Razor
Outstanding Member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2004
- Messages
- 37,733
- Reaction score
- 12,416
- Points
- 6,866
There have been allot of threads started asking the same question. Can you play on the pc with a pad?
The simple answer is YES you can.
Allot of new games come with 360 pad support as standard and its just a matter of plug and play.
However there are allot of new and old games which don't have any pad support at all.
There is a simple solution to this problem and its with an excellent little program called Pinnacle Game profiler
Pinnacle basically maps the commands from the keyboard and mouse to your chosen pad. All types of pads are supported with the favourite being the 360 and Playstation style pad. Steering wheels can also be used with pinnacle for games that don't support wheels.
There is a 1 months free trial so you can see if you like this app after that there is a small one off fee of $19.95 (approx £14). Pinnacle is regularly updated for new games and there is a forum where you can request profiles for any game you wish if you find out it hasn't yet been supported by pinnacle. The owners of pinnacle run this forum and support it really well. I have been using Pinnacle Game Profiler for over 4 years now and I can't recommend the service enough. The program works a treat and the support is second to none. In all the time I have used this program I have never had any problems with Pinnacle, it has worked flawlessly.
A lot of die hard pc gamers turn their nose up at using a pad on the pc as the keyboard and mouse method is so accurate. However there is a need for pad support as a lot of people now have a PC or HTPC in the lounge and using a keyboard and mouse just isn't as comfortable as sitting back in a sofa with a pad a bit like a console owner would.
The most popular way of using a pad at a distance away from your pc is with a wireless 360 pad. If you want to go the wireless route with a 360 pad you will need the following.
360 Pad
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wireless Controller : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver
Play.com (UK) : Microsoft Xbox 360 Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows : PC Games - Free Delivery
Simply plug the Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver into your pc and press the button on top of the receiver. Now switch on your 360 Pad by pushing the guide button and now sync your 360 pad by pressing the small white button on the top end of the pad. The green light will flash on the pad and then settle at one of the four positions. Your pad is now sync'd to the pc and ready to go.
If you do not have any need for a wireless pad then the normal wired 360 pad will also work with the pc and no Crossfire Receiver is needed. The wired 360 pad plug into any of your pc's USB ports and is ready to go straight away. If the 360 pad isn't your favourite design of Gamepad then there are a fair few other makes and designs of Gamepads which are all compatible with Pinnacle Game profiler.
Other Gaming Peripherals which can be used with the Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver
You can also use the Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver with the 360 Wheel and headset as shown below.
Steering Wheel
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wireless Steering Wheel with Force Feedback : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
Wireless Headset
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wireless Headset : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
Wired headset
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wired Headset : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
How to use Pinnacle Game profiler
This little app is very easy to use.
Make sure your pad or wheel is plugged in or connected to your pc. Launch Pinnacle Game profiler and it will automatically scan your Hard Drive for known games.
It will then update its profiles for each game and present you with a list of your games.
Now select the game you wish to play by double clicking on the icon for that game and Pinnacle Game profiler will now launch the game with pad control.
To access the Pinnacle Help menu, simply press the F1 key on your keyboard while Pinnacle is open. There you will find answers to many frequently asked questions.
Useful Features
- You can calibrate the pad for all your games to suit your playing style. This can be fine tuned for each game or a global setting can be applied.
- You can control windows with your pad instead of your mouse.
- You can make your own profiles for games or modify existing profiles to suit your needs ie change button positions, invert controls etc...
- You can download user profiles from the pinnacle forums and request a profile if you find a game that isn't supported by pinnacle (the admin at pinnacle will make you a profile).
Pinnacle Game profiler is compatible with Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 & 2008 and Windows Vista.
If a pc game already has pad support pinnacle is not needed. Most new Games for Windows have built in pad support and all that is needed is a 360 Game pad be it wired or wireless.
Drivers
You dont need a driver for the 360 pad and it will work out of the box with your pc. However If you install the driver you will get info on your battery life when you push the guide button which can be helpful. The Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver comes with an install disc but if you have lost that or are using a wired 360 pad here is the driver you need. Just select the options you need in the link to download the driver.
The simple answer is YES you can.
Allot of new games come with 360 pad support as standard and its just a matter of plug and play.
However there are allot of new and old games which don't have any pad support at all.
There is a simple solution to this problem and its with an excellent little program called Pinnacle Game profiler
Pinnacle basically maps the commands from the keyboard and mouse to your chosen pad. All types of pads are supported with the favourite being the 360 and Playstation style pad. Steering wheels can also be used with pinnacle for games that don't support wheels.
There is a 1 months free trial so you can see if you like this app after that there is a small one off fee of $19.95 (approx £14). Pinnacle is regularly updated for new games and there is a forum where you can request profiles for any game you wish if you find out it hasn't yet been supported by pinnacle. The owners of pinnacle run this forum and support it really well. I have been using Pinnacle Game Profiler for over 4 years now and I can't recommend the service enough. The program works a treat and the support is second to none. In all the time I have used this program I have never had any problems with Pinnacle, it has worked flawlessly.
A lot of die hard pc gamers turn their nose up at using a pad on the pc as the keyboard and mouse method is so accurate. However there is a need for pad support as a lot of people now have a PC or HTPC in the lounge and using a keyboard and mouse just isn't as comfortable as sitting back in a sofa with a pad a bit like a console owner would.
The most popular way of using a pad at a distance away from your pc is with a wireless 360 pad. If you want to go the wireless route with a 360 pad you will need the following.
360 Pad
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wireless Controller : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver
Play.com (UK) : Microsoft Xbox 360 Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows : PC Games - Free Delivery
Simply plug the Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver into your pc and press the button on top of the receiver. Now switch on your 360 Pad by pushing the guide button and now sync your 360 pad by pressing the small white button on the top end of the pad. The green light will flash on the pad and then settle at one of the four positions. Your pad is now sync'd to the pc and ready to go.
If you do not have any need for a wireless pad then the normal wired 360 pad will also work with the pc and no Crossfire Receiver is needed. The wired 360 pad plug into any of your pc's USB ports and is ready to go straight away. If the 360 pad isn't your favourite design of Gamepad then there are a fair few other makes and designs of Gamepads which are all compatible with Pinnacle Game profiler.
Other Gaming Peripherals which can be used with the Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver
You can also use the Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver with the 360 Wheel and headset as shown below.
Steering Wheel
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wireless Steering Wheel with Force Feedback : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
Wireless Headset
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wireless Headset : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
Wired headset
Play.com (UK) : Official Xbox 360 Wired Headset : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery
How to use Pinnacle Game profiler
This little app is very easy to use.
Make sure your pad or wheel is plugged in or connected to your pc. Launch Pinnacle Game profiler and it will automatically scan your Hard Drive for known games.
It will then update its profiles for each game and present you with a list of your games.
Now select the game you wish to play by double clicking on the icon for that game and Pinnacle Game profiler will now launch the game with pad control.
To access the Pinnacle Help menu, simply press the F1 key on your keyboard while Pinnacle is open. There you will find answers to many frequently asked questions.
Useful Features
- You can calibrate the pad for all your games to suit your playing style. This can be fine tuned for each game or a global setting can be applied.
- You can control windows with your pad instead of your mouse.
- You can make your own profiles for games or modify existing profiles to suit your needs ie change button positions, invert controls etc...
- You can download user profiles from the pinnacle forums and request a profile if you find a game that isn't supported by pinnacle (the admin at pinnacle will make you a profile).
Pinnacle Game profiler is compatible with Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 & 2008 and Windows Vista.
If a pc game already has pad support pinnacle is not needed. Most new Games for Windows have built in pad support and all that is needed is a 360 Game pad be it wired or wireless.
Drivers
You dont need a driver for the 360 pad and it will work out of the box with your pc. However If you install the driver you will get info on your battery life when you push the guide button which can be helpful. The Crossfire Wireless Gaming Receiver comes with an install disc but if you have lost that or are using a wired 360 pad here is the driver you need. Just select the options you need in the link to download the driver.
Last edited: