Hardware and Integration in XP mode

I recently installed the XP mode beta for Windows 7, and to me it just seems to be a version of XP tailored for virtualization, which falls quite short of my expectations.

I haven't used it extensively though, so, while I think it's unlikely, is it possible for me to say, install a game controller for Windows XP, then use it with a Windows 7 application?

I would try it, but the controller in question had a rather lengthy install process, and I'd like to know that before I spend all this time to find out something is useless.

Welcome to SF first off.
Now there are some things we need to know in order to help you out.
XP mode was created to run some legacy apps not really a huge gaming thing. If you can fill out your system specs in the UserCP so we know what hardware you are using and the Game controller you are trying to install.
Windows 7 might have drivers for the controller by default so you might what to try plugging it in and seeing if it shows up in the device manager and the Game controllers in Control Panel.
This is all guessing work, we need to know the name and model of the game controller and how it plugs in USB or some other way.

Windows 7 might have drivers for the controller by default so you might what to try plugging it in and seeing if it shows up in the device manager and the Game controllers in Control Panel.

Well, I'm using a Dualshock 3 wirelessly through a Bluetooth dongle, and getting it working is based off of multiple libraries and applications that are no longer in active development.

I don't see why my system specs would really help, which is why I stopped after filling out the mobo portion, but I'll go do that now anyway.