Asking about PS3 Controller for iMac gaming?

[iSayuSay]

Well now I have preorder iMac 27¨ with 2Gb 6970M, so of course I´d like to use it for some serious gaming.

Questions:

1. It is said that PS3 controller natively supported by OSX, no additional driver needed and it just run and connected like a charm, pair it as if you pair the controller to the real PS3.

But once the controller connected to iMac, is it still synced to the original PS3? Do I have to unplug PS3 if I want to connect it for iMac?

2. The buttons. Do I have to configure buttons for gaming? Not emulated games, but real Mac games like Modern Warfare 2 or some sort.

How the button would appeared on the screen? native PS Symbols or displayed as Button1, 2, 3 etc?

3. How about using the controller for BootCamp Windows? Can I use PS controller as bluetooth device?
I never cared using PS3 controller on Windows PC because my old PC really suck for game. But I´ve tried that PS3 works as wired controller using some sort of driver, but it was PITA to configure since the button appeared as numbered, not native PS symbols

4. All in all, what is the best gaming controller for iMac and the BootCamp? Should I go with PS3 as I have it already, or go with Xbox360 wireless controller for PC? (The wireless Xbox is not bluetooth, right?)

 

[Lord Appleseed]

I never head of this, but It might work.

However for Windows the best Controller is the 360 Pad, since it is supported by a lot games. If you want the wireless 360 pad you also need the "wireless gaming adapter".

 

[Icaras]

Wow, is it really that simple to connect a PS3 controller? I'd like to know this as I currently use 2 wireless Xbox controllers for bootcamp. And yes, you're right, they are not Bluetooth...they use a USB dongle, which I really don't prefer.

If I can get a PS3 controller to work via Bluetooth and with the same functionality I get with the Xbox controllers, I'd switch them out.

So thanks for starting this thread, as I'm very curious how all this works also.

 

[iSayuSay]

Well folks, when i wrote "it is said" i didn't mean it to be a legend or myth

Here is an example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uuabGQQRM

Too bad the video didn't demo the controller for native mac games, maybe you can google it for further result. But anyone else tried to gaming on mac using certain gamepad? Bluetooth is preferable. They'd make sexy pair with the keyboard, trackpad and mouse. All bluetooth!!

I think we need itunesn00b here. He is a dedicated mac lover and heavy gamer

 

[Vylen]

I've been using my PS3 DS3 controller on a VMWare'd Windows 7 on OS X. Sounds odd, but yea, had to.

But using USB cable. Because I *think* if you use Bluetooth, it desync's the controller with the PS3. And I can't be bothered finding out - it's just easier to use the USB cable and it keeps it charged

But yes, you certainly can use the PS3 controller on OS X native games. And of course you have to set the button mapping for any games you use.

Anyway, hope that all helps.

 

[pcypert]

I know this isn't what you asked but why? I mean I'd definitely go Mouse/Keyboard then 360 controller and the PS3 is way down under there...maybe even under the Wii controller or N64 controller. It's just awful. Little toggles are all loose and sloppy. I mean if you already have the PS3 I can understand being curious about using the controller, but I really wouldn't bother. I think you'd lose over any of the other options.

I use 360 controller for Super Meat Boy and some other platformer type games and then other wise it's mouse and keyboard (and I really like console gaming)...

 

[Vylen]

Depends on what you're playing... platformers, fighting games (they exist on the PC!), and things of the like where it totally makes sense to use a controller than mouse and keyboard...

Racing games too... need that analog control

 

[iSayuSay]

Depends on what you're playing... platformers, fighting games (they exist on the PC!), and things of the like where it totally makes sense to use a controller than mouse and keyboard...

Racing games too... need that analog control

Thank you sir. Agreed. I was thinking the same. I hate gamepad. Now i've been a long console gamer, i even play fps using controller. They just more comfortable. Maybe the aim won't be as accurate. But it'll do just fine

 

[pcypert]

Racing wheel