You people use the D-pad and not the joysticks? Lolwut?
Some games simply do not work right if you use the analog sticks.
Hell, I think 99% of the games I am most into are this way. Fighting games (2D, not 3D), and shmups.... you simply DO NOT use the analog for either, not unless you want to die/lose really, REALLY often. And I dont use arcade sticks because they hurt my arm and also just slow me down.
I actually cant remember the last game I played that actually made use of analog sticks.
I was able to get the PS3 controller to recognize at one time but it kept doing wierd things like disconnecting randomly and getting totally corrupted and streaming random button presses. also deadzone adjustment is just as missing when using the ps3 controller and my ps3 controller has a REALLy bad off center stick.
The PS3 controller needs to be set up carefully using a very specific sort of driver and program. Also, it seems to *require*, at all times, both something like Motionjoy, *and* Joy2key running at once, and both have to be set up *correctly*. The 360 controller only works without because the machine instantly recognizes it; Sony did not add plug-n-play to theirs, because Sony.
And the initial setup, if done right, actually takes a bit of time. If NOT done right, you run into all sorts of wacky problems.
It's a hassle, but..... it's *so* worth never, EVER having to use that nightmare that Microsoft calls a controller. I'm well aware that most games only support the 360 controller..... and I laugh at them, because I'll be FORCING them to use the PS3 one instead. The 360 one can go rot in a hole somewhere. And you only have to do that initial setup once..... once you've got the thing going correctly and working the way you want, from that point on, you need only fire up the related programs, and there you go.