse and keyboard IMO. DMC4 should definately be played with a controller though.
Prototype I've heard good things about keyboard control, but the 360 controls were also pretty damn awesome.
You listed:
Dragon Age
Borderlands
Diablo 3
I'm pretty sure all of those games use numbered hotbars to some extent. Borderlands might not, but I know it has skills. Even if it doesn't, it's still an FPS and so would still benefit from mouse/keyboard. You could probably get away with a controller there, since from what I hear there's not much deathmatching (there's dueling, but you don't have to do it).
As for controller recommendations - I've got none. Those things just frustrate me.
I loved Dead Space with M+K, but I'm playing Prototype with Pad. It's just so kick ass.
I mean, that's the great advantage of PCs. You can play each genre wit the best possible control scheme. Flight Sims and Space Sims with joystick or HOTAS (for those with money), sports games, platform games and arcade driving games with pad and FPS and RTS with M+K.
I use my KBAM for all games suitable to it. FPS, RTS, etc.
I use my 360 controller for all games suitable to it. Action, Platform, etc.
I am going to be missing out on a few games until I decide to get another 360. Namely, Brutal Legend, Bayonetta, Darksiders, a handful of others.
My one complaint so far, Ghostbusters for the PC, even when using a KBAM to play the game, they kept in the acceleration curve for the crosshair as if you were using a controller. Very disorienting. I actually switched to the controller for that one just bc the mouse control was so unnatural.
Edit: Oh, and as for your question, a very large majority of recently released PC games will support the 360 controller out of the box, with no config necessary to mimic its console counterpart. Most recently for me this has included Prototype, Ghostbusters, Transformers 2.
That's weird, I didn't get that impression. Did you check the options? Did you have the controller plugged in while using M+K?
There is no option for it. And no, no controller plugged in at the same time.
I posted on the Activision forums regarding the problem and several people "confirmed" the issue.