Chapter 12: Keyboards, Mice, and Game Controllers

Configuring Your Game Controller

Game controllers and joysticks--devices that enable you to play arcade-style games on your computer--come in many sizes and shapes. Windows includes drivers for many game controllers.

To install a game controller, follow the instructions that come with it. Usually, you just shut down Windows, turn off the computer, plug the game controller or joystick into the game port on your computer, and turn on your computer again. Windows should recognize the new device and install it. Have the floppy disk or CD-ROM that came with the game controller handy, and insert it when Windows is looking for the driver. If you've downloaded a driver, tell Windows where the driver file is stored.

To find out whether Windows has recognized your game controller or to change the settings for a game controller, look at the Game Controllers dialog box, shown in Figure 12-4. To see this dialog box, open the Game Controllers icon from the Printers And Other Hardware category of the Control Panel.

Figure 12-4: The Game Controllers dialog box with a game controller installed

If no devices are listed in the Installed Game Controllers box, Windows didn't recognize your game controller. Click the Add button in the Game Controllers dialog box to see the Add Game Controller dialog box, shown in Figure 12-5. Select the line in the Game Controllers list that best describes your game controller and click OK.

Figure 12-5: Adding a game controller

If none of the descriptions on the Game Controllers list fit your game controller, click the Custom button on the Add Game Controller dialog box. Fill out the form on the Custom Game Controller dialog box to generate your own description.

Displaying and Changing Game Controller Settings

To see the settings for your game controller, select it from the list in the Game Controllers dialog box and click Properties. You see the game controller's Properties dialog box, shown in Figure 12-6.

Figure 12-6: You can calibrate and test your game controller from the its Properties dialog box.

One computer can have several game controllers attached. Each controller has an ID number, starting with 1. You can see and change the controller ID numbers by clicking the Advanced button in the Games Controllers dialog box.

Testing Your Game Controller

To test your game controller, select it from the list in the Game Controllers dialog box, click Properties, and click the Test tab in the game controller's Properties dialog box (see Figure 12-6). Move the joystick or yoke and see whether the crosshairs in the Axes box move. Click the buttons on the game controller and see whether the button indicators light up. If not, calibrate the game controller by clicking the Settings tab, clicking the Calibrate button, and following the instructions.