If you love playing games on your Mac, take note: The Steam Summer Sale is going on right now, and it means that loads and loads of great games are available for upwards of 90 percent off on Valve’s digital distribution platform.
Many modern Mac gaming classics can be had for just a couple bucks apiece, and even new games have significant markdowns. We’ve gone through the lists and picked out 10 great deals for 10 totally great games, ensuring you get awesome experiences without breaking the bank. In fact, all but two of these games are less than $10 apiece, and the pricier games still see huge discounts from the standard prices.
How to use a game controller with your Mac More like this. The best console controllers for playing games on a Mac. How Steam in-home streaming can turn your old laptop or Windows tablet into a. 10+ Best Wireless Bluetooth Controllers for Gaming October 1, 2014 May 3, 2017 infinigeek So lately I’ve introduced my kids to the lovely world of games from the past, the games I grew up with, and in doing this I even reminded myself how freaking AMAZING those games were. PS3 has native BlueTooth support and works for many games those that do you can map to most any game using joystick mapper. I hear PS4 Controller also has native support in OS X.10.10 and X.10.11 the new controller that comes with the appleTV version of Disiney Infinity 3.0 also works fine.
The sale ends on July 4, so be sure to grab a few games before the holiday weekend comes to a close. And if these don’t grab you, go browse the Mac game listings for even more options.
Reader Bruce Harris would like to get double-duty from a gaming device. He writes:
I purchased a PlayStation 4 and an extra DualShock 4 controller for two-player games. I rarely use the second controller and wondered if I could use it to play games on my Mac.
You can, though with some games you’ll need extra help. Before we get to that let’s start with the hardware configuration.
Best Game Controller For Mac 2016 Model
As you know, the DualShock 4 controller has a micro USB port on the back, just below the status light. You use this port to initially pair the controller with the PS4. But it can also operate as a link between the controller and your Mac. Just string a USB cable between the two and the controller is ready to use.
But, in some cases, you don’t need the wire. The DualShock 4 performs its wireless magic via Bluetooth so, in some instances, you can control your Mac games from across the room. To set up the controller for Bluetooth use, detach the USB cable, launch System Preferences, select the Bluetooth preference, make sure Bluetooth is switched on, and then press and hold the PlayStation and Share buttons on the controller until its status light blinks rapidly. The DualShock should then appear in the list of devices as Wireless Controller. Just click Pair and you’re connected. Note, however, that not all games support a wireless connection.
Speaking of which, a word about compatibility. With some games, the connected controller will work from the get-go. For example, Feral Interactive’s Rayman Origins works perfectly with the controller without you having to do a thing. Other games, however, work a little bit or not at all. For instance, with Valve’s Portal and Portal 2 (available via Steam) you can’t use the controller to move around or look up or down, even though Steam itself recognizes the controller and lets you assign functions to it. And Aspyr’s Doom 3 is entirely unaware of a connected DualShock. So it’s really a matter of the original developer making their game compatible with these kinds of controllers.
Because you could wait a long time for this to happen (in some cases, forever) you should consider taking matters into your own hands by using a third-party controller utility.
One such utility is Chibata Creations’ $5 Joystick Mapper. With it you assign functions to the controller’s joystick or buttons. These generally come in the form of mouse movements or keystrokes. For example, you might assign the Mac’s W key to the forward motion of the left joystick and the Fire function to the controller’s O button. According to the developer's notes, wireless control from a DualShock 4 is not yet supported.
Another option is OrderedBytes’ $25 ControllerMate. This is a far more sophisticated utility that allows you to create triggered actions by stringing together building blocks. If you want to go beyond the basics with your controller, it’s worth your while to download the demo and run through the tutorial to see just how powerful it can be.
The upshot is, yes, you can use a controller like this with your Mac. If you’re an enthusiastic console gamer more comfortable using a controller than a keyboard or mouse it’s something I’d urge you to try.
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