XBOX CONTROLLER SETUP FOR ARMA 3

NOTE 21/06/2013 SINCE THE BETA UPDATE I NEED TO REWORK THIS, WHEN I GET TIME

This is a guide for those that want to use a xbox controller for Arma3 basics like infantry and vehicles . with any luck BIS will improve the user interface in future.. Lots of people may have disability's be it from real war are birth are fingers like hammers are poor memory for keys , and this programme helps them play Arma, The more people playing PC games the better :)

You have to keep in mind Arma was never designed to be played with a game pad and its Impossible to do every thing you need to do with a game pad in this game .And that's why you wont ever get full controller support. But you can design a profile for your controller that suits you and your play style.

I find it works fine for infantry and its great for flying and tanks etc .But you will never get the accuracy are speed you get with a mouse when it comes to Infantry , But the pad setup has some advantages over K/M.And YOU WILL ALWAYS need a keyboard and mouse by your side for your inventory and command system and map .

Your going to need a third party programme like xpadder in order to be able to have different sets on one controller .I will upload my profile on xpadder forum and here

The hard thing about these programmes is finding the sweet spot with the dead aim , you can configure this in xpadder .Allot of the profile comes down to your own personal preference and play style

Below is my controller images with a full list of commands and code .WIll work with Infantry ,Vechicles,helicopters all in one set and no need to switch between profiles:)


I play my games on a 50 inch plasma and like to relax when i play ,Prefer immersion over pixel sniping I would recommed Xpadder to any one who likes to play this way and as most PC games have poor controller support .Currently working on my profile for EVE Online :P

If any one has any ideas on how to improve the below profiles are problems useing them leave a comment .At the bottom there is some basic info about Xpadder for those that have never used it.

All in one profile over 45 commands mapped no need to switch sets

INTRODUCTION
UPDATED NEW PROFILE 27/03
NOTE I USED THE DECEMBER 2012 XPADDER UPDATE FOR THIS PROFILE.OLDER VERSIONS MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE [/b]






KEY BINDINGS YOU NEED TO CHANGE IN GAME











INFANTRY LAYOUT
Left bumper is mapped to left CTRL.Double tap to raise lower weapon.double tap left are right Dpad to stay in lean postions .Hold left bumper down an move left stick down\up to cycle stances

A good guide made By Xiaou to help you understand what you can do while you have the stance button pressed down ,

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=133759937#38699

HELICOPTER LAYOUT





APC&CARS LAYOUT













OVERVIEW



UPDATED CODE 29/03/ Fixed problem with vehicle movement aswad etc
YOU NEED TO COPY PASTE THE BELOW CODE IN TO XPADDER

;--- Xpadder Profile Data ---
DataType=Profile
Version=2012.12.31
Name=(Pasted Profile ARMA 5TWO IN ONETESTA)STEAM UPDATE
Set1StickDeadZones=175,86
Set1StickDiagonalSizes=45,32
Set1Button1Name=SELECT\INVENTORY
Set1Button1Slots=Space,HOLD ZONE 2.01s,I
Set1Button2Name=1ST\3RDCAM
Set1Button2Slots=NumPad Enter
Set1Button3Name=RELOAD\NV
Set1Button3Slots=TAP TIME 0.01s,R,HOLD ZONE 1.01s,N
Set1Button4Name=FIREMODE\BINOC
Set1Button4Slots=F,HOLD ZONE 1.01s,B
Set1Button5Name=STANCES
Set1Button5Slots=Left Control
Set1Button6Name=GRENADE
Set1Button6Slots=G
Set1Button7Name=COMPASS\MAP
Set1Button7Slots=K,HOLD ZONE 0.61s,M
Set1Button8Name=OPTICS\FREEMODE
Set1Button8Slots=NumPad /,HOLD ZONE 0.71s,NumPad *,CYCLE STOP
Set1Button9Name=SPRINT
Set1Button9Slots=Left Shift
Set1Button10Name=PRONE
Set1Button10Slots=Z,CYCLE STOP,X,CYCLE STOP
Set1DPadUpName=VAULT
Set1DPadUpSlots=V
Set1DPadRightName=LEAN\ROLL
Set1DPadRightSlots=E
Set1DPadDownName=MOUSE WHEEL 
Set1DPadDownSlots=Mouse Wheel Down,HOLD ZONE 0.31s,Mouse Wheel Up
Set1DPadLeftName=LEAN\ROLL
Set1DPadLeftSlots=Q
Set1Stick1UpSlots=W
Set1Stick1RightSlots=D
Set1Stick1DownSlots=S
Set1Stick1LeftSlots=A
Set1Stick2UpSlots=Mouse Move Up
Set1Stick2UpMouseSpeed=36
Set1Stick2RightSlots=Mouse Move Right
Set1Stick2RightMouseSpeed=73
Set1Stick2DownSlots=Mouse Move Down
Set1Stick2DownMouseSpeed=36
Set1Stick2LeftSlots=Mouse Move Left
Set1Stick2LeftMouseSpeed=73
Set1TriggerLeftName=ZOOM/AIM
Set1TriggerLeftSlots=Right Mouse Button (2)
Set1TriggerRightName=FIRE
Set1TriggerRightSlots=Left Mouse Button (1)




Very good guide to movemet in Arma3  by Dslyecxi's,Take a look at his Youtube page lots of other usefull information http://www.youtube.com/user/Dslyecxi?feature=watch

How to create a profile

NOTE I USED THE DECEMBER 2012 XPADDER UPDATE FOR THIS PROFILE.OLDER VERSION MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE

You need to save the below controller image in to your xpadder folder before you start it

Once you run xpadder the first thing you should do is load the controller image .This helps you navigate when your mapping the controller to xpadder
[/b]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=fvjls9&s=6



















Then start xpadder and clcik on new on the left hand menu




















Then click on image on the left and click open and load the controller image that you have saved in your xpadder folder





























Then start mapping the controller keys to xpadder as shown in the video below .Note he did not load the controller image first which just makes it a bit confusing .It should look like this when you start mapping . its a older version in the video so the layout looks different

Note you dont need to map the keyboard like he starts doing after the five minute mark. ,Just map the controller buttons. and sticks .My profile code will map the keys for you

Now remember to SAVE it via the LEFT menu are you will lose it all .Now you have mapped the controller keys to Xpadder .Now you need to load th ARMA3 profile .


Now copy the code for the Arma profile i gave at the start.Then go to the RIGHT hand menu in Xpadder as shown below.And click paste

Its IMPORTANT to remember to save it via the RIGHT hand menu as well. once you have pasted the code in .

















In xpadder the menu on the LEFT is were you load and save your controller image and layout for the controller buttons.You only need to use this menu to save the controllers button layout on the controller image

The RIGHT hand menu is were you load and save and paste your game profiles ,This is the menu you use the most .

As mentioned above you should only need to mess with the LEFT hand menu when you first start it and map the XBOX buttons on the the controller image.After that there is no need to use that menu unless you want to map a new type of controller and new image


Again remember to save it ,Now you should have the controller image displayed along with all the names for each key bind like the image below
















Now your done and ready to go .You can alter the set how every you want and just save it under a different name and have the default to fall back on .Are alter the stick sensitivity are dead aim to suit your self etc


Much more detail is given on the Xpadder site and information about advanced mapping and lots of profiles already made.Note when you buy xpadder and download it dont run it , save it to your hard drive first then run it .You can close the xpadder window and it will still run in game .To close the xpadder go to the system icon tray and right click on the icon .[/u]

Good luck :P

About Xpadder

You should try xpadder , they have a community there and they have hundreds of profiles already made for games .You will always encounter problems in the PC community when you mention the word controller as some people see it as a threat to there play style and future developments of PC games.


Xpadder costs £6/$9 the developer releases about 3 updates and improvements each year.Once you buy it you get all future releases free.I think its very good value for all the hours entertainment you can get out of it.

There is a free ware version floating around the web, version 5.3 released in 2009 .Never tryed it but i imagine it would be buggy.Its had allot of updates since then .Not sure if its compatible with my profile .

Q&A FROM THE DEVELOPER

http://xpadder.com/forum4/viewforum.php?f=26&sid=2fd35d02f5603f27c8577356354bb5a2

INFO FROM THE DEVELOPER

http://xpadder.com/download.php?lang=&country=GB&mode=hi&x=47&y=21

Alternative keyboards

A couple of alternative keyboards good for having by your side when your playing with a controller ,quick commands and buttons you cant miss :)


Razer Nostromo Expert Keypad
















Logitech 920-000947 G13 Gameboard

[AZSLIMJIM]

I mean, it still worked for me

[GinsuGames]

my friend uses a controller to play arma and he is great at it so don;t just think everyone with one is shit Eras3

[[OG] ErAs3´er Crank]

and i bet it is so much work only for leting a xbox controler work in arma 3

[[OG] ErAs3´er Crank]

i think g13 etc would be posible but who the fuck need that ? we already got a mouse and keyboard works perfekt ^^

[[OG] ErAs3´er Crank]

realy you want to play arma 3 on a xbox controler wtf ! i mean i bet you cant aim like that and there are to much butoms to press in arma 3 i think

[Steel Rat]

Can't figure out in Xpadder where you paste the copied profile.

[thebunnyrules]

Where is the download link to your xpadder profile. I can't seem to find it...

[Xeronimo]

Why Can't use Xpadder at breaking point??? heeeelp

[[Khorne] Shits'N'Giggles]

Really in depth but i just dont think its worth the challenge xD

[SimGamerNerd]

Just spent $10 on Xpadder to get Heli controls working. Still struggling to get this running. Pasted the code to Xpadder but when I get in the Heli nothing happens. Thanks fro the tut. Would like to get this up and running soon.

When I copied the code only Set 1 shows as configured but Set 2(Heli) and Set 3 are both blank.