You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
What do i need to know? My daughter is into minecraft on her phone and has recently noticed that our family PC is running windows 10 and has the minecraft app already installed. She has seen on u-tube people using x-box controllers to operate minecraft through a pc. What do i need to be able to work this? She has also seen controllers in a phone/gaming shop for about £20, so is really keen. i am a bit of a ludite with these things, so have no idea.
Hi, so if you want cheap, you can use on old wired xbox360 pad, just plug it in and it will install drivers and off you go.
Better is a wireless xbox one pad, there are 2 models, an older style and a newer style, the newer style has wireless and bluetooth. you can connect these via USB cable, or bluetooth if your PC has bluetooth 4.0 or higher, or you can buy the official microsoft wifi dongle for about £20 I think.
There are also xbox 'elite' pads which are fancier, but way overpriced for what they are IMO.
I would stick to proper mcrosoft xbox pads personally, as they are good pads and are less hassle to connect and are better supported in software.
thanks mattyfez, good info. better have a look at the specs of the pc before buying.
I'd go for a wireless USB controller and then get the rechargeable battery and charger like this one from Argos.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3467097?
Any xbox controller (360 or xbox one) and a USB cable. Plug it in and it will work. I wouldn't bother with wireless etc for a PC as you are generally sat pretty close so a cableisnt an issue.
You can also play minecraft with mouse and keyboard. Will take some adjustment if she is used to Xbox controllers, but is generally thought to be better.
I'd go with the Xbone controller that way you can run it wireless if she decides she wants to play it via the TV (increasingly easy these days). IIRC it doesn't need batteries if plugged in with the cable but I may be remembering wrong.
I get plenty of life from AA rechargeable, don't waste money on packs.
If you just want something cheap then wired pdp or powera xbox one/pc controllers will be fine, she'll be sat pretty close to a pc. I recently got a wired pdp on clearance from Argos for £11.99 to use in the car and it's been fine.
Any xbox controller (360 or xbox one) and a USB cable. Plug it in and it will work. I wouldn’t bother with wireless etc for a PC as you are generally sat pretty close so a cableisnt an issue.
This. There's also a teeny tiny bit of input lag with wireless controllers which can be noticable on games that need quick reactions.
You also get what you pay for, a cheap controller is a horrible thing (massive dead zones on the analogue sticks and weak button membranes.) I got a Horipad Pro XB1 controller (£35 or so I think) and it's smashing so far.
+1 for wired official xbox one. Super cheap on ebay as all the kids want wireless but the charging is a pain.
PS years ago i bought the official usb converter and it never worked so avoid that. I'd give you mine if i could find it.
all the kids want wireless but the charging is a pain.
You sit the controller on the dock and its charged next time you pick it up....
she may find Minecraft with keyboard and mouse much better for control.
The child-controller battery torment is now over for me (tried packs, cheaper rechargeables, packs of landfill batteries) and now have black Eneloop AAs, a dedicated charger next to the Xbox and strict instructions that 'the black batteries can't go in anything other than an Xbox controllers / charger, or else'. Bliss at last.
Defo wired controller as at least they are cheap when inevitably start to go wrong. We have a controller graveyard as they all die eventually even the really expensive "Pro" ones. But my kids do game A LOT.
Thanks for the info kind people. Off to trawl a well known auction site...