This is kind of a generic hardware question that could go for Fallout 3, Oblivion or probably even Skyrim. In fact, it was one or two Skyrim videos that made me realize a few things. Sadly it has no tech forum yet.

Xbox360 / PS3 controllers have 'cursor control', just like the pc does. I am not talking about the mouse. I mean the little stick or buttons that make you go forward, backward, left, right. Except where the PC controllers are Boolean (move or don't move), the console controllers are more anologue-ish, allowing the player to move gradually from very slowly to a normal, walking speed. I've seen this in a few videos now, notably in Skyrim where the player slooowly circles a burning dragon corpse for extra dramatic effect. It looks quite fantastic.

Finally, we have come to.. the middle of the film.. The Question. :snoring:

I read that many types of console controllers these days are USB and work with normal desktop computers. IF I connect one of these controllers to a PC and use it to play the PC version (well duh) of Fallout3, Oblivion or Skyrim, CAN I use the controller to make the same kind of slooow anologue-ish cursor movements that I have deftly tried to describe a few times now?

(Bonus question: are there keyboards that have this same type of functionality for the WASD or cursor keys?)

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I use an xbox 360 controller to play Oblivion on my PC using a program called "Pinnacle Game Profiler." It's not free, but it does have a 30-day free trial. The profile I've obtained for it has you walk when you're pushing forward and run when you're pushing it all the way. There are no intermediaries, but I'm not sure there are on the 360 version either. Skyrim may be another thing entirely, but I think the 360/PS3 version of Oblivion is the same: push joystick forward slightly for walk, all the way for run.

Hm, I see. Thank you, that was very helpful.

Oblivion also didn't natively support the xbox controller though.... FO3 made an attempt, but, no clue how successful it was.... Skyrim may have 'real' native support, and do exactly what you suggest. We won't know for another week and some change yet though.