USB controller for PC gaming?

[kenshin-dono]

havent been around here in a while. Had a question figured someone here would know:

Do you need some kinda software to use usb controllers with some games on PC? I know the 360 controller has software for it, but i mean like plug and play old school SNES style controllers and the like. I have one that seems to work with some games and not with others. Im guessing you need a program or something? I never bothered because most of my retro gaming is actually ON the retro consoles but lately theres been a lot of new release games in the old school style and i kind of want to play them with an old school controller

recently i snagged boot hill heroes btw and it doesn't seem to recognize the snes controller

[aaron]

most of the RetroUSB controllers that you see around now work as HID-compliant devices so they should work in any game that supports a USB control pad.

[GSZX1337]

Second the RetroUSB stuff. If your chosen game doesn't support the RetroUSB controller, you can use JoyToKey very easily. JoyToKey maps gamepad buttons to keys on the keyboard, allowing unsupported games to use the pad.

[marurun]

There are some complications. Most USB controllers use the standard Direct Input library. Most games, especially older games, use that. Some newer games, however, use XInput, which is what drives the XB 360 controller, and for some reason do not include Direct Input support (Duck Tales, Bionic Commando remake, a few others). This means that for some newer titles, only XB 360 pads will work unless you install some workarounds.

And some older indie games (and some JPN doujin games) don't use any gamepad/joystick inputs, just keyboard.

[Exhuminator]

i mean like plug and play old school SNES style controllers

You want a Japanese Buffalo controller off Amazon. These are the absolute best you can get for SNES and SFC emulation. Be sure the seller is highly rated, Japanese, and their product ships from Japan.

[Nyukki]

Agree that Buffalo and JoyToKey are the way to go.

[Erik_Twice]

I would just buy an Xbox controller for analog and modern games and buy a good fighting pad for all arcade-ish games.

[aaron]

I would just buy an Xbox controller for analog and modern games and buy a good USB arcade stick for all arcade-ish games.

FTFY

[Erik_Twice]

FTFY

It's the same thing, isn't it? I don't know what people actually call it

[BoneSnapDeez]

Anyone use those RockCandy Xbox controllers? I want a pink one.

I mainly use a Logitech controller, and also heavily use Joy2Key for DOS games.