Wireless XBox360 Controllers for PC

[jonathan_phang]

Hello All,

I currently have one wired xb360 controller, and want to get another for 2 player goodness, so i thought that it might be a good idea to pick up the wireless receiver like below:

Microsoft Xbox 360 Crossfire PC

However, I was just looking around for the wireless controllers and I was wondering whether or not i would have to get the MS 'common' wireless controller or whether i could say just go and get some from a high street store or something.

There arent any hardware differences are there? Is it all down to the drivers, which i guess i can pick up form MS download...

Any thoughts would be good

JP

[digit]

Well I have only ever used it with the official controller, but I believe any 3rd party controller should work fine. If you using vista it will download the drivers off the web otherwise it comes with drivers on a disc included in the package

[Veles]

You don't get 3rd party wireless controllers that use the same system MS uses. Any 3rd party wireless controllers will use a USB dongle that slots into the USB ports on the front of the 360. So that crossfire thingy will only work with official 360 wireless controllers.

[jonathan_phang]

Yep, I know that the crossfire thing only works with official pads, but my question might be better explained with these links:

This is a made for 360 only pad
Offical Xbox360 wireless controller

This is a 'common' (Not to be confused with 3rd party) pad which can be used with PC
Official Common Xbox360 controller

What I would like to know is if I HAVE to buy the common version as it explicitly states that it can be used with PC, or can I just get the Xbox specific ones, which are a bit more available from other sources and can be cheaper too.

I'm fairly certain the difference is just in drivers, but any help would be good.

JP

[pauldarkside]

I picked up a coupe of Official Wireless 360 controllers when I bought my 360 last year (well before the crossfire dongle came out) and they both work fine on the PC and 360

[jonathan_phang]

@Paul - Thanks for that. Just the answer that I wanted to hear! Hopefully I will get to pick some up soon and get to play some old-school 2 player games.

[digit]

Don't count on there being the support for the 360 pad, I've run into issues with devil may cry 3 which is a port of a game a few years old!

[jonathan_phang]

@Digit - yeah, i remember the same too, that game has real port-itis syndrome. I swear I saw somw PS2 controller symbols in that game. But, I never expect too much support, i guess its up to games manufacturers to provide decent pad compatability too.