yes, the mouse is terribly precise. nailing perfect headshots while strafing like mad is a lovely thing, and probably impossible on a pad. but i can't play doom 3 for more than an hour without my left hand turning into a twisted, aching claw. and the hunched mouse/keyboard posture hurts my shoulders as well. my shoulder and hands take enough abuse from my guitar - is there, like, a pad i could use? that would be properly compatible? and reasonably precise? i'm not particularly interested in multiplayer, so a sacrifice of precision for comfort would be tolerable.
alternatives to mouse/keyboard control for pc fps's?
- Thread starter drohne
- Start date
Doom 3 lacks joystick support. However, you could perhaps fake it by using a joystick emulator like this one to convert joystick inputs into keyboard commands.
As for which specific controller, I think using a console controller via a USB adapter is by far the best option. PC-specific joypads tend to suck, and the joysticks are designed for flight sims.
As for which specific controller, I think using a console controller via a USB adapter is by far the best option. PC-specific joypads tend to suck, and the joysticks are designed for flight sims.
ArcadeStickMonk
Member
Belkin Nostromo N52 Speedpad and Microsoft Optical Trackball
Point one is that you get to use a dpad to move and thumb-ball to look
Point two is that with the correct software every damn button you see before you can be configured to whatever you what it to be, no matter what the game is, and it all auto loads whne the game is booted.
Point three is that the N52 uses three shift states, which means that every button on it can have four different uses. It also supports complex macros. It has a second mousewheel (configurable).
You give me ANY PC game, and as long as it doesn't require me to type random text strings frequently, or obviously require a joystick, I can make it work with only these two devices. ANY game, works logically and smoothly which proper setup.
I played Planetside for hours and hours and never had to reach for my keyboard, motionless except for below my wrists. For an average FPS it's easy.
Buggy Loop
Member
Do you still use the keyboard's arrows to move?
WASD would be your friend in that case, once you get used to it, you never go back.
WASD would be your friend in that case, once you get used to it, you never go back.
ArcadeStickMonk
Member
drohne said:
That sounds like what I did when I first played Oni half gamepad-half trackball. It's not a great setup, your hand still has to hold the pad. Though the PS2 adaptor is a good buy anyway, just not for FPSs.
Using these devices your hands are at relaxed positions all the time. Your thumbs will do most of the work, just like on a console. I scoot my chair way in, lean back, and sit with my arms wrapped around the monitor, which is right in my face.
The trackball can be acquired for less than thirty dollars and the speedpad shouldn't run you over forty.
You can get the trackball offline and at some Circuit Cities, thr speedpad is in Compusa and Gamestop and obviously offline.
no, i use wasd to move...and shift to run, and f for the flashlight, and c to crouch, and r to reload. it's not that i don't like the control scheme, it's that the control scheme causes me physical pain.
edit: thanks, arcadestickmonk...i'll definitely look into the nostromo thing at least.
edit: thanks, arcadestickmonk...i'll definitely look into the nostromo thing at least.
ArcadeStickMonk
Member
You've gotta be kidding. That thing's got what, five or six buttons?
Allow me to assert another important point about my setup. It's not just for FPSs. FPS use is normally just scratching the surface of what one can do. Get used to the Speedpad (and I really reccomend that trackball) and you will use it for every PC game you play.
Remember the shitty interface in Deus Ex IW before they patched it? Remember how it wasn't even fully mouse driven? I promise you that I was the only one outside of Ion Storm that didn't have a problem with it, because I used these devices to work around it. Had a wheel on my left for equipment and a wheel on my right for biomods, and they both clicked to activate.
ArcadeStickMonk said:
Belkin Nostromo N52 Speedpad and Microsoft Optical Trackball
Point one is that you get to use a dpad to move and thumb-ball to look
Point two is that with the correct software every damn button you see before you can be configured to whatever you what it to be, no matter what the game is, and it all auto loads whne the game is booted.
Point three is that the N52 uses three shift states, which means that every button on it can have four different uses. It also supports complex macros. It has a second mousewheel (configurable).
You give me ANY PC game, and as long as it doesn't require me to type random text strings frequently, or obviously require a joystick, I can make it work with only these two devices. ANY game, works logically and smoothly which proper setup.
This is the best setup you can have for FPS games. I've been using that mouse forever since it came out. I've gone through 5 of them now. And they are just great. N52 is just the icing on the cake. Its all about the macro's man. Complicated Macro's on this thing make any number of combos possible. Great for Rocket jumping and even better for sniping this combo will make you a trained killer in no time flat. And reaction time on both will make your head spin.
Whilst i play using WASD setup, i do find it a little too cramped for longer games sessions.. which makes me interested to try this out...
Zboard Crossfire Gaming Keyset
.. it might be a little easier on yer mitts, but it retails in UK for about £40, which kinda makes me think i'll stick to my normal keyboard for now..
Zboard Crossfire Gaming Keyset
.. it might be a little easier on yer mitts, but it retails in UK for about £40, which kinda makes me think i'll stick to my normal keyboard for now..
MrPing1000
Member
Ferrio said:
I was an arrow key user for about 4 years, i used del end and pgdn to quick switch weapons and stuff, but now ive migrated to wasd and it really is much better, having each weapon right above and keys all around to bind to stuff
Black Deatha
Member
I also used to exclusivly use arroy keys, I would use keys lole Del, End and Pg.Dwn, Del and Pg Dwn for leaning left and right (if the games had leaning) and End for reloading, shift for jump, Ctrl for duck, Enter for Use/Activate, and 0 on the num pad for sprint (again if the game had it) and any other sorrounding keys for whatever else. But for some reason my Logitech MX Duo keyboard is really hated by some games. I had so amy games think when I tried to assign any of the arrow keys and the Del, End and Pg.Dwn keys to the functions I wanted, the game would say i had assigned Shift, and when I would go to assign the next key the last one I assigned would become unassigned.
It began to piss me off so much i made a post asking for help on this board, hoping someone else had the same problem and had fixed it, but no one had, and evryone told me to try WASD, and I did and now I use it. Even on Doom 3 which does support my arrow keys no problem.
Buit I want to try that Nostromo thing, but I have never seen it anywhere. ANyone here in Canada ever seen it?
~Black Deatha
It began to piss me off so much i made a post asking for help on this board, hoping someone else had the same problem and had fixed it, but no one had, and evryone told me to try WASD, and I did and now I use it. Even on Doom 3 which does support my arrow keys no problem.
Buit I want to try that Nostromo thing, but I have never seen it anywhere. ANyone here in Canada ever seen it?
~Black Deatha
ArcadeStickMonk
Member
Deezel said:
If stuff like the Nostromo line didn't exist, than that thing would be a consideration, but it still lacks stuff like a thumbpad and mousewheel. Neither will it support your hand like a N52.
Naturally I'm curious about it's software, but there's no way it could outperfrom a N52 in pure gaming service.
Nameless
Member
I remember when I was into UT back in the day I used a controller and the mouse instead of the mouse and keyboard. Holding the controller in my left hand I'de move with the D-pad and jump with the left trigger, and using the mouse I'de look/aim of course, shoot with the left button, shoot secondary with the rgith button, and change weapons with the center.
Weird method I know, but hell it worked pretty damn well for me.
Weird method I know, but hell it worked pretty damn well for me.
MrPing1000
Member
miyuru said:I can't believe how many people used the arrow keys over WASD despite advice
it worked for me for so long, having them plus the 3 keys above worked for me, since mice have so many buttons it made things easier, I also used the 0, ctrl keys for stuff as well . I've changed now but i can still use them