What do you do with Xbox controller, USB cord, and a PC?

Published on December 9, 2004 By XX In Personal Computing

I wanted a great controller for few PC games. The consoles has those great controllers. The PC ones is usually either great and $100+ or crappy.

Also, console companies usually does pretty good research on how people likes or dislikes controller design. I loved Xbox so I had chosen Xbox controller.

I'm not sure if you know this, but Xbox is basically a super-modded PC. Those controllers? USB devices. So you could use any device that connects to those Xbox controller ports on your PC, with custom drivers, of course. But those Xbox don't have the same ports as those tiny USB connectors on computers!

Welcome to hardware hacking.

http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Mods/xbox_controller_to_pc_usb.htm

I did this slightly differently. I simply hacked off the connector that connects to Xbox itself. The color coded wires is exactly the same, so you can't get confused. Just remove the metal wrapping and bare wires then connect all wires ( make sure all wires is color-matched! ), tape em up or use heat-stunk wraps and use something to hide the mess, and you're done! Don't connect the yellow wire ( from Xbox controller ) to any wire, according to my research, it's for some optical pen. Weird, I know... Just install drivers ( found at http://redcl0ud.hostrocket.com/xbcd.html ) then follow website on how to install drivers for your brand new PC controller.

You have to be careful on wrapping up the wires, however. I had to re-do it 2 times since one or more wires disconnected while I was wrapping it with electric tape.

I played a game and with a emulator, Super Dodge Ball for NES console. It's quite a bit easier with an actual controller, even if it's not an original one.

Oops moved to PC where it belongs.

Comments (Page 2)

status quo

on Dec 12, 2004

OK GUYS FOLLOW THE LINK INSTEAD OF DECAPITATING YOUR X BOX REMOTES... (THEY ACTUALY SELL THE CONVERTER XBOX TO PC)

http://zoneaccro.com/en/index.asp?Language=A

status_qo

dual Athlon 2.8
ATI 9800xt 256mb
Corsair XMS TwinX 1024MB PC4400
2 x 36gig raptor S-ata (gaming)
2 x 250gig (storage)

unique moded case (chenming)
job... professional computer modder and prowd owner of the underground CUSTOM FANATICS SOCIETY

QUESTIONS ? STATUS_QO@HOTMAIL.COM

Thomas Thomassen

on Dec 23, 2004

I prefer the PS2 controller. All buttons analogue.

Very interesting article though.

on Dec 24, 2004

OK GUYS FOLLOW THE LINK INSTEAD OF DECAPITATING YOUR X BOX REMOTES

If you adready has a Xbox and it's controllers, you could just buy an ext. cord and hack that. That's just 8 bucks plus USB cable if you don't have a old one. I didn't because I don't even own Xbox console. Just remember NOT TO USE USB EXT CORD. That can't carry enough power for Xbox controller.

I prefer the PS2 controller. All buttons analogue

Yeah? I did think about PS2 controller but I liked Xbox controller, and on top of that, it's a USB device with device driver already made so that pushed me even more to Xbox controller.

MarkMcQ

on Dec 24, 2004

I prefer the PS2 controller. All buttons analogue.

The Xbox buttons are all analogue too, and it has more game support for use of them.

Thomas Thomassen

on Dec 24, 2004

I'm not much of a console player, prefer PC. I'm thinking of getting a PS2 controller to PC adapter like this guy in my class.

on Dec 25, 2004

The Xbox buttons are all analogue too, and it has more game support for use of them.

Yeah? I'm glad I picked Xbox controller then.

I'm not much of a console player, prefer PC. I'm thinking of getting a PS2 controller to PC adapter like this guy in my class.

Same. I do play on consoles but only once a while. Have fun with your brand new PC PS2 controller, in least after you get them.

Sedgwick

on Dec 30, 2004

It might be 'alil late to post this so far into the thred but, you should really grammer check the stuff you post. I mean, your plurals were way wrong.

Anyways, though it not being hard, I don't think that its worth all the trouble to abandon your good friends the mouse and keyboard for somthing that wasn't supposed to be used on your PC in the first place. I think it's a pure waist of your time. Sorry for crushing your hopes and dreams (of whatever you were planning to do with this).

MarkMcQ

on Dec 30, 2004

It might be 'alil late to post this so far into the thred but, you should really grammer check the stuff you post. I mean, your plurals were way wrong.

Go easy on him, after all, you just used the phrase 'waist of time' instead of 'waste'.

I don't think that its worth all the trouble to abandon your good friends the mouse and keyboard for somthing that wasn't supposed to be used on your PC in the first place

Incorrect. The XboX IS a PC. The controller is a USB device simply with a different connector at the end. As for it being a waste of time, I strongly disagree, since the joypad works perfectly when converted.

on Dec 30, 2004

It might be 'alil late to post this so far into the thred but, you should really grammer check the stuff you post. I mean, your plurals were way wrong.

It may seem odd to you, but English is my second language. My main language is ASL, which don't use some parts of English language. That's why I have weird grammar sometimes.

It might be 'alil late to post this so far into the thred but, you should really grammer check the stuff you post. I mean, your plurals were way wrong.

Go easy on him, after all, you just used the phrase 'waist of time' instead of 'waste'.

Thank you. That's why I never correct someone else's grammar or spelling. Murphy's curse will make you use wrong word or misspell a word.

Unless, it's so extreme, of course.

Anyways, though it not being hard, I don't think that its worth all the trouble to abandon your good friends the mouse and keyboard for somthing that wasn't supposed to be used on your PC in the first place. I think it's a pure waist of your time. Sorry for crushing your hopes and dreams (of whatever you were planning to do with this).

Sorry, but I went much further than just planning. I did it, then I got good use out of it CURRENTLY. You know, as in being used almost daily. Hell, it's being used almost as much as those controllers owned by my brother. When you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME.

Indeed. He or she clearly didn't read my entire article. I said Xbox were basically just Super-modded PC with software to run Xbox games. More extreme mods include installing Linux on Xbox that includes emulator to run Xbox games. Odd, but Xbox is very cheap and pretty powerful computer. Perfect for poor people. I'm not that poor, of course, but it's possible just because Xbox is a super-modded PC.

Action_Jay

on Jan 01, 2005

Looks like my fifteen dolar gravis gamepads are gonna get some mean competition

I'm gonna miss those lil digital pads. I'm gonna miss em good.

Great stuff XX, lots of fun for the modmonkey in all of us.

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