Recommend controller for FPS?

[taniwha-qf]

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.

No idea about it being a failure point, but it works well (after tweaking the deadzones to eliminate drift), and is far superior to the binary input of using a keyboard. No argument about the mouse, though.

My only problem with that mini-stick is using it for lateral thrust in flight: I keep pressing it and getting headlook when I least want it during combat. (tried disabling headlook, but found I wanted it too often)

I do not like the xbox gamepad at all (ps4 is much nicer), but that may be just me and the asymmetry of the xbox controller.

 

[Aldaris]

My recommended controller is keyboard and mouse.

 

[VR StarLightPL]

I do not like the xbox gamepad at all (ps4 is much nicer), but that may be just me and the asymmetry of the xbox controller.

I came to the dark side (was a ps2 dualshock guy back in the day), and frankly never looked back. And the thumbsticks are less slippery than the dualshocks with their mushroom design.

 

[MacIntoc]

Keyboard and mouse. If you can't, claim a refund.

 

[Captain Willard]

Razer Tartarus V2 gamepad for me. I could never go back to a keyboard.

 

[Ydiss]

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.

For me, controllers have been "acceptable" for FPS games for years and I don't think Elite really pushes the envelope very far for "twitch" but that doesn't make it more fun than mouse and I think that's what it comes down to for me, always. I'm having more fun when I can flick my view instantly in any direction I like and not having that feels... eugh... But when I'm driving in CP2077 or GTA, I switch to my controller because that's just way more fun than using keyboard digital input. But I still love the ability to use the mouse to look around, which I can't use with the controller.

In an ideal world, I'd have both the mouse and analogue stick. And the options for that are limited (it does exist, just at a premium of around £100).

 

[taniwha-qf]

Keyboard and mouse. If you can't, claim a refund.

As I mentioned, definitely mouse. But why limit yourself to the keyboard, tying up 3 fingers for motion, when you can dedicate one for motion, and have the other three fingers and your thumb available for all the buttons in easy reach (19, if I counted correctly, though one includes the press on the mini-stick).

Anyway, my point is give it a go. If you don't like it, don't use it. But do not knock it without trying it (makes me think of Green Eggs and Ham).

[edit] Just realized: 19 includes the 3 on the mouse, so make that 16 in easy reach of the left hand.

 

[Deleted member 182079]

I've been using an Xbox controller since the beginning, I can't imagine flying a spaceship with input controls that I normally use for office work, and I prefer the analogue options a controller provides. A HOTAS is more bulky gaming plastic that I can do without and my muscle memory is so used to the pad now I'd have to completely re-train myself, plus a HOTAS takes up more space and I use my desk for work as well during the day, so don't need any more gaming clutter than I already have. With EDO now I can't imagine ever buying one - switching input methods during a gaming session is a no-go for me and on-foot controls with a HOTAS feels like a weird concept to me.

From an EDO perspective I feel I'm probably in the most lucky group of people (M&K users probably feel the same) in that I don't have to switch between ship and on-foot controls; the default EDO pad keybinds feel natural and as a whole it works perfectly. The only issue I have with EDO is using TrackIR (wish there was an option to auto-disable it when on-foot) but it's not a deal breaker and I can manually toggle it off/on on my mouse.

 

[VR jefranklin18]

I cannot get my head around playing FPS with KBM so will be using a PS4 controller that I have connected to it.

 

[MacIntoc]

But why limit yourself to the keyboard, tying up 3 fingers for motion, when you can dedicate one for motion, and have the other three fingers and your thumb available for all the buttons in easy reach (19, if I counted correctly, though one includes the press on the mini-stick).

Do pianists limit themselves to 5 notes because they only have 5 fingers ?

 

[Ydiss]

As I mentioned, definitely mouse. But why limit yourself to the keyboard, tying up 3 fingers for motion, when you can dedicate one for motion, and have the other three fingers and your thumb available for all the buttons in easy reach (19, if I counted correctly, though one includes the press on the mini-stick).

Anyway, my point is give it a go. If you don't like it, don't use it. But do not knock it without trying it (makes me think of Green Eggs and Ham).

[edit] Just realized: 19 includes the 3 on the mouse, so make that 16 in easy reach of the left hand.

Yup, might as well try it given he has a HOTAS and a mouse right? It certainly sounds plausible.

I don't use my keyboard a lot in FPS games though because I've got this:

Even the wheel has two buttons, flick left and right (and a third button in addition to M1 and M2 that I use as a bind but by default is a shift key to add twice the binds for all the other buttons, if you like).

I'll cry when it finally dies though... It's been discontinued.

My next thing would be this:

Maybe... That stick is analogue. And the number of buttons is huge (and all so close to the fingers, unlike the keyboard).

I'd be set then, for driving or FPS games

 

[Ydiss]

Do pianists limit themselves to 5 notes because they only have 5 fingers ?

As an FPS player, you really do not want to have too many keys set for those three fingers if you want to use that function whilst maintaining full movement capability; stuff like reload, sprint and so on are fine because you can do those and just run forwards but things like "throw grenade" are so much better if you can do it whilst being able to move in any direction (and so you need all three fingers free). This is one reason I got that mouse. I load all my critical stuff there and the optional stuff on my keyboard.

 

[[VR] Deggial]

Thank you, guys, for all your recommendations!
You gave me good food for thoughts.

@Ydiss, of course you are right and the right way to do it, is to try it all out myself.
I guess, I’ll give my XBox gamepad the first try.
Generally, I actually like to have different controlling mechanics. I use the HOTAS for SRV driving, but (in contrast to flying) the pedals for speed-control and breaks. (Just like in a car.)
Picking up the gamepad for on-foot gameplay might actually be not so bad.

I’ll give the small sticks on my HOTAS a go too, though. (Yes, @taniwha-qf, there is a stick on the throttle! Silly me! ). However, most of them are digital, as it seems. Will there be an actual benefit?

M&K will still be my last choice, despite all your well appreciated recommendations.
First reason for this is VR, second one my mouse, which tends to stutter, sometimes. But maybe, this would be a good reason to get a new gaming mouse. (Annoyingly, the “old” one really isn’t that old. I’s just crap!)

 

[VR Lucian Arkright]

Playstation Controllers also work on PC - The PS4 (and, I assume, the PS5) controllers natively, and the PS3 (which I use) controllers after installing PSNow (for the driver, which is a hassle to get outside of PSNow).

 

[Jack Schitt]

Is it possible to be a “forum dad” without actually having kids?

Judging by the number of people who've labelled me the former without having the latter, a most emphatic yes. Wear it with pride.

What’s the controller to go for an old and conservative git like me?

Keyboard WASD for movement, with SPACE for jump/jetpack and CTRL for crouch is almost a given unless you have one of those dedicated one-handed FPS controllers. Even if you've never used it before it'll become second nature very quickly.

As for head movement, I tried all sorts of combinations during the alpha including HOTAS axes, hat switches and nubbins, and even TrackIR, but nothing came close to the precision and comfort of a mouse. If you only ever intend to do exploration gameplay, especially since you're in VR, then there may be some merit in being able to control all vehicles and your avatar without ever taking your hands off the HOTAS. But the minute you need to react quickly to something, or to point a weapon at a threat, then The Mouse Is The Way for PC.

Also (this may be more of a personal thing) having the jump and crouch functions bound to HOTAS inputs felt very, very odd to me. Having them on keyboard keys felt a lot more natural for some reason, even though it really isn't, possibly because videogames have a long history of "jump" buttons and keys separate from the directional inputs.

But definitely find space on the gaming desk for a mouse if you can, even if it means temporarily moving the HOTAS stick or throttle out of the way when you're not using it. You'll never need to rapidly switch between flight and first-person so this shouldn't be too much of a problem. Your biggest issue will be doing this in the blind while wearing the VR set, but if you're already using a keyboard in VR and finding the keys easily enough this shouldn't be too much of a stretch.

Caveat: I've not played in VR so I have no idea how much of an impact the "2D world mapped into 3D space" of Odyssey's on-foot elements will impact any of the above e.g. whether it will feel strange moving your head to the left and the mouse to the right at the same time. All I know is that there is really no substitute for mouse and keyboard when it comes to twitchy first-person gunplay.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

[taniwha-qf]

In an ideal world, I'd have both the mouse and analogue stick. And the options for that are limited (it does exist, just at a premium of around £100).

Probably doable with an xbox/ps4 controller + mouse, but it might be awkward: you'd probably want to secure the controller to your desk and "float" your had above the controller. Trying to hold the controller one-handed would defeat much of the purpose as it would be very difficult to get to most of the buttons.

My recommendation of the HOTAS mini-stick is for the case of you already having one. I'm certainly not saying one should go out and buy one (I very much agree with the implications of your "at a premium").

I guess if one has a joystick, using that plus mouse might work, but could also be awkward, as joysticks are usually configured for the dominant hand, but the dominant hand is on the mouse... Also, the large physical throw of most joysticks might reduce the advantage (the ministick is nice and small, thus very quick and responsive).

So, yeah, I'll amend my recommendation to: IF you already have a hotas with a nice mini-stick on the throttle (ie, subordinate hand (left for me)), give analog + mouse a go, but don't go out of your way to arrange it.

My goal was to minimize hand motion while playing. KB+M would lead to me moving both hands when going from flight to foot (left moving between throttle and KB, right between stick and mouse), but MS+M means I move only my right hand.

 

[Vevvev]

Mouse and Keyboard... unless you're one of those crazy Linux players who use only the keyboard in their FPS games...

 

[Ydiss]

Probably doable with an xbox/ps4 controller + mouse, but it might be awkward: you'd probably want to secure the controller to your desk and "float" your had above the controller. Trying to hold the controller one-handed would defeat much of the purpose as it would be very difficult to get to most of the buttons.

My recommendation of the HOTAS mini-stick is for the case of you already having one. I'm certainly not saying one should go out and buy one (I very much agree with the implications of your "at a premium").

I guess if one has a joystick, using that plus mouse might work, but could also be awkward, as joysticks are usually configured for the dominant hand, but the dominant hand is on the mouse... Also, the large physical throw of most joysticks might reduce the advantage (the ministick is nice and small, thus very quick and responsive).

So, yeah, I'll amend my recommendation to: IF you already have a hotas with a nice mini-stick on the throttle (ie, subordinate hand (left for me)), give analog + mouse a go, but don't go out of your way to arrange it.

My goal was to minimize hand motion while playing. KB+M would lead to me moving both hands when going from flight to foot (left moving between throttle and KB, right between stick and mouse), but MS+M means I move only my right hand.

No, I was agreeing with you (if you already have a HOTAS why not try it?)

I definitely wouldn't recommend trying to use a controller in that way though

The premium option I was talking about is an image in my post above.

It's a pretty new device, 3d printed by a small development team and, by most reviews, is fantastic.

 

[taniwha-qf]

I’ll give the small sticks on my HOTAS a go too, though. (Yes, @taniwha-qf, there is a stick on the throttle! Silly me! ). However, most of them are digital, as it seems. Will there be an actual benefit?

Even a digital mini-stick (like on the x52, though it's semi-analog, just low bit-count (+/- 8 iirc), TM's is 10-bit (0-1023, with 512 at center)) might be an advantage. It's entirely possible that a true digital mini-stick (like the d-pad on a razor keypad) would be advantageous for the "not tying up fingers" aspect: one digit on the dpad, the rest on the plethora of keys.

 

[taniwha-qf]

Mouse and Keyboard... unless you're one of those crazy Linux players who use only the keyboard in their FPS games...

I'm one of those crazy Linux players, but...