gamepads....

builder22 · 12 Feb 2006 at 05:39

just bought the xbox 360 controller for the pc, would be an amazing pad but there's no option to set the deadzone

googled it and found a few programs but can't get either of them to work properly

just looking for opinions on a good pad that has 2 analogue sticks, I used to have a logitech wingman, it's great but only has 2 shoulder buttons (that's another thing about the 360 controller, it has 2 shoulder buttons and 2 triggers...BUT...the 2 triggers are on the same axis so cant use them for handbrake/*** in NFS, can only use them for accel/brake or something like that) I see they do the ps2 style one for pc now too, looks about the best i can find
any others ?

thanks

edit - forgot to add, I assume the ps2 style ones are a replacement for the wingman controllers as i cant see them on the logitech website anymore

ScarySquirrel · 12 Feb 2006 at 07:42

PS2 pad and convertor? works well for me

turtle3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 08:23

builder22 said:
just bought the xbox 360 controller for the pc, would be an amazing pad but there's no option to set the deadzone

Hi mate, this may sound silly to you but, whats the dead zone??

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 08:35

turtle3 said:
Hi mate, this may sound silly to you but, whats the dead zone??

It is for the analogue sticks. If you can't set the deadzone (the amount of stick movement which will not cause any movement in the game) then you will find (for example) your car pulling left all the time in a driving game. Some games let you set the deadzone (eg. Codemasters games) but others (Need for Speed) don't so you need the option in the drivers.

OP, did you try the XBCD drivers I presume? I have them working a treat with my Xbox-S controller and apparently they do work well with the 360 controller too. I must say that your experience though is why I've been advising people not to buy a 360 controller until/unless MS bring out proper drivers.

turtle3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 09:05

Ahh, I get what you mean now, its like when if you move the analogue stick as you turn a nintendo gamecube on, it throws the default centered deadzone out, But do you find you really need to set it in pc games? surely default deadzone should be ok, ie keep you in a straight line, or do you prefer a bit of play in the movement of the stick before you turn/move? im interested as im about to buy my first racer for the pc and im hoping to use my 360 controller,

What I have noticed so far with the 360 pad though is that I cant seem to get the right analogue stick to work in the game fahrenheit, it just wont respond

What about the pads here on OcUK, I think they do a saitec one which is supposed to be good

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 09:18

turtle3 said:
Ahh, I get what you mean now, its like when if you move the analogue stick as you turn a nintendo gamecube on, it throws the default centered deadzone out, But do you find you really need to set it in pc games? surely default deadzone should be ok, ie keep you in a straight line, or do you prefer a bit of play in the movement of the stick before you turn/move?

A lot of sticks by default pull to the side. My Xbox-S controller does and pulls to the left (it does it on the Xbox too, when you first turn it on - but it automatically fixes itself once you move the stick the first time). Without being able to set the deadzone in the drivers, some games are not playable.

turtle3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:13

Ive just checked out my 360 game controller on my pc and ive found the settings for deadzone/calibration that you need.

Go into controll panel > printers and other hardware > Game controllers > select 360 controller from the list, then properties which will bring up a test screen to check all your buttons are responding, you can then click the settings tab at the top then the calibration, which will let you set the deadzone and calibrate

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:16

turtle3 said:
Ive just checked out my 360 game controller on my pc and ive found the settings for deadzone/calibration that you need.

Go into controll panel > printers and other hardware > Game controllers > select 360 controller from the list, then properties which will bring up a test screen to check all your buttons are responding, you can then click the settings tab at the top then the calibration, which will let you set the deadzone and calibrate

Can you post a screen capture of the calibration window because I think you'll find it doesn't let you adjust the deadzone. I could be wrong though as I don't have a 360 controller, but if you are right then MS must have just brought out new drivers, and I haven't heard about that.

turtle3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:38

Hi, if you click setting tab the next screen you get tells you to press the controller button when the analogue stick is at its dead centre, this I presume is what you are looking for to set the deadzone centre,

Is this what your after or have i got the wrong end of the ''stick'', lol

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:43

turtle3 said:
Hi, if you click setting tab the next screen you get tells you to press the controller button when the analogue stick is at its dead centre, this I presume is what you are looking for to set the deadzone centre,

No that's not it

I know you can configure the 360 controller to some extent but not to the extent that is necessary for a lot of games. ie. deadzone and analogue triggers.

turtle3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:48

I just thought that OP wanted to set dead centre of this controller to stop his in game car/person etc from vearing right or left which the settings tab allows, along with setting the other axis's, Ive never had a game pad on pc before so im not too sure what your looking for, anyway no harm done

if you do find what your looking for let us know,

All the best turtle

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 11:10

turtle3 said:
I just thought that OP wanted to set dead centre of this controller to stop his in game car/person etc from vearing right or left which the settings tab allows, along with setting the other axis's, Ive never had a game pad on pc before so im not too sure what your looking for, anyway no harm done if you do find what your looking for let us know,

All the best turtle

Yeah it's hard to explain. Just setting where the centre is, is not the same as fixing the deadzone. Even when the stick is in the centre, it will tend to move a tiny amount to the side, or it will move to the side when you put a tiny amount of pressure on it (with your thumb). That is no good in a game because you'd forever be accidentally turning when you wanted to drive straight.

Here is the calibration screen for the XBCD drivers and my Xbox-S pad..

See the little circle for the left stick, that is the adjustable deadzone. The + symbol is where the stick is when left in the centre. That's the sort of adjustment that is needed. The + jumps around slightly to the extent of the circle, so the drivers need to know that any small movement in that range must result in no movement in the game.

turtle3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 11:43

Ahh, I can see what you mean, that calibration menu is way more in depth, I did notice that when im on that set up screen I posted that the slightest miniscule movement is detected by the gamepad, you kinda want to make it less sensitive to an extent, Do you reckon its worth trying that XBCD set up that you pictured with my 360 controller? TBH I dont know why im worried coz its never affected me but may do in the future so its wort checking out.

cheers

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 11:49

Well if your 360 controller is working perfectly fine for you and you're happy then no, I wouldn't try and fix what isn't broken

It's worth bearing in mind though if you do have problems.

Things change I've changed · 12 Feb 2006 at 11:51

If I could just jump in, does anyone know if the vibration on the 360 controller is supported in any pc games yet.

builder22 · 12 Feb 2006 at 14:24

that was another thing...with XBCD installed the thing starts rumbling in NFS Most Wanted whenever I touch the left analogue stick
might give it a try again though, I was half cut trying last night so might make more sense today ha
ps2 style control looks good though...

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 14:26

builder22 said:
that was another thing...with XBCD installed the thing starts rumbling in NFS Most Wanted whenever I touch the left analogue stick

Does that for me too. The only workaround is to turn the vibration down to zero for the left and right motors. (it takes a minute or so to do as it's slow!) Then save the new settings as a profile - call it novibration or something.

Tommer · 12 Feb 2006 at 17:08

lowrider007 said:
If I could just jump in, does anyone know if the vibration on the 360 controller is supported in any pc games yet.

works in nfsmw, however I dont think it works as it should i.e move the stick left = vibration , smash into a wall = no vibration.

Dirtydog, can you point me in the direction of that vista theme please mate.

dirtydog · 12 Feb 2006 at 17:24

Tommer said:
works in nfsmw, however I dont think it works as it should i.e move the stick left = vibration , smash into a wall = no vibration.

Dirtydog, can you point me in the direction of that vista theme please mate.

Yeah I don't think the vibration works properly in any existing games, we'll need to wait for some new ones to come out which use MS's new proprietary system.

The theme isn't on the web any more (or at least, I don't know where) as MS issued a cease & desist against the creator. Also you need the full registered version of Windowblinds 5

Tommer · 12 Feb 2006 at 17:33

ah ok no prob, i got a vista one at hte moment but not with the glass effect, does flipping between glass and normal create a big performance hit?