Recommend controller for FPS?

[VR] Deggial

[VR] Deggial
It does exist: This weird and exotic species of gamers who never touched a FPS game in their previous gaming life.
I must know, because I am one of them.

Despite this fact I am looking forward to dip my newly acquired feet into this unknown experience. As, apparently, “real” FPS players will not touch this game mode with a long stick, I might even be the target audience. (My advanced age - is it possible to be a “forum dad” without actually having kids? - might also add to this.)

In addition to not having experience with FPS games, I also don’t like these handheld game controllers. I am member of the PC master race and never owned a XBox or alike. Their gamepads are too fiddly and small for my humongous hands.

Hence my question:
Is there any hope I will be able to play with my sophisticated HOTAS and paddles setup? Or is this plan prone to fail?
Should I learn to appreciate my XBox controller, which I own (but barely used) due to me owning an Oculus Rift?
Or are keyboard and mouse the only way to go - which I hope isn’t the case, as I still plan to play EDO in VR?

So, what are the recommendations of you young, modern and experienced FPS experts?
What’s the controller to go for an old and conservative git like me?
 
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taniwha-qf

taniwha-qf
My recommendation if you have a (suitable) HOTAS is "HOTAM". I used the mini-stick on my Thrustmaster throttle for movement (and most of the throttle's buttons for various), and the mouse for aiming.
 

CptXabaras

CptXabaras
I'm almost unable to play FPS without mouse and keyboard. I have a X56 HOTAS chair mounted. But it fold down and at the side in a way that I can comfortably reach my mouse and keyboard and I pull it up when on ship
 

John Stoutbeard

John Stoutbeard
Long time HOTAS user here. Don't even try FPS using HOTAS.
HOTAS & Rudders = Flight
Controller = SRV / (or SLF when drunk)
FPS, go kbd/mouse.

I use all 3 setups at the same time in VR & TIR and outside of VR. I switch controller(s) depending on the gameplay of the moment.
In case you are looking for controllers, XBox original (cabled) as well as Razer Wolverine work as plug and play in Windows, no additional setup needed.
 
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[VR] Deggial

[VR] Deggial
taniwha-qf said:
My recommendation if you have a (suitable) HOTAS is "HOTAM". I used the mini-stick on my Thrustmaster throttle for movement (and most of the throttle's buttons for various), and the mouse for aiming. How does this work with your hands?
Click to expand...
How does this work with the hands?
Isn’t the ministick On the joystick used by the right hand? Do you use the mouse left-handed?
 

Erei

Erei
Without aim assist, FPS with a controller is going to be a PITA. Even with aim assist, unless it's overdone, the edge goes to m&kb.
 

Ydiss

Ydiss
[VR] Deggial said:
As, apparently, “real” FPS players will not touch this game mode with a long stick, I might even be the target audience. (My advanced age - is it possible to be a “forum dad” without actually having kids? - might also add to this.)
Click to expand...

Just wanted to address this quickly... I'm both a "real" FPS player who has played the genre since last century and I'm also a dad. So I hope that my excitement for Odyssey might maybe give you an equally, opposite point of data that suggests that the proposal Odyssey won't be liked by FPS gamers is rubbish.

Should I learn to appreciate my XBox controller, which I own (but barely used) due to me owning an Oculus Rift?
Or are keyboard and mouse the only way to go - which I hope isn’t the case, as I still plan to play EDO in VR?
Click to expand...
I can only comment on these two, having never used a HOTAS (although I don't recall much positivity towards using the HOTAS for FPS and I can't imagine it'd be that fun).

I'm a PC player and M&K are my method of choice, even for flying in Elite (and I maintain I lose out on nothing in terms of ability to do that except for Fdev's bizarre reluctance to give us relative mouse toggle between FAOn and FAOff, but I digress). For me, M&K is the only choice for FPS games but controllers have been successfully used for FPS games for years now and I can't imagine you'll do badly with one in Odyssey, if you're used to using one. If you're not, you'll just need to practice with it.

Odyssey is not a twitchy shooter and you won't need to aim quickly to fight (it'll help obviously). Everything else will work fine on the controler and in terms of choosing how fast you move then you'll get a bonus there with analogue input for movement speed (all we get for keyboard is a walk key, which is nice but defintely not as good as being able to choose your movement speed on analogue). There aren't many key binds for Odyssey, so I'm certain you'll get all of them crammed onto the controller fine and any non-time-sensitive keys can be bound anywhere else you like.

Maybe even using a HOTAS will be fine? I don't know. I personally couldn't make myself do that but given you've got no experience whatsover, my suggestion is...

Try all three. See which you like the most. You're starting with a clean slate on this thing and now is the best time to give all of them a go.

Oh and edit: Why is using VR an issue? I used it a little for Elite and found no trouble with my keys or mouse... You clearly need to know your method by touch but surely that applies to any controller type? Not just a pad or keyboard?

Sure, if you want to stick with HOTAS because you're used to it... then, as I said, just try it out...
 

[VR] Deggial

[VR] Deggial
Apparently using the HOTAS is indeed a bad idea.

But why exactly? Is it too imprecise? Is it too slow for reactions? Are the movements too large?
 

VR StarLightPL

VR StarLightPL
taniwha-qf said:
My recommendation if you have a (suitable) HOTAS is "HOTAM". I used the mini-stick on my Thrustmaster throttle for movement (and most of the throttle's buttons for various), and the mouse for aiming.
Click to expand...
I'd advise against it, this ministick is often a failure point on the TWCS throttle. XBox gamepad is much better suited for that anyway, and imho given how <sarcasm> "fast paced" </sarcasm> Odyssey combat looks like, a pad will do nicely. That said, KB+M is the way to go with first person games.
 

VR StarLightPL

VR StarLightPL
[VR] Deggial said:
But why exactly? Is it too imprecise? Is it too slow for reactions? Are the movements too large?
Click to expand...
I'd say using a stick for turning to gain situational awareness will be a chore. Just bind the WASD keys to W - forward, S - backward, A - strafe left, D - strafe right, and mouse for aiming. Try it, and decide.
 

Ydiss

Ydiss
[VR] Deggial said:
Apparently using the HOTAS is indeed a bad idea.

But why exactly? Is it too imprecise? Is it too slow for reactions? Are the movements too large?
Click to expand...
The reason I never liked analogue control for "look" is because it's not nearly as good as a mouse for changing my perspective rapidly. Some games have settings that will apply a curve to sensitivity the more you use the stick, though. I don't know if Elite has that. If it doesn't, it'll either be too sensitive for finer aiming or too sluggish for snapping about my view to see what's left, right and behind.

Mouse lets you be rapid at any adjustment (obviously once you're used to it and have the sensitivity set to suit you).
 

Old Duck

Old Duck
K&M is for noobs (it's a mechanical aimbot IMO). Real men use a controller.

Not that it matters in EDO, considering the jitter and slow projectile travel time. At least the controller will allow you to control the speed at which you walk / run at.
 
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