News: Can New Game Control Schemes Hope To Match the PC Keyboard?

[News Bot]

An opinion piece on Gamasutra discusses how, in spite of the fancy new motion control systems that have come to console gaming, the PC's keyboard and mouse setup is still unreplaceable for many titles and genres. Quoting: "With over 100 keys to choose from (back of the box quotation right there), the possibilities are near endless, if you start to think of shift and control functions altering the purpose of keys. It means that, when the developers start to make their game, they don't have to worry about the limitations of the interface, knowing that, if all else fails, they can always assign the compass to K, even if that's a bit of a stretch to all but the pianists. The keyboard is the friend of ambition, and ArmA 2 is the testament to that, in all its surrealist, broken glory. ... It's the same reason RTS games have found a home on the PC for so long, able to use the skills people accumulate moving around windows and clicking on icons to command troops and manipulate their battle lines. Developers taking advantage of what we already know to teach us something we don't is what gaming is all about."


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[GhostThorn]

I am so glad I took piano lessons in my childhood then...
shift-alt-A-flat-minor never sounded better

[TheOneOmega]

Well obviously console controllers will never mathimatically reach the same number of combinations of keys, but console games do just fine within the software, in my opinion. Menu driven options do not seem to limit the creative possibilities of games.

Just an uneducated opinion

[Futurama]

I have always prefered keyboard and mouse over any other controlers. Well only a part from stearing wheel and pedals.


Imho fps, rts aren`t really playable with the default controllers for consules. So if you need something extra - why bother other platforms than PC at all? I mean PC has been the one that stays in the middle and is good for lots of things usually with default settings/equipment...

[Ze-Tomb]

Originally Posted by Futurama

I have always prefered keyboard and mouse over any other controlers. Well only a part from stearing wheel and pedals.

As have I, the keyboard & mouse combination is the best thing ever. ctrl+alt+<insert key here> is all you need. RTS, FPS and many other game types are great on a Computer. Irreplaceable, unless something simpler and easier to use come along at least. >.o

[TheOneOmega]

I agree as well.

On the other hand, trying to use a keyboard for your Sonic the Hedgehog ROM definitely feels weird.

[BlkRb0t]

Nothing can replace the Keyboard&Mouse combo for RTS and FPS games. For Racing games though Joystick feels a lot better.

[TheOneOmega]

Yes, racing game too. Definitely.

[Ze-Tomb]

Originally Posted by TheOneOmega

Yes, racing game too. Definitely.

Zoom-Zoom!

RTS, FPS, Puzzle, RPG & more are what I prefer to be on pc.
Racing can go to my xbox.

[MarieWoodell]

I much prefer keyboard and mouse. So many mroe buttons. Though yeah for racing games a steering wheel is easier but don't play them on pc.