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[Frumple]

*mumblemutter* Beware the whole absolute statement thing, kaij. It's been years since I was as comfortable with a controller as I am with a keyboard, and that was far and away before I'd actually learned to type worth a flip. Even before that, though, the ergonomics of most controllers (certainly all the ones I've actually used in my lifetime) just don't suit my hands. So both the keyboard and the controller were initially awkward for me, and the keyboard become considerably less so, even despite (for a long period) roughly equal usage.

Now, for someone who, well, can't type well? Yeah, that's a different thing. Hunt and peck folks won't have much luck, heh, or even folks that just aren't comfortable with a keyboard (Hands don't quite fit, or whathaveyou.). But... yeah. It's not an absolute "Controllers are less awkward than keyboards for everyone" thing.

That said, you usually do need to reconfigure some controls to get things comfortable. Default controls are usually some variation of shit (Arrow keys, I'm looking at you, you poorly placed pieces of shite.).

[Rose]

Hey guys, guess what...

I have a controller.

On my PC.

Is your mind blown yet?

[Darvi]

It's incredibly convenient when your leopard can't do up+left or down+right simultaneously.

[Rose]

Also great in racing games, since leopards can't do partial turns.

[kaijyuu]

*mumblemutter* Beware the whole absolute statement thing, kaij. It's been years since I was as comfortable with a controller as I am with a keyboard, and that was far and away before I'd actually learned to type worth a flip. Even before that, though, the ergonomics of most controllers (certainly all the ones I've actually used in my lifetime) just don't suit my hands. So both the keyboard and the controller were initially awkward for me, and the keyboard become considerably less so, even despite (for a long period) roughly equal usage.

Now, for someone who, well, can't type well? Yeah, that's a different thing. Hunt and peck folks won't have much luck, heh, or even folks that just aren't comfortable with a keyboard (Hands don't quite fit, or whathaveyou.). But... yeah. It's not an absolute "Controllers are less awkward than keyboards for everyone" thing.

That said, you usually do need to reconfigure some controls to get things comfortable. Default controls are usually some variation of shit (Arrow keys, I'm looking at you, you poorly placed pieces of shite.).

Well yeah. I can certainly see someone being more comfortable with, say, using 4 fingers for 4 buttons rather than 1 thumb for 4 buttons. Some controllers are shoddily designed (cough xbox controllers cough), and the ps3/xbox controllers do have some long distance finger movement from d-pad to thumbstick. Let's not talk about the wiimote.

Also, were I ever to design a FPS, 4x game, or RTS, I'd do it on a PC for the mouse.

[Shinotsa]

I REALLY don't want to start a war here, so PM me if you have any strong feelings...

*facepalm* shouldn't have brought it up

While we're on the topic of controllers, they need to offer different sizes/types for each console. They can still have the same inputs and contours where you would attach a mic or something, but I LOVED the big, hulking, bulky original xbox controllers. You know, the ones that came out with the console? The ones that looked like they were designed by cavemen as weapons for bludgeoning mating competition. Loved em.

I'm also not sure which is more realistic for FPS games. I know controller movement is clunky, but there's just something about being able to kill someone behind you even after they got the first shot on you with an automatic weapon that doesn't sit well with me. Maybe I'm just clumsy and slow myself, but it seems like a more realistic experience. Granted the whole argument is kinda moot when you realize that in ANY FPS your head is glued on looking forward. Track IR needs to expand its market

Edit: Emphasis

[nenjin]

If you don't want to talk about it, don't post it. Seriously. I hate that "I'm gonna say something but I don't want anyone to respond to it" thing.

And this isn't a war. It's a discussion. At least so far.

[kaijyuu]

Variable size controllers would be nice, but expensive. I'm pretty sure most console producers are content with letting 3rd parties handle stuff like that.



And don't get my started on first person perspective. Your view is centered roughly where your throat should be, and you apparently have blinders on as you have 0 peripheral vision. I always go to third person if the game allows, like for Skyrim. I understand why it caught on, especially in the early days when 3d games all had horrible cameras, but until VR goggles or something that give peripheral vision are commonly used, I'll always consider it inferior to a properly done 3rd person perspective.

[Nadaka]

You can do peripheral vision using multiple monitors and adjusting the field of view angle (though some games consider adjusting the field of view to be cheating and disallow it).

[nenjin]

You can do peripheral vision using multiple monitors and adjusting the field of view angle (though some games consider adjusting the field of view to be cheating and disallow it).

Which is starting to become more popular as more people SLI their cards. Nvidia is also trying to incorporate support for Nview or whatever that multi-monitor thing they have is.

[RedKing]

I've seen a flight-sim setup with four monitors before (one front, one on each side, and one flat-panel mounted overhead).

Impractical, but awesome.

I've got a dual-monitor setup at home, but I can't think of any games that actually use both at once.

[Skyrunner]

I've seen flight sim setups with three screens for windows, one GPS screen, and a mockup controlling cet complete with pedals, various gauges and yoke.

Those are really inpracticaly awesome.

[Shinotsa]

I think trackIR would be an awesome addition to any game, and adding a range of motion for the head shouldn't be too terribly difficult to program in, (again, I'm driving a dumptruck of salt in for you all to take with that statment) though it would probably decrease performance in competitive online gaming. I just think skyrim would have been vastly improved if you could look behind you while running from the dragons. Think Mount & Blade first person view when on a horse, but controlled by your head movements.

Sadly I don't see any support for this in the future, especially since most people have no clue what trackIR is. Hell, I learned about it a month ago from a let's play and hadn't heard single a thing about it before then.

[nenjin]

Well Google is now pushing its Google-glasses, so maybe trackIR isn't that far off in the future. In another few years too I expect mo-cap gaming is going to bring the hardware to PCs as well.

[kaijyuu]

TrackIR? Ah, some head movement tracker? I've seen similar stuff done with wiimotes, and the Kinect seems tailor made for it.

'Tis an interesting idea but I'm skeptical of motion sensors. At least until we have star trek holidecks, anyway.


Re: looking behind you in Skyrim. Oh yeah, me too. The 3rd person setup is similar, but not identical, to WoW's setup, so I was constantly trying to move the camera to look behind and it bugged the hell out of me that I couldn't. Damn you muscle memory and shoddy camera systems.