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which game should i buy....?
- Thread starter Chic0
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To be honest, I've always preferred FPS's on consoles rather than computers. I've been playing from the start, too. Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Duke Nukem, Quake, Unreal, Heretic, Dues-Ex, Decent and on and on. I even played the Original Half-Life on a PC. Believe me, I prefer the ease of using a controller over mouse and keyboard. I've always found the mouse and keyboard setup more difficult to use and clumsy. It's also "less fun," if that makes sense. The Wii remote is the best, though, of all control options for FPS's. Nothing can top it (when implemented right).
Some people don't have the best thumb dexterity. I think that's why they don't like controllers. You don't need much dexterity for a mouse.
And yeah, OP, what games did you pick?
@ Antares,
LOL. Thumb dexterity... Before I ramble, my thumb control is keen. 98 - 99% in the Mario Party crayon trace game.
The same is true for a few of my friends, so I don't always win. But when using the Wiimote in MP8's trace the shape game, I always win... >=) I'll always use a mouse over a thumb-stick for pointing games, because that's what it was designed to do.
You have it backwards. It requires most of the arm and hand's dexterity to use a mouse, not just the thumb. This is why it's more difficult for some. The mouse also doesn't re-center the screen when you let go, which a joystick does, so this makes it more difficult for new comers.
And clumsy, you're just unskilled. Nothing clumsy about a superior pointing device that can create circular shapes with a fast movement. Clumsy is a thumb-stick, which creates polygonal shapes on a fast movement.
Look at it this way. When drawing or writing, it takes a combination of the thumb and index finger for precise control in tight spots and the arm and wrist for broader movements. All of these areas have to work in unison. You don't get this with just a thumb-stick. It's only your thumb, the rest of your arm and hand can't help out.
The mouse is also on a X Y plane, where as any quadrant can provide a varying level of control and speed. A thumb-stick is on a pivot. Tilting further away from the center lessens accuracy while increasing speed, which is a flaw in its design -- that right there is clumsy.
If thumb-aiming were the ideal way to move a cursor, so point(well push), it would be on all computers. it really didn't take long for a mouse to replace the joystick for cursor controls back in the eighties. The mouse is not easier to use, it's just better at what it does.
Games that require pointing that are designed around a thumb-stick are always compromised, dumbed-down, streamlined, made more causal... They always implement crutches like "aiming-assist," or even worse, absolute cheese like bullet-time and now stasis. These things are here, because a thumb-stick is an inferior pointing device. They lesson a game's difficulty and we end up with overly easy games, which for me can kill the fun -- I like games that challenge me.
I find it kind of ironic that most of the games you listed, are either played better with a joystick, or don't even support a mouse, so have built in aim-assist. I'm surprised you didn't list Dark Forces.
Anyways...
LOL. Thumb dexterity... Before I ramble, my thumb control is keen. 98 - 99% in the Mario Party crayon trace game.
The same is true for a few of my friends, so I don't always win. But when using the Wiimote in MP8's trace the shape game, I always win... >=) I'll always use a mouse over a thumb-stick for pointing games, because that's what it was designed to do.You have it backwards. It requires most of the arm and hand's dexterity to use a mouse, not just the thumb. This is why it's more difficult for some. The mouse also doesn't re-center the screen when you let go, which a joystick does, so this makes it more difficult for new comers.
And clumsy, you're just unskilled.
Nothing clumsy about a superior pointing device that can create circular shapes with a fast movement. Clumsy is a thumb-stick, which creates polygonal shapes on a fast movement.Look at it this way. When drawing or writing, it takes a combination of the thumb and index finger for precise control in tight spots and the arm and wrist for broader movements. All of these areas have to work in unison. You don't get this with just a thumb-stick. It's only your thumb, the rest of your arm and hand can't help out.
The mouse is also on a X Y plane, where as any quadrant can provide a varying level of control and speed. A thumb-stick is on a pivot. Tilting further away from the center lessens accuracy while increasing speed, which is a flaw in its design -- that right there is clumsy.
If thumb-aiming were the ideal way to move a cursor, so point(well push), it would be on all computers. it really didn't take long for a mouse to replace the joystick for cursor controls back in the eighties. The mouse is not easier to use, it's just better at what it does.
Games that require pointing that are designed around a thumb-stick are always compromised, dumbed-down, streamlined, made more causal... They always implement crutches like "aiming-assist," or even worse, absolute cheese like bullet-time and now stasis. These things are here, because a thumb-stick is an inferior pointing device. They lesson a game's difficulty and we end up with overly easy games, which for me can kill the fun -- I like games that challenge me.
I find it kind of ironic that most of the games you listed, are either played better with a joystick, or don't even support a mouse, so have built in aim-assist. I'm surprised you didn't list Dark Forces.
Anyways...
I am making no claims against the speed and accuracy of mouse control. For pointing games, I definitely prefer a mouse...even more than a Wii remote. Has anyone played Starcraft 64? That N64 version was horrible compared to the mouse controls of regular Starcraft. Any pointing game is better with a mouse.
My problem with the mouse and keyboard setup specifically relates mostly with the keyboard aspect. It's awkward and uncomfortable.
Keyboard negatives:
No analog movement.
Your left hand has to be flat and extended instead of the more natural and comfortable "cupped" position that you get with a controller.
You have to move your hand all over the keyboard to get to the keys to select the various weapons, controls and options. With a controller, you can get to all the options, weapons, whatever with your fingers without having to move your hand.
Mouse negative:
You have to keep your hand horizontal. I feel more comfortable with my hand kept in a sideways position, like when you hold a controller or grip the shaft of a joystick.
You also can't use a mouse and keyboard effectively when lying down. I like to often play games laying on my back, side or stomach rather than sitting up straight in a chair.
And I'm pretty sure I remember playing the first Half-Life, Unreal and later Quakes with a mouse and keyboard.
My problem with the mouse and keyboard setup specifically relates mostly with the keyboard aspect. It's awkward and uncomfortable.
Keyboard negatives:
No analog movement.
Your left hand has to be flat and extended instead of the more natural and comfortable "cupped" position that you get with a controller.
You have to move your hand all over the keyboard to get to the keys to select the various weapons, controls and options. With a controller, you can get to all the options, weapons, whatever with your fingers without having to move your hand.
Mouse negative:
You have to keep your hand horizontal. I feel more comfortable with my hand kept in a sideways position, like when you hold a controller or grip the shaft of a joystick.
You also can't use a mouse and keyboard effectively when lying down. I like to often play games laying on my back, side or stomach rather than sitting up straight in a chair.
And I'm pretty sure I remember playing the first Half-Life, Unreal and later Quakes with a mouse and keyboard.
keyboard+mouse positives-
10 fingers can do 10 things, not just index fingers and thumbs.
Can be customised (talking keys, not painting it to look l33t)
More precise, games don't have to be altered to add auto-aim or slowed down
Mice and even keyboard can have wheels which I find are hella good for weapon switching and flight sims.
And I wouldn't say the hand is flat, it's still curved, just doesn't have anything to curve around to give support. But if you use the outer fingers of the hand then you'll be using them too much anyways.
And the reason why, IMO, the PC will always be the best system is that it's all completely optional whatever control method you prefer
You don't get rumble on a keyboard too and that kind of feedback can be very important in games.
10 fingers can do 10 things, not just index fingers and thumbs.
Can be customised (talking keys, not painting it to look l33t)
More precise, games don't have to be altered to add auto-aim or slowed down
Mice and even keyboard can have wheels which I find are hella good for weapon switching and flight sims.
And I wouldn't say the hand is flat, it's still curved, just doesn't have anything to curve around to give support. But if you use the outer fingers of the hand then you'll be using them too much anyways.
And the reason why, IMO, the PC will always be the best system is that it's all completely optional whatever control method you prefer
You don't get rumble on a keyboard too and that kind of feedback can be very important in games.