Using Alternative Input Devices (Xbox 360)
Discusses various controller subtypes and mappings for each of these controllers to the standard Xbox 360 gamepad.
- Required and Optional Features
- Alternate Guitar
- Arcade Stick
- Big Button Pad
- Dance Pad
- Drum Kit
- Flight Stick
- Gamepad
- Guitar
- Wheel
Required and Optional Features
Support for the following features is required from all controller subtypes:
- The action buttons: A, B, X, and Y.
- The Back, Start, and Xbox Guide buttons.
- The directional pad (Up, Down, Left, and Right), the Ring of Light, and voice support.
Support for the following features is optional:
- The serial port, which is part of the Expansion Port.
- The Left/Right stick buttons (that is, thumbsticks).
- The Left/Right triggers.
- The Left/Right shoulder buttons (that is, bumpers).
Alternate Guitar
This controller consists of a guitar with a vertical orientation sensor and whammy bar.
Note
In addition to the standard control set, the standard and alternate guitar controllers implement additional vendor-specific effects.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Guitar (alternate) |
|---|---|---|
| Game Dependent | Right Trigger | Accelerometer |
| Game Dependent | Left Trigger | Accelerometer |
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Strum Up, Strum Down, DPad Left, DPad Right |
| Game Dependent | A, B, X, Y button | Green (1st Neck button), Red (2nd Neck button), Blue (4th Neck button), Yellow (3rd Neck button) |
| Game Dependent | Left Bumper | Orange (5th Neck button) |
| Not used | Right Bumper | Optional Guitar Effect 3 |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens Xbox 360 Console’s on screen menu. It wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Not used | Left Stick X-axis | Not used |
| Not used | Left Stick Y-axis | Not used |
| Game Dependent | Right Stick X-axis | Whammy Bar. When the whammy bar is held out from the base of the controller, it is in an Out (or neutral) position and returns a full negative value (-32,768). When the whammy bar is held against the base of the controller, it is in an In position and registers a full positive value (32,767). |
| Game Dependent | Right Stick Y-axis | Vertical Accelerometer When the controller is held at an angle of +55º or more, the Y-axis of the right stick registers a full positive max value. Values less than 55º register a positive value between 0 and 32,767. When the controller is held at an angle of -55º or more, the X-axis of the right stick registers a full negative max value. Values less than -55º register a negative value between 0 and -32,768. |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick buttons | Not used |
Arcade Stick
This controller consists of a digital joystick and buttons, which are commonly used for arcade and fighting games.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Arcade Stick |
|---|---|---|
| Game Dependent | Right Trigger | RT button (optional) |
| Game Dependent | Left Trigger | LT button (optional) |
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Arcade Stick (Up/Down/Left/Right) |
| Game Dependent | A, B, X, Y button | Green/Red/Blue/Yellow button |
| Game Dependent | Left Bumper | Optional |
| Game Dependent | Right Bumper | Optional |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens the on-screen Xbox 360 menu. It wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick X-axis | Not used |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick Y-axis | Not used |
Big Button Pad
This controller consists of one big button and several other buttons.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Big Button Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) |
| Game Dependent | A, B, X, Y button | A, B, X, Y button |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens the on-screen Xbox 360 menu. It wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Game Dependent | Not applicable | Big Button |
Dance Pad
This controller consists of a floor mat, which is used exclusively with dance games. An optional headset extension cable might be bundled with the dance pad.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Dance Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Not used | Right Trigger | Not used |
| Not used | Left Trigger | Not used |
| Game dependent | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Top/North, Bottom/South, West/Left, East/Right pads |
| Game dependent | A, B, X, Y button | A Pad (North East), B Pad (North West), X Pad (South East), Y Pad (South West) |
| Not used | Left Bumper | Not used |
| Not used | Right Bumper | Not used |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start Button/Pad |
| Back | Back button | Back Button/Pad |
| Opens the on-screen Xbox 360 menu. Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide Button/Pad |
| Not used | Left Stick X and Y-axis | Not used |
| Not used | Right Stick X and Y-axis | Not used |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick buttons | Not used |
Drum Kit
This controller consists of a drum kit, which is used for music games. Bass drum control is implemented as a foot pedal with various drums represented by four (core kit) or seven (extended drum kit) pads.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Drum Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Not used | Right Trigger | Not used |
| Not used | Left Trigger | Not used |
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Directional Pad |
| Game Dependent | A, B, X, Y button | Green, Red, Blue, and Yellow pads. |
| Game Dependent | Left Bumper | Orange pedal |
| Game Dependent | Right Bumper | Extra Pad 3 (optional) |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens the on-screen Xbox 360 menu. Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Game Dependent | Left Stick button | Extra Pad 2 (optional) |
| Game Dependent | Right Stick button | Extra Pad 1 (optional) |
Flight Stick
This controller consists of an aircraft joystick, which is used for flight simulation, air combat, and space combat games. The joystick’s position is mapped to the Left Stick’s X and Y-axes as on a Cartesian plane.
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| Game Function | Gamepad | Flight Stick |
|---|---|---|
| Throttle (Up/Down) | Right Trigger | Throttle Control (Forward/Backward) |
| Rudder (Left/Right) | Left Trigger | Twisting handle or rocker switch |
| Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Hat switch |
| Primary weapon, Secondary weapon, Action, Action | A, B, X, Y button | Joystick trigger, B, X, Y buttons |
| Optional | Left Bumper | Optional |
| Optional | Right Bumper | Optional |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens the on-screen Xbox 360 menu. Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Roll (Left/Right) | Left Stick X-axis | Joystick X-axis |
| Pitch (Up/Down) | Left Stick Y-axis | Joystick Y-axis |
| Point Of View | Right Stick X and Y-axis | Right Stick X and Y-axis |
| Optional | Left and Right Stick buttons | Optional |
Gamepad
This is the standard Xbox 360 controller. It is suitable for emulating all other controller subtypes.
| Game Function | Gamepad |
|---|---|
| Game Dependent | Right Trigger |
| Game Dependent | Left Trigger |
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) |
| Game Dependent | A, B, X, Y button |
| Game Dependent | Left Bumper |
| Game Dependent | Right Bumper |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button |
| Back | Back button |
| Opens the on-screen Xbox 360 menu. Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick X-axis |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick Y-axis |
Guitar
This controller consists of a guitar with a vertical orientation sensor and whammy bar. In addition, some controllers implement vendor-specific optional effects.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Guitar |
|---|---|---|
| Game Dependent | Right Trigger | Optional Guitar Effect 2 (Right Effect Pedal) |
| Game Dependent | Left Trigger | Optional Guitar Effect 1 (Right Effect Pedal) |
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Strum Up, Strum Down, DPad Left, DPad Right |
| Game Dependent | A, B, X, Y button | Green (1st Neck button), Red (2nd Neck button), Blue (4th Neck button), Yellow (3rd Neck button) |
| Game Dependent | Left Stick button + A | Left Stick button + A |
| Game Dependent | Left Stick button + B | Left Stick button + B |
| Game Dependent | Left Stick button + X | Left Stick button + X |
| Game Dependent | Left Stick button + Y | Left Stick button + Y |
| Game Dependent | Left Bumper | Orange (5th Neck button) |
| Game Dependent | Lower Left Bumper | Left Stick button + Left BUmper |
| Not used | Right Bumper | Optional Guitar Effect 3 |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens Xbox 360 Console’s on screen menu. Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up. | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Not used | Left Stick X-axis | Not used |
| Not used | Left Stick Y-axis | Not used |
| Game Dependent | Right Stick X-axis | Whammy Bar. When the whammy bar is held out from the base of the controller, it is in an Out (or neutral) position and returns a full negative value (-32,768). When the whammy bar is held against the base of the controller, it is in an In position and registers a full positive value (32,767). |
| Game Dependent | Right Stick Y-axis | Tilt Sensor When the controller is held at an angle of +55º or more, the Y-axis of the right stick registers a full positive max value. Values less than 55º register a positive value between 0 and 32,767. When the controller is held at an angle of -55º or more, the X-axis of the right stick registers a full negative max value. Values less than -55º register a negative value between 0 and -32,768. |
| Not used | Left and Right Stick buttons | Not used |
Wheel
Several wheels (with associated pedals) are available for the Xbox 360 platform.
| Game Function | Gamepad | Wheel |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerate | Right Trigger | Accelerator Pedal |
| Brake | Left Trigger | Brake Pedal |
| Game Dependent/Menu Navigation | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) | Directional Pad (Up/Down/Left/Right) |
| Game Dependent | A, B, Y, X button | A, B, Y, X button |
| Gear Down | Left Bumper | Left Paddle/Shift Lever |
| Gear Up | Right Bumper | Right Paddle/Shift Lever |
| Pause/Wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up | Start button | Start button |
| Back | Back button | Back button |
| Opens Xbox 360 Console’s on-screen menu; wakes controller from standby and then signals console to wake up | Xbox Guide button | Xbox Guide button |
| Steering | Left Stick X-axis | Wheel Rotation |
| Not used | Left Stick Y-axis | Not used |
| Optional | Right Stick X-axis | Optional |
| Optional | Right Stick Y-axis | Optional |