I guess this should be an appropriate community, participants possibly on the older side… so, I only recently got my first gamepad. played with keyboard and mouse up until then.

so, with a couple of games I tried (tomb raiders, uncharted, NFS, etc) it’s kinda going but I suck at anything that needs fast responses, like aiming and hitting moving enemies; don’t think I’d have any trouble with a mouse.

so I guess my question is - any old timers around that got good at this late in their gaming career?

  • @[email protected]
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    32 months ago

    I’m actually pretty opinionated on gamepads.

    For most arcade games, fighting games, and most 2D PC games I tend to go with a 6 button Sega style gamepad. The D-pad really lends itself to fluid, rapid movements. I honestly like them so much that I’ve picked up 6 button ASCII pads for my PS2/PS1 and Dreamcast.

    For PC games, Retro-bit makes good ones that are officially licensed by Sega. Their original wireless Saturn pad was my go to for years. They also made an updated version with dual analog sticks and four triggers instead of two, which I quite like. They also make a larger pad based on the original Sega Genesis pad, but it lacks triggers and only has one start button. 8bitdo, which is a fantastic company, also makes a 6 button pad.

    For everything else I use a DualShock 5 as long as I’m not using the D-pad much, and an 8bitdo Pro2 if the D-pad matters.

  • @[email protected]
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    22 months ago

    I actually started early with gamepads, dating all the way back to the Gravis and the original Logitech Wingman, but it might be relevant that I still primarily use a mouse and keyboard, and especially for anything that requires precise aiming.

    I use a gamepad for emulated console games, since they’re designed for a pad, and for things that require free and flowing movement, so respond well to a stick or a d-pad - racing games primarily, and many platformers and similar action games. But for things that combine separate movement and aiming - first person shooters and RPGs and the like - I just think a mouse and keyboard is better than dual sticks ever could be.

  • @[email protected]
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    22 months ago

    The only console I ever spent a lot of time with was the NES, so I’m not at all native to the modern XBox / Play Station controller with its 166 buttons. But I know that some games are best with a controller, so I bought a Steam Controller and an XBox controller. I made it most of the way through Nier Automata with the Steam Controller, but I put the game down for some reason or another. I also gave Hades (what I think was) a good effort, but I never made it out and I stopped caring.
    The only game I’ve completed with a controller is Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, which you really shouldn’t play with m+k, if it’s even possible. I’d never try to play an FPS with a controller.

  • subtexM
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    2 months ago

    I can’t play anything that requires precision aiming with a controller.

    A Steam Controller though? I’m way better. Especially with the gyro aiming or micro adjustments on the touchpads.

    I know they are discontinued but as someone like you who had a rough time with those types of games without a mouse, I’d see if you can find a steam controller on ebay or something.

    But I don’t play FPSes at all any more really. And with games like cyberpunk, I’m always more stealth than action oriented so it hasn’t been a problem. And when I have to use a normal controller and am forced to aim, I heavily rely on aim assist settings. I don’t care 😂

    • @[email protected]
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      2 months ago

      I got a Steamdeck recently and I really love the Trackpads. They feel way closer to the precision I get with a mouse than with a stick. Grown up mostly on PC and always struggled a little with gamepads

  • @[email protected]
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    2 months ago

    Late? I was early in the PC game controller community, around 2003 or so. Not only did I master game controllers, I heavily modified them as well.

    Edit: Try playing Descent, then you might see why I modded my game controllers.