Common controller

A method for controlling an application, said method comprising:

• receiving data from a coupled controller to a first component, said coupled controller is coupled to a platform selected from a plurality of platforms, wherein said coupled controller being compatible to a plurality of platforms, said platforms comprising at least one of a game device and a general purpose processor, said first component being compatible with said coupled controller and being compatible with said coupled platform, and said first component comprising a driver;
• interfacing said coupled controller to a second component via said first component, wherein said second component interfaces said first component with an application of said coupled platform, said second component comprising an application programming interface;
• and
• mapping, by at least one of said first component and said second component, a logical identifier to a physical controller identifier of said coupled controller.

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving input data from a gamepad coupled to the processor at a driver executing on the processor, the driver associated with the gamepad, wherein the gamepad is compatible with devices comprising a processor and a game device;
• mapping, by at least one of said first component and said second component, a logical identifier to a physical controller identifier of said coupled gamepad;
• translating the input data by the driver for an application programming interface executing on the processor, the application programming interface associated with an application executing on the processor;
• and
• providing the translated input data by the driver to the application programming interface.