wireless-gamepad-f710feature-image

Don’t forget the Gamepads page for overview and compatibility.




Overview


The Logitech F710 quickly became one of my favorite gamepads, once I got it working with the Mac.

Games that support the F710, natively:
  • Mini Ninjas
  • Psychonauts
  • Batman Arkham Asylum
  • Lego Star Wars Saga
  • Tomb Raider Underworld

Games that work with the F710 gamepad include:
  • Nova 2
  • The Baconing

Psychonauts and Nova 2 are the only two games I’ve come across that support the F710 controller that don’t also support the Xbox 360 Controller. In games that support both, I tend to prefer the F710 over the Xbox 360 Controller because I prefer the look and feel of the F710, and found the default joystick sensitivity is better, without any fine-tuning (which is good, because I don’t know how to fine-tune sensitivity for the F710 on the Mac).

Setup


It took a little while to figure out the trick to getting the F710 controller working.

Hardware/Software


  • Logitech F710 controller (included with F710 purchase).
  • USB Nano-receiver (included with F710 purchase).
  • Optional - Gamepad Companion.

Steps


  1. Put the F710 controller into DirectInput mode using switch on front of controller.
  2. Launch Gamepad Companion, if you have it. This is nice for verification, but not required for connectivity or use with games that natively support the F710.
  3. Activate the F710 gamepad, so it's trying to connect to the receiver.
  4. Plug the receiver into the USB port, while the controller is actively connecting to it.

Notes


  • Plugging in the receiver while the controller is actively connecting, is the key.
  • If you have VMWare running, you may need to run a Windows VM so you can tell VMWare to give the device to the Mac, not the VM, when it's detected. From what I can tell the device just silently doesn't appear. I haven't tried stopping VMWare helper, or seeing if I can configure it differently.

I highly recommend this gamepad. It can be purchased using the link above.