question related to the 'support of something' by an application
This question has to be considered non-IT but related to the computers. 
For instance, you try to run a 3d video game with your powerful computer. Though, you want it to support an xbox360 gamepad.
Does this(support) mean 'the codes/instructions written in the game application' or 'the hardware itself' or both?
lets say you are about to play FIFA 12 on PC with your xbox360 gamepad. In order to do it, what requirements do you need?
My question is more common in games when it comes to shader support. you demand running a 3D video game with shader model 3 such as Skyrim. What do you need? you need a graphics chipset built in with shader model 3 engines. what else? you need the
instructions generated by the game to be processed by these engines, Right?
For instance, you try to run a 3d video game with your powerful computer. Though, you want it to support an xbox360 gamepad.
Does this(support) mean 'the codes/instructions written in the game application' or 'the hardware itself' or both?
lets say you are about to play FIFA 12 on PC with your xbox360 gamepad. In order to do it, what requirements do you need?
My question is more common in games when it comes to shader support. you demand running a 3D video game with shader model 3 such as Skyrim. What do you need? you need a graphics chipset built in with shader model 3 engines. what else? you need the
instructions generated by the game to be processed by these engines, Right?
Monster PC specs(Packard Bell VR46) : Intel Celeron Dual-Core 1.2 GHz CPU , 4096 MB DDR3 RAM, Intel Media Graphics (R) 4 Family with IntelGMA 4500 M HD graphics. 
5 year-old laptop PC specs(Toshiba Satellite A210) : AMD Athlon 64 x2 1.9 GHz CPU, ATI Radeon X1200 128 MB Video Memory graphics card, 3072 MB 667 Mhz DDR2 RAM. (1 stick 2 gigabytes and 1 stick 1 gigabytes)
5 year-old laptop PC specs(Toshiba Satellite A210) : AMD Athlon 64 x2 1.9 GHz CPU, ATI Radeon X1200 128 MB Video Memory graphics card, 3072 MB 667 Mhz DDR2 RAM. (1 stick 2 gigabytes and 1 stick 1 gigabytes)