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USB or Bluetooth Game Controllers for Mac?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by DocSWAB, Jul 11, 2007.

  1. DocSWAB

    DocSWAB

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    I'm thinking of buying a console-style game controller for using with Mac and PC games (running under BootCamp).

    Would anyone like to recommend a particualr brand or model of controller that works with the Mac as well as PC, and has been durable, etc. (Some Logitech Gamepads are apparently flimsy).

    Thanks!
     
    DocSWAB, Jul 11, 2007
    #1

  2. jeremyace

    jeremyace

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    I don't know how well it works on mac, but I really like the XBox 360 controller to be honest. I am sure other people here can give you better advice, but I thought I'd share my $0.02 ;-)

    -Jeremy
     
    jeremyace, Jul 12, 2007
    #2

  3. drJones

    drJones

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    i'm for the 360 controller as well - it feels very nice is quite rugged - though i personally haven't gotten the main (bottom) triggers to work yet with the latest driver. i'm doing other things now so i'm not sure if that was resolved or not.

    http://forum.unity3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=5563
     
    drJones, Jul 12, 2007
    #3

  4. bigkahuna

    bigkahuna

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    Logitech Rumblepad II has been working perfectly for us...
     
    bigkahuna, Jul 12, 2007
    #4

  5. Eric5h5

    Eric5h5

    Volunteer Moderator Moderator

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    Yep, same here, no driver problems either. Well, except the rumble doesn't work on OS X.

    --Eric
     
    Eric5h5, Jul 12, 2007
    #5

  6. Morgan

    Morgan

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    Rumblepad 2 here as well--it's the unit I chose after reading many Mac reviews. It seems extremely durable though I don't use it often. By contrast, Saitek pads feel cheap to me. Maybe it's all that silver paint!

    I look forward to OS X adding rumble support... one day...
     
    Morgan, Jul 12, 2007
    #6

  7. bigkahuna

    bigkahuna

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    You mean it doesn't already? I'll have to double check, but I was sure that I had a Mac utility that turned the rumble on and off... maybe I'm wrong. At any rate, Unity doesn't support it so it's moot.
     
    bigkahuna, Jul 12, 2007
    #7

  8. DocSWAB

    DocSWAB

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    My understanding is that there is a Force Feedback Library in in OS X, but that other Mac users report that not many games use it out of the box.
     
    DocSWAB, Jul 12, 2007
    #8

  9. HiggyB

    HiggyB

    Unity Product Evangelist

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    Sorry to jump in late here, but isn't "force feedback" entirely different than controller-rumble capability?
     
    HiggyB, Jul 12, 2007
    #9

  10. DocSWAB

    DocSWAB

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    I'm sure you're right Tom. The Force Feedback thing came up in conjunction with a driver that was written for using the XBox controller on a Mac.

    In general, it sounds like the basic controller functions work on Mac, but the extras don't seem to for very many games.

    Thanks for the clarification.
     
    DocSWAB, Jul 12, 2007
    #10

  11. jeremyace

    jeremyace

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    Force-feedback uses a set of actuators and motors to provide counter forces on specific axis' (stiff wheel turning on pavement as opposed to mud in a racing game, stiff vertical control in a flying game at high g's etc), while a rumble pack is simply an electric motor with an offset metal disk that is rotated at different speeds to produce the vibration.

    HTH,
    -Jeremy
     
    jeremyace, Jul 12, 2007
    #11