Does anyone have a specific recommendation for a reliable Xbox 360 controller, specifically a wired one?
We use 360 controllers, but we continuously have annoying connectivity problems. It might be the cables, or maybe the connector (on the controller). It would be really nice if we could find a good, wired controller which had a sturdy connector.
Alternatively, has anyone come up with a good scheme to reinforce the connection at the controller? I have contemplated creating a little 3d printed brace to surround the connector and start of the cable, but I don’t know whether it will really help.
166 uses wireless xbox one remotes and uses a micro USB to connect them to the laptop. we had no problems with them this season. Not exactly what you’re looking for but I hope this helps.
I’d suggest the PS4 controller with DS4Windows if the USB port wasn’t so flaky. If you can find a way to hardwire the cable in or add proper retention, it would be pretty nice.
You don’t need special software to use a PS4 as a controller on PC, only PS3 needed that. The big trick though for wired 360 controllers is not to wrap them so aggressively the strain relief is… ya know, constantly strained,
In one match at worlds, our driver’s wireless xbox one controller disconnected for a few seconds because of the micro usb connection. Our other controller was fine, but that connection issue probably cost us the match. Wired controllers ought to be more reliable IF you are gentle with the cord when you wrap it up. Not to mention a wired controller costs less than wireless controllers.
We’ve used the same After Glow wired XBox 360 controllers for the past 3 or 4 years with no issues. We originally got them because they glowed bright green like our robot, pit, shirts, etc. (the lights can be disabled by a button on the back of the controller, or set to correspond to the rumble packs) But we’ve kept them because they’re comfortable to hold and are reliable. The handle bit is a lot thicker than a standard 360 controller which makes them more ergonomic IMO.
This is a little off-topic. But I would highly recommend upgrading from 360 controllers to xbox one controllers. They are a lot more ergonomic to hold and use.
We use the Microsoft produced Xbox 360 controllers. Problem is they stopped making them so you now have to buy off eBay or other sellers. These have been the most reliable for us.
Our driver used a Razer Wolverine Ultimate for Xbox and it worked really well. Keep in mind though that all the extra buttons are just remaps of the usual ones, just so you don’t have to take your thumbs off the sticks.
We went with just straight USB wired OEM 360 controllers. Relying on micro USB was no bueno, and they’re incredibly common so no sourcing issues. The analog triggers are also very nice for elevator control and my only complaint is the icky mushy dpad.
We normally get our controllers from logitech. That might be a source to check out. Off the top of my head I believe you can get them at a better price than the site, but you would have to look around.
They’re also way more fragile. I had to replace 2 analog sticks on my personal controller, and I wasn’t exactly beating on them. Drift was a serious problem in the launch batch of controllers. Make sure if you’re using Xbox One controllers that they are of the newer style. I believe the new ones have a headphone jack and the old ones don’t.
We have found that the “charging cable” nature of using an XBOX One controller over a 360 controller, even with hot glue and proper strain relief, makes it more prone to problems than a properly maintained XBOX 360 controller.
I used a Xbox one elite controller for the last 4 years at over 20 competitions and even more for practice. It’s been abused in every way possible, dropped, stepped on, run over by robots, etc etc. So much so that the paint on side is actually peeling off.
But the microusb port itself and the wire that came with it are high quality, and I’ve never had any issues with it. Even without hot gluing the wire in place. And if you were to hotglue the wire in place I would have absolutely no worries with its performance.
I’ll second this. The F310 has been far more reliable than the Microsoft-brand controllers we used to use. IMO the layout is also superior to the standard xbox layout.
The Razer Wolverine Ultimate Xbox One controller comes loaded with a slew of extra buttons for advanced gaming—2 remappable Multi-Function bumpers, 4 Multi-Function triggers and a Quick Control Panel.
The extra buttons are really nice on that controller, but you have to remember they are simply more locations for the same buttons already on the controller. I know at one point Synapse allowed them to be created into macros to do combination of triggers.