XBOX 360 controller drivers? why?

If you plug an XBOX 360 controller into an XP machine it recognizes it and installs, no software required.
BUT, http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/productdetails.aspx has drivers fo it?
I've read that they might make XP drivers for the wireless controller too.

QUESTION:
- Does anyone know why these drivers even exist when they're not even needed?

- Who at Microsoft is responsible for creating these drivers anyway?


It would be nice if they decided to make a "real" controller utility for it that would let you tweak it more than the standard Control Panel stuff because at the moment this incredibly accurate controller is too sensitive in racing games that don't have their own DEAD ZONE settings.

NFS:Most Wanted is a good example of a game that is difficult to drive straight in because there's no way to adjust the dead zone. Toca Race Driver on the other hand drives perfectly straight if you let go of the stick because you can set the dead zone.

dentaku wrote:

QUESTION:

- Does anyone know why these drivers even exist when they're not even needed?

- Who at Microsoft is responsible for creating these drivers anyway?

Why not?

God knows why, perhaps the person @ redmond who was responsible for writing the drivers was bored and not allowed to go home from the office just yet so he/she just sat and wrote a driver for the controllers hoping that someone would post an entry about it on the C9 forums

Are the drivers the same as the ones Windows supplies or are they different?

Well, I'm glad the drivers exist, that's not what I was asking

I mean I wonder why they have them available on the website and even have the address to the site to download them from in the documentation that comes in the package even though nobody actually needs to download them. They make it seem like you need to install them before plugging in the controller even though it's obviously not true.

I haven't read anywhere that installing these drivers gives you anything extra.

Why not? I'd like to use them on my new PC, they'd look stylish with the blue i got glowin in the case and monitor.

- Steve

It's just a guess, but the special drivers might have something to do with the new Xinput DLL in the October DirectX SDK.

Xinput is a special common gamepad interface specifically written for the 360 controller. It allows developers to use the two rumble devices inside the controller, receive input from the analogue L and R triggers as separate axis instead of one, have four controllers attached, have headsets attached to those controllers and there might be some other stuff, but I haven't looked into it much.

I have hared a few people request configuration programmes for the controller and I looked for one when I first started mine, but I haven't yet had a problem getting it to work with any games. Except Half Life 2 and any of Valve game, but that's because they don't support gamepads and Need For Speed doesn't recognise the deadzone, but the controller is just SO GOOD!

And about the sensitivity thing... It's an analogue stick.. the further you push it in any given direction... the further the game will recognise that you are pushing the stick in that direction.. Be light with it. Gentle, like you are making love to a woman or your wife for those of you who are married.

Normally the drivers are targeted at Windows 9x users where the OS does not autodetect/configure the device (often the case with mass storage devices on Win 9x), but I noticed the website explicitly said the drivers were for Windows XP only.

TimP wrote:

Normally the drivers are targeted at Windows 9x users where the OS does not autodetect/configure the device (often the case with mass storage devices on Win 9x), but I noticed the website explicitly said the drivers were for Windows XP only.

Exactly, that's another reason why these drivers are so mysterious.
If they where for Win9x it would make sense.

koorb wrote:

Need For Speed doesn't recognise the deadzone, but the controller is just SO GOOD!

And about the sensitivity thing... It's an analogue stick.. the further you push it in any given direction... the further the game will recognise that you are pushing the stick in that direction.. Be light with it. Gentle, like you are making love to a woman or your wife for those of you who are married.

It's a great controller and I'm glad I bought one. The problem with NFS:MW is just as much with the game I guess. It's up to the people at EA to give us a deadzone setting, but since it doesn't have this setting it would be nice to be able to tweak the controller in the control panel a bit because the sticks never snap back perfectly centered if you let go of them, causing cars the drift slightly to either side.

The TOCA Racer 3 demo is great with my 360 controller by the way.

I'm barely what you'd call a gamer and here I am talking about games on the C9 forums :O

koorb wrote:

I have hared a few people request configuration programmes for the controller and I looked for one when I first started mine, but I haven't yet had a problem getting it to work with any games. Except Half Life 2 and any of Valve game, but that's because they don't support gamepads and Need For Speed doesn't recognise the deadzone, but the controller is just SO GOOD!

It looks like we're not alone:
This utility supposedly lets you tweak the XBOX360 controller.
http://xbcd360guide.50webs.com/
I haven't tried it yet but a deadzone setting would be very nice in NFS:MW.

right guys ima bout to drop a BOMB on this forum,Your all shot away i swear!! An microsoft u can e-mail me at Robmoodswing2006@aol.com to send me stuff for doing u this favour.lol ok so u wana know why x-box 360 pads drivers are about on the net....well its plainly because i have one attached to my pc via usb...ok so heres the deal...one of my mates came up to me (ash) telling me u cld use them with pc....at first i though really???surelly not?? until i got one myself updated to service pack 2(which you have to do) then went to microsofts website an got the drivers...installed them an hey presto i could use it on HALO, NFSU2,an all the gta games ON MY PC............NICE! the little button at the top o the pad doesnt work and the shoulder buttons dont in some games but it does function as a 11 button controller in most games.SWEET or What...see i noticed that it made sense when i looked at the pads lead an saw a usb conection cool or what VERY NICE PADS ASWELL...

 

 

Rob

 

peace out!

blowdart wrote:

I plug it in and get the unknown hardware dialog. But I only use the PC for recharging anyway

Ok dude go here an get this once youve done that go to device manager an scan for new hardware then it should show in controllers in control panel


http://xbcd360guide.50webs.com/download.htmlhttp://xbcd360guide.50webs.com/download.html">http://xbcd360guide.50webs.com/download.htmlhttp://xbcd360guide.50webs.com/download.html

just checked microsofts website for the download found it but the page is (I need to watch my language)ed up or doesnt exist no more so look at my reply to blowdarts post to get the drivers from alternative site. ENJOY!

The wireless controllers can't be used with a PC over usb, (and I can't imagine you would be plugging a wired one in for recharging), not unless you buy the upcoming wireless dongle for Windows.

eddwo wrote:

The wireless controllers can't be used with a PC over usb, (and I can't imagine you would be plugging a wired one in for recharging), not unless you buy the upcoming wireless dongle for Windows.

Discover greater precision, comfort, and control. The Wireless Xbox 360 Controller for Windows delivers a consistent and universal gaming experience across both of Microsoft’s gaming systems. Experience the ultimate gaming experience on Windows XP and Xbox 360.

"Available early 2007" for the wireless controller for XP?

There's no picture of the wireless dongle you mentioned...

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360wirelessgamingreceiver/

Includes photo of said dongle!