Getting an XBox controller for my PC

If there is one game that frustrated me this year(*), that game was Just Cause 2. I wanted to play it. I wanted to have fun with it but the game simply isn't playable from a keyboard. I tried to set the keys more to my liking, but the simple fact is that this game premises in terms of character control simply don't seem to be very friendly towards the keyboard. It seems the game was meant from the start to be played with a controller. I find driving vehicles in the game especially frustrating.

Since I'm also starting to regain an interest on racing games, I'm thinking on getting an XBox controller for my PC. I'd like to know if any of you did, if you liked it, and if you think it's worthy. My main concerns is that, despite being priced relatively cheap, there's really not many games out there that support it. In fact Just Cause 2 is the only game I know that has XBox Controller settings on its PC version. Will I be wasting my money, or can I also use this controller on any other game?


(*) Two games did actually. The other was Elemental: War of Magic. But for completely different reasons.

I like my 360 controller just fine for Windows games. (I don't actually play any Windows games anymore, but I liked it fine when I did.) I did prefer my PS3 controller, but that's going to be a simple matter of which one you like physically as the different communities support both equally well.

You will not have any problems using either controller for any game. You will have to grab some software to deal with controller profiles for different games, but then it is just a matter of grabbing a profile for a given game or making your own profile.

That said, some games are flaky, but that's because the games control scheme itself is flaky and can't be corrected by a bit of software that only maps buttons and mouse axis to other buttons and controller axis.

Unless you like to be very far away from your box while playing, I'd say the wireless adapter for 360 controller use is a complete waste of money.

Soma

Xbox 360 Controller Support for PC (video game concept)

Here's a list of PC games that support the Xbox360 controller. I was thinking about buying one for the same reason not too long ago, but I just haven't had much time to follow through.
Oh, one more thing, if you do buy one, check and make sure it has a windows logo is somewhere on the package. Otherwise, you'll just be buying one that's only compatible with the Xbox360 system.

I borrowed my brothers Xbox360 controller for Grand Theft Auto Pc version and it worked great.
Hope this helps

Ok. Thanks folks.
Impressive list of games there. I wasn't aware there were so many.

I use it at work all the time (I do game development) both on PC and XBox. I like it much better than the PS3 one. Feels a lot more... filling, of the grip.

No idea about compatibility. I only play our one game with it :).

I agree with cyberfish. Being a gaming enthusiast I know what he is talking about when he says 'filling'. Its almost as if they made someone squeeze some clay and molded the controller out of that. I manly play Xbox 360 games but also have tf2 and gmod for the computer and prefer console games mostly because of the controller. (I have just cause 2 for Xbox. way more fun with a controller). I say get it.