Xbox 360

Guitar Hero II features a special guitar shaped controller (known as the Guitar Hero X-Plorer Controller, and modeled after the Gibson Explorer guitar) that is plugged in via the USB ports. The controller works just like a normal controller and may be used with other games, however it does not have the same number of buttons or joysticks which may limit other games. The controller is sold bundled with Guitar Hero II, some bundles of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, or available separately. It is also bundled with the PC and Macintosh releases of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock comes with a new designed controller that is wireless (called the Les Paul controller and shaped like a Gibson Les Paul), that works in the same way as its predecessor. Both these controllers also feature the expansion port which allows users to equip a wired headset for voice communication. The wireless Les Paul guitar controller has been tested to work on the Microsoft Windows operating system using the Wireless Gaming Receiver for use with the PC version of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, however, the wired X-Plorer is the only guitar controller officially supported by Aspyr Media (developer of the PC and Macintosh release).

* Rechargeable battery pack: This nickel metal hydride battery pack provides up to 25 hours of continuous gaming for the wireless controller. It is recommended in place of disposable AA batteries (which differ slightly in voltage). It also ships as part of the Play & Charge Kit and as part of the Quick Charge Kit. Third party rechargeable battery pack kits are also available.
* NiMH Rechargeable AAs: Simple rechargeable NiMH AA batteries are the exact same voltage as the battery pack available from Microsoft. In fact, all that is in the battery pack are two 1800mAh AA cells giving up to 1800 mAh at 2.4v.[citation needed] On the other hand, two 2500mAh rechargeable AAs in the standard battery holder will give up to 2500mAh @ 2.4v, lasting approximately 50% longer.[citation needed] A charger with 4 x 2500mAh AAs can be purchased for $20, which gives the ability to power two controllers, or one controller while another set is always charged, for the same price as a Microsoft “Play and Charge” kit.
* Play and Charge Kit: Allows the controller to be recharged while playing a game by plugging the wireless controller into one of the USB ports. The kit also includes the rechargeable battery pack. It should also be noted that the Play and Charge kit allows use of a wireless controller with the battery pack removed (however this will damage the pad as the circuit is incomplete[citation needed] ). Microsoft currently does not support it to be used as a wired controller, however it does transmit data letting the host know that it is a wireless controller via a Play and Charge kit.[6]; wireless is still used for data communication and the Play and Charge kit therefore needs not to be plugged into the console itself to function, any USB port may be used for the players’ convenience.
* Quick Charge Kit: Charges up to two rechargeable battery packs and does so in less time than the Play and Charge Kit. Comes with one new battery pack.

As a first for console controllers, the wired version can be used as a PC gamepad out of the box without the use of any converters. Regardless of the green Xbox 360 packaging or the red PC packaging, it is the same controller - the only difference being that the PC package comes with a driver disc included, while the standard package requires users to download the PC drivers. The wireless version of the Xbox 360 controller can also be used with the PC, however the wireless gaming receiver is needed in order to use it. In this case the Xbox Guide button shows the power left in the controller’s batteries, whereas with the wired controllers, the button is inactive. Unofficially, third party drivers have also been able to use the controller on other platforms, such as Mac OS X and Linux.Many Xbox 360 accessories are compatible with any Windows based PC. Some examples are; the wired/wireless controller, the wired headset (via a controller), the wireless headset and the live vision camera.

Up to four controllers are supported by the Xbox 360, including wired and wireless gamepads. The wired gamepads may be connected to any of the three (one at the rear, two at the front) USB ports located on the console, or to a USB hub. USB keyboards are also supported, but only for inputting text and navigating the dashboard; additionally, the number pad and hotkeys are non-functional. The original first-generation Xbox controllers are not compatible with the Xbox 360. The controller is also compatible with PCs with the Games for Windows program and used in the United States and British militaries.The Xbox 360 controller has vibration feedback.