Game Guides Archive

Sent out the link to your E-mail addy. Lemme know what you think, as I just LOVE "Atta-Boy's"...

That's a great guide you have put together.....5 stars.

however, there'sone thing I just wanted to comment on that kind of bothered me.

That's the "mouse" is better feeling I got when reading the guide.

First, I'm a hybrid of pc gamer / console gamer for around 22 years......and although I can play with both a controller and the mouse, I find that controllers are faster from a reaction standpoint that is.....the mouse is definitely more precise when it comes to aiming at stuff, though that's about the only thing the mouse and keyboard are good for in my opinion.

The reason I say that is because even though I type 60 wpm on the keyboard, that speed does not help me with all the other actions of using the mouse and keyboard combination. For example, I can aim precisely all day with the mouse...but when it comes to performing actions using the, I find there is no better precision than a controller (more specifically digital analog sticks on the controller or flight sticks).

See when I use the keyboard, it means that all my ships functions are more than likely mapped to the keyboard keys and since while gaming, your hands are not on the keyboard in typing position, you don't always instantly know where certain keys are at a moments notice without having to think about it sometimes (you don't hit the K key with your left hand in typing).....of course the A, S, W, D keys are typically considered the home row keys for gamers...but what happens when the L or [ keys are keys you constantly use.....you end up having to look at the keyboard for a second or so to make sure your hitting the right key.....since your right hand is on the mouse (assuming your right handed) and your left on the keyboard (vice versa for left handers), there is no possible way you can consistantly hit the keys on the other side of the keyboard without glancing at the keys......This can completely throw off your timing and placement if your target makes a sudden movement while your looking away.....I've gotten turned around in JTL beta trying to hit the [ key to cycle my targets reactor or engines....then the full throttle keys are no where near the A, S, W, D keys....so once again I have to move my hand to hit the full throttle key or maybe even the match speed key or whatever.....I can't count how many times I hit the caps lock or tab key whan attempting to replace my hands on the A, S, W, D keys after reaching across the keyboard to hit the zero key, the [ key, the home key....or worse yet the numberpad keys......because it not feasible to take your hand off the mouse to hit a key while your want to maintain your aiming......basically the keyboard just has too many buttons that you need to use constantly but are spread all over the place.

Even if you remap the keys to be close to your hand that's on the keyboard, it still more than likely that you will have to take a split second or two and think about what button you are actually hitting...it happens in regular everyday typing and I know the keys as well as I can find my mouth in the dark....besides how many times can you count when you have hit the R key instead of the T key when play twitched based games (space sims, first person shooters..etc.)

basically I'm just saying that the mouse is great and all for aiming but for me, there is no match for twitch based combat than my trusty ole controller because speed is more important than aiming any day....with speed (which makes for faster reactions)you can compensate for aiming....I never have to look at the controller, I never hit the wrong button, the speed at which I hit the button is 10 times faster thanhitting any keyboard key that myfinger isn't already onand more importantly I don't have to think about hitting any button or combination of buttons (I nearly hit a key as fast as my eye can recognizesomething onscreen)thus keeping the maximum precision in all the actions I take on screen....everything is second nature, like walking, riding a bike...etc.

The last thing is that if you are comfortable with using gamepads, flightsticks or controllers....then it should also be second nature for you to compensate the velocity of the aiming reticle while trying to line up your target.....and thus not over shoot your target....anyone who plays or still plays Quake or UT2k4 (IMHO, there's no faster paced games than these) can certainly understand the fast paced gameplay there that would make you overshoot your target a hundred times over with all the constant moving....even some space shooters are nearly as fast paced.

I just felt like the tutorial was great but put sort of a "mouse is better" feeling in it and if you don't use a mouse then oh well, get over it. So I felt I had to explain the reason why I use a PS2 controller when in space and the keyboard & mouse when on the ground....I assume many others who use gamepads and flight sticks do so for nearly the same reasons.......I mean everyone has their own preference which is better and it most likely comes from what type of gamer you are or have been....because typically if your from the FPS, Fighting gamegenrethat started on consoles, then you will find controllers work for you better...for precision, mistake free actions.....and if youare or always have been a pc gamer, then the keyboard and mouse is what feels best to you....I know a couple of people that if you give them a mouse they can probably outplay me using a controller...but I still stand a fighting chance...but give me a mouse vs their mouse and I virtually have no chance simply because my speed and precision would be hindered by wrong key presses too many times to compensate or recover from.

But me.....when I use a controller, I never have to question myself before or after any action I take.....to use a controller is all about recognition and reaction in a split second....many times It helps my anticipation a lot......with the keyboard and mouse, I find myself thinking about certain things sometimes or my anticipation is slightly off because I had to take that split second to make sure I was hitting the appropriate key when hitting the right key can make the difference between winning and losing.

So for me, any fast paced type of gaming where reaction is the most important part of the gaming experience (fps, fighting, racing)...the appropriate controller is better (I can hit20 key combinations in a matter of seconds on a controller, can't do that on a keyboard).....any thinking type of gaming or slower paced gaming where I can take my time and make a good decision (like RPG's, Strategy, Sims)....then mouse and keyboard rules.

now with that said, using a controller doesn't display a "mouse" reticle....so that won't help a controller user...however, like I said...if you use controllers or flightsticks, your eye is the "mouse" reticle....not as precise as the real "mouse" reticle....but for an experienced controller/flightstick user will be nearly flawless with their aiming...at least enough to get the job done and survive.