The point is that an fps is a game of precise aiming. The primary skill being tested in an fps is your ability to quickly and precisely aim at things. There are other skills being tested to be sure, but aiming is the primary one. A mouse is a superior tool for this task than an analog stick. If you choose to use an analog stick instead of a mouse, or other more precise pointing device, you are limiting your potential.
I do not doubt that there are some people out there who are better fpsers with a gamepad than some people are with a mouse. I also do not doubt that you are better with a gamepad than you are with a mouse. Playing an fps with a mouse and keyboard is not easy, and it takes a lot of practice to do it at all, let alone be really good at it. However, no matter how much you practice, there is a limit to how well you can perform in a real fps using an analog stick as your aiming interface. There are a large number of PC gamers out there who are better at fpsing with a mouse than any human can possibly be at fpsing with a gamepad. If gamepad players are ever forced to face these PC gamers on an even playing field, they will indeed learn to fear the PC icon.
*Sigh*
I'm done admitting the mouse is superior. It is. It's better. That was never an issue. Still, I don't believe that it totally dominates a controller to the point that console gamers couldn't win a match against some serious PC FPS'ers. You guys are making it sound like it's taking on Gods... which might be entirely true in some cases, but console gamers aren't totally snuffed out because of mice.
You guys are making it sound like it's taking on Gods... which might be entirely true in some cases, but console gamers aren't totally snuffed out because of mice.
Did you watch the video he linked there? What can someone with a gamepad possibly do against that, no matter how good they are?
I never said that wasn't insane mad skills - but not everyone in PC Shooters is like that, and there are some console kids out there who are just INSANE.
I'm with Mitchy on this one. On an even playing field I see no reason that a gamepad should be terrified of a PC gamer. But an even playing field means giving the gamepad full customization of all inputs just like the PC. Ability to crank movement speeds and things, analog sensitivity, etc...
The gamepad will still be at a disadvantage because the analog stick will only move so far in one direction while you can move the mouse in one direction forever. Still, I see no reason that given the ability to adjust the sensitivity a console gamer stands a pretty fair chance against a PC gamer.
Yes I did watch the Youtube video, I see no reason that those "moves" are impossible on a console. Control schemes to this point have not allowed for it but it's less a deficiency in the control than the ability to adjust things to make up for the limits of the gamepad.
As far as the crosshairs expanding when you move, this has nothing to do leveling the playing field. It's just the style of that particular FPS. Several games do this, it adds more realism to the game. This is similar to when you fire an automatic weapon and it recoils along with the crosshair, forcing you to feather the trigger when you're shooting from a distance.
Maybe the game isn't the same when you're using a controller, but no longer an FPS? Come on, what kind of elitist attitude is that, are you saying it's not longer a shooter in the first person?
As far as single player goes, if the game was worth playing its campaign, then wasn't it worth playing regardless? I don't feel like I missed out on the story because I played BioShock with a controller on a console. Likewise, I don't think I got more out of Half-Life and Half-Life 2 because I played them on a PC with a keyboard and a mouse, rather than a console.
Sure, the most basic skill is aim, but there are several other factors that come into play during a match: flanking, miscommunication, camping, unpredictable opponent behavior, bait and snipe, incompatible strategy, and the fact that you can only look in one direction at a time when you first enter a room. Unless you are unable to move and you are having some sort of western draw, your advantage doesn't equal instant win. You guys still have to play the game. You still have to communicate and strategize, and account for what the other team might be doing.
I guess what I'm getting at, is that no one is disagreeing that you don't have better controls or that they don't lend themselves to giving you an advantage, but the controller (Xbox 360's at least) is not as bad as you make it out to be for FPS's.
I thought about Googling all of this, but realized I don't care about them enough to copy their names into my tab up on my browser, and would rather write this post explaining this...
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I thought about Googling all of this, but realized I don't care about them enough to copy there names in to my tab up on my browser, and would rather write this post explaining this...
Alright I can see why a keyboard, and mouse would be an advantage for an fps game. But if that is the only reason why a pc gamer would be superior to a console gamer then I present this to you.....
The XFPS 360, a device which allows gamers on the X-box 360 to use a keyboard and mouse as if they were playing on the computer. Given buying a computer would be cheaper, but if you already have a 360, and some extra cash then this would give console gamers an advantage, and the element of surprise if there is cross platform gaming in Team Fortress.
The XFPS 360, a device which allows gamers on the X-box 360 to use a keyboard and mouse as if they were playing on the computer. Given buying a computer would be cheaper, but if you already have a 360, and some extra cash then this would give console gamers an advantage, and the element of surprise if there is cross platform gaming in Team Fortress.
Yes, this is a good idea, however it won't help. The way the console game is programmed it assumes you are using an analog stick as input. Thus, it has a minimum and a maximum movement rate on the aiming input. The input will also be calibrated to assume you are using a stick. Using a mouse when the game is pretending your mouse is a stick will be very frustrating because your mouse movements will be limited. Unless the game software knows you are using a mouse, this won't help.
From the Metroid I have played so far I can say only this. The Wiimote and nunchuk is a vastly superior configuration compared to dual analog sticks. However, it still feels limited compared to the mouse. While the wiimote allows me to precisely and quickly aim at any object currently on screen while simultaneously moving, it still does not allow for quickly turning around 180 degrees or anything like that.
What if the wii-mote had a button that allowed you to do a 180?
That is the one thing that always killed me on Zelda, turning in place. Invariably I would be on some narrow precipe and try to turn in place only to fall off! I would be stuck there hanging and suddenly the point of view would change and moving the nunchuk stick in the direction I was pressing previously would suddenly be the wrong direction!
Comments
I do not doubt that there are some people out there who are better fpsers with a gamepad than some people are with a mouse. I also do not doubt that you are better with a gamepad than you are with a mouse. Playing an fps with a mouse and keyboard is not easy, and it takes a lot of practice to do it at all, let alone be really good at it. However, no matter how much you practice, there is a limit to how well you can perform in a real fps using an analog stick as your aiming interface. There are a large number of PC gamers out there who are better at fpsing with a mouse than any human can possibly be at fpsing with a gamepad. If gamepad players are ever forced to face these PC gamers on an even playing field, they will indeed learn to fear the PC icon.
warning: bad music
I'm done admitting the mouse is superior. It is. It's better. That was never an issue. Still, I don't believe that it totally dominates a controller to the point that console gamers couldn't win a match against some serious PC FPS'ers. You guys are making it sound like it's taking on Gods... which might be entirely true in some cases, but console gamers aren't totally snuffed out because of mice.
The gamepad will still be at a disadvantage because the analog stick will only move so far in one direction while you can move the mouse in one direction forever. Still, I see no reason that given the ability to adjust the sensitivity a console gamer stands a pretty fair chance against a PC gamer.
Yes I did watch the Youtube video, I see no reason that those "moves" are impossible on a console. Control schemes to this point have not allowed for it but it's less a deficiency in the control than the ability to adjust things to make up for the limits of the gamepad.
Maybe the game isn't the same when you're using a controller, but no longer an FPS? Come on, what kind of elitist attitude is that, are you saying it's not longer a shooter in the first person?
As far as single player goes, if the game was worth playing its campaign, then wasn't it worth playing regardless? I don't feel like I missed out on the story because I played BioShock with a controller on a console. Likewise, I don't think I got more out of Half-Life and Half-Life 2 because I played them on a PC with a keyboard and a mouse, rather than a console.
Sure, the most basic skill is aim, but there are several other factors that come into play during a match: flanking, miscommunication, camping, unpredictable opponent behavior, bait and snipe, incompatible strategy, and the fact that you can only look in one direction at a time when you first enter a room. Unless you are unable to move and you are having some sort of western draw, your advantage doesn't equal instant win. You guys still have to play the game. You still have to communicate and strategize, and account for what the other team might be doing.
I guess what I'm getting at, is that no one is disagreeing that you don't have better controls or that they don't lend themselves to giving you an advantage, but the controller (Xbox 360's at least) is not as bad as you make it out to be for FPS's.
Advantage ≠automatic win.
xkcd?
*ducks*
No.
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This is an awesome post.
The XFPS 360, a device which allows gamers on the X-box 360 to use a keyboard and mouse as if they were playing on the computer. Given buying a computer would be cheaper, but if you already have a 360, and some extra cash then this would give console gamers an advantage, and the element of surprise if there is cross platform gaming in Team Fortress.
What do you think is better:
The mouse and keyboard
OR
The Wii-mote and nunchuk
I know Metroid Prime 3 is out and some of you have it so some of you must have formed the basis of an opinion on this one by now.
It's not even worth asking that question.
That is the one thing that always killed me on Zelda, turning in place. Invariably I would be on some narrow precipe and try to turn in place only to fall off! I would be stuck there hanging and suddenly the point of view would change and moving the nunchuk stick in the direction I was pressing previously would suddenly be the wrong direction!