Pads & FPS's

House · 22 Mar 2006 at 17:52

After reading here allot I finally caved and bought 360, (my first console since a megadrive i may add) and put my PC upgrade on the back burner till dx10.

While im loving Burnout revenge and enjoying (if struggling some what) with DOA4, Im haveing a NIGHTMARE with GRAW.

I still play allot of FPS on my PC (bf2, RvS and others) but i just cant get the hang of the pad.
Anyone got any advice on how to convert from a mouse? GRAW is a very unforgiving game and im sure probally not the best re-train myself on. and demos for shooters about?

BTW you may notice i dont post here often but i read allot

dirtydog · 22 Mar 2006 at 17:58

I've never got the hang of FPS games on a pad either. Ugh.

McDaniel · 22 Mar 2006 at 18:01

mess about with the sensativity till your comfortable, and just take your time.

GRAW although slow requires a fair deal of accuracy so might not be the best title to start with.

Most other console FPS have a touch of auto aim, so the crosshair very slightly moves with the target (not in MP tho) to help.

but its best just to keep practising

Nismo · 22 Mar 2006 at 19:39

I've now got to the point where I dont even think about it, using a pad is second nature to me in a FPS.

All I can say is practice. Remember, thats what you had to do when you first started using a mouse for PC FPS games, so the same applies here.

FeFiDoh · 22 Mar 2006 at 19:41

yeah just keep playing as i doubt uve got far in it if u have only just got it

I like the pad its quite easy to use as all the buttons are easily accessible

Wizzfizz · 22 Mar 2006 at 19:49

Couldn't get the hang of using a pad with an FPS game. Tried & tested with every console i've bought. Keyboard & mouse for me as anything else just feels wrong.

House · 22 Mar 2006 at 20:50

I've started downloading the COD2 demo, even though ive played/finished it on the PC.

I figure a game that isnt one shot your dead like GRAW will be better to relearn my skills on.

As for when i first played a FPS with keyboard and mouse, stop it your making me feel old now.

Guess its like driving driving an auto in the states is a nightmare for first few days then you get used to it. Guess i just need to get out of hertz carpark before i try the indy 500.

Kreeeee · 22 Mar 2006 at 21:17

McDaniel said:
Most other console FPS have a touch of auto aim, so the crosshair very slightly moves with the target (not in MP tho) to help.

Halo2 has stupid amounts of auto aim in multiplayer. You can circle strafe someone using only 1 analogue stick!

McDaniel · 22 Mar 2006 at 21:19

kreeeee said:
Halo2 has stupid amounts of auto aim in multiplayer. You can circle strafe someone using only 1 analogue stick!

ah, not played it online so didnt realise.

never noticed that much over LAN either

0gami · 22 Mar 2006 at 23:30

I've been a keyboard and mouse user for 12yrs now (since Doom)

I played through Perfect Dark Zero on easy to get used to the control pad when I got my 360 - I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of it - Just done CoD2 on Veteran and to be honest it felt really natural, I don't even miss the Keyboard and Mouse.

cokecan · 22 Mar 2006 at 23:30

im startin to get used to it with condemned but its not easy. i find my self panicing when some crazy hobo-woman comes up behind me tryin to introduce a spade to my face and end up pressing any random buttons to try and avoid her lol.

always think to my self how much easier it would have been to dodge her with a keyboard and mouse, but then as has been said, ive had years of practice at it that way,a nd FPS with a controller is relativly new to me. im getting there though

NokkonWud · 22 Mar 2006 at 23:33

As with all things it's practice!

Halo on Xbox > PC
CoD2 on Xbox > PC

But there are several on PC better than Console, if you perservere it's worth it!

jklc · 22 Mar 2006 at 23:57

I think it depends on the game. Some work well with a pad with good accuracy and acceleration. Others don't work at all no matter how much you adjust the settings. Turning around too slowly is what always bugs me on console FPSs... by the time you can look around, your body's already riddled with bullets!

dirtydog · 23 Mar 2006 at 03:14

Nismo said:
I've now got to the point where I dont even think about it, using a pad is second nature to me in a FPS.

All I can say is practice. Remember, thats what you had to do when you first started using a mouse for PC FPS games, so the same applies here.

Not to the same degree. Controlling an FPS with a mouse is intuitive and can be learned in moments, it is the ideal control method and allows total control of movement and aim, limited only by your hand/eye co-ordination.

It's like controlling the pointer in Windows. The first time I used Windows I never had to spend ages trying to learn to control the mouse pointer, but if I'd had to use a gamepad (or joystick) to control it, it would have been a different story.

Nismo · 23 Mar 2006 at 06:24

dirtydog said:
Not to the same degree. Controlling an FPS with a mouse is intuitive and can be learned in moments, it is the ideal control method and allows total control of movement and aim, limited only by your hand/eye co-ordination.

It's like controlling the pointer in Windows. The first time I used Windows I never had to spend ages trying to learn to control the mouse pointer, but if I'd had to use a gamepad (or joystick) to control it, it would have been a different story.

Sorry I disagree, and I dont compare using a mouse in Windows to using it in games. You dont need anywhere near the same about of reflexes or co-ordination.

I can remember when I first used a mouse to play Quake, and it took a hell of a lot of practice to get used to.

If you had always used a pad to play FPS games, and had little experience of using a mouse, you would be in the same situation IMO.

All it takes is practice, and a lot of people dont give it a chance because they cant get over the mental 'barrier' of using a different control method.

Have a pound

dirtydog · 23 Mar 2006 at 07:20

Quake is a bad example actually because it didn't have mouselook did it? As more modern FPS games do.

Anyway I'm not saying that you can't become quite proficient with a pad, just that a mouse is inherently better. I hope they let UT2007 console players play against UT2007 PC players... ownage :eek:

(Just to point out to anyone wondering, yes I have tried FPS games on the Xbox (not 360) with a pad so I do speak from experience)

Nismo · 23 Mar 2006 at 07:36

dirtydog said:
Quake is a bad example actually because it didn't have mouselook did it? As more modern FPS games do.

(Just to point out to anyone wondering, yes I have tried FPS games on the Xbox (not 360) with a pad so I do speak from experience)

You could add mouselook with a console command.

You say you have 'tried' FPS games with a pad, just for how long did you persevere?

Abooie · 23 Mar 2006 at 07:40

dirtydog said:
Quake is a bad example actually because it didn't have mouselook did it? As more modern FPS games do.

Anyway I'm not saying that you can't become quite proficient with a pad, just that a mouse is inherently better. I hope they let UT2007 console players play against UT2007 PC players... ownage

(Just to point out to anyone wondering, yes I have tried FPS games on the Xbox (not 360) with a pad so I do speak from experience)

Quake did have mouselook but it wasn't on by default and I'm pretty certain you had to type something into the console to turn it on permanently.

I'll concede that for the most part that the keyboard / mouse combo is more intuitive and easier to pick up. With consoles it's always been a bit hit and miss and this is one of the problems; but it's been proven (at least to me) that the joypad can become equally as intuitive and playable to use. COD2 was such a joy to play (with autoaim off), whereas PDZ was a pig and I never felt comfortable.

Where the mouse / keyboard does lose it's 'inherently better' status is that I can't use it whilst lounging on my sofa.

dirtydog · 23 Mar 2006 at 07:41

Nismo said:
You could add mouselook with a console command.

Ah I didn't know that

I think the first FPS I ever played was probably Half Life (I tried Quake later on) and I don't remember ever having a problem learning to move or aim, it was just natural.

You say you have 'tried' FPS games with a pad, just for how long did you persevere?

Not too long I admit. As I said, I have no doubt that people can become decently proficient at it, although after the wonderful freedom of movement and aiming that a mouse gives you, I find it pretty horrid.

Let's hope that UT2007 does allow cross-platform competition as I'll be happy to see which of us fares better with our chosen control method

(this is assuming that UT2007 has the same skills factor as UT2004, and it isn't dumbed down for the n00bs... we'll see)

soundwave · 23 Mar 2006 at 10:22

I cant do it either.

Never been able to even as far back as Goldeneye on the 64 it was impossible for me...infact I'll go as far as to say I wont ever play a FPS on any console because it just doesnt feel right.

My brain for some reason just cant grasp using the left stick to move & the right stick to look it's all so alien to me.
I find I spend half my life looking in the wrong direction & getting butchered by anything I'm trying to shoot.

Has to be my PC all the way for FPS.

Neil