Reflections on typing and technology
Reflections on typing and technology
So this is a thought I've had for a while - why do people (namely pc gamers) say a keyboard is better than a controller? We know the mouse is better since there's more freedom of movement in both speed (no waiting for the camera to scroll all the way round) and accuracy, but then we're limited by 4 directional movement control along with 3 fixed intensities (crawl, walk and run) by the keyboard? Wouldn't an analogue stick be better for movement? What are other people's thoughts on this?
a mouse offers better control for camera shifts. it allows movement in eight directions, which seems enough for navigation. edit: what restricts us more than a controller? controllers usually have fewer buttons, and intensity might be a bigger factor
It's just about needing an analog alternative beyond the camera. For driving, I really enjoy my Xbox 360 controller because of its analog feel. For everything else, I prefer the keyboard—it has more buttons, and the mouse is much more precise for camera work.
I often hope for analog controls in games but still want to use the mouse for aiming.
I fully accept the mouse's role. I recognize its value and concur with the original discussion. Regarding the eight movements, that works fine. An analog stick also functions well on controllers, yet a mouse offers a more natural feel. Likewise, 360-degree motion surpasses the limitations of eight fixed directions. Concerning sensitivity, I meant that controllers track degrees in X and Y while keyboards provide only two states per axis—on or off.
An analogue stick for camera control works fine, but a mouse remains superior. The same applies to movement accuracy—analogue sticks aren't as precise as 4 directional inputs that can be combined for 8. Personally, I can navigate in more than 8 directions and my speed isn't always constant.
Many games allow strafing. This means pressing two keys together works the same as using a stick. I think competitive FPS games offer smoother, more precise movement than a traditional stick. I still prefer it for sports, racing, flying, and fighting games. For movement keys, I use 17 additional buttons across the keyboard. With one hand on the controller, my options are restricted to two.