Why is controller support so hard?

[float Crysalim;]

Seriously.

Trying to use an Injustice PS3 Fight Stick. Used this for multiple classic arcade games. I play MAME. I play Ultra SF4.

Why is it so derp for developers to not include proper controller support these days?

So, yes. We go and install x360ce.exe. We use Joytokey as a last resort, which has a huge pain catching diagonals.

Why is this a thing? Why do games that pretend to be oldschool, bypass PC controller drivers?

Why aren't these things fixed?!

God, I love Steam and how it lets games be published with lesser scrutiny, but... CONTROLS, DUDE. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[Vivi Fox]

Weird logic, PC games.

Why shouldn't PC owners use any PC approved controller if they so desire instead of having to buy a 360 controller or install a controller converter program?

Something I admittedly find additional annoyance with because I should not have to use converter software to use a controller other than one of the controllers Microsoft designed so Shaquille O'Neal can play Halo and Call of Duty.

[Itchy Elephant]

Ouch! And the controller is the #2 reason I DON'T have any console in the XBox family! For a PC game, that's ridiculous in general, but for a professionally-made one?

But then, some devs just don't seem to care that much for players who either have different tastes or don't want to spend as much. Sonic Generations also has trouble with non-360 controllers, and Telltale managed to make a card game that's more picky about its hardware than SKYRIM is!

[Vivi Fox]

Oddly enough, these days, if a game had an XBox 360 version, or an XBONE/360/PS3/PS4 version, the 360 version's controller data will be the entirety of it's controller support.

They write in mouse and keyboard support, but just port over the 360 controller data and stop there.

Good thing people make controller conversion software now.

[Vivi Fox]

Personally I use MotionInJoy, and tell it to convert a PS3 pad over to give 360 pad input.

[Geralt]

If you're using MotionInJoy, use the Better DS3 tool.

Also, isn't the PS4 control fully comptabile?

[Vivi Fox]

DS3 Tool? cool

and I don't have PSTV or PS4

[Psykechan]

Originally posted by float Crysalim:

Seriously.

Trying to use an Injustice PS3 Fight Stick. Used this for multiple classic arcade games. I play MAME. I play Ultra SF4.

Why is it so derp for developers to not include proper controller support these days?

I know that you may have wanted to rant and not have the actual reason, but since you asked a specific question, I'm giving you the answer.

Back in DirectX 9 Microsoft introduced a new controller API called XInput to replace the old DirectInput. While it is possible to use both APIs[msdn.microsoft.com], Microsoft doesn't recommend it. They have depricated DirectInput and that's that.

Sony isn't going to make an XInput driver for the PS3 controllers. PDP[www.pdp.com], the makers of your joystick, probably aren't either. So your choice is to use a third party XInput driver/wrapper like MotioninJoy[www.motioninjoy.com] or Better DS3[betterds3.ciebiera.net] or to petition the developer to implement DirectInput in their game.

I hope that helps.

[dEEkAy]

Originally posted by Asdf Groovie:

Weird logic, PC games.

Why shouldn't PC owners use any PC approved controller if they so desire instead of having to buy a 360 controller or install a controller converter program?

Something I admittedly find additional annoyance with because I should not have to use converter software to use a controller other than one of the controllers Microsoft designed so Shaquille O'Neal can play Halo and Call of Duty.

That's because XInput is Part of DirectX and some Windows related stuff while supporting other game controllers like fightsticks etc need extra programming and that costs money.

[Vivi Fox]

Originally posted by dEEkAy:

Originally posted by Asdf Groovie:

Weird logic, PC games.

Why shouldn't PC owners use any PC approved controller if they so desire instead of having to buy a 360 controller or install a controller converter program?

Something I admittedly find additional annoyance with because I should not have to use converter software to use a controller other than one of the controllers Microsoft designed so Shaquille O'Neal can play Halo and Call of Duty.

That's because XInput is Part of DirectX and some Windows related stuff while supporting other game controllers like fightsticks etc need extra programming and that costs money.

Makes sense, sadly. I wonder how much supporting DirectInput AND XInput at the same time would cost... I bet enough to only have it in huge budget games with big expectations.

[Vivi Fox]

How much does it cost to make XInput PC controllers instead of DirectInput ones then?

[Allard]

Originally posted by float Crysalim:

Seriously.

Trying to use an Injustice PS3 Fight Stick. Used this for multiple classic arcade games. I play MAME. I play Ultra SF4.

Why is it so derp for developers to not include proper controller support these days?

So, yes. We go and install x360ce.exe. We use Joytokey as a last resort, which has a huge pain catching diagonals.

Why is this a thing? Why do games that pretend to be oldschool, bypass PC controller drivers?

Why aren't these things fixed?!

God, I love Steam and how it lets games be published with lesser scrutiny, but... CONTROLS, DUDE. HOLY ♥♥♥♥.

Did you try Better DS3? It can emulate X360 controller right out of the box.

[Mairo the bear]

Originally posted by RT:

Did you try Better DS3? It can emulate X360 controller right out of the box.

I guess the main point was that there shouldn't be need for such nonsense. After all most controllers are directly found by windows, but for some reason many modern game titles simply refuse to use them unless they're specifically Xinput.

Just played Transistor, if I plug in my Dualshock 3 or 4 it detects them as well and even gives playstation prompts, pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ simple and useful. On Linux I could even get DS4 LED work with basically one command. No need for any Xinput wrapper or x360ce at all and no 360 prompts when not actually using 360 controller. I heard Far Cry 4 did that as well so improvement has happened.

[Vivi Fox]

Originally posted by Hyper Mairo:

Originally posted by RT:

Did you try Better DS3? It can emulate X360 controller right out of the box.

I guess the main point was that there shouldn't be need for such nonsense. After all most controllers are directly found by windows, but for some reason many modern game titles simply refuse to use them unless they're specifically Xinput.

Just played Transistor, if I plug in my Dualshock 3 or 4 it detects them as well and even gives playstation prompts, pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ simple and useful. On Linux I could even get DS4 LED work with basically one command. No need for any Xinput wrapper or x360ce at all and no 360 prompts when not actually using 360 controller. I heard Far Cry 4 did that as well so improvement has happened.

Awesome

[Unleaded Krulin]

Originally posted by Asdf Groovie:

How much does it cost to make XInput PC controllers instead of DirectInput ones then?

I have a logitech controller with a switch in the back that allows it to be either. It's brilliant. That's the easiest solution in my book.

No sloppy software emulation. They designed it to work as both right out of the box. It's also shaped like a PS controller, so it's more comfortable than an Xbox controller.

[Vivi Fox]

Originally posted by You Seem Kinda Phony (Krulin):

Originally posted by Asdf Groovie:

How much does it cost to make XInput PC controllers instead of DirectInput ones then?

I have a logitech controller with a switch in the back that allows it to be either. It's brilliant. That's the easiest solution in my book.

No sloppy software emulation. They designed it to work as both right out of the box. It's also shaped like a PS controller, so it's more comfortable than an Xbox controller.

Nice. What's it called?