Gamecontroller for PC - Program to Map its Functions?

[Realitycrash]

Hey.
I got a Gametech controller for my PC I haven't been using much, but I wanted to test it out again. I fired it up with Batman: Arkham City and everything worked smoothly..Except the turning-function on the gamepad is reversed (Push joystick upwards and you move backwards, etc). With no internal remapping function for a gamepad in such a game, are you guys aware of any programs which can do this for me that I can get my hands on?
I don't remember if the gamepad came with a CD or not, but let's assume that the CD is lost.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Either you find yourself a 360 emulator, which is sadly the easier way to go these days because devs can't figure out how to support more then one manufacturer... you lazy twats. https://code.google.com/p/x360ce/downloads/list

Or you do it specifically for this game with a rather long process: http://steamcommunity.com/app/200260/discussions/0/846940248932149087

 

[Realitycrash]

Either you find yourself a 360 emulator, which is sadly the easier way to go these days because devs can't figure out how to support more then one manufacturer... you lazy twats. https://code.google.com/p/x360ce/downloads/list

Or you do it specifically for this game with a rather long process: http://steamcommunity.com/app/200260/discussions/0/846940248932149087

Wait..I need a 360-emulator to get my PC-gamepad to work for a PC-game?

I mean, what about the next game that comes along and refuses to work properly?

 

[Alfador_VII]

I haven't needed it myself, but several friends swear by Joy2Key, available from http://joytokey.net
It allows you to configure almost any controller to emulate keyboard key, and mouse.

It's shareware, but you can download it free. Basically if it works with your controller (which it almost certainly will) it should support any game at all. Some even use it with a 360 Pad on games with no native controller support.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Wait..I need a 360-emulator to get my PC-gamepad to work for a PC-game?

I mean, what about the next game that comes along and refuses to work properly?

Yes welcome to the brave new world where wide spread standards are cast aside for the new proprietary hotness, oh did you happen to buy peripherals from the wrong company... tough shit.
I can not even begin to describe how I despise developers who pull that shit.

 

[shrekfan246]

Either you find yourself a 360 emulator, which is sadly the easier way to go these days because devs can't figure out how to support more then one manufacturer... you lazy twats. https://code.google.com/p/x360ce/downloads/list

Or you do it specifically for this game with a rather long process: http://steamcommunity.com/app/200260/discussions/0/846940248932149087

Wait..I need a 360-emulator to get my PC-gamepad to work for a PC-game?

I mean, what about the next game that comes along and refuses to work properly?

The blame lies on both parties here, if you ask me. Most PC games have triggers specifically for Xinput pads, some go the extra mile and only have triggers for Xbox 360 Xinput. But some controller manufacturers don't make hardware which is fully compatible with the current gaming environment on PC.

The good news is that with a small bit of software, most controllers can emulate an Xbox 360 pad, even a Playstation 3 controller can. The bad news is that yes, it means you generally need third-party software. But once you get it up and running, it should theoretically work for any game that requires an Xbox 360 gamepad or potentially Xinput in general.

I'd also recommend testing the controller with other games, if you haven't yet.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

I use a program called Xpadder. It essentially recognises the buttons available on your controller, and allows you to map keyboard buttons to each one. You can also map mouse movements for camera control.

 

[Realitycrash]

I haven't needed it myself, but several friends swear by Joy2Key, available from http://joytokey.net
It allows you to configure almost any controller to emulate keyboard key, and mouse.

It's shareware, but you can download it free. Basically if it works with your controller (which it almost certainly will) it should support any game at all. Some even use it with a 360 Pad on games with no native controller support.

I use a program called Xpadder. It essentially recognises the buttons available on your controller, and allows you to map keyboard buttons to each one. You can also map mouse movements for camera control.

Thank you both, will try it out.

 

[Meximagician]

I can vouch for Joy2Key, it's by far the easiest to use for basic keyboard and mouse emulation. I even use it for surfing the web... until I need to type anything.*

AutoHotKey is another one. It's far harder to set up from scratch, but it's more flexible and some users have uploaded preset files for it. I think it's only worth it if you can find a .ahk file for a particular game that doesn't seem to work with Joy2Key.

[small]* Off topic: anybody know a good onscreen keyboard program? I don't like the Microsoft default one.[/small]

 

[Zendariel]

Pinnacle game profiler probably works but it costs a little, haven't tried it. x360ce emulates xbox controller but is kind of a hassle to set up,here is a tutorial http://www.umnotablogger.com/gamebox/content/1122-tutorial-how-to-make-your-generic-controller-emulate-the-xbox-360-controller.html. I'm pretty sure both should allow better analogue control for joysticks.

xpadder and joy2key only map mouse and keyboard so you can only use the joystick to walk straight or diagonally with these programs, but they are less hassle to set up than x360ce at least...

And yeah since xbox360 controller became popular most games have abandoned directinput(the more varied one that your controller for example uses) in favor of the very standardised XInput and some controller manufacturers work around this by simply adding xinput drivers for controllers, though most of them don't to my knowledge.

 

[Realitycrash]

Pinnacle game profiler probably works but it costs a little, haven't tried it. x360ce emulates xbox controller but is kind of a hassle to set up,here is a tutorial http://www.umnotablogger.com/gamebox/content/1122-tutorial-how-to-make-your-generic-controller-emulate-the-xbox-360-controller.html. I'm pretty sure both should allow better analogue control for joysticks.

xpadder and joy2key only map mouse and keyboard so you can only use the joystick to walk straight or diagonally with these programs, but they are less hassle to set up than x360ce at least...

And yeah since xbox360 controller became popular most games have abandoned directinput(the more varied one that your controller for example uses) in favor of the very standardised XInput and some controller manufacturers work around this by simply adding xinput drivers for controllers, though most of them don't to my knowledge.

Uh, but 360 controls don't use USB-plugs, do they? Or do you mean that there is a popular facsimile of the Xbox360 controller for the PC that basically every game supports? Could you link one?

 

[Zendariel]

Pinnacle game profiler probably works but it costs a little, haven't tried it. x360ce emulates xbox controller but is kind of a hassle to set up,here is a tutorial http://www.umnotablogger.com/gamebox/content/1122-tutorial-how-to-make-your-generic-controller-emulate-the-xbox-360-controller.html. I'm pretty sure both should allow better analogue control for joysticks.

xpadder and joy2key only map mouse and keyboard so you can only use the joystick to walk straight or diagonally with these programs, but they are less hassle to set up than x360ce at least...

And yeah since xbox360 controller became popular most games have abandoned directinput(the more varied one that your controller for example uses) in favor of the very standardised XInput and some controller manufacturers work around this by simply adding xinput drivers for controllers, though most of them don't to my knowledge.

Uh, but 360 controls don't use USB-plugs, do they? Or do you mean that there is a popular facsimile of the Xbox360 controller for the PC that basically every game supports? Could you link one?

360 controllers actually use basic usb, at least the ones i've seen, they have a small adapter at the end that can be taken off to use the other plug.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWLA
i'm not sure if the adapter is sold separately, but i would guess so...
yep
http://www.amazon.com/Wired-Controller-Breakaway-Cable-Microsoft-360/dp/B0055464UQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1404559733&sr=1-1&keywords=xbox360+to+usb

the bit about directinput and xinput is different programming interfaces that developers use. XInput is hugely popular nowadays because of xbox controller and microsoft supporting it better

 

[Doom972]

There are two controller APIs that are used in Windows-PC games: DirectInput and X-Input. DirectInput is mostly used by older games, and is almost unsupported by new ones. X-Input is used by newer games and relies on the user having an Xbox-360 controller or another X-Input-compatible controller. It sounds like your controller doesn't support X-Input (some controllers have a DirectInput/X-Input switch on them).

I first ran into this problem myself when I tried to play Gears of War with my old Logitech gamepad - I had the exact same issue as you. There are a two solutions:

1) Get an X-Input compatible controller. You'll have to spend money on another gamepad, but it might be a good investment in the long run. Razer has a nice gamepad that's both DirectInput and X-Input compatible, but a regular Xbox 360/Xbone controller would do the trick as well.

2) Use a program that emulates X-Input as other people suggested in this thread. I have experience using it and it's quite good, but not perfect.

I suggest #1 unless you really don't want to spend that extra money.

 

[Realitycrash]

There are two controller APIs that are used in Windows-PC games: DirectInput and X-Input. DirectInput is mostly used by older games, and is almost unsupported by new ones. X-Input is used by newer games and relies on the user having an Xbox-360 controller or another X-Input-compatible controller. It sounds like your controller doesn't support X-Input (some controllers have a DirectInput/X-Input switch on them).

I first ran into this problem myself when I tried to play Gears of War with my old Logitech gamepad - I had the exact same issue as you. There are a two solutions:

1) Get an X-Input compatible controller. You'll have to spend money on another gamepad, but it might be a good investment in the long run. Razer has a nice gamepad that's both DirectInput and X-Input compatible, but a regular Xbox 360/Xbone controller would do the trick as well.

2) Use a program that emulates X-Input as other people suggested in this thread. I have experience using it and it's quite good, but not perfect.

I suggest #1 unless you really don't want to spend that extra money.

The programs I got ahold of didn't seem to manage to supersede the internal controls of the game, no matter if I ran it as Admin or not. So right now I am leaning towards just buying a 360-controler.

 

[Realitycrash]

Pinnacle game profiler probably works but it costs a little, haven't tried it. x360ce emulates xbox controller but is kind of a hassle to set up,here is a tutorial http://www.umnotablogger.com/gamebox/content/1122-tutorial-how-to-make-your-generic-controller-emulate-the-xbox-360-controller.html. I'm pretty sure both should allow better analogue control for joysticks.

xpadder and joy2key only map mouse and keyboard so you can only use the joystick to walk straight or diagonally with these programs, but they are less hassle to set up than x360ce at least...

And yeah since xbox360 controller became popular most games have abandoned directinput(the more varied one that your controller for example uses) in favor of the very standardised XInput and some controller manufacturers work around this by simply adding xinput drivers for controllers, though most of them don't to my knowledge.

Uh, but 360 controls don't use USB-plugs, do they? Or do you mean that there is a popular facsimile of the Xbox360 controller for the PC that basically every game supports? Could you link one?

360 controllers actually use basic usb, at least the ones i've seen, they have a small adapter at the end that can be taken off to use the other plug.
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWLA
i'm not sure if the adapter is sold separately, but i would guess so...
yep
http://www.amazon.com/Wired-Controller-Breakaway-Cable-Microsoft-360/dp/B0055464UQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1404559733&sr=1-1&keywords=xbox360+to+usb

the bit about directinput and xinput is different programming interfaces that developers use. XInput is hugely popular nowadays because of xbox controller and microsoft supporting it better

Aight, thanks, will acquire.

 

[JaceArveduin]

It's odd... from a friend, I've heard how hard it is to get controllers to work, but all I did was find a ps2 to USB converter and just use my old ps2 controller. I haven't tried it for a huge amount of games, and you generally have to assign the keys, but it's worked for Warthunder, World of Warplanes, Planetside 2, ps1 emulators, and The Bard's Tale.

 

[lechat]

vote for xpadder
pretty much every option you need and very little set up