It's not about the best

[DrunkOnEstus]

This is a personal thing, and if you aren't having fun even though you're trying "the objectively better and superior way" then why are you spending money to entertain yourself and have fun (this is a rhetorical question). I always have the gamepad handy and plugged into my PC. I would have wasted money on the Assassin's Creeds, Darksiders, Dark Souls PC, as well as Braid and so many other indie games if I tried to keyboard it up with those. Do whatever lets you have fun. If I manage to finish a game by flexing butt muscles onto my keyboard and thoroughly enjoy it, then my purchase was completely justified and I had fun with my "having fun" purchase.

Oh, and your English is very good, there may be some grammar nazis who could find meticulous faults that I didn't notice, but I've seen way worse and you certainly shouldn't feel insecure about it.

 

[Woodsey]

Can't stand pads. If anything's "impersonal" it's pissing about with analogue sticks and being acutely aware of what your hands are doing.

 

[zehydra]

I cannot stand a joystick-based camera for first person, mainly because the movement speed of the camera has a restricted maximum speed, and it is far easier to move the camera precisely and slowly using a mouse than a joystick, which is quite sensitive.

 

[Johnny Impact]

I own a PS3 and a gaming PC. I use whatever I think is appropriate to the game.

God of War, Burnout, Arkham City etc are made for controllers. Just feels natural. I don't care about controller vibration, though. It didn't exist when I was a kid, so I didn't much care when it was introduced. It adds nothing to my experience.

Civilization, Grimrock, StarCraft etc are best with keyboard/mouse. Again, feels like their natural habitat. You'd be hard pressed to give quick, meaningful orders to stacks of Zerg with a controller.

I vastly prefer mouse/keyboard for shooters. I grew up on Quake and Half-Life, which weren't available on consoles when I played them. I learned FPS with a mouse. It is painful for me to use a stick. Gears of War has been the only series where I *almost* didn't mind analog aim.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

I'm perfectly fine with using a gamepad and pretty much enjoy using one but though I'm not great with K+M (And yes I have practice'd for years on end and haven't gotten any better)I still tend to mostly play RTS using a K+M but sometimes even a gamepad since the 30 versions of some C&C games have worked well with the command wheel interface.

And as a last reminder there is so "superior" form of control as there are some people who are great at using gamepads and some others are good with K+M, trying to lay such a claim is purely subjective as not everyone is better at using one over the other as suggested.

 

[hazabaza1]

If it needs precise aiming or a million buttons, I'll take M&K.
Otherwise... I dunno. Depends.

 

[Bostur]

I prefer a keyboard and a mouse. Probably because it's what I'm most used to. A lot of the games I play wouldn't work at all with a console controller. Also they feel too small.

I like the small analogue stick on controllers, and wouldn't mind having one without all the buttons. Games used to support a variety of control methods, but now we are stuck with either standardized console controllers or mouse/kb.

My prefered controller used to be a Speed King:
http://www.retrogames.co.uk/more/on/details/024807

I would love to have one of those for PC with a slightly smaller analogue stick. Right hand on the stick, left hand on the keyboard would be perfect for a lot of games.

 

[Nonomori]

Also, for someone who claims you are still learning English, your opening post was very well written, and a lot easier to understand than some posts I've read. Good job!

Oh, and your English is very good, there may be some grammar nazis who could find meticulous faults that I didn't notice, but I've seen way worse and you certainly shouldn't feel insecure about it.

Thank you, you are very kind. It's hard to think that I'm writing "right". I can write in English, but I'm still thinking in Portuguese, so it feels like a translation.

Get over it. You are over psychoanalysing your need to play with controller. If you just play more with mouse and keyboard you will get more used to it and for games where it is the better control option it will feel even more natural than a controller.

You don't get it, Sogeking. I certainly can play with kb/m, and I have already finished some games that way (Portal, Amnesia, Penumbra trilogy, Condemned etc), but it isn't the same thing. I don't know why it's so difficult to understand that some people prefer the product specifically designed for playing games. I'm always giving up of games like Mass Effect because I can play other games, like Deus Ex: Human Revolution, with a 360 controller, in a more comfortable position. Doesn't help with headshots, but fits very well in my hands.

you do know mass effect is on the 360? all you have to do is have the actual 360 console and 360 game. even though it's a pc port to console so many of the controls are dumb'd down.

I know, but I don't have one (just the controller). I own a PS3, and I'm thinking about the Trilogy. If "dumb'd down" is "more fun", I can stand it, no problems. Maybe it's just me, but I don't like Baldur's Gate because of the terrible interface and unnecessary complexity. I just like the world and characters.

I don't care about controller vibration, though. It didn't exist when I was a kid, so I didn't much care when it was introduced. It adds nothing to my experience.

I agree that it's really forgettable in the majority of games, but the thing that I always will remember about Bioshock is the heavy footsteps of Big Daddies. You can see, listen and feel, it really adds something for me.

If it needs precise aiming or a million buttons, I'll take M&K.
Otherwise... I dunno. Depends.

In Bioshock, again, the ideia of using 16 hotkeys for plasmids and weapons seems like a nightmare when I can press a single button and select with the analogic stick in a "weapon wheel". It's two movements, but I really can not remember where is my shotgun, so it always feels faster and easier. Maybe the problem is my poor memory, if you can remember where things are, I definitely can see the appeal.

 

[Vegosiux]

You know, I prefer cake over pie too!

I'm going to play with whatever I feel like, and if you're going to be telling me how I'm doing it wrong, the door's that way. Unlike you, I'm busy actually playing a game as opposed to telling other people how they should play their games.

 

[Yopaz]

(especially crap like the Wiimote)

I like the Wii. And had so much fun with Metroid Prime Trilogy. I'm probably the only PC gamer who have nothing against motion controls.

.

I'm with you there actually. What I love about the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 is how precise and easy the aiming is. With just a little practise I manage to aim just as quickly as I do with mouse and keyboard, but I actually find it more immersive. The Wiimote has been used wrong in so many games, vut when they manage to do it right it's very good.

OT: for me it's all about the type of game I am playing. Fighting games or platformers with mouse and keyboard just doesn't feel right. With racing games I can go either way, for shooters or strategy games controller isn't even an option.

 

[epidemia]

Mouse and keyboard is superior for games that have a pointer of some sort, including crosshairs. Specifically, first person shooters and strategy. Other than that, controllers FTW.

 

[Joccaren]

Eh, I can use a controller, but I don't like it. Its uncomfortable, inaccurate and either over or under sensitive in a lot of cases. I can't even properly stretch my fingers in the middle of a game without sending my character spiralling out of control.
I prefer the mouse and keyboard thanks to its layout, accurassy, range of sensitivity and how many keys I'm able to use.
Sure, you can get a manageable menu open on a controller for swapping between 10 weapons, or for activating on of 10 abilities you've set to a hotbar, but it will never be as efficient as a keyboard where you can simply press 1 button and it works. In addition, there are hotkeys for everything if the game is made well. I don't have to open a menu to save, check my quest log, my inventory, my journal, open the map, or any other window in game. I just press 1 button, and what I need appears. Is it necessary? No, but its convenient and akin to using a TV remote to change channels rather than walking up to the TV and adjusting the tuning knob on it.

Its fine to have preferences, and most people will acknowledge this, however the KB+M is the better control scheme overall for most game types. Its versatile and efficient, and even with auto-aim the mouse's accurassy will surpass that of a controller's.
For individuals, a controller may be the more comfortable and easy to use control scheme, and a lot of this will be because its what they use the most and are the most used to, and properly learning to use a KB+M well is too much time and effort when you just want to enjoy a game [The main reason I'm not pro at RTS: I CBF learning to use hotkeys properly. I just want to have fun dammnit], but if both are perfectly comfortable, and there is no reason to choose either beyond how effective it is as a control scheme for a game, the KB+M will win out for all but a few game types - though that kind of analysis is kinda pointless as preferences always exist.

 

[Matthewmagic]

I had a hard time with keyboard and mouse controls at first too. Then minecraft came out, and I got into it early. Before monsters had been included but it was wildly popular already at that point. I found minecraft to be a decent introduction to keyboard and mouse controls. It controls simply, but I doubt I have to tell anyone here how awesome minecraft is.

Since then I have started using steam and have steadily gained a library of pc games including Deus Ex, Dragon Age: Origins, and Left 4 Dead. I still like controllers better for 1 reason. My first response to starting up a new game is to ALWAYS press all the buttons. With a keyboard and mouse that just isn't reasonable.

Good thing is keyboard controls do have commonalities. wsda to move e for action space for jump. So I'm doing alright with these games, but it still takes some getting used to.

So I recommend getting Minecraft for the pc and seeing if that opens up the world of PC gaming for you as it did for me.
If not, I don't blame you, and you are no less of a gamer for it.

 

[Daveman]

Yeah it is about the best. You use the best tool you can find for the job.

For shooters and strategy games it is Mouse and keyboard.

For action, sport, racing games it is gamepad.

It is all about choosing the right tool to get the most fullfilling and elaborate experience.


See what happens when you get limited by the controller.

That was a hilarious episode, watching people try to play TF2 who both didn't understand the controls and also just generally had no understanding of the game. The teams with people who had heard that heavy-medic combos worked won easily. I remember one guy crouch walking towards a soldier as pyro. What's more, nobody picked demoman, who originally in TF2 is (and therefore is now on the xbox) incredibly OP.

OT: Personally I feel equally comfortable with both now. I used to be a big console gamer but when I was about 15 I made the switch and now I'm really glad, PC gaming is awesome. Never heard of anyone going the other way but I guess if you think you need a controller to enjoy games then I guess all I can say is fair enough.

 

[Nonomori]

Oh, my God, the horror of choosing the right tool for entertainment. I can't stand the pressure, I can't play without incredible precision and dozens of hotkeys. I'm wrong for enjoying XCOM with a gamepad, I have sinned for thinking about Dark Souls with keyboard and mouse. Doesn't matter if it's uncomfortable for me, I have to adapt or I will be playing the inferior version. Now I see the truth, thank you.

The "most fullfilling and elaborate experience" is a very personal concept. I don't like keyboard and mouse because isn't fun for me. That's all I'm talking about.

But what you're saying is exactly the problem I have with console exclusives: We don't get to choose.
I will never be able to play the Halo sequels or the Infamous games or Red Dead Redemption (this one hurts) because a controller in a game where you have to aim anything is just not fun for me. I could probably get used to Infamous with a controller, but then it's the same problem you describe where being comfortable with the controls is very important. I want to play Red Dead Redemption with KB/M, but I get to eat shit, don't I? To use your words, I have to adapt or I will be playing the inferior version not play at all.

I agree, in a perfect world, all options would be available. And I know I'm the lucky one, at least I can play the majority of games with controllers.

I don't wanna hurt you even more, but Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games ever made, it's that good. And absolutely beautiful on PS3. I can only imagine how good it would be in a more powerful machine. This decision of Rockstar bothers me too.

I still like controllers better for 1 reason. My first response to starting up a new game is to ALWAYS press all the buttons. With a keyboard and mouse that just isn't reasonable.

I do that too! I always fire a bullet when learning the controls. It's ridiculous, but I hate checking the options. Metal Gear Solid 3 is my personal nightmare, you can't do anything without 37 tutorials.

I never played Minecraft. Ok, I'll try.

 

[HaraDaya]

I'm enjoying my Logitech G13's analog stick greatly. It should become a standard. You get the best of both worlds, analog for movement, and precise aiming with your mouse. For the games that accepts it anyway.
Also frees up the fingers you normally use for WASD.

 

[MiriaJiyuu]

So, you feel more comfortable with kb/m, controllers or doesn't make difference? There are enough PC gamers who prefer gamepads to justify including the option? And why developers justify that don't have time or resources for gamepad support when it's already done in the console versions? It's serious, I really can't understand why it's so hard.

There are very few PC games now that don't support gamepads. Xinput in particular is easy enough to implement, seen people who barely know how to code implement it, Mass Effect 3 probably doesn't support it since they would have to rework the interface on PC, (there's a quick-select bar for keys 1-8 for example) and they were just being lazy or wanted to focus on something else, if you've ever played it on PC you'll notice the interface works slightly differently than the console. The only other time you really don' see it is when the gamepad doesn't make sense (RTS, the Sims etc) or there's something about the way the games controlled that would make it difficult to play with a gamepad, usually isometric games since they're angled.

The thing is, while it's not overly complicated, many games run into the problem RTS's or ME3 have where just including the controller would not be enough due to the number of menus (RTS's) or rewriting the console interface code to work on PC as well as creating detection to determine which to use is both a. time and resource consuming and b. often extremely buggy.

Usually? It's just not important to the developers though, and in most cases it's because the keyboard just works better.

My Preferences? Depending on the game really, shooters I prefer my keyboard/mouse, easier to aim more accurately and twitches of enemies can be more easily accounted for and it's easier to look around, especially since sensitivity can be changed on gaming mice to account for what EXACTLY you're doing. Most of my platformers and action-adventures I use my controller though, controlling free-running is really awkward on the keyboard imo.

Gonna throw in another twist here, playing HAWX, Evochron Mercenary or any other game where you are airborn/ in space and can move on all 6-axis I use a flight-stick, so much more precise.

 

[aguspal]

In my opinion...


Mouse and keyboard for every single game, except maybe racing games and those hack and slash ones (I dont like hack and slash anways so that would only leave out racing games for me, I like those but its been a while since I was interested in one of those soooo)

I dont need a fucking controller, M&K for the fucking win. It just feel more natural to play with them when playing... you know, PC games.

 

[Nonomori]

they were just being lazy

I always have the impression that "they were just being lazy" is the answer, but doesn't make sense, I can't believe that they don't want money from people like me for sheer laziness.

But then there are so many games with the two options and appropriate interfaces, even some indie games (Bastion comes to mind). Nobody can blame me for thinking that's weird when BioWare don't have "time" for doing what a team of seven people can do. You can't play with mouse and keyboard on a console, but you can play with gamepads on PC, so it feels like they are removing something from the game.

I have the same problem with PC versions who doesn't have splitcreen. I own two "Portal 2" because I prefer to play on PC, but I also like to play with real people. They patched the game after 18 months, thankfully, because playing on PC doesn't mean that you traded all your friends for a machine with Internet. The same thing happened with Borderlands and the sequel, and some others games, I presume. Maybe I just don't know enough about how these things work.

I dont need a fucking controller, M&K for the fucking win. It just feel more natural to play with them when playing... you know, PC games.

I'm not talking about fucking RTS, I'm talking about fucking games where fucking controllers make fucking sense in fu... wait, people can talk like that? One of those things that doesn't make any sense in my first language, we don't have flexible slurs like that! Well, I'm digressing.

Some genres are not meant for gamepads/console gaming, I know, but the majority of mainstream games are "just games" and not "PC games". You know, games like Bioshock 2 or the entire Mass Effect trilogy. And there are cases like Condemned and the first Portal, games with terrible gamepad support: basically, one part of the experience is severely broken.

 

[scorptatious]

As someone who mainly plays on consoles, I like to use gamepads. Of course, I'm finding that a mouse and keyboard seems preferable when it comes to an FPS like Team Fortress 2 or games like the first two Fallout games that involve a lot of pointing and clicking.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I prefer one over the other depending on what I'm playing. They both have their strengths and weaknesses.