The Great BD PC vs Console Debate

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by Abooie

Keyboard & Mouse isn't 'better', it's just 'easier'...

I'm not so sure as AFAIK the console versions of FPS games have the code optimised for pad control as it's simply impossible to be as precise with a pad as you are with a mouse.
That's basic ergomomics, having every muscle in your hand/wrist controlling movement up against one finger doing the same job.

[Haly]

One day this argument will die, one hopeful day

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by Haly

One day this argument will die, one hopeful day

I really don't see it as an argument as the playing field isn't level.
The console versions of games are adapted to suit the limitations of the gamepad. If the port between the two platforms were identical then this would be easily demonstrated, but it's not.

If you could be as precise with one finger as you could with your entire wrist and hand then you'd see joypads on endoscopes/cranes etc etc.

It's much the same reasoning behind the existance of auxhilliary console controllers for games like flight sims/driving games ie you have a far greater degree of precision and accuracy in your entire hand or foot than you have in one single finger.

I can see why some may see it as a console versus PC argument, but it's a simple matter of ergonomics to me and an easy way to show this is by plugging in a pc gamepad and trying to draw something in MSPaint. Repeat the exercise using a mouse and see which result both looked better and took less time. The mouse will win every time.

[NokkonWud]

Yes, the mouse is very good for a very limited number of things. Great for FPS games for example, and RTS games. Rubbish for everything else where as the joypad may not be as accurate as the mouse in those games, it's a much better peripheral consistently over all game types.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by NokkonWud

Yes, the mouse is very good for a very limited number of things. Great for FPS games for example, and RTS games. Rubbish for everything else where as the joypad may not be as accurate as the mouse in those games, it's a much better peripheral consistently over all game types.

Where I think it goes wrong for the Mouse/keyboard combo is when more controls are required than basic operations. The gamepad puts all the possible controls to hand, so to speak, whereas the PC gamer needs keyboard overlays etc.
I wouldn't necesarily say that I'd agree with your description as being limited to a small number of tasks though.

[NokkonWud]

Outside of RTS or FPS, or something like Football Manager I can't think of anywhere it shines over, or equal to a joypad.

Mouse & Keyboard is useless for racing games, platform games, flight games and is no better than a joypad for stuff like RPG's. Your proper PC gamer needs a joypad, mouse, keyboard and joystick to play a large range of games where as a joypad will do a solid job on them all, which is all I said.

Though I do openly admit that a joypad was made for gaming and mouse and keyboard has been adapted to games over time.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by NokkonWud

Your proper PC gamer needs a joypad, mouse, keyboard and joystick to play a large range of games where as a joypad will do a solid job on them all, which is all I said.

I'd tend to disagree there. If you play something like UT on a PC, then try to use a gamepad you will be crucified as the code relating to aiming has been made more demanding because the makers know the user has the increased precision of a keyboard and mouse. To then use a gamepad would be incredibly difficult as it's a simple matter of dexterity listed in my previous posts. The console version of the same game has different control software to enable a gamepad to be used with any degree of success.

[Haly]

Originally Posted by Haly

One day this argument will die, one hopeful day

That was in reference to it cropping up in other threads and derailing them badly. Now it's contained in this thread, I can safely ignore the never ending debate

[NokkonWud]

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

I'd tend to disagree there. If you play something like UT on a PC, then try to use a gamepad you will be crucified as the code relating to aiming has been made more demanding because the makers know the user has the increased precision of a keyboard and mouse. To then use a gamepad would be incredibly difficult as it's a simple matter of dexterity listed in my previous posts. The console version of the same game has different control software to enable a gamepad to be used with any degree of success.

You have misunderstood what I said.

[Psymonkee]

Equally Keyboard + Mouse worked wonderfully well in Prince of Persia for me

Much prefer GTA with keyboard and mouse too....