Compatibility between PCs and gamepads is one of those constant niggles that can drive even the calmest person to distraction. Often there are issues of recognition between the pad or specific buttons. As some games don’t support gamepads and rely entirely on keyboard buttons, this can also cause irritations and slow down the pace of the game. Xpadder has been created by independent developers to try and tackle some of these problems. The basic concept behind this tool is to create a symbiotic relationship between pad and the alternative keyboard and mouse combination. It facilitates the mapping of keyboard actions to your gamepad, whether you want it for gaming or you want to use your gamepad as a remote control for your PC. It’s pretty intuitive as well and can cope with multiple controllers, toggles, triggers and much more. With gamepads providing so much more versatility, this is a great way of getting your pad and PC to talk to one another seamlessly.
Although Xpadder is still being developed and seems to be heading towards a paid option, the latest freeware release is worth having a look at. This resourceful tool can detect when a controller has been connected and immediately provides the ability to configurate it according to your needs. If you choose to, you can have a different profile for each game and, as the profile set-up procedure is so straightforward, it’s well worth taking the time to customise one for each of your applications. When setting up the Mouse options, you have the choice to run tests to ensure everything is operating correctly and you have the level of sensitivity for your needs. Once the configuration is complete, you can take advantage of your new console even with games where controllers are not supported. If you’re one of those people who simply can’t decide if your performance in a game is enhanced by mouse and keyboard or if you play better with a gamepad, this is definitely for you. A neat utility that you can play around with until you find your ultimate combination. Xpadder gives you a lot of features without taking up huge reserves of memory; in fact, it doesn’t even need to be installed. A useful tool with a variety of functions.