Introduction

A different game controller for every type of game

For many computer games, a specialized game controller provides superior gameplay. With the crossover of many console games to PCs, a gamepad similar to the kind bundled with a Playstation or Xbox will make games originally designed for consoles easier to play on your computer. While gamers looking for the equivalent of Nintendo's motion-sensitive Wiimote will be disappointed, PCs do have their own unique motion-sensitive game controllers, which are covered in this report.

The best sources for game controller reviews vary by the type, but generally are a combination of gaming sites like IGN.com, which provides in-depth reviews for most of the top controllers, and niche sites like About.com's NASCAR website, which is particularly useful for PC steering wheels. We found some sites, like BrightHub.com, that helpfully round up and rank game controllers, but, no matter how spot-on the rankings were, their descriptions were too brief to get a full impression of the device in question. In contrast, some of the most thorough, in-depth reviews came from sites like OverClockersClub.com, which review only a handful of game controllers, making it difficult to get a sense of how the reviewed devices stack up against their competition. Amazon.com provides useful user reviews, but consumers usually have not tested the wide range of controllers that reviewers at other sites have, and owners frequently write their reviews after little, if any, testing. CNET has kept up with game controllers for consoles, but its reviews for PC game controllers are dated.

Many PC gamers have no problem using a keyboard and mouse for all of their gaming needs. For basic games, these old standbys are the easiest option, and, even for first-person shooters (FPS) and other sophisticated games, they are arguably the most flexible and precise. See our separate reports on keyboards and computer mice for more information on how to maximize your gaming experience with this set-up.