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"Joypads/keyboards/mice"

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Sat 01/09/01 at 12:52
Regular
Posts: 787
I've noticed that I prefer keyboard/mouse over joypad when playing 1st person shooters (as do a lot of people), and strangely I've noticed I'm a lot better at THPS2 wiht a keyboard, too.

Why?

Here's my reasoning...

Joypad:
>2-4 triggers, each operated by one finger
>one d-pad/analogue stick, operated by one opposable thumb
>4-6 'normal' buttons, operated by one opposable thumb

keyboard:
>2-3 mouse buttons + scroller, each operated by one finger
>mouse itself, direction controlled by the palm (0 fingers)
>the keyboard - many keys, generally one per finger will suffice, if any keys are needed.


Efficiency.

The keyboard/mouse combo is more efficient.
~Fewer redundant fingers
The last 2 or three fingers on each hand will not be used on a pad - therefore you have 4-6 redundant fingers, miniumum. On a mouse, you will likely have the thumb and little finger unused - but even they help control the mouse - and potentiall none on the keyboard hand. This gives a total of 2 redundant fingers, minimum.
~One thumb can't easily operate any combination of 4-6 normal buttons
Try it. Do any combo of three buttons, or two, or four, etc. All a lot harder than the one button, one finger approach you get on the keyboard/mouse combo. Additionally, if you have a depressable scrollbar, you effectively have three actions easily available with one finger.
~Palm control of mouse is more accurate than thumb control of 3D stick
If it wasn't, then it's likely 3D sticks woulc have become popular GUI manipulating devices, instead of mice.

So there you go. More fingers used, and more control with the fingers that are used. Conclusive evidence that keyboard/mouse combo is superior.

It takes a bit of getting used to when you first start, but it's better.
Sat 01/09/01 at 15:20
Regular
"Picking a winner!"
Posts: 8,502
I prefer the joypad for my console just because I don't play games on my PC much and when I do its usually champ manager or deus ex and I don't have a joypad thats good for my PC.

I think I prefer the joypad because I spend alot of time using a keyboard for work and when Im on-line that the change to using a joypad i better and feels different. Also alot of games work better with a joypad.
Sat 01/09/01 at 15:14
Regular
"Eff, you see, kay?"
Posts: 14,156
I myself am a joypad man, specifically the Dual Shock. I'm actually a little miffed no one's blatently ripped it off for the PC yet.

I got my first proper PC game a little over 2 weeks ago. UT. The controls were OK, because you don't really need to do much. The problem is, to use a keyboard key, you absolutely have to look at it. If you have a joypad however, the controls are always accessable You can do anything without thinking about it, and very quickly. I am excellent at Quake 3 on the PS2, but utter crap at UT on the PC. It's not my technique, its the controls that are holding me back. Also, you have to reposition the mouse every now and again which is just awful.

Accuracy? Well, I can hit a target with a mouse very well, but I can hit a target with a joypad equally well. PC controls are fiddly, hard to use and detract from the gameplay, whereas on a joypad, all the buttons are in reach, and you can use them quickly.
Sat 01/09/01 at 12:52
Regular
"smile, it's free"
Posts: 6,460
I've noticed that I prefer keyboard/mouse over joypad when playing 1st person shooters (as do a lot of people), and strangely I've noticed I'm a lot better at THPS2 wiht a keyboard, too.

Why?

Here's my reasoning...

Joypad:
>2-4 triggers, each operated by one finger
>one d-pad/analogue stick, operated by one opposable thumb
>4-6 'normal' buttons, operated by one opposable thumb

keyboard:
>2-3 mouse buttons + scroller, each operated by one finger
>mouse itself, direction controlled by the palm (0 fingers)
>the keyboard - many keys, generally one per finger will suffice, if any keys are needed.


Efficiency.

The keyboard/mouse combo is more efficient.
~Fewer redundant fingers
The last 2 or three fingers on each hand will not be used on a pad - therefore you have 4-6 redundant fingers, miniumum. On a mouse, you will likely have the thumb and little finger unused - but even they help control the mouse - and potentiall none on the keyboard hand. This gives a total of 2 redundant fingers, minimum.
~One thumb can't easily operate any combination of 4-6 normal buttons
Try it. Do any combo of three buttons, or two, or four, etc. All a lot harder than the one button, one finger approach you get on the keyboard/mouse combo. Additionally, if you have a depressable scrollbar, you effectively have three actions easily available with one finger.
~Palm control of mouse is more accurate than thumb control of 3D stick
If it wasn't, then it's likely 3D sticks woulc have become popular GUI manipulating devices, instead of mice.

So there you go. More fingers used, and more control with the fingers that are used. Conclusive evidence that keyboard/mouse combo is superior.

It takes a bit of getting used to when you first start, but it's better.

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