Using a PS3 Controller on Windows 7

If you use a PC and a games console you have probably noticed how much more comfortable gaming is with a controller than with a keyboard and mouse. PlayStation 3 consoles in particular have custom designed controllers that have been conceived and developed for PS3 owners to get the most out of games without putting too much strain on their hands and arms. Given that many games are also available for PC, it would make sense for a standard PC game controller to be developed.

[mushroomwig]

Does this work for every title?

[Pandamobile]

Not natively, but there's software that you can get that will make it work in every game.

I use my PS3 controller for racing games.

[mushroomwig]

Thanks, I'll definitely try this out since I'm getting back into PC gaming.

[cakeisalie]

My brother initially didnt like gaming on PC because he liked the PS3 controller. However ever since we installed motionjoy he loves gaming on PC now. Buys all his multiplat games on PC.

[imvix]

Feels like playing on a PS3 with steroids as if it just has so much more muscle while playing the game with everything running in 1080p 60fps and a ton of AA.

[fail0verflow]

I use my second ds3 constantly on PC with this

[ProjectVulcan]

It says there is no standard controller and while technically true, The 360 controller is really becoming a standard for a large amount of games. It also works perfectly on PC wirelessly with a cheap dongle. That is a real boon for playing in front of a HDTV from a sofa.

It is the best controller if you want plug and play, simply because a raft of top titles recognise it instantly and configure themselves automatically. Most racing and sports titles do and others including: Crysis, Fifa, Pro Evo, Red Faction Guerilla, Batman AA, F1 2010, Burnouts, Need for speeds, Hitman, Assassins creeds, Many source games now like Left 4 Dead 2 allow it to be selected, Prince of Persia, Metro 2033, Just Cause 2, H.A.W.X, Lost planet, Dead Rising, Fallout, Split second, Blur, GTA4, Dirt series, GRID, COD: Black ops, Mafia 2 etc etc just a small selection here from well over 200 games...This also means it mostly has rumble support for these games too, while other third party pads like the DS3 do not.

Using a Ps3 controller if you prefer it or do not have access to a 360 pad is a good way to save some money too. However if you are going to be playing Pc games long term and need a pad, the 360 pad is really the one you would probably want to get familiar with and spend the money on as its worth it, i strongly recommend it.

[BattleAxe]

I prefer the PS3 controller, but the 360 controller is good too, and works natively with most new PC games, so thats what I use.

[Oldsnake007]

i play emulators (SNEs, n64, PS1)with a ps3 controller.

Just go on youtube and watch how to connect ps3 controller to your PC. It really easy, don't fear that it would be too complicated for u or anything.

[ThanatosDMC]

Yeah, this is old. I've been using my DS3 to play DMC3 or RE4 on PC. Still clunky though since im using another program that cant really use the accuracy of the sticks properly.

[yess]

At the momment i am playing Just Cause 2 with DS3, emulating 360 controller via Motionjoy...

Nice and easy ;-)

[rockleex]

MotionInJoy all the way.

[ThanatosDMC]

Thanks. I'll look into this MotioninJoy.

[Bnet343]

I tried doing this a while back, but it was weird. I need to try again.

[vickers500]

MotionJoy doesn't really make a difference, Thanatos. I tried MotionJoy on several titles with my DS3, and they all felt clunky and inaccurate compared to the ps3 versions of the game.

[JsonHenry]

I use my wired 360 controller. But only for side scroller games/emulators.

I'll have to give this a try with my PS3 controller.

[ALFAxD_CENTAURO]

Motionjoy is a good Program to use DS3 Controller on Windows for Games.
http://www.motioninjoy.com/...

Also, you can use PS Move on Windows.

[theonlylolking]

For those that are not as good with mouse and keyboard as they are with gamepad then its great.

[artsaber]

Used it to play Mass Effect2 on my laptop. But there is software to custom program the buttons and even keep profiles for different games, etc. It works pretty well. I haven't tried it with W7 yet, but I am glad someone reports that it works fine.

[kharma45]

I'd recommend giving keyboard and mouse a go again for games like ME2, hotkeys are invaluable!

[andrew171994]

well there is a program to make it seem like its and xbox controller and it works like a charm actualy 95%of my games let me use my controller

[cakeisalie]

its called motionjoy. Emulates the PS3 controller as it were 360 controller works like a charm.

[B_Rian89]

If I do this will my controller continue to work for my PS3, or do I have to buy a new controller?

[andrew171994]

nope

[B_Rian89]

so It wont work for my PS3?

[imvix]

ull just need to resync it with your PS3. no reason why it wont work with your PS3.

[B_Rian89]

Sweet. Im gonna give it a shot

[Pandamobile]

When I unplug my PS3 controller from my PC, it automatically turns on my PS3 for some reason. Just a bit of proof that it still works with my PS3 after :)

[rockleex]

If you don't want it to automatically turn on your PS3, make sure you Bluetooth pair it to your PC even if you don't have Bluetooth.

That way it will remain un-synced from your PS3 until you plug it back into your PS3.

[B_Rian89]

I just tried playing San Andreas on my laptop. It didnt work so great. It didnt recognize most of the buttons

[imvix]

That's because sanandreas was realesed before the time xbox controller became recognised on pc. Any game from this gen will work fine.

[B_Rian89]

Oh. makes sense

[yess]

I play all GTA's with a DS3 controller, with no problems at all, only GTA 1 have some issues.
I bought the Steam GTA collection, and they all work with DS3, so i gues your controller isen't calibrated...

[vickers500]

Be careful, your controller could stop working. This was probably just a very rare occurence for me, but my controller was f*cked up after using it on my pc.

Now, it only works when it's plugged in through the usb cable. It wont work wirelessly at all, I've tried replacing the battery with one that I know works, and it was still messed up. Also tried pressing that reset button in the back of the DS3, but that didn't do anything either.

Maybe I'm just incredibly unlucky, but just understand that you might be risking your controller by using it in a PC.

[vTuro24]

Dude it will still work on your ps3.
Don't worry you won't have to buy another controller.

[DOOMZ]

Just use the 360 controller!
Its made for it & its better anyway...

[cakeisalie]

On the PC platform we actually have something called "options".

People can play the way the like be it:

720p or some uber res like 5760*1080.

Mouse + KB, 360 controller or the DS3.

It only does everything.

[Baka-akaB]

except it's not better .

The only thing it could be better for are fps , and we've got keyboards and mouses for that .

And like said above , options are there for a reason

[Baka-akaB]

Yeah with the pc hooked to the plasma in dual screen , it's a great experience .

For fighting games most arcade sticks are detected without the need of addition software or drivers (at the very least the Hori works perfectly) .

The only annoying thing is for the few games that dont support the pads . There are progs like Joy2key to map the pad as key/mouse , but i dont find it usually good and smooth enough .

Full on pad support is the way

[Snatcher]

I also use my PS3 controller on some PC games :D

I use it when I play Fifa 11, Grid and bunch of emulators. PS3 controller is perfect for N64 :D

[rockleex]

Not really. I tried it with the N64 and it just confused the hell out of me.

Maybe because I never really played the N64 as a kid.

[SnakeMustDie]

I used MotionJoy to hook my DS3 into my PC. Used DS3 for games like Batman AA and DMC4.

[vTuro24]

I used my DS3 controller on my laptop to play PoP The Two Thrones and Burnout Paradise. I liked it, works great.
I have vista btw.

[xtremegamerage]

Been using this for awhile, works well.

Rumble works really well.

[kevnb]

Its nice for a few games, or when i want to play on my tv.

[256bit]

"you have probably noticed how much more comfortable gaming is with a controller than with a keyboard and mouse."

this sentence is fail.

[darkdoom3000]

how exactly? using your thumbs is a hell of a lot easier than the wsad.

[never_waste_a_bullet]

not when you're used to keyboard and mouse..

[256bit]

..............darkdoom3000, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a opinion or rather a fact. Everyone in this site is now dumb for having to read your reply. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[darkdoom3000]

Obviously you can't come up with a real reply so you come and retaliate with a brick of insignificant text.

better luck next time ;)

[moe84]

@256bit: Old School reference ftw!

@Darkdoom3000: Using your thumbs maybe easier if you don't have 8 other fingers on your hands. And believe it or not, those 8 other fleshy things hanging off your hands are f-i-n-g-e-r-s.
*All joking aside*
Personally, I hate scrolling through weapon wheels to get what I want. Hot-key everything, and forget about it.
Just don't forget your hot-keys.

[darkdoom3000]

we're talking about what is more comfortable. A controller is made with comfort in mind.

kb/m is a lot more practical and has advantages. but a controller is more comfortable. (unless you get one of thoes nifty curved bump keyboards.)

[moe84]

I'm not sure about you Dark, but I have a pretty nice keyboard and mouse. Only after very, very long gaming sessions do I get tired or start to feel uncomfortable. I like being able to have my hands spaced out a bit. Nothing beats a game pad/mouse combo, imo,

[hassi94]

While I like both inputs and am becoming more of a PC gamer, I still prefer a controller and think I will always be that way. I feel more immersed with a controller, feels more like I'm carrying out the actions of the game instead of telling a character to do so.

I'm amazed by the lack of elitists saying mouse and keyboard forever. All I see is well backed up conversation and debate.

Great job N4G community!

[magicwalnuts]

I've already done this but this is a great piece of Chinese third-party software here. Unfortunately for us PC gamers, more and more titles today are being ported without much thought to changing the control scheme in any real way. This was great for me since I already own a PS3 for MGS4 and Blu-Rays, and I didn't want to shell out 60 bucks for an xbox gamepad.

[ATi_Elite]

"If you use a PC and a games console you have probably noticed how much more comfortable gaming is with a controller than with a keyboard and mouse".

NO I haven't. If it's a PC specific game the KB/M is the only way to go and is very comfortable for me no matter if i'm at my desk or on the couch. If you think about it your hands are naturally at your sides which is almost the same distance as using a KB/M unlike a controller where your hands and arms are bent inwards 6 inches apart.

Now if it's a console port and I'm playing on the PC then yeah I'll break out my PS3 or Logitech controller. This PS3 controller hack has been out almost as long as the Ps3.