What started out as a simple test to use my 360 controller as a joystick for my Legend of Zelda emulator around this time last week quickly developed into me using the controller as a replacement for my mouse altogether for most PC gaming (Generally FPS which already had joystick settings implemented)due to it's untimely death at the hands of my younger brother. I was able to do this using a program that a simple google search helped me discover called JoyToKey.
After hours of trial and failure I finally got it working as a simple mouse, and used it to check facebook, youtube, and a few simple broswer games. I quickly got tired of this as the novelty wore off, because I could do things much easier with a mouse+keyboard. Searches being impossible without a keyboard. I simply went back to using it exclusively for emulators or games that had implemented Joystick settings(Generally FPS, Counter Strike: Source, CoD, etc.).
Today My mouse had entirely crapped out and armed with nothing other than a mousepad. I decided to give the controller a shot for more intense games CRPG as an example. I have spent the last hour configuring and testing my controls in The duel server until I was comfortable with the controls. I'm confident that this could become a viable alternate than the stock mouse+keyboard options, with advantage liked being able to map nudges and kicks to easily accesible locations such as the left and right bumpers. I just felt I should share. I'll probably make a demonstration video. And depending if people are interested or not. Even a tutorial. I'll go ahead and link you
JoyToKey (http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key/JoyToKey%20English%20Version.htm)
Wireles Controller Driver (http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/d/xbox-360-wireless-controller-for-windows)
and Wired Controller (http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/d/xbox-360-controller-for-windows)
EDIT:If you want to try this is a good congfiguration IMO. Althought you may want to adjust snesitivity. My configuration (https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=48d59d3678&view=att&th=13ff8c88b6dca886&attid=0.1&disp=safe&realattid=f_hjbvycv20&zw) By the way, safe link. All I did was upload to my gmail and then paste the download link.
How to confugure
LEFT ANALOG STICK
AxisX(<0)=Left
AxisX(>0)=RIGHT
AxisY(<0)=UP
AxisY(>0)=DOWN
LEFT AND RIGHT TRIGGERS
Axis3(<0)=RIGHT TRIGGER
Axis3(>0)=LEFT TRIGGER
RIGHT ANALOG STICK
Axis4(<0)=LEFT
Axis4(>0)=RIGHT
Axis5(<0)=UP
Axis5(>0)=DOWN
PROTIP
When setting the directions just scroll the bar in the direction you want it to go. Negative Is left and Down. Positive is right and up. I recommend a lower sensitivity for playing A mount and blade game, especially if you're playing range. About 10-20 for range. Anything 30+ is good for melee in my opinion
DPAD
They are the ones that start with POV1, the direction is the one that it says next to it EX: POV1:UP is up on the DPAD. Don't use POV2 unless you are using a PS3 controller
BUTTONS
button 1: A
Button 2: B
Button 3: X
Button 4: Y
Button 5: LEFT BUMPER
Button 6: RIGHT BUMPER
Button 7: BACK
Button 8: START
Button 9: LEFT ANALOG STICK PRESS
Button 10: RIGHT ANALOG STICK PRESS
The rest i have no Idea what they are and if you're using an Xbox/PS3 controller they shouldn't matter.
TL;DR: I play cRPG with an xbox controller for now.
UPDATE: Melee seems rather doable just with a bit of a learning curve, still practicing
UPDATE:
This dosen't seem to work with NW at the moment configuring that for those who care. NW recognizes the controller and JoyToKey Is not required.
UPDATE: Swing cancelling is possible by mapping a second key to the block button other than one of the triggers. B for example. However continue to use the original button for blocking as blocking with b is near impossible.
UPDATE: I now recommend using a key you can block with while still being able to turn and move, such as a bumper or one of the analog sticks itself, because for some reason that I cannot figure out you cannot feign with the right or left triggers but all other buttons work entirely fine. Will try to solve this.
UPDATE: Using a computer Mic Is possible while having the Controller hooked up simply by going to your volume mixer, then devices. And Disabling the "Headset" device that installs with your controller.