How do you connect a controller to a Mac?

Apologies if this is a really simple/basic question but since until a month ago I never owned a modern controller (I had a used Wii but other than the last console I owned was the original Nintendo) - got an XBox 360 as a birthday present - so my household now actually has two wireless controllers.

I've read and heard many references to people using controllers with PC games - but I don't know how to connect an XBox 360 controller to a computer - especially a wireless controller and to my Mac (which currently isn't set up to play PC games). I also don't know if this is a good thing to try to do or not (and will I have to constantly re-pair the controller to my XBox 360 as well?) but as I'm trying to finally catch up on nearly two decades of games (starting with things from the past 5-6 years) I have a lot of different games to explore and try.

[I still haven't been able to complete the first Portal - I think I'm stuck at one of the very earliest stages - can't get the timing right, though perhaps a controller might be easier for me than keyboard and trackpad on my laptop?]

thanks

Shannon

You have to have an adapter. The controllers they sell for the 360 and the controllers they market as "XBox controllers for the PC" are essentially the same controller but the PC package comes with an adapter for them that is a little wireless dongle that allows the controller to sync with the PC. I am not sure if you can buy the dongle separately, even if it is not an official thing maybe you could find one on eBay.

If you switch between Xbox and PC yes I think you will have to resync each time you move between them. Now about it working on Mac, I haven't tried it. Try a quick google?

I just learned the other day that connecting a PS3 controller is super simple. I'll have to try it one of these days. Of course, that doesn't help you any.

Maybe this will, though.

fleabagmatt wrote:

I just learned the other day that connecting a PS3 controller is super simple. I'll have to try it one of these days. Of course, that doesn't help you any.

Not to derail...

I've tried setting up the PS3 remote on my mini for Steam games but I can't get it to work. I'll see it paired under bluetooth preferences but it does nothing.

Would you mind sharing your friends instructions on setting it up?

The Google articles I found on a quick search implied that a dongle was needed even to connect the controllers wirelessly to the XBox 360 - which I think means they were written before the current generation of XBox 360's (that come with wireless controllers by default and come with wifi built-in) - unclear if this changes things?

Should I instead look for a used wired controller? Can you connect to the Mac via USB? Or do I need to track down the dongle?

thanks!

Yeah, you need the dongle. Looks like they are 16 bucks on Ebay. They're a little more expensive on Amazon.

According to this, it will work with a MAC. It definitely works with Windows. A wired controller will apparently work with OSX too.

Hope you get it working! The dongle is cheaper than buying a new wired controller, so if you don't need an extra controller, ya might as well do that.

some other zach wrote:
fleabagmatt wrote:

I just learned the other day that connecting a PS3 controller is super simple. I'll have to try it one of these days. Of course, that doesn't help you any.

Not to derail...

I've tried setting up the PS3 remote on my mini for Steam games but I can't get it to work. I'll see it paired under bluetooth preferences but it does nothing.

Would you mind sharing your friends instructions on setting it up?

I have to admit I haven't tried it yet, I just read about it a couple days ago.

Here and here.