Well, yeah - the games were initially designed to run on a 360 or PS3 but as obligation requires, when ported to PC the controls are also mapped to keyboard. If left at that there would be no problem but KAO 2 went as far as to permanently enter 360 game pad commands into the game pad configuration ini and then they went and encrypted it so you couldn't remove them.

In this instance, mapping other controllers failed because they just tangled with the permanently entered XBox mappings.

Now I know my ini's and my dummy dolls but all those Soccer Mom's out there do not and they just shrug and accept that it is 'Only XBox Compatible' there for allowing themselves, like cattle, to be herded into dumping money towards the conglomerate that has limited their choice in the first place.

You might say who really needs other component manufacturers around any way but when M$ terminates your employment is there anyone else out there now doing the same thing who can employ you out of that unemployment line?

And what other alternative company out there still exists to provide you with free no-run-around tech support if you're having problems with your component?

You know that there are other XInput gamepads out there, right? But yes, it sucks that your controller doesn't work with the game, but it's the developers fault for not fixing that when migrating from XBLA to PC, not Microsoft's.

Also, not to go there again (we had this discussion some time ago on these forums), but XInput is better than DirectInput was.

Yup, there's another version of my Logitech which is specifically designed to accomodate XInput but isn't necessary as long as they leave behind an editable ini or don't insist on loading splash screens prior to initiation that tricks the mapper into thinking that the program has ended when the splash screen closes.

Actually no. All mega corporations get affectionate pet names. That some people are so sensitive this one has only cemented its use. I didn't even notice he used it til you pointed it out.

I have never seen anyone come to the defense of Ratshack/ RadioShack. Does Microsoft deserve special consideration because so many techies owe their livelihood to them? It seems like a double standard.

Have you thought of using a software that maps keyboard keys to your gamepad?
http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key/JoyToKey%20English%20Version.htm

How is this the developers' fault?

http://code.google.com/p/x360ce/

follow that link and flip M$ the bird because your controller issues should mostly be gone.

unless your dealing with something like Darksiders where in THQ programmed the game to automatically lock out all keyboard commands and switch over to 360 only mode if it detects any game controller connected to the PC.

.... this included my n52te and I had a nuclear meltdown.

other than that I can't help you with the steam issue outside of encouraging you to not use them, or to pirate the fuck out of them till developers realize that it's not the holy grail of DRM .... not sure what will erode steams foundation quicker but I don't like stealing videogames so I personally opt for the former.

+1
I have Windows 7 and I used to use my gamepad (running Joy2Key) with no problems. It's been a while since I used it but I believe I remember using it on steam games with no problems. How it would work for Serious Sam I don't know.

I don't have an Xbox but I do have an Xbox controller. They're easy to get on their own, since for a long time they were marketed as official Windows controllers as well. They might still be, for all I know.

Because you're using a shit-ass controller that is more than 5 years old?

And DirectInput has been obsolete since the release of Vista, so there is no need for carnival73 to cry if a game using new technology doesn't work on his precious 10 year old operating system.

EDIT: Oh, xInput is supported on XP past SP1 too, so, his controller is crappy, I guess.

Indeed.

People update their processors and GPUs all the time, but ask them to get a new controller once in a while and they act like the world is coming to an end. Similarly people add 3D accelerators and gaming mice to standard computers so they can game, but they act like controllers should be banned for being "non-standard."

The fact is controllers pre-date mice as computer gaming mechanisms. They have been a part of PC gaming since the beginning and every PC gamer should have one for certain genres. They should also get a new one every once in a while, because you do that with everything.

/rant

Uh...No.

1) You don't get to tell people what they should do. So stop that.

2) Console controllers are non-standard controllers for the PC platform. I bet you'd be upset if you got an XBox game and it only worked with a Wii controller (or vice versa). It's perfectly reasonable to be irritated when a game doesn't work with a platform it was published on, and it's a sign of lazy development.

Take your sensitivity and shove it.

There are NO standard gaming devices on a PC. There is NO standard PC, for that matter.

I've honestly never heard Radioshack being called Ratshack. It's as if people who use these inane nicknames think they're "sticking it to the man" by using them, but in reality they're just exposing that their posts are most likely utterly devoid of meaningful content.

Congratulations, you've determined that Microsoft is a corporation with the primary goal of accumulating value for their shareholders. That also describes every corporation, including CD Projekt and Valve.

And Microsoft is trying to turn their pad into the STANDARD gaming device. So the 95% of people who don't have or can't afford one? We're screwed and can't do anything against them locking out their games from our gamepads?