Playing Guitar Hero on PC with your old PlayStation 2 controller can bring back nostalgic memories and offer a unique gaming experience. While the game was initially designed for specific controllers, it’s entirely possible to use your PS2 Guitar Hero controller, or even PS3 and Wii controllers, on your PC to rock out in Guitar Hero 3 or Aerosmith. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up your PS2 Guitar Hero controller for PC, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, gather the necessary components to get your guitar controller working seamlessly with your PC games.
- Guitar Hero Game for PC: Ensure you have Guitar Hero 3 or Guitar Hero Aerosmith installed on your computer. This guide is specifically tailored for these versions.
- PS2 Guitar Hero Controller (or PS3/Wii Controller): Dust off your PlayStation 2 guitar controller. This method also works for PS3 and Wii guitar controllers, offering flexibility for different setups.
- Xbox 360 Controller Emulator (x360ce): This crucial piece of software tricks your PC into thinking your PS2 controller is an Xbox 360 controller, which is natively supported by Guitar Hero games on PC. You can download it from a reliable source online by searching for “x360ce emulator”.
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package: This is a common requirement for many applications and ensures the emulator runs correctly. You may need both the x86 (32-bit) and x64 (64-bit) versions depending on your system. Download these from the official Microsoft website.
- MSVCR100.dll (Optional): If you encounter issues with the Visual C++ Redistributable, you might need this DLL file. It’s generally recommended to install the Visual C++ packages first, and only resort to this DLL if problems persist. Be cautious when downloading DLL files and ensure you get them from reputable sources.
Step-by-Step Guide to Button Mapping
Follow these steps to configure your PS2 Guitar Hero controller for use with Guitar Hero 3 or Aerosmith on your PC:
Step 1: Download and Install Necessary Software
Ensure you have downloaded and installed the Xbox 360 Controller Emulator and the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Packages (both x86 and x64 if you are unsure). Install the Visual C++ Redistributables first.
Step 2: Extract and Run x360ce Emulator
Extract the downloaded x360ce emulator files to a location you can easily access. Then, run the x360ce.exe application.
Step 3: Configure General Settings
Navigate to the “Options” tab within the x360ce emulator. Here, locate and select the “AlternateGuitar” option from the dropdown menu. This setting is essential for correctly mapping the guitar controller inputs.
Alt text: x360ce emulator Options tab showing the AlternateGuitar option selected in the dropdown menu, illustrating the step to enable guitar controller emulation.
Step 4: Map Guitar Buttons
Go to the “Controller 1” tab. This is where you’ll assign the buttons on your PS2 guitar controller to the corresponding Xbox 360 controller inputs that Guitar Hero recognizes. Map the buttons as follows, focusing on the color frets first:
- Green Fret: Map to button A
- Red Fret: Map to button B
- Yellow Fret: Map to button Y
- Blue Fret: Map to button X
- Orange Fret: Map to button Left Bumper
Click on each button input in the emulator and then press the corresponding button on your guitar controller to map it.
Alt text: x360ce emulator Controller 1 tab displaying the button mapping configuration for frets, assigning Green to A, Red to B, Yellow to Y, Blue to X, and Orange to Left Bumper, demonstrating the fret button mapping process.
Step 5: Map Strum, Whammy, and Star Power Buttons
Next, configure the strum bar, whammy bar, and star power tilt functionality.
- Strums (Up/Down): Map these to your D-Pad Up and D-Pad Down respectively.
- Whammy Bar: Map this to Positive Axis X.
- Star Power Tilt: Map this to Positive Axis Y.
- Select (Second Star Power): Map to the Select button on your guitar.
- Start/Pause: Map to the Start button.
Alt text: x360ce emulator Controller 1 tab illustrating the mapping for strumming to D-Pad, whammy bar to Positive Axis X, and star power tilt to Positive Axis Y, showcasing the configuration of essential guitar controller functionalities.
Step 6: Save and Copy Files to Game Directory
Once you have completed the button mapping, save the configuration within the x360ce emulator. This will generate two files: “x360ce.ini” and “xinput1_3.dll”. Copy both of these files (and “MSVCR100.dll” if you needed it) into the main directory where your Guitar Hero 3 or Aerosmith game executable (.exe) is located. This is usually the same folder where you launch the game from.
Step 7: Rock On!
Launch Guitar Hero 3 or Aerosmith. The game should now recognize your PS2 guitar controller as an Xbox 360 guitar controller. Enter the game settings to fine-tune any control preferences if needed, and then get ready to rock!
Troubleshooting and Tips
- Tilt Sensor Issues: If your star power tilt isn’t working, it might be a limitation of your specific controller or its drivers. Ensure your controller drivers are properly installed.
- Controller Not Detected: Double-check that you’ve placed “x360ce.ini” and “xinput1_3.dll” in the correct game directory. Restart the game and even your computer if necessary.
- Visual C++ Errors: If you encounter errors related to Visual C++, ensure you have installed both the x86 and x64 versions. If problems persist, try using the “MSVCR100.dll” file (with caution from a reputable source).
By following these steps, you should be able to successfully use your PS2 Guitar Hero controller on your PC for Guitar Hero 3 and Aerosmith. Enjoy the enhanced gaming experience and have fun shredding through your favorite songs!
