Xbox 360 Wired controller to PC questions

Short story - I bought a used wired Xbox 360 controller from Gamestop to use on my PC. The plug on the controller is not a USB plug; I assume it's the plug for use with an Xbox. Do I need to buy a Xbox-plug-to-USB-plug converter to use it on the PC?

Long story - My wife and daughter bought me a wired controller for Father's Day. I took it back because I thought I might want a wireless controller, but returned it after getting home and realizing I needed (and didn't want to buy) a wireless adapter to connect to the PC.

The guys working the counter at Gamestop told me I wanted a Microsoft controller for the PC because the Gamestop and other non-MS controllers have a habit of either not working at all or working for a while then stopping after the 30 day return period is over. They didn't have a used MS controller in stock, but another store did. They called the store, told them to hold it for me, I drove over there, and was told they wouldn't sell it to me because the shoulder button was broken.

Drove back to the original Gamestop, they apologized and said they'd order a MS controller for me. Shipped it for free, but when I opened the package a couple days later, it's a Gamestop controller. Back to the Gamestop. They apologize again, saying it looked like someone just put the wrong controller into a bag because the SKU on the label was for a real MS controller.

They ship me another one, it arrives today, and I can't plug it into the PC because the plug isn't correct.
My wife and daughter have started referring to this as "the worst gift ever."

Huh? The original Xbox 360 Wired controllers are USB.. I can't recall what the original Xbox controllers used though.. I kinda thought they were USB as well but I guess it could be some sort of other plug.

Return whatever they gave you and get a proper 360 Controller.

The 360 controller is plugged in by USB. Are you talking about a wired controller that you can make wireless by detaching a wire? If so, that's not the right controller and doesn't work.

http://amzn.com/B004QRKWLA - the wired controller you want for your PC
http://amzn.com/B0011E4J7O - if your controller looks like it can use this cable to plug into the computer, it's not what you want

Sounds like the controller is just missing the 6" or so USB part. The 360 wired controller has a break point 6" or so after the USB plug to prevent yanking the console off the shelf in the case someone trips over it.

If you have a wited rock band guitar, you can find the missing from it. Well, a 360 one. That's what I did with my wired controller.

I took a photo! This is what I was trying to describe:

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/C19Cn3Vl.jpg)

Yeah, that's the part.

It look like a PS2 to USB wire. Could that do it as well ?

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I took a photo! This is what I was trying to describe:

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/C19Cn3Vl.jpg)

I'm pretty sure this is exactly what's going on. Thanks for posting the photo, that's kind of what I thought might be happening.

I'll head over to Gamestop and find out if the shorter cable was supposed to be included or if I need to purchase another part. This is the silliest retail adventure I've had in a long time. Appreciate the help, everyone. I wanted to know what I was talking about before I let the clerks lead me down another primrose path

That's damned weird. It definitely should be part of the package.

And that's exactly what the clerk at Gamespot said, lol.

He had another MS Xbox 360 controller just come through the door, so he did a swap for me and now I *think* I'm all set. Time to fire up a game and test it out.

And this is why the rule for using Gamestop is "never use Gamestop."

Gamestop: stops gaming in its tracks. Shop here for all your game stopping needs.

complexmath wrote:

Gamestop: stops gaming in its tracks. Shop here for all your game stopping needs.

Ha!

Gamestop: Stop gaming. Trade all that sh*t in. Buy more gaming stuff with the credit, then stop and trade that in too. Repeat until there's nothing left. Fun for the whole family!

sithload wrote:

My wife and daughter have started referring to this as "the worst gift ever."

I laughed.