Is it worth owning a controller for PC???

Im about to get a computer that will be able to handle some of the games that are coming out now and i wanted to know if it was worth while investing in a PC controller (possible the 360 one). I thought that for some games it may actually feel better with the 360 controller than with the keyboard and mouse (the same way that FPS's and RPG's are better WITH a keyboard and mouse). ie gears of war, sports games and some other 3rd person shooters. I just wanted to know whether most PC game users have one cause i havent bought a PC game in 3 years and never had a controller then.

It depends on the kinds of games you like to play.

Some genres naturally work better with a mouse - FPS, most TPS, RPG, RTS. But I wouldn't even be able to play Prince of Persia Sands of Time or Silent Hill 3 if I didn't own a pad.

Then again, if I didn't want to play those games, I wouldn't really need a pad.

So, yeah, it depends on the kinds of games you like - and because it has to be judged on a game by game basis, it's hard to generalise (because some games that seem like they may work better with a pad, like GTA or AC, work better with a keyboard and mouse), but I would say that generally if you tend to play any console-native genres, you probably want to own a pad.

My pad of choice is the PlayStation 2 pad, which I use via a Super Box 3.

Yes, but only because you should own all types of game controllers for your PC. You also must have a flight stick and steering wheel.

However the last /good/ game that was made for a gamepad on the PC was Psychonauts. So pretty much you won't be using it much.

Yes, 360 controller should work by default in games for windows games.

I have a controller for racing games, it feels good.

If you are going to buy a pad for your PC then the only sensible choice is the 360 controller. Any games with the Games for Windows logo on it must be compatible with the 360 pad, and while there may be other pads that do the same, you might as well go for the one guaranteed to work.

Of course you dont have to use it with every game, and in many cases I would never consider using the pad, but for some games, driving in particular it works better than mouse and keyboard.

ok thanks. so 2 more questions.

1) has anyone played Gears of war with the mouse and keyboard setup and 360 controller and found one to be significantly better than the other?

2) with online games do i need to subscribe to something called "windows live" and pay money to play online or is it free?

1) I've played wit both and find the mouse and keyboard combo better

2) for GoW and some other games, you do need to pay money to play online

Recommendation: Here's a list of the top 10 gamepads, choose from herehttp://compactiongames.about.com/od/hardware/tp/gamepads.html

hope this helps

Well, if I was going to do anything as terrible and inhumane as to play downloaded ROMs for console emulators of games that aren't sold any more, I'd certainly want a control for that.

You know, if I was that kind of evil person. :P

One of the things I really don't like about consoles is the controller. I find them to be clumsy things that grant you nowhere near the precision of the mouse, joystick, or steering wheel. I suppose they must be good for the 3rd person action and fighting games that seems so prevalent on consoles, but I rarely play those type of games as I don't derive much pleasure from them. I remeber buying a pad when NHL 2001 came out as everyone basically stated that it was a necessity. Hated it. I went back to the keyboard almost immediately as I found it to be much more responsive.

A controller would be great if you play racing games. I am not sure how it will work with FPS games; I never played a FPS game with a controller.

It's especialyl good fi you are playing some arcade racing games like Need For Speed.