Using a Controller?

[ponic33]

I apologize for how noobish a question this is, but I must ask it as I'm a trifle new to this concept. I tend to use Steam to buy PC versions of games that are on Playstation, as I already have an Xbox. I have been considering buying a PS3 or PS4 controller for my PC. My question is, how does this work? What device do I get to get a controller to function, or do I download programs, or is it like any other USB where I plug it in, let Windows 10 do its thing and that is that?

Last question, which tend to work better on PC or does it not matter? PS3, or PS4 controllers?

[Omega]

You simply connect your controller to your PC via either cable or bluetooth and if the game supports that controller it should just work out of the box.

Launching games through Stream will give them improved controller support, a Playstation 3 controller will work on a game that supports Xbox controllers for example.


Some games only have partial controller support, this often means that the main menu still needs to be navigated with mouse and keyboard but that the game itself is fully playable with controller.

[ponic33]

Got it, thanks for the clarification! I'll do that :)

[KamiJ]

Steaam has support for the ps4 controller but for games outside of steam you will need software called DS4 Windows for the PS4 contoroller to work. Just use a 360 conntroller as its easier.

[Supafly]

Steam does support playstation controllers and some game natively support them too. Problem is if you want to use a DS3 or DS4 outside of Steam, and sometimes in Steam, they won't work. For those instances you'll need thirdparty software.

DS4windows still works great. Personally I use it all the time and ignore Steam or games native support. It's setup how I want it and provided it is loaded before Steam and the Hide DS4 option is checked in setting it works fine. Loading Steam first can cause each program to fight for control of the controller.. This allows me to use it for all games whether on Steam or not without any adjustment per game or platform.

Only downside is you'll get Xbox style prompts. A,B,X and Y instead of playstation circle prompts. seems confusing at first but with practice it isn't hard to get used to. Only really confusing prompt is X as both variants have a X button.

A = X
B = Circle
X = Square
Y = Triangle

Oh and I'd go for DS4 over a DS3. Just cause if you use thirdparty software DS4 has better support.

[ReBoot]

Better get a PC (that is an XBox) gamepad. While you can get PS gamepads to work, that'll require tinkering. The console feel is "Plug it in and it just works", that's what you'll get with XBox gamepads.

[Omega]

ReBoot の投稿を引用：

Better get a PC (that is an XBox) gamepad. While you can get PS gamepads to work, that'll require tinkering. The console feel is "Plug it in and it just works", that's what you'll get with XBox gamepads.

It doesn't require any thinkering with Steam installed, it's just plug and play.

I have only ever gamed with PS3 and PS4 controllers on PC and never have I had to do any tinkering since Steam improved controller support a few years ago.

[ponic33]

1 more question. For a game that does not have an Xbox version, and is only on Steam or PS4/PS3, would an Xbox Controller work in these instances? The controllers arem ore or less the same in terms of layout, but will Steam take care of that little bit, too?

[ReBoot]

ponic33 の投稿を引用：

1 more question. For a game that does not have an Xbox version, and is only on Steam or PS4/PS3, would an Xbox Controller work in these instances? The controllers arem ore or less the same in terms of layout, but will Steam take care of that little bit, too?

It doesn't matter if a game has an XBox version. The XBox gamepad is the native PC gamepad. As such, any somewhat recent PC game that supports gamepads supports XInput gamepads. Or, well, XBox gamepads, use those two terms synonymously for the sake of this discussion.
When a game is a console port, then you can bet it supports gamepads (again, unless the game is way old).

[ponic33]

ReBoot の投稿を引用：

ponic33 の投稿を引用：

1 more question. For a game that does not have an Xbox version, and is only on Steam or PS4/PS3, would an Xbox Controller work in these instances? The controllers arem ore or less the same in terms of layout, but will Steam take care of that little bit, too?

It doesn't matter if a game has an XBox version. The XBox gamepad is the native PC gamepad. As such, any somewhat recent PC game that supports gamepads supports XInput gamepads. Or, well, XBox gamepads, use those two terms synonymously for the sake of this discussion.
When a game is a console port, then you can bet it supports gamepads (again, unless the game is way old).

Ah so even if it's a PlayStation game that got a PC port it should still work. Unless I happen to be trying to play a really old game, then it's not so easy.

[Kargor]

ponic33 の投稿を引用：

Ah so even if it's a PlayStation game that got a PC port it should still work. Unless I happen to be trying to play a really old game, then it's not so easy.

It all depends on the port. How things work is determined by the game.

But to go with your example, I'm currently playing Neptunia VII. This is originally a PS4 game, but it has XBox icons on the PC version anyway -- I don't know whether that's because they checked the controller type and chose the correct images or whether XBox is just the images they have on PC, but they did it even though the game does not have an XBox version (I think they never brought a single Neptunia game to XBox). Buttons are also arranged in a way that resembles their placement on the controller -- like "menus" are often "Y on top, X in the middle, A on the bottom line". I don't know whether those got changed compared to the PS version, but it definitely feels proper on the XBox controller.

Other games are a little less friendly. For example, the Prince of Persia (2008) game uses its own icons that are neither XBox nor Playstation -- but I think they used the XBox colors. Again, I don't know whether the game uses different colors on PS controllers.

Dust - An Elysian Tail originated on XBox (again, I don't know about PS-controller support). It doesn't just have button prompts -- when you unlock stuff you have to press the correct buttons as prompted by the game, and they arrange those in the same shape as on the controller itself, making it very easy to follow since you just go by position.

[ponic33]

Kargor の投稿を引用：

ponic33 の投稿を引用：

Ah so even if it's a PlayStation game that got a PC port it should still work. Unless I happen to be trying to play a really old game, then it's not so easy.

It all depends on the port. How things work is determined by the game.

But to go with your example, I'm currently playing Neptunia VII. This is originally a PS4 game, but it has XBox icons on the PC version anyway -- I don't know whether that's because they checked the controller type and chose the correct images or whether XBox is just the images they have on PC, but they did it even though the game does not have an XBox version (I think they never brought a single Neptunia game to XBox). Buttons are also arranged in a way that resembles their placement on the controller -- like "menus" are often "Y on top, X in the middle, A on the bottom line". I don't know whether those got changed compared to the PS version, but it definitely feels proper on the XBox controller.

Other games are a little less friendly. For example, the Prince of Persia (2008) game uses its own icons that are neither XBox nor Playstation -- but I think they used the XBox colors. Again, I don't know whether the game uses different colors on PS controllers.

Dust - An Elysian Tail originated on XBox (again, I don't know about PS-controller support). It doesn't just have button prompts -- when you unlock stuff you have to press the correct buttons as prompted by the game, and they arrange those in the same shape as on the controller itself, making it very easy to follow since you just go by position.

OK I think I get it, so most of it depends on the game. Got it, I'll take a closer look at what my games are and decide from there if I should invest in a playstation controller or stick with my XBOX controllers. Thanks!

[ReBoot]

ponic33 の投稿を引用：

Kargor の投稿を引用：

It all depends on the port. How things work is determined by the game.

But to go with your example, I'm currently playing Neptunia VII. This is originally a PS4 game, but it has XBox icons on the PC version anyway -- I don't know whether that's because they checked the controller type and chose the correct images or whether XBox is just the images they have on PC, but they did it even though the game does not have an XBox version (I think they never brought a single Neptunia game to XBox). Buttons are also arranged in a way that resembles their placement on the controller -- like "menus" are often "Y on top, X in the middle, A on the bottom line". I don't know whether those got changed compared to the PS version, but it definitely feels proper on the XBox controller.

Other games are a little less friendly. For example, the Prince of Persia (2008) game uses its own icons that are neither XBox nor Playstation -- but I think they used the XBox colors. Again, I don't know whether the game uses different colors on PS controllers.

Dust - An Elysian Tail originated on XBox (again, I don't know about PS-controller support). It doesn't just have button prompts -- when you unlock stuff you have to press the correct buttons as prompted by the game, and they arrange those in the same shape as on the controller itself, making it very easy to follow since you just go by position.

OK I think I get it, so most of it depends on the game. Got it, I'll take a closer look at what my games are and decide from there if I should invest in a playstation controller or stick with my XBOX controllers. Thanks!

Rule of thumb: Pretty much any single somewhat recent PC game supports XBox gamepads. Almost no game (I can only think of Rocket League and Skullgirls) supports PS gamepads natively. If you want to play with gamepads on the PC, the XBox road is the way to go.

[Supafly]

ReBoot の投稿を引用：

Rule of thumb: Pretty much any single somewhat recent PC game supports XBox gamepads. Almost no game (I can only think of Rocket League and Skullgirls) supports PS gamepads natively. If you want to play with gamepads on the PC, the XBox road is the way to go.

If you like the layout absolutely. If, like me, you can't stand that layout either get a playstation style controller as the ABXY prompts will be correct. If you have or want to use a playstation controller you just need to get used to the different prompts.

Isn't hard and doesn't tsake long to get used to the prompts. I have a friend that actually printed A,B,X and Y onto sticker and stuck them onto his DS3 controller. Didn't bother with that for his DS4 as he knows where his thumb should go without looking at the controler.

I'm not saying Op get a DS3/4 I'm just saying if that is OPs preferable controller using it is possible. Yes it'll need a little work/practice but its worth it if you find Xbox controllers uncomfortable. Better to spend a little time early on so you can play in comfort instead on no time and be uncomfortable everytimme you play a game.

[ReBoot]

The layout is IMHO the last of problems. My main problem is the size, the PS gamepad simply doesn't fill my hands resulting in a less pleasent holding experience. My 2 cents.

[Supafly]

ReBoot の投稿を引用：

The layout is IMHO the last of problems. My main problem is the size, the PS gamepad simply doesn't fill my hands resulting in a less pleasent holding experience. My 2 cents.

Thats where I disagree. If you're going to spend hours using something it should be comfortable. We don't buy comforable chairs, sofas or beds purely for their features or looks. They could look amazing and fit their purpose perfectly but if we're uncomfortable we wouldn't want to sit or sleep on them so wouldn't purchase them.

Same goes for a mouse. They need to be comfortable to the user as they'll be using it for a long time. Doesn't matter what the reviews other people say. Your mate might find them uncomfortable but you may find they fit your hand great and it just feels......right. Thats why I always recommend someone create a shortlist of mice from recommendations/reviews then enter a store so they can hold them in their hands.

Same goes for controllers. As you say a PS gamepad is too small for you. How would you feel using one for a hour or more on a daily basis? You wouldn't enjoy it. Hands may get sore. You may even purcahse a new pad that is comfortable. Same goes for someone that prefers the PS style pad size and finds the Xbox controllers to big/uncomfortable.