Poll: Console controls for First Person Shooters

[300lb. Samoan]

So I just bought my first X-Box 360 last night, but oddly enough I haven't spent as much time playing the console as I have with the wired controller connected to my computer and configuring it for a number of different games: my Nintendo emulator, Spelunky, and especially Doom.

Using zDoom I was able to set the controller up almost exactly as it would work for The Orange Box on 360 (the triggers aren't compatible with the binding system, so I set the fire button to the right bumper) and it's very fun. But I had to take the opportunity to do a comparison, and ultimately I perform better using the mouse. I progress more fluidly, make fewer mistakes, and have much better accuracy. But this is a game I've been playing for over 15 years with the same control set, vs my first time hooking up a controller to the game.

That said, I want to know who here genuinely prefers console controls over mouse and keyboard for first person shooters. To me (and many others) it seems that the mouse is incomparably more competitive and natural, but that's easy for us to say when we've had so much time to get accustomed to it. I want to hear from someone who thinks they play better with a controller than they do with a mouse. I know there must be someone out there, I've seen people who played Quake 2 with a trackball who could shut down anyone with a mouse and most people thought that was impossible.

 

[SantoUno]

I prefer console controls far more.

Don't mean to sound smugish but there are going to be lots of people voting for keyboard/mouse and flaming console controls over how inferior they are.This has happened plenty of times before and it just seems like a subtle vs. thread. Don't worry I'm not against it.

 

[lostclause]

This tends not to go too well, but anyway, I find console controls to feel smoother and easier to use. If I was in professional gaming (or simply ultra-competitive) I could see the advantage of keyboard and mouse but since I'm not I just enjoy using console more. Except for rts's though.

 

[nono195]

I think both are equally nice. PC controls are more fluid but the hotkeys are not while console has a tighter interface but clunkier aiming.

 

[Avatar Roku]

I prefer console controls, but not overwhelmingly so. I mean, I use my controller for the 360, and a mouse and keyboard for PC FPSs, because the difference is not large enough to warrant figuring out how to put one control scheme on the opposite platform. Hell, even if it was the easiest thing in the world, I wouldn't do it because my mindset when playing on each platform is different and much better suited towards using that system's actual controls.

So I suppose that, all that said, I prefer console controls because I play consoles more.

 

[Slayer_2]

Console's have easy to learn controls (there are 10-20 buttons) and keyboards/mice have way more options/sensitivity. You can flick your character in a 180 faster then a controller can turn a fraction of that. When sniping, the mouse in undeniably better. They have their pros and cons, but overall I prefer keyboard and mouse.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I prefer PC controls. But since I'm too lazy to maintain a PC rig I go with PS3 controls, which I feel are close second.

 

[skullpile]

i prefre use ing the wiimote doesn't really fit on the poll anywhere though and before ya start waggle bashin me the conduit was the best controlled fps i have ever played

 

[Nincompoop]

People have seriously voted for the console controller... I simply can't wrap my mind around how that is easier. In every case, you can perform equal to the controller with the mouse. If you want, you can move the mouse at a relatively steady pace, whereas with the controller, you can't do a 90 or so degree turn in a split second.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I like console controls way better. One reason for this is that you never have to move your hands, just your fingers. Another is that it's much easier to keep your reticule stable, being as when you move your stick, you move at a consistent speed. Also you never hit the edge of the table with a right stick. Plus, if you stop moving a mouse your hand is still on it, meaning if your psyched up or you don't have one hell of a friction to your mouse pad, long distance aiming becomes very difficult. The third and biggest issue with pc controls is that your right hand aims and shoots, leaving your left hand to to EVERYTHING else, and I haven't found a way to comfortably use the "WASD" movement buttons any other way than my middle three fingers. meaning all other controls either have to be managed by the thumb, or you have to remove your fingers from the button you're using to move from their positions to do something else. with console controls I've never once gone "FUCK I can't press those two buttons at the same time" Really, it's just a personal preference though.

 

[Red|Zombie]

To each their own really - I prefer PC for gaming, the WASD + Mouse combination works for me, but I have a PS3 too and for most games I find the controller just fine. I just can't play FPS with a controller, it's too awkward for me.

 

[Mr.Black]

I just don't like waiting a decade for my character to turn around. Keyboard/mouse ftw.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Well I'm not really a conesuer of the FPS genre, but for the few I've played I think the mouse/keyboard controls are better suited for it. Not that console controls can't work if done properly, Metroid Prime proved that.

 

[Vrex360]

Well I cannot for the life of me properly operate the keyboard and mouse thing to turn around so therefore I stick with the controller.

 

[FROGGEman2]

I'm a console gamer, and I never play PCs, but whenever I get the chance, I perform SO much better with a mouse and keyboard.

I dunno, I just do everything better.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

I'm glad to see the discussion has been mature, but not as deep as I was hoping.

For those of you curious, if you have a wired or plug-n-play xbox 360 controller it's incredibly easy to connect it to your windows machine and start playing games with it. The only thing I have to complain about it the difficulty in maping the triggers, which register as a third axis like the analog sticks. This means in most games, you can't bind them to button commands.

Since FPS games are becoming a widely accepted genre on consoles, when are we finally going to see a system that allows players to connect a keyboard and mouse? I would have bought a 360 ages ago if only it had features like that.

OT, it looks like we all agree that it's just a matter of personal preference, constant-rate vs direct-access controls (sticks vs mice).

OK, well I'm gonna go now and see if I can't beat Half-Life 1 using a controller, at the very least this will add an extra dimension of difficulty to my favorite games. I probably won't fare well seeing as I couldn't even get past the second level of Doom II.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

I like both equally. However, I prefer consoles when it comes to FPSes solely because it means less lag.

 

[Yukinari]

Consoles since i am not good at maintaining my PC in the first place.

 

[lostclause]

For those of you curious, if you have a wired or plug-n-play xbox 360 controller it's incredibly easy to connect it to your windows machine and start playing games with it. The only thing I have to complain about it the difficulty in maping the triggers, which register as a third axis like the analog sticks. This means in most games, you can't bind them to button commands.

Does it work on xp? I've tried it and it doesn't seem to work for me.

 

[TZer0]

Keyboard and mouse. You can't beat the fast and accurate turning-speed attained with a mouse using a controller. However, I will admit that third-person-shooters work on console-controls, so devs: don't make FPSeses for consoles, make TPSeses!