# Anyone use XPadder?  Thoughts?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [April 10, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205 "2017-04-10T23:47:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205/1 "2017-04-10T23:47:22Z")

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XPadder allows you to map keystrokes like W, A, S, and D, to your game controller. It’s only $10, so not a big deal, but curious if anyone around here uses it and if you like it.

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**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205/2 "2017-04-11T23:58:44Z")

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I used it many years ago. It required lots of configuration, but I was able to play FPS games passably with it. Not going to compete with mouse and keyboard, but it got by. Anything requiring less twitch than FPS should be successful.

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**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205/3 "2017-04-14T06:18:36Z")

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I used it years ago and it was quite good. It was definitely worth it for a handful of games.

However, I think it’s been mostly surpassed by Steam’s built-in controller functionality. If you have a compatible controller (Xbox, PS, Steam Controller, not sure about what else) that’s the best way to go, I think.

If you don’t have a compatible controller or you just want to run something without messing with Steam then Xpadder is a solid program.

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**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205/4 "2017-04-14T10:58:33Z")

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You could also try out some of the free alternatives. But if you like any of them, consider sending that $10 as a donation.

[ul]  
[li][DS4Windows](http://ds4windows.com)[/li][li][inputmapper](https://inputmapper.com/downloads/inputmapper-1-5/download/2-input-mapper/73-inputmapper)[/li][li][Xbox 360 Controller Emulator](http://www.x360ce.com/)[/li][/ul]

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-use-xpadder-thoughts/784205/5 "2017-04-14T14:44:06Z")

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In case there’s any Mac folks curious, [USB Overdrive](http://www.usboverdrive.com/USBOverdrive/News.html) offers the same functionality. I’ve been using it for a decade or more now, and it’s fantastic for remapping pretty much any kind of USB controller device–mouses, gamepads, whatever. It’s shareware ($20 to buy, but no loss in functionality if you just use it in “trial” mode forever.)