Oh now what the fuck. I can't game with mouse+keyboard anymore

[TakingBackSunday]

I installed Half-Life again to my PC, and I'm really having a horrible time getting used to it again.  It's making the game near unplayable for me now.  And what's even sadder, I find myself wanting to play it using the 360 controller, since the Orange Box has spoiled me.  It sounds awful, I know.

Wasn't there a rumor about a Half-Life HD coming out for XBLA?

[Beezy]

I've never been a PC gamer, so it's been hard for me to get used to playing FPS games on my laptop. I got no problems with turn based or real time strategy games though.

[MCD]

it's for your own good, trust me.

[abrader]

Cant you use the XBOX controller with yer PC?

[tiesto]

I've never been a PC gamer either, but mouse FPS controls feel pretty natural... I just don't like using the WASD keys to move. Cramps my hand up after extended play. Most of my PC gaming is thankfully on emulators or indie games which allow me to use a gamepad.

[TakingBackSunday]

Cant you use the XBOX controller with yer PC?

You can, but I think you need to buy a separate, PC exclusive one.  Not sure, but I think it's a USB type controller.  Or something similar.

[abrader]

Actually I think that there is a wireless X360 adaptor that you buy for your PC.

It ends up working like a wireless mouse where you plug the mouse receiver into a USB port.

[TakingBackSunday]

Oh.  Well, I'll give it a thought, but honestly the only games I play on my PC are Half-Life and Jedi Knight II. 

[Sysgen]

Actually I think that there is a wireless X360 adaptor that you buy for your PC.

It ends up working like a wireless mouse where you plug the mouse receiver into a USB port.

It's called a receiver, you won't get many google hits if you use the word adaptor.

[Beezy]

Actually I think that there is a wireless X360 adaptor that you buy for your PC.

It ends up working like a wireless mouse where you plug the mouse receiver into a USB port.

Yeah, I have that. I haven't bothered to check if it works with TF2 though. I'm trying to see if I can get used to m+kb first.

[duckman2000]

Funny that, I lost the ability to play first person games with thumbsticks, had to retrain the shit from scratch. Which sucked.

[Tieno]

I had the same thing happen when I installed that free Far Cry thingy on PC. Felt so uncomfortable and I did play PC FPS games in my day (UT, UT2k4, Halo PC )

[Tabasco]

Haha.  I used to be quite the Quake 2 and Quake 3 junkie in college.  Issues with BSoD and endless hardware difficulties made me give up PC gaming.  But in 2005, I just had to play FEAR.  So I built a new PC.  I just could not get comfortable with the setup.  I eventually plugged in the 360 controller and ran a kb/m emulator.  Still had fun.

[JustinP]

you all should be ashamed. 

Cant you use the XBOX controller with yer PC?

You can, but I think you need to buy a separate, PC exclusive one.  Not sure, but I think it's a USB type controller.  Or something similar.

PC exclusive?  no.  it's just the wired controller.  there's a version with PC packaging, but the controller is identical (PC packaging is more expensive and has a driver CD that is only necessary for older versions of windows--if you have xp or higher, no need).  i bought a normal 360 wired controller with 360 packaging to use with my PC and it's fine.  now they do have wireless recievers for wireless 360 pads. 

though now i just use a dualshock 2 with usb adapter--better controller anyway and the 360 pad drivers blow.  only time i use any pad on PC is to play emulators or trackmania--or playtest the game i'm working on. 

[demi]

PC gaming is piss easy to do... what is hard to wrap around WASD?

[demi]

only time i use any pad on PC is to play emulators or trackmania--or playtest the game i'm working on. 

What game are you working on? If it gets ported to 360 and not PS3 will you cry?

[JustinP]

only time i use any pad on PC is to play emulators or trackmania--or playtest the game i'm working on. 

What game are you working on? If it gets ported to 360 and not PS3 will you cry?

it's an indie game--i'll make a thread about it when there's something worth showing.  i'm leading the project and wouldn't mind an eventual port to XBLA--i'd just try to avoid an exclusivity contract. 

edit: but right now there's no real plans to pitch the game to any console.  just doing it on PC for now.  i'd like to pitch it to steam if i think we have something substantial enough. 

[Smooth Groove]

Brandnew, get one of those new 2000 DPI or more gaming mice.  The G9 did wonders for my FPS gaming.  Everything just got easier with that mouse. 

[muckhole]

I just could not get comfortable with the setup.  I eventually plugged in the 360 controller and ran a kb/m emulator.  Still had fun.

I've been living in the dark ages, I didn't know this was an option. I always just assumed the game had to support controllers. I may actually play some PC shooters after all. My WASD skills are pretty horrid.

[Fragamemnon]

Use xpadder if the game doesn't have native support.

http://xpadder.com/

Works great. Not that I would ever use it for an FPS game.

[muckhole]

Use xpadder if the game doesn't have native support.

http://xpadder.com/

Works great. Not that I would ever use it for an FPS game.

Awesome. Thank you. I don't know why I never asked about something like this before. Looks like I'm actually PC gaming on my next day off.

[Fragamemnon]

You know something is good when it's hard. Very hard.

Or has stats. LOTS of stats.

[Mondain]

conviviality and comfort matter a whole lot, myself too I'm very reluctant to play games that require the use of a mouse and multiple keyboard strokes even if I did it all the time years ago

although sometimes when playing shooters it gets frustrating when you miss a few shots that you know you just would've gotten with a mouse... I find the 360 analog sticks to be a bit too stiff, I liked the sticks better on the Xbox 1 pads

[disgruntled_jojo]

My only complaint with KB+M is that there is no analog movement.  Ideal would be something like a mouse for aiming and the nunchuck from the Wii for movement.  That said, I'm fairly skilled at standard kb+m, it's very second nature to me.  Whoever mentioned a good gaming mouse has an excellent point tho.  I own three razer mice and could never ever go back.

edit: bad spellers of the world, untie!

[JustinP]

My only complaint with KB+M is that there is no analog movement.  Ideal would be something like a mouse for aiming and the nunchuck from the Wii for movement.  That said, I'm fairly skilled at standard kb+m, it's very second nature to me.  Whoever mentioned a good gaming mouse has an excellent point tho.  I own three razer mice and could never ever go back.

edit: bad spellers of the world, untie!

in the typical FPS -- quick, digital movement > analog movement

[cool breeze]

I find it hard to play most console shooters because I am so familiar with the KB/M for FPS games.  I still haven't bought Bioshock on PC yet, but at least comparing my 5-10 minutes with the PC demo compared to the full game on my 360, it is night and day with how much better the PC version feels.  When it comes to FPS games on consoles, I think the Xbox S controller is the best.  360 controller was a downgrade in terms of comfort and performance, but it is still great.  However, with the transition from the Dual Shock 2 to the Dual Shock 3, I am amazed with how much the analog sticks have been improved.  Playing Black or any FPS on the PS2 was a nightmare, but any FPS on the PS3 feels great.  I still feel that the best console FPS controls to date are with UT3 on the PS3.  I haven't played UT3 on the 360 to see if it is just as fantastic, but I might if a friend picks it up or a demo is released.

I am curious about why none of these gaming keyboard/mouse makers like Saitek or Logitech have dabbled with the idea of rumble or analog keys.  Right now I am actually typing this on my Logitech G15 (which is probably the best keyboard I have ever bought) but it is still a normal keyboard with some extra macro keys (which are great).  I would like it to still be a normal keyboard and not something stupid like that Zboard shit, but I don't see why WSAD couldn't be analog in a similar way to how the PS3 D-Pad and face buttons are analog.  Even if a game doesn't natively support it, you could easily map a macro to it so it would register a soft push as CTRL (or whatever you use for walk) + W together.  Even games with sprint options could be mapped to a really hard push or something like that.  As for rumble, I don't see why it couldn't be put in the mouse.  There are some times when playing STALKER where I think rumble would be great. 

[disgruntled_jojo]

My only complaint with KB+M is that there is no analog movement.  Ideal would be something like a mouse for aiming and the nunchuck from the Wii for movement.  That said, I'm fairly skilled at standard kb+m, it's very second nature to me.  Whoever mentioned a good gaming mouse has an excellent point tho.  I own three razer mice and could never ever go back.

edit: bad spellers of the world, untie!

in the typical FPS -- quick, digital movement > analog movement

I definitely don't agree with this.  In most FPSes, there's some point where you want fine controls to walk along a small ledge or the like.  Or to creep just far enough around a corner that you can snipe someone while still being mostly in cover.  Besides which, I've never had problems moving at full speed with an analog solution, so I don't really see the validity of your point.  An analog control solves my concerns and doesn't significantly interfere with yours.

[laesperanzapaz]

I am ashamed to be a Dylan fan now

[TakingBackSunday]

I know

For real though, it's not that I can't do it, I just honestly think dual-analogue suits me pretty well.  I just don't like the WASD setup.  Mouse controls are fine, it's just the keyboard.

[Smooth Groove]

I know

For real though, it's not that I can't do it, I just honestly think dual-analogue suits me pretty well.  I just don't like the WASD setup.  Mouse controls are fine, it's just the keyboard.

My friend is like that.  His aiming with a mouse is excellent but he always get stuck with the keyboard movements. 

[demi]

what is so difficult? its just 4 letters, you can type without looking cant you?

[JustinP]

My only complaint with KB+M is that there is no analog movement.  Ideal would be something like a mouse for aiming and the nunchuck from the Wii for movement.  That said, I'm fairly skilled at standard kb+m, it's very second nature to me.  Whoever mentioned a good gaming mouse has an excellent point tho.  I own three razer mice and could never ever go back.

edit: bad spellers of the world, untie!

in the typical FPS -- quick, digital movement > analog movement

I definitely don't agree with this.  In most FPSes, there's some point where you want fine controls to walk along a small ledge or the like.  Or to creep just far enough around a corner that you can snipe someone while still being mostly in cover.  Besides which, I've never had problems moving at full speed with an analog solution, so I don't really see the validity of your point.  An analog control solves my concerns and doesn't significantly interfere with yours.

most PC games have a walk button.  in a game with good controls, such as counter-strike (HL1), i never have problems with peaking too far out and what not--you'd have to have clumsy fingers.  maps like kz_giantbeanstalk (and other hardcore platforming custom maps) couldn't exist if counter-strike's controls weren't super precise. 

but when it comes to dodging bullets, analog controls do nothing but hurt you.  you use multiple fingers on the wasd keys, so you can switch directions almost instantly.  you gotta throw that analog stick to the opposite side to change directions--the time is small, but significant in a fast game.  which is partly why console games are typically slowed down to halo level crawls with slow movement speeds and low gravity.  slower games fit better with slower reactions--whether that be aiming or movement.