360 controller.

How do I use a xbox controller for beamng? Do I use my computer? I am a total nube so feel free to dumb it down.

 

If its an official wired xbox 360 controller (so it has a cable on it instead of being wireless) then you just plug it into the PC and start the game. Wireless ones you have to buy a special wireless adapter which nearly costs as much as a new wired controller anyway, the play and charge kit is not a suitable adapter.

The 3rd party controllers need changes to BeamNG Input maps.

 

Wireless xbox got the controller and the adapter in one package for 35€. Wired xbox costs 30€ atleast in Germany.
Wonder why you need to buy an extra adapter in your country?!

Anyway i am not sure if the OP is trolling or not.

 

Wired controller costs £20 here in britain. Wireless controller costs £30 and does not include the adaptor normally. Adaptor alone costs £15. Adaptor + controller I have seen for £38 as best price.

£20 for wired vs £15 for the adaptor, I'll take a new wired controller and save myself buying batteries in the long run (not to mention that a few games have a tendancy to ignore inputs from certain wireless buttons for some reason).

The old play and charge kits for the wireless controllers are chargers only. The D+ and D- wires in the USB connector have been shorted to force the socket into charge mode and as such do not carry data between the controller and PC. Seems a common mistake for people to buy the play and charge kit and then wonder why it isn't working on the PC.

 

Just recently got a wireless controller/reciever bundle from Amazon for £23. Works prefectly well, not ignoring any buttons, and iv got rechargable batteries from years ago that i use.