I got myself an XBox One S controller recently and I think it's now a straight upgrade over the X360 controller.

The first XBox One controllers had shoulder buttons that were super stiff from anywhere except the very outer edges, that's now fixed. The sticks on the XBox One controller are also a bit lighter than on the X360, and its d-pad doesn't suck.

One of the Star Control games (the first one or the second one) came with a very useful tool that would let you try out key combinations and print the keys it would detect. I don't think that is a very difficult tool to write, so I expect that you can find one if you search online.

Two players on a keyboard does not work very well; two keyboards on a PC may work OK (I never tried it) if they don't cheat.

This test works otherwise well, but browser- and OS-specific shorcuts can interrupt the testing:
https://www.microsoft.com/appliedsciences/KeyboardGhostingDemo.mspx

One keyboard can work just fine for two players if it has NKRO-support, unfortunately most keyboards can't even reach 6KRO which happens to be the limit for all USB-keyboards that have not been specifically designed to break that barrier.

I have played with Original Xbox controller and it was a mess, later I got the second iteration of Xbox controller and it felt alright, though prefer symmetric position of analog sticks.

In the end I bought X360 Controller in 2011 and I played a bit with it still couldn't use normally didn't like the feel so I moved to use DS3 for most fighting games and some 3rd person titles I want to enjoy on a sofa.

But for most part Kb&M is my way to go.

I always found Playstation controllers to be much better.

Keyboards with mechanical keyswitches are definitely more expensive than silicon membrane keyboards. Apart from that, there's the usual price you pay for anything that's marketed for "gaming": lots of ugly leds and other pointless "bling" that is especially appealing to teenage nerds. And the companies' massive marketing budget needs to be covered..

Make no mistake: "gaming" computer peripherals are >90% marketing and 1% technology. There's very little to innovate on, and the companies that make these devices are not the ones doing the innovation. They just slap together a bunch of components made by real tech companies, design a blingy shell around it, and then market market market.

To each their own. To me, my wireless Xbone pad is about as good as a gamepad can get. I never was a big fan of the Playstation controllers as they tend to cramp my hands. As for the 'KB+M forever!' folks, you're just being silly. Some games simply play better with a pad, especially when I don't have to do awkward finger acrobatics

The multiplayer game Descent: Underground support both KB+M and Xbox controllers. To avoid that the KB+M players kicked the living shit of those with Xbox controllers, the devs had to "balance the controls", which means that they severely handicapped mouse turning.

However, I have actually found one genre in which Xbox controllers are superior. Yes, you heard that right. I'm talking about PINBALL:

1) There is something really pleasurable about using the left and right triggers for the flippers. That slight resistance just has a perfect feel.

2) The Xbox controllers rumble is reasonably close to the haptic feedback of a real table.

3) Nudging the table with the left thumbstick and pulling the plunger with the right just feels natural.

If you wanna try it out, you can try the freebie version of Zaccaria Pinball on Steam:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/444930/Zaccaria_Pinball/
(Disclaimer: this is some really old pinball tables, and they are simulated faithfully -- so don't expect something like those flashy 90's pinball machines. This is a different beast.)

Xbox controllers suck because they tried to make it default controller for PC when it should have been something like the Dualshock 3 with it's squishy buttons and tilt sensing.

At least now we have the steam controller but then that's tied to steam.

I find the XBox controllers very uncomfortable and awkward to use. My brother likes them, and prefers them to the Playstation ones. His hands are much bigger than mine - maybe you need big hands to appreciate them or something.

I use Logitech which has adapted Sony's design
MS is always trying to find ways to thwart it even though Logitech is (or at least was) a major supporter of Windows OS in the early days.

For me, the Xbox gamepad just doesn't feel right.

I got me a controller to play GTA V because it's simply superior to a keyboard, at least in driving scenarios. You can steer in a measured way, can control your throttle and just idle by with a little bit of gas instead of tapping the gas like I had to with my keyboard. That said, if I have to shoot in GTA I always switch to keyboard + mouse because in those situations the mouse is always better.

I tried to use the controller for games that should work with them like Saint's Row The Third, Fallout 4, Skyrim and Grim Dawn, but I felt impaired most of the time. Even in something like Skyrim where aim isn't really that important, when there was a moment where I had to turn quickly while fighting or when I had to use a bow, being forced to stick to the controller was just a pain, so I switched back to keyboard and mouse for those.


So the only real use for a controller I have would be racing games and flight simulators, I think.

Another note, I first bought the wired version of the Xbox One controller and the cable gave out three times, forcing me to buy a new one because the wobbly micro USB or mini USB or whatever that is solution isn't made at all to hold the controller in your hand, it's only usable as a temporary power-up connection if you plan on using the controller wireless. But I hate anything wireless and since switched to the oldschool, hardwired Xbox 360 controller which I am much happier with.