PC Gaming, am I doing it wrong? (Alpha Protocol help)

[chaosyoshimage]

Long time console (And handheld) gamer here, but a noob to PC. I seem to have a run into a problem.

So, I bought Alpha Protocol the other day for $2 on Steam because I like RPG's and I thoroughly enjoyed the developer's (Obsidian) latest game, Fallout: New Vegas. I wasn't really enjoying it though. It was incredibly difficult for me to play with the keyboard and mouse set up, I've only played a couple of other games like this and wasn't to hard with them (Portal and Star Wars: Dark Forces), but with this I'm struggling to aim and shoot, to remember exactly what each key does, to move my character without looking like a moron, etc.

I guess my computer might be making the game run slower or something since it's a laptop with integrated graphics, but Portal looked fine on my system and when I ran it just to check, Oblivion worked fine. Should I invest in a wired 360 controller just for laptop in order to play games with my preferred control settings? Or maybe I should avoid playing anything slightly new because it isn't going to run well on my computer? Fallout: New Vegas seemed to run, but never played it because I have the 360 version, should I maybe try something I'm used to like it or Oblivion to get a better feel for PC controls as opposed to console ones?

Sorry, if this post is rambly, I'm bad at explaining problems...

 

[HassEsser]

You should try and buy the VALVe complete pack on STEAM, the Half-Life series, Portal and Counter-Strike (Source) will give you a pure PC experience. Also, CoD4 (no MW2/WaW/BO/MW3, just MW).

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Um. Okay, sure.

It takes time to adjust to any controller. Hence the big boys make devices that are largely the same.

 

[Nazgual]

If the game lets you, you could try changing the control layout in the options. I remember I was clumsy when I played Crysis for the first time but I'm used to it now even though I'm not a regular player. Getting a controller couldn't hurt though.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

Well, it's just weird because Portal gave me zero problems, while with Alpha Protocol, I'm moving my mouse around like crazy just to aim at one guy. And I have to be stealthy while doing it, it makes the game impossible. The mouse seems to go way too slow for me to play any of the mini-games without difficulty (Which it shouldn't be too hard seeing as I'm on the tutorial). I've tried adjusting the mouse sensitivity and graphics settings, no dice. This might just be a problem with Alpha Protocol, I probably should have elaborated on it more clearly...

 

[evilneko]

I guess my computer might be making the game run slower or something since it's a laptop with integrated graphics,

Yep.

Laptops aren't for gaming.

Your problems with FNV might also be due to the over the shoulder camera though. You can easily grab a centered camera mod from newvegasnexus.com though to fix that.

Still, laptop + Intel so-called "graphics" = crap gaming experience.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

I guess my computer might be making the game run slower or something since it's a laptop with integrated graphics,

Yep.

Laptops aren't for gaming.

Your problems with FNV might also be due to the over the shoulder camera though. You can easily grab a centered camera mod from newvegasnexus.com though to fix that.

Still, laptop + Intel so-called "graphics" = crap gaming experience.

I don't have a problem with New Vegas since I haven't played it yet (On my PC that is). Lol, I'm aware Laptops aren't ideal for gaming, but I have one for other reasons and figured I could play some games on it. Like I said Portal was fine on it, old games like Oblivion and KotOR are great, but it seems newer stuff like Alpha Protocol is giving me problems. Might try installing it on my desktop (Which also uses integrated graphics, but games like the aforementioned New Vegas run perfect on the thing), just to see if that's the problem or if it's general control woes.

 

[Danceofmasks]

I'm sure you know someone who has a powerhouse PC.
You just have to try playing stuff on one, just for awhile (even if it's at one of those gaming internet cafes), to see what it should feel like.

 

[octafish]

I think it might be your hardware, as far as I know the Source engine scales a lot better than the Unreal 3 engine.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

I'm sure you know someone who has a powerhouse PC.
You just have to try playing stuff on one, just for awhile (even if it's at one of those gaming internet cafes), to see what it should feel like.

You assume I know "someone", I think the only PC gamer I've ever met in real life, didn't have a very powerful rig and was on dial-up.

 

[Danceofmasks]

I'm sure you know someone who has a powerhouse PC.
You just have to try playing stuff on one, just for awhile (even if it's at one of those gaming internet cafes), to see what it should feel like.

You assume I know "someone", I think the only PC gamer I've ever met in real life, didn't have a very powerful rig and was on dial-up.

Hmm ok then.

Well, as a general rule, if a game is running on recommended specs, it should be silky smooth.
(Unless the devs stuffed up somewhere)
Meaning, if you know exactly how much moving your mouse 3 inches to the left is supposed to rotate you, no matter how fast you move those 3 inches and click, it should be happening immediately on screen, without any jerkiness.

If it doesn't, that's when PC gamers cry "yo engine is teh shit!" or "mouse acceleration is teh crime against nature, WAA" .. and they actually have a good point.

 

[Wuggy]

Hmm, I don't know. I mean, it's quite obvious that laptops aren't for gaming. But I'm a bit confused why your mouse sensitivity would be too slow on Alpha Protocol. When I played it, it was moving way too fast, and I had to make the sensitivity significantly lower. I wouldn't necessarily buy a extra controller, unless you're going to buy PC actually made for gaming or your really invested in playing a lot on your PC. You do get used to the keyboard/mouse setup eventually and you'll find that it's not that many games that run better with a controller, although some of them certainly do.

 

[jollybarracuda]

I was in the exact same boat as you, even down to playing on a laptop. What really helped for me was plugging in my xbox controller and playing with that. Something about the mouse and keyboard functions just felt broken with me. The mouse was jumpy as hell and the keyboard controlles felt too cluttered. So if you have a wired controller, i definitely recommend using that, it solved all of my controller issues. Oh, and don't get discouraged with the game if you're still in that beginning desert area. I was regretting my purchase until i got past that. Then, it became of of my favorite rpg's.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Wait ... if you already own consoles, just plug one of the controllers you already own into your PC.
(unless they're all wireless, in which case they won't work without a dongle)

xbox 360 controllers are the easiest, 'cos windows should just say "I know what you are! We were birthed out of the same vat!" ... but just about anything will run if you load an appropriate driver.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

All my 360 controllers are wireless, I do have an old USB sidewinder, but it doesn't have any analog sticks. I really need an actual controller for my PC anyway, so I can play Psychonauts, so I might just get a wired 360 controller when I get the chance. I'd rather have a wireless dongle for the ones I have, but I never see those in stores.

 

[Danceofmasks]

All my 360 controllers are wireless, I do have an old USB sidewinder, but it doesn't have any analog sticks. I really need an actual controller for my PC anyway, so I can play Psychonauts, so I might just get a wired 360 controller when I get the chance. I'd rather have a wireless dongle for the ones I have, but I never see those in stores.

Hmm.
I don't know why they aren't in stores, but they bloody well should be.
Amazon link?
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows-Pc/dp/B000HZFCT2

I have one, and it works well enough I guess, but I only use it for my Madcatz TE Fightstick.
I actually have no idea how well it handles multiple devices running at once.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

All my 360 controllers are wireless, I do have an old USB sidewinder, but it doesn't have any analog sticks. I really need an actual controller for my PC anyway, so I can play Psychonauts, so I might just get a wired 360 controller when I get the chance. I'd rather have a wireless dongle for the ones I have, but I never see those in stores.

Hmm.
I don't know why they aren't in stores, but they bloody well should be.
Amazon link?
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows-Pc/dp/B000HZFCT2

I have one, and it works well enough I guess, but I only use it for my Madcatz TE Fightstick.
I actually have no idea how well it handles multiple devices running at once.

Ugh, I hate how expensive they are for something as simple as a wireless receiver. That's about the same price as a wired controller, and there's really no benefit of having a wireless one as opposed to a wired considering how close one would be to a computer when playing a game...

 

[Danceofmasks]

All my 360 controllers are wireless, I do have an old USB sidewinder, but it doesn't have any analog sticks. I really need an actual controller for my PC anyway, so I can play Psychonauts, so I might just get a wired 360 controller when I get the chance. I'd rather have a wireless dongle for the ones I have, but I never see those in stores.

Hmm.
I don't know why they aren't in stores, but they bloody well should be.
Amazon link?
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows-Pc/dp/B000HZFCT2

I have one, and it works well enough I guess, but I only use it for my Madcatz TE Fightstick.
I actually have no idea how well it handles multiple devices running at once.

Ugh, I hate how expensive they are for something as simple as a wireless receiver. That's about the same price as a wired controller, and there's really no benefit of having a wireless one as opposed to a wired considering how close one would be to a computer when playing a game...

Umm, I have a wireless receiver because I have a PC hooked up to a projector as my home theatre.
PCs can do anything.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

All my 360 controllers are wireless, I do have an old USB sidewinder, but it doesn't have any analog sticks. I really need an actual controller for my PC anyway, so I can play Psychonauts, so I might just get a wired 360 controller when I get the chance. I'd rather have a wireless dongle for the ones I have, but I never see those in stores.

Hmm.
I don't know why they aren't in stores, but they bloody well should be.
Amazon link?
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows-Pc/dp/B000HZFCT2

I have one, and it works well enough I guess, but I only use it for my Madcatz TE Fightstick.
I actually have no idea how well it handles multiple devices running at once.

Ugh, I hate how expensive they are for something as simple as a wireless receiver. That's about the same price as a wired controller, and there's really no benefit of having a wireless one as opposed to a wired considering how close one would be to a computer when playing a game...

Umm, I have a wireless receiver because I have a PC hooked up to a projector as my home theatre.
PCs can do anything.

Ok, well I meant no benefit for me, lol.

 

[thehorror2]

Look around for a hack to disable mouse smoothing, and set the graphics to a lower setting. (Your troubles might be more the former than the latter, I suspect. It's a common complaint.)