The Tools of the Trade

[The Wooster]

The Tools of the Trade

What's old is new again.

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[Asclepion]

Shots fired. Accurately, with a mouse.

 

[Barbas]

Nice creative tag use again. The only reason I can think of needing a console controller would be for something like Super Meat Boy or badly done ports - and I really shouldn't be spending money on the latter in the first place.

 

[KaZuYa]

Such weapons were crafted by the gods for the master race not to be sullied by the unwashed masses!

 

[RJ 17]

I'd say that sounds about right.

I thought I enjoyed Skyrim on my 360...then I experienced the wonder and joy of playing it with a mouse and keyboard once I picked it up on Steam. Quote: "HOLY SHIT! I CAN ACTUALLY PLAY IN 3RD PERSON MODE AND FIGHT WITH RESPONSIVE ACCURACY!!!"

 

[Covarr]

You let me know when a Keyboard + Mouse is best for anything but shooters, MOBAs, and RTS. Make no mistake, I love me some Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and I wouldn't consider playing it with a gamepad, but there's so many games that are simply better with a controller. Every platformer ever, anything by Platinum, Uncharted, Tomb Raider, most JRPGs (although they're often best suited for Wii U or 3DS, something with analog movement AND a touchscreen), Metal Gear, racing games (better still with a wheel unless it's Mario Kart, but my point stands), twin-stick arcade shooters... Anyone who thinks one single control method is the de facto best doesn't play a wide enough variety of games.

P.S. Thanks

 

[RaikuFA]

Perfect time for one of those Edna Krabapple "HAH" clips.

 

[Sight Unseen]

You let me know when a Keyboard + Mouse is best for anything but shooters, MOBAs, and RTS. Make no mistake, I love me some Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and I wouldn't consider playing it with a gamepad, but there's so many games that are simply better with a controller. Every platformer ever, anything by Platinum, Uncharted, Tomb Raider, most JRPGs (although they're often best suited for Wii U or 3DS, something with analog movement AND a touchscreen), Metal Gear, racing games (better still with a wheel unless it's Mario Kart, but my point stands), twin-stick arcade shooters... Anyone who thinks one single control method is the de facto best doesn't play a wide enough variety of games.

P.S. Thanks

That's why PC has a variety of options for controllers. I can plug my xbox controller into my PC if I want. Or better yet, I can use my Logitech G13 to get the benefits of an analog stick for movement while still getting my mouse for accuracy in aiming.

The standard controller is a good well rounded controller for a variety of games, but it is very rarely the best option for any single genre. I still usually use them for 3rd person action games and racing games (since I don't play enough to justify buying a wheel) but more often than not I prefer my G13+mouse for the majority of games.

 

[RandV80]

You let me know when a Keyboard + Mouse is best for anything but shooters, MOBAs, and RTS. Make no mistake, I love me some Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and I wouldn't consider playing it with a gamepad, but there's so many games that are simply better with a controller. Every platformer ever, anything by Platinum, Uncharted, Tomb Raider, most JRPGs (although they're often best suited for Wii U or 3DS, something with analog movement AND a touchscreen), Metal Gear, racing games (better still with a wheel unless it's Mario Kart, but my point stands), twin-stick arcade shooters... Anyone who thinks one single control method is the de facto best doesn't play a wide enough variety of games.

P.S. Thanks

If a game like a platformer only uses 8-directional movement then there's really no competitive difference between a dpad, analogue stick, or keyboard controls. Personally since the 8-bit days as a kid I've been a big proponent of fingers over thumbs, always played those Nintendo/Sega games with my fingers on the controller buttons. Modern controllers aren't very friendly in that regard for a fast pace 2D game, so if I'm playing something like the Ys III remake or Dust: An Elysium Tale on Steam I use just the keyboard. Some games like Bastion you lose a little but I still prefer keyboard & mouse, though if I could have my perfect setup for that it would be a wii nunchuk + mouse.

 

[FPLOON]

Well, now I'm upset... Not because of the how the new controller looks, per se, but the fact that it's looks like it's not even wireless! #loosethewires

 

[m19]

I wish. I may get into console gaming then. Shallow I know but I'm not willing to play shooters on a controller because my skill goes down the drain.

 

[The Wooster]

Nice creative tag use again. The only reason I can think of needing a console controller would be for something like Supe rMeat Boy or badly done ports - and I really shouldn't be spending money on the latter in the first place.

Eh, I think the 360 pad is pretty much mandatory for PC gaming for a few years now. There's too many games that just play better with the pad due to their basic design (any 3rd person game where movement takes precedence over aiming, really).

Also: it appears I fucked up the publish date for this strip, so enjoy it a day early, I guess.

 

[hentropy]

You let me know when a Keyboard + Mouse is best for anything but shooters, MOBAs, and RTS. Make no mistake, I love me some Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and I wouldn't consider playing it with a gamepad, but there's so many games that are simply better with a controller. Every platformer ever, anything by Platinum, Uncharted, Tomb Raider, most JRPGs (although they're often best suited for Wii U or 3DS, something with analog movement AND a touchscreen), Metal Gear, racing games (better still with a wheel unless it's Mario Kart, but my point stands), twin-stick arcade shooters... Anyone who thinks one single control method is the de facto best doesn't play a wide enough variety of games.

P.S. Thanks

You usually can't get jRPGs on the PC anyway unless they are emulated, but there's no reason you couldn't make commands point-and-click. Most console players who prefer controllers discount the role of the mouse in these things. When a game is designed for a keyboard/mouse, it tends to be better with it. You point to a bunch of games that were designed specifically to play on the controller and then complain they don't work as well with a keyboard/mouse. Point-and-click interfaces are almost simpler and faster when they are designed to be such.

Naturally I started out with controllers like the vast majority of people, and I found out that pretty much everything felt easier on keyboard/mouse. It can certainly be a preference thing. I've played racing games before on the PC (along with other games where you drive cars and other vehicles, one of my favorite games in World of Warplanes), and competitive racing games in particular might be a bit easier on the gamepad, but not as much as you might think.

 

[Gatlank]

The frame rate did not help either. People play like this?

It's a FEATURE! Damn you pc elitists with you higher framerate, mouse accurate precision and Steam sales.

Captcha: dogs and cats living together

 

[Barbas]

Nice creative tag use again. The only reason I can think of needing a console controller would be for something like Supe rMeat Boy or badly done ports - and I really shouldn't be spending money on the latter in the first place.

Eh, I think the 360 pad is pretty much mandatory for PC gaming for a few years now. There's too many games that just play better with the pad due to their basic design (any 3rd person game where movement takes precedence over aiming, really).

Also: it appears I fucked up the publish date for this strip, so enjoy it a day early, I guess.

Hmmm. I mostly play RTSs and FPSs, but I have to admit that I do like the fact that you can often mosey along at several speeds that match finger pressure when you're pushing a joystick along, as opposed to just land speed record or duckwalk. That sort of control is very nice to have...reminds me of crouch-sliding out of walls and shooting people in Goldeneye 007, little shitbag that I was, heheheh. I may have to pull my head out, swallow my pride and get a controller to see about doing that again!

 

[Fappy]

Nice creative tag use again. The only reason I can think of needing a console controller would be for something like Supe rMeat Boy or badly done ports - and I really shouldn't be spending money on the latter in the first place.

Eh, I think the 360 pad is pretty much mandatory for PC gaming for a few years now. There's too many games that just play better with the pad due to their basic design (any 3rd person game where movement takes precedence over aiming, really).

Also: it appears I fucked up the publish date for this strip, so enjoy it a day early, I guess.

Yeah, I've been using my 360 controller for PC gaming a lot recently. Games like Dark Souls seem unplayable with mouse and keyboard.

 

[Trilandian]

You guys have been on a real hot streak lately in terms of comedic quality. Keep it up!

 

[m19]

Yeah, I've been using my 360 controller for PC gaming a lot recently. Games like Dark Souls seem unplayable with mouse and keyboard.

Because Dark Souls is a notoriously shoddy port. When designed by people who know what they are doing any game works perfectly fine with K&M.

 

[Fappy]

Yeah, I've been using my 360 controller for PC gaming a lot recently. Games like Dark Souls seem unplayable with mouse and keyboard.

Because Dark Souls is a notoriously shoddy port. When designed by people who know what they are doing any game works perfectly fine with K&M.

The port is more or less fine when using the DSFix mod. They even purged GFWL earlier this year.

I'd honestly like to see anyone play a 3D fighter with a mouse and keyboard and actually perform well. Some genres just don't compliment mouse and keyboard in the same sense that you'll have a bad experience playing an RTS with a controller.