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Luckily, the console people have caught on, with an extra nod to the folks at Xbox, who have a direct connection to the world of PC hardware and therefore a nice advantage over other names like Sony. There are plenty of options to choose from, and although most console controllers have a similar design they come in several colors and styles to match perfectly with whatever system is the player’s choice for gaming.
Parts And Equipment Required
It depends on the exact make of the controller and where it’s found, but often PC gaming controllers will require a USB charging cable, batteries, and other bits of hardware that are not included in the initial purchase. Wired controllers obviously won’t need batteries, but they do need a USB port to run, which is important to keep in mind for Android users, as phones and tablets are often designed without USB ports.
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Connecting A Controller To Your PC
Bluetooth
A controller is more common with phones and laptops, since desktop PCs don’t have Bluetooth software as often as their portable counterparts. It’s easy to get a small USB device to make any PC Bluetooth compliant anyway, but it’s something to remember when shopping for a controller that’s a good fit for a personal computer.
Power Source. These kinds of controllers will either need batteries or a charge before they can be turned on and connected to another device. Pairing. Make sure the device is turned on and both the controller and computer are also in pairing mode. The device should signal when successfully paired with the controller. Configuration. Players might be prompted to do this automatically, but either way, there should be software available to configure the controller to the user’s own personal settings.
Wired
Connecting. Often the cheaper and more convenient option, these types of controllers are often plugged and play into a computer’s USB port. Software. A downside is that they often require installing a separate driver. On the other hand, some operating systems can automatically find and download missing drivers or software so this isn’t a problem. Configuration. If a wired controller doesn’t come with configuration software, then it adjusts automatically to individual games or can use the game controller software in the Device Manager to make any changes.
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Updating Your Controller
Like all peripherals these days, controllers often need to be updated with the most recent software. Not updating a controller can cause compatibility and sensitivity problems, a nightmare for any gamer.
Wired controllers can update automatically or manually using the Device Manager, but Bluetooth controllers have to be plugged into a computer to download software updates. The software used to configure a Bluetooth controller is the same one that organizes the updates. When the controller is plugged in, it will search for updates automatically, but there should also be an option to check manually.
