Hi Charles, While I agree with you in principle that all games should include keyboard support along side mouse and joystick support that does not mean that there are certain cases where a joystick or mouse is preferable. One of the principle problems here as far as I am concerned is that there are not enough audio games that adequately demonstrates the fact there are cases where a joystick is more precise, more accurate, and much more suited to a certain type of game than is a keyboard. Someone who has always used a keyboard, has had little experience with joysticks in more advanced games, may think the two input methods are equal in function, but they really aren't.
To give you an excellent example take Rail Racer by Blind Adrenaline. You are in a racer, a pod on rails, and one of the things you have to master is leaning while going into the turns. Lean too far left or right and you'll hit the sides of the track loosing speed and time on your laps. Don't lean far enough into the turn and your racer will slow down and loose lap time as well. As a result winning and loosing depends a lot on how well you master the turns and leaning into them. The thing is that a keyboard isn't as precise or well suited for precise adjustments, and I am much slower at my lap times in Rail Racer with a keyboard than I am with a joystick or racing wheel. I noticed the first time that I hooked up a joystick to the game and chose to use that instead that it was A, more comfortable, and B, I managed to beat my best lap time by a full five seconds. The point being even without seriously trying to beat my lap times I did it just because the joystick gave me more precise and accurate control over my racer that was just not possible with the keyboard. People who don't regularly use joysticks probably are not aware of the advantages one would have in certain games, and how they could improve the over all playing experience. So comparing prices to keyboards or stating the fact that not enough games have joystick support to justify buying one is only beside the point that they have advantages. One very good example I can think of is the advantage of duel thumbsticks. I don't know of any accessible fighting games that uses this feature of gamepads, but it comes in handy for certain types of fighting games. You could use the left thumbstick to move the character north, south, east, west and the right thumbstick to control a sword or light saber. You could use the right thumbstick to simulate actual swings, parries, slashes, spin your sword, all while moving your character around with the left thumbstick. While it may be possible to simulate this functionality with a keyboard it won't be as comfortable or as smooth as a joystick. Not only that but the way joysticks work offers the possibility to do more interesting things besides merely move left, right, forward,backward, up, or down. Most joysticks offer a range of values from -5000 to 5000 on the x and y axis. What is good about this in addition to direction you can use the value of the x and y axis to determine the speed or rate of the character or in a case like Rail Racer determine how much to turn and lean based on that input value. Keyboards only return an up/down or pressed/released state. Therefore it requires building timers and various checks that simulate the advantages of a joystick all because a keyboard doesn't have the same degree of accuracy and control as a joystick. Weather joysticks offer advantages over keyboards or not you are right to ask about price. On average I'd say an average joystick or gamepad costs about $39 to $49 most places here in the US. Not terribly expensive, but depending on want/need that may be too high for some users. I've seen very cheap ones for $15 and some have gone clear up to $150 or so for a premium controller. So while they can be had for a reasonable price some can get extremely expensive depending on how advanced a gamer is looking for. On the other hand keyboards come bundled with a computer so for the average computer user someone might as well say it doesn't cost anything to own one. If they have to buy one extra again price depends on quality. I'd say $29 to $39 being the average for wireless keyboards, and about $19 being average for a USB keyboard with no fancy features. More or less the same price range as a joystick if one considers it an accessory rather than being bundled with a computer. Since we are on this topic I might want to add that a Logitech gaming mouse, one with gaming features, is in the same general price range too. A decent mouse can be purchased for $39 with 8 or more buttons, wheel, rubber grips, etc. Where as the average PC mouse is like $10 or so. Conclusion buying a good gaming mouse for Swamp etc is no big deal. Cheers! On 8/8/14, Charles Rivard <wee1s...@fidnet.com> wrote: > Personally, I think that both keyboard and controller support should be > included in games. Having said that, using a keyboard, can you dive while > also turning when maneuvering a submarine? How about with a joystick? > Maybe, to spark interest, what are the advantages of using a game controller > > compared to what can be done with a keyboard? And how much does a good > controller cost compared to a keyboard? Thanks. > > --- > Be positive! When it comes to being defeated, if you think you're finished, > > you! really! are! finished! --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
