Until now I've played console games with a controller and PC games with a keyboard and mouse. Recently we've picked up a bunch of games on sale from Amazon/Steam which are Steam activated that are console ports. We decided to try playing them with this Xbox controller. So my review is based mainly on using this Xbox 360 Wired Controller with Steam games played on Windows Vista & Windows 7 PC systems.
(I do not own an Xbox console.)
What's Good About It?
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#1 - The Xbox 360 Wired Controller - Black is really well made and feels very comfortable and natural in my hands. Because it has a cord you don't have to worry about batteries, recharging it, or interference with other 2.4GHz wireless devices in your home. I know everyone wants everything wireless these days but it does come with tradeoffs. Also, with the wired controller you don't need to get a $20 receiver to use it with a PC.
#2 - You don't need to install any special drivers or software to use the Xbox controller with your PC. Just plug the USB connector in and most games automatically recognize it. (Don't be fooled into loading drivers and software until you've tried it without first).
#3 - You don't have to remap the buttons if you're using an Xbox controller. All the functionality of the buttons is automatically recognized including vibration feedback.
#4 - You don't need the "special" Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller for Windows. It's just a gimick and will cost you more.
#5 - The controller works especially well in racing games, heavy platformers and flight simulation games.
#6 - The cord is about 10 feet long so it's easy to sit back in a recliner or on the bed and play games. Yeah!
#7 - I spend enough time in front of a computer screen with my job. It's a relief just to be able to sit back comfortably with the controller in hand and play as though I were playing a regular console game.
What's Not So Good?
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#1 - Some older games do not recognize the Xbox button setup and you do need to use a software program like Xpadder to map the buttons to the keys, but even then some buttons may not map (in certain games). Not really a problem for me. It's pretty easy to do and if I don't feel like messing with the mapping or I don't like how it turned out, I can always just use my keyboard and mouse.
#2 - I've been using a PS3 controller for many, many years so there is a little bit of a transition to this one. It's heavier for one thing. But the Xbox controller is pretty much a perfect fit to human hands and it really only took me about an hour to be right at home with it. In fact, I like the feel of the right and left controller knobs better than those of the PS3 which are kind of sticky.
#3 - I can't believe that I'm just now trying this and liking it. I feel I've been missing out on a good thing.
I'm not trying to say I'm replacing my keyboard and mouse for PC gaming with an Xbox controller. But some games which are console ports will just play more easily with a controller. Other games like RPG's and MMO's need you to use a lot more buttons than a controller has to play the game effectively.
So I'm not tossing my keyboard and mouse in favor of an Xbox controller; far from it. I'm just expanding my options to give myself more flexibility in what I feel like doing when I pick up a game I want to play.
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Customer Review: Best controller on the market
Errol
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This Item  Xbox 360 Wired Controller - Black | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $16.99 | $16.99 | $13.99 | $25.99 | $16.99 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Oct 21 | Get it as soon as Monday, Oct 21 | Get it as soon as Monday, Oct 21 | Get it as soon as Monday, Oct 21 | Get it as soon as Monday, Oct 21 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | VOYEE Direct | VOYEE Direct | High Big | EVDANCE Official | VOYEE Direct |
| hardware platform | Xbox 360, Xbox 360 | Xbox 360 | PC, Xbox 360 | Xbox 360 | PC, Xbox 360 | Xbox 360 |
| operating system | Window 7 | Xbox 360, Xbox 360 Slim, PC Windows 11, PC Windows 10, PC Windows 8, PC Windows 7 | Windows | — | Windows 7 | Xbox 360, Xbox 360 Slim, PC Windows 11, PC Windows 10, PC Windows 8, PC Windows 7 |
| power source | Corded Electric | USB Cord | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Battery Powered | USB Cord |
| connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | USB | Play,Plug,Wired | Wireless | Wired |
Wired controllers from microsoft.
I bought 2 of these controllers to play minecraft with my siblings and we're having a blast, I also use the controller to play my pc games. The wired controller moves really nicely and feels sturdier then their wireless counterparts. I noticed some reviews saying that these controllers are not Microsoft brand or they came in bubble wrap instead of a box, those orders might have errors on amazons part or the order pickers. If look at my picture you will notice that this is indeed a Microsoft brand controller. I recommend any gamer out there to buy this.
