Consoles-Store.co.uk

great controller

Customer Rating:
This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a decent controller for my computer which would be durable (unlike my old one) and had 2 analogue sticks and 2 analogue triggers (very useful for driving games like need for speed). The only other one I found with 2 analogue triggers was one by Logitech but it was much more expensive.

Being actually designed for use with a console by the first party producer of the console you know it cannot be a bad product and, as it's Microsoft, you know it will work without any problems with your PC. If on Vista you do not even need to download the drivers, just connect the controller to a USB port and it will auto-install itself.

I prefer the wired version because:
1) it's cheaper
2) I don't have to keep on buying batteries
3) I use it with my laptop so I play close to it anyway. In fact, the cable is pretty long so you won't have a problem unless you have a massive TV and need to sit quite a few metres away from it.

For £18 I doubt you can find a better controller.

Well built bur poor driver for PC

Customer Rating:
Works very well with fifa 07 and quite well with fsx. Doesn't work at all with anything else i've tried! It doesn't seem to work with toca 3 demo or gtr 2 (full version) or Hit and Run or robot wars or incredibles. Perhaps there will be an improved driver soon but until then I'd stick with a saitek/logitech.

Comfortable, through design

Customer Rating:
The best controller I have ever used. It is so comfortable, and Im sure it will not get tiring with extended game sessions.

I've been using this to play Halo 2 on the PC, and whilst Im still getting used to aiming with the joysticks, I am improving.

All too often with other gamepads, you feel overwhelmed with the buttons, if they are even mapped properly. Every button is mapped in Halo 2 intuitively, and if more games follow suit, and use the vibration capabilities well, the controller may begin to play a key part in PC gaming that is all too dominated by the mouse and keyboard combo.

The vibration feedback is a little strong however, and whilst feeling good when felt in short bursts. When "spraying" fire, the unit shakes along with its buttons (especially the xbox guide button) which makes a rattly noise.
Additionally the joystick buttons make a loud sound when pressed. Like somebody cracking their knuckles loudly.

All of this does not detract from the experience however. If you have a Windows Vista Machine, and need a gamepad, you can't do better than this attempt by Microsoft to unify controller gaming for the PC Platform. Just plug it into a USB port, and the drivers are automatically downloaded and installed by Windows Update. No configuration or calibration neccessary.

Worth it

Customer Rating:
I bought this for my PC mainly but as secondly as a controller I can use with my flatmates 360 to save him buying more controllers for us all.

Works flawlessly on the 360 as you'd expect.

On the PC I've stumbled into problems. It half worked with UT2K4 but kept moving to the bottom left hand corner of the screen which I could not stop even with some calibration. After more testing I found it worked fine with Need For Speed Underground and Magic The Gathering Battlegrounds.

As mentioned before, some games didn't recognise the Z axis which is the trigger buttons. I'm guessing these are Z axis because they're analogue buttons (they can be depressed anydistance upto full or nothing where as digital buttons are either pressed or not) This is a mjor shame. They did work on NFS:U mind.

Looking forward to trying on other PC games. Hopefully it'll work probably on more. Shame it's not 100% perfect.
Build quality is good. Same quality as the wireless ones IMHO. Only 4 stars because it's not 100% compatible with the PC but that is to be honest, an extra for the controller thats designed primarily for the 360.

The X factor

Customer Rating:
Using it with WinXP it performs very well. I have been using it with Toca Race Driver 3. It is very well made and seems quite durable. Why no steering whell? Well, I do not like them and the keyboard is not really suited. This pad is much better.

If using it on a PC you will need to download the driver from Microsoft's site since there is no CD in the box. Double click to install. You can check it is functioning properly via the Control Panel under Game Controllers. Next, into your game(s) and set up the controls from there. There is some help offered onscreen after installation but that oddly seems more aimed at the Xbox 360 than the PC.