Mouse and Keyboard VS GAMEPAD

I play world of warcraft with a friend who plays with a console controller, and he is consistently ranked on world of logs. In other words, he is able to play at a very competitive level using a console controller. No idea how he does it.

For me, I feel like I have so much more control on the cursor using a mouse. Can move it faster, and stop it faster.

Both have their places in this world.

A keyboard and mouse is simply more accurate and provides a better experience in some game genres, and a game-pad better in other genres. A controller is great, it allows you to sit back, relax, and stick to basic gaming.

An average or sub-par PC gamer vs a Pro console player, guess who would win? The average PC gamer.

Obviously some games are better for one or the other, but my suggestion, play with what makes you feel the most comfortable. I've tried playing on PC with a controller, it's very frustrating, and I just don't like it. With a mouse and keyboard I feel like I have 200% more control and immersed better.

It depends on you, and even on some genres and you're personal comfort with them. Hell, I have a friend who's insane with a controller at FPS, yet he's a total mess with a mouse and keyboard. Heh, go figure.

You gotta do what you feel is right. In your heart. Of champions.

Well after 20 years of gaming with both, I would consider my opinion fact to some degree.

Gaming on a PC with a controller is very frustrating and you can see first hand the difference in capabilities of mouse vs controller. You can actually buy something to play FPS on xbox with keyboard and mouse too.

There is kind of a flaw with the practice makes perfect argument. If you putting a pure console player who is good with a controller up against a mouse and keyboard player, they are already experienced with using a controller.

Your movement, fine precision aiming, and control with a controller is limited. A mouse is not the perfect device, but it has proven to be an amazing tool for gaming. I used to be very good with both a controller and mouse, but I never felt the controller could keep up to my physical reactions to what happening in game like the keyboard and mouse.

Basically 99% of PC gamers are using a mouse/keyboard in FPS games, if a controller could be just as good then things would have shifted already.

No hard facts, but the most famous experiment of mouse & keyboard vs controllers, was done by microsoft, using Shadowrun as the case study. They pitted some of the best xbox fps players at the time against just average pc players, the xbox players got dominated and they decided to scrap the idea because of that.

You get some gamepads that are very similar to keyboards and yet are even superior like the Razer Nostromo, Tartarus, Orbweaver, Logitech G13 ect.

As for console gamepads I prefer the old school : Nintendo NES remote or a Xbox 360 remote.

Opinion on when to use a gamepad: they are superior in fighting games like Tekken, UFC ect, all driving games, 3rd person games like Asssassin's Creed, Mass Effect.

When to use a mouse keyboard: First person games, strategy games, browsing the internet

I love both, so keyboard & mouse vs gamepad.

Gamepad wins in:
Fighting
Driving
3rd person games

Mouse & Keyboard wins in:
Browsing the internet, general use
First Person Shooters
Strategy games

(I did not list RPG games because this is debatable)
GTA series while driving is fun on consoles sniping super fast is not.
Plus auto aim takes allot of fun out because you either double tap aim for headshot or you have to take really long to for instance shoot a hobo in the kneecap. So shooting = Mouse, driving = controller

I got 98 opinions but 2 cents ain't 1.

lol for me i'n more comfortable to use K&M mouse for any type of games that i played. as long as the K&M mouse support is good when they port the game to pc then i'm good. i have controller and usually i just use it when i want to have 'fun' with it or play games that feel awkward when using K&M because of poor job done when the developer were porting the game from console to pc. many said that for racing games the controller is better than using keyboard but for me i can 'control' the game much better using keyboard than using a controller for any racing games that i played . for 3rd person games it depends. games like DMC i prefer to use controller. but the only 3rd person games that i can't play using controller were Batman series. i tried but i'm just poor at it when using controller.

I understand why some people prefer controllers to keyboard and mouse, but I find it shocking that some people think the controller is better in any first person game. A mouse lets you directly control your view by sliding your hand. If you slide it faster, it moves faster. If you slide it slow, it moves slow. You can move it at 0%, 2%, 5%, 60% and the view follows the direct path you make with your mouse.

A controller is like using a remote control to operate a robot. You push a button and it moves in limited directions, and wait until it gets to the position you want.

While you can get good at a controller and you may be far more used to a controller, a controller just doesn't have the direct control that a mouse and keyboard has when it comes to first person games. You may prefer the controller for its comfort or just because you are so used to it, but it is not because it offers superior control.

Side scrollers and similar games are another story.

If you do ever want get used to a mouse and keyboard, you'll have to game for a couple hours a day for at least a week. After which, you'll likely prefer the mouse and keyboard, though it'll still take a while longer before you get good at it.

I played quake 2 for about 3 years on kb/m, did ok, have played on Xbox 360 which has twin analogue sticks and analogue trigger switches, of you adjust the sensitivity of the analogue sticks you can opt for very rapid movement with very precise control. I found kb/m to be awkward and not as precise due to the digital process of key presses.

I know a mouse is better for the menu and browsing etc but that's why I have a laptop for that and a 55inch tv with an Xbox 360 for gaming.

Each to their own.

Honestly, I believe that it all comes down to the actual skill of the player. Also, your analyzation of the gamepad's controls regarding first person games is rather off, we don't use the D-pad to aim. The analog stick has a full 360 degree range of motion and depending on where you move it and how hard you do so determines the speed at which you move.

I play video games on both PC and Xbox 360 because I have groups of friends on both. I have been a 360 gamer for longer though, so I use my 360 controller on my PC to play games like CoD. The gaming doesn't feel any different from when I play it on 360 and the players don't appear to be any better. It's also not because I;m grouped with a lower class because I am the maxed out level/prestige and maintain a good 1.8+ K/D ratio easily.

Long story short, based on personal experience there's no real advantages to either the controller nor the keyboard and mouse.

PC rules the consoles without a doubt. Well, some of the games are hot but mouse and keyboard are the best controllers I think. Because you have better control over the player or protagonist in the game.

An analog joystick does not change the fact that you are controlling the view similarly to a remote (remotes are also analog for the most part). You push and wait. You can push it further and make it turn faster, but it is still a push and wait process. A mouse allows you to instantly go from point A to B.

i remember hearing about the shadowrun test as well. microsoft seems to deny this (but probably for public relations reasons).

the truth is if consoles and pc could play together on equal terms we wouldnt have seperate pc and console servers. this is not the case so obviously something is up.

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with that said controllers do dominate certain games and mouse and keyboard dominates others.

that does not mean you cannot be sucessfull if you are using a controller on a fps game, it just means that you have to adjust gameplay to work with the disadvantages.

the reason why some console players can decimate pc players? this youtube video states it perfectly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvxMU3-g80s

console players have to master tactical sense to succeed while pc players have it easy with a mouse and keyboard so even if you suck you do alright. the problem is when someone comes along and does have good tactical sense you get creamed.

On the PC gamers being worse at COD Black Ops vs Xbox360 players... That's actually, pretty likely to be true for a few reasons, off the top of my head:

1.) There are literally about 10 times more COD players on Xbox360 vs PC.

2.) COD is the top Xbox360 FPS, but on PC, it's much less popular. Team Fortress 2, Counter Strike Global Offensive, Counter Strike, Counter Strike Source, and Battlefield 3, all have MUCH larger amounts of active users than COD Black Ops 2 does on the PC.

If I wanted to play a game where everyone was running around like idiots shooting stuff, I'd play COD Black Ops 2. If I wanted a more tactical, team-play oriented experience, I'd play CS: GO.

Meanwhile, as far as actual control schemes go.... a mouse is more responsive and accurate because it's action is LINEAR. Analog sticks are *gasp* analog in action, which results in them being both slower AND less accurate than a mouse.

reading this thread, ive decided to chime in.. well first someone said you have better movement with mouse and keyboard.. im thinking how is WASD, plus shift to sprint and another button to walk slower than full speed going to offer more precise, or better movement than a thumbstick?.. omnidirectional movement of varying speeds all done with a single thumb.. not 4-5 fingers

another person said the analog stick was push and wait but the mouse was instant from point A to point B.. in order for this to even be possible, your hand would have to be able to go instantaneously from point A to point B and unless you have some means of teleporting body parts without the use of muscles, a mouse will never go point A to point B.. your muscles pull on your hand until you get your hand to where you want to go, so thats a push and wait as well

as for mouse+keyboard vs controller, the biggest let down for mouse + keyboard is that keyboard, you need atleast 4 keys for movement alone and its clumsy 8-way only movement that youre either standing still or moving full speed.. so if the mouse was a bit more precise than thumbstick id still rather have two analog devices over one for general gameplay, even if it meant taking a small hit on precision

now.. about that precision, ive been playing battlefield 4 demo a lot lately, and ive been going back and forth between my PS3 controller and a mouse with a PS3 navigation nunchuck thingie which gives me omnidirectional movement with a thumbstick in the left hand, plus a total of 10 buttons.. with the mouse in the right

what ive discovered is this.. the mouse is easier and quicker to learn, but due to my experience with the thumbstick, which is a lot of thumbstick use, meaning i have a level of control and precision most keyboard/mouse people just dont have.. i really didnt see much difference in precision, the mouse however did make navigating menus a lot easier, and the scroll wheel allowed me to do some interesting things.. but i did not see enough of a difference in precision for me to drop my PS3 controller and start worshipping the mouse+keyboard gods

now people may tell me im missing a ton of buttons using and kind of controller vs a keyboard.. but i dont think so, how many keys do you actually use? and a controller has 16, 17 keys if you count the PS button, my D-pad gets mapped to 8 different functions with xpadder, so thats actually 21 buttons and with just a single set-switch button via xpadder, where holding this button converts all other buttons into a single function, it doubles my button count to about 40.. typically reserving the 8 d-pad buttons to hot-key items

so my question is this.. how many keys do you actually use or need for most PC games?.. considering most games with keyboard just use a different button for every little function (such as one button to crouch, one to go prone, another to stand.. which can all be mapped to one).. i find it difficult to believe a controller cant provide all the buttons neccessary.. in fact, my proof of this is the fact i play arma 3 with everything mapped to the controller in a very intuitive, easy to use fashion

my second question.. how much aiming precision do you really need?.. is it worth sacrificing omnidirectional variable speed movement, your ability to run, jump and dodge as well, or your abilities to better control vehicles or fly aircraft for that minute increase of precision (for mouse users it would be a much, much larger increase in precision using a mouse, but not those of us experienced with a thumbstick, the difference is much less)?

to answer my question, i find the controller to be much more balanced, much more comfortable, much more intuitive, and i really dont feel like im missing out on anything when using it.. and i enjoy the more relaxed, more comfortable means of playing games, not having to have a chair pushed up to a desk or both hands on the table.. i can sit back in a recliner with a controller in my lap and let hand-eye coordination do the rest

check out the link below.. i just bought one of those off amazon for $12, ive been trying this out for FPS games just to see what a mouse/controller hybrid interface would be like.. my impressions are that it does give you the best of both worlds, and they work well together in game.. downside is its a very foreign feeling interface that isnt going to feel right to mouse or controller users at first... surely takes time for anyone to get used to.. but would the end result yield something absolutely superior?.. dont know yet, still trying to get used to it

but i can safely say this.. i need more of the buttons to be on the mouse.. i can currently only map 7 functions to the mouse, the tilt scrolling doesnt seem able to map to anything.. but if i could get an 8-12 button mouse it would be PERFECT

http://gamestore.cl/142-295-thickbox/ps3-move-navigation-controller.jpg

As far as the tilt buttons go, go to your mouse software and program them to behave as a keyboard press, and you'll be able to use them in game as the keys you programmed them to be.

As far as the mouse not being enough of an advantage to be worth the loss of the joystick movement...you do have options with other devices other than the keyboard. And just imagine how good you could be with a mouse if you had more practice? You've used a joystick for years, and just started to use the mouse, and are already as precise. With practice, you'll get better.

oh ive used mice for years too, you always use them to click icons and that builds control and precision with a mouse and youre literally doing the same exact thing of point and click in games, and ive played other games with them.. so thats probably a big reason why people who start with pc find mouse so much more precise.. theyre already precise because many already had years of practice with mice years before getting serious into PC gaming

with a controller though, when you first start you have nothing to assist you in that learning process, its completely unfamiliar, and completely foreign.. since i started with consoles dating back to atari, ive had the time to put in the practice where they feel second nature to me

so its probably peoples familiarity with the PC mouse before ever even playing a game that leads most who start on PC to instantly be a lot better with it

but for me.. keyboard use is definitely out of the question.. after a few minutes of having my hands constantly on the keyboard in WASD position it begins getting painful due to injuries ive had in my hands, with controller i can play 12 hours straight and it wont even begin to effect me.. so basically its nunchuck + mouse or a controller as my only options at this point

I get a frustrated/claustrophobic feeling (like when your pinky toe is squished and trapped in a shoe that is too small) whenever I play with a controller online. I can't move fast enough and the whole time I can't stop thinking about using a mouse and keyboard.

well kole, thats probably because its what you started on and what youre used to.. if its what youve gotten used to then psychologically there will be a hurdle switching to something else.. like this nunchuck/mouse idea ive been working on.. im used to using a mouse, im used to using a controller, but putting them together doesnt necessarily feel right

i can safetly say this.. the ergonomics of a keyboard are pretty much non existent.. if you use one for long periods at a time youre going to get issues like carpal tunnel, tendonitis, or early onset of arthritis.. for most people at a younger age they wont experience these symptoms yet, but when they get a little bit older if theyre going to be doing it a lot.. itll begin getting painful.. im 28, but my hands are more susceptible to it due to previous damage.

but due to the long term issues with repeated keyboard use i think more game developers need to begin offering alternative control schemes to use without a keyboard to atleast have the option to use something else.. my vote goes to that being a full controller as opposed to this mouse/nunchuck hybrid.. though it works well in FPS i dont think itll work as well in driving or flying games.. the controller is far more versatile