The touch screen interface is awesome to watch movies or browse through a book but it becomes painfully annoying when you wish to play your favorite games on a Nexus 7 or any other Android tablet. The games on Android are much more sophisticated now. With titles like Injustice Gods Among Us, Real Racing, Fifa and Modern Combat 5, a controller becomes mandatory to enjoy the game in its real essence.
This step by step guide on how to connect your Xbox 360 or PS3 controller to a Nexus 7 tablet will makes it easy for you to make use of those controllers lying around in your home. Besides, no one wants those cheap controllers from random sellers as they are usually of lackluster quality. Trust us, playing on the best controller can bring a whole lot of difference to your gaming on Android.
Learn How To Connect Your Xbox 360 or PS3 Controller To A Nexus 7
What Do You Need?
- Micro USB OTG cable (You can get one in Amazon or any online shop, price approx. $5)
- A Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 controller
- Nexus 7 tablet (2012 or 2013 edition)
- Plenty of Patience and Attention to Detail
Step 1 – Connect the Micro USB OTG cable to your tablet to turn the port into a full sized USB for easy connectivity. Use the PS3 USB mini-b cable bundled with the console to connect the controller to it. Wireless Xbox 360 won’t work. So, you need a wired controller. Buy one if you don’t have as it can always be used with the console or PC.
Step 2 – Press the home button on your Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 controller. The Nexus 7 should automatically detect its presence and you will be able to move between apps without touching the screen. Use the analog stick to move or open apps/ games. The X on PS3 and Y on Xbox 360 will be the button to use to open an app.
Step 3 – A bunch of good games are already optimized for a controller. For those that are not assigned, check the options menu within the game. For emulators that you use on Android, there will be a feature to let you manually assign the controls. It’s easy to use and lets you play SNES or Nintendo games on your Nexus 7.
Supported titles – Dead Trigger, Modern Combat 5, Asphalt 7, Temple Run, GTA among many others.
Step 4 – A PS3 controller can be used with wireless input if you are ready to root your device. The Sixaxis Controller app priced at $1.99 lets you do it. Just follow the instructions in it. It will let you play wireless and maybe you can even try to share your content to a HDTV with Chromecast for console quality entertainment!
Step 5 – With a bit of tweaking and the right app, you can optimize the controller buttons to tap an area on the touch screen. Make use of this feature to play games that are not designed for controllers. For example, a button on the far right of your tablet can be triggered by pressing X for a specific game. You just have to map the buttons according to the on-screen controls found in the game.
Our tutorial on how to connect your Xbox 360 or PS3 controller to a Nexus 7 focuses on the specific tablet as it runs Vanilla Android and easy to customize if required. You can also try it on other Android tablets or smartphones. Let us know in the comments.
There are no comments
Add yours