Game Controllers

[Elle T]

Ok heres a question for you all.

Who here would consider using USB game controllers?

(Not joysticks or gamepads, Couple of Examples would be the Claw & the Nostromo n50 SpeedPad.)

And what would you like to see in a controller?

[Binky Stunt Cat]

Microsoft Strategic Commander :D
better than using a keyboard :D

[[H]arls]

Id like to try the Nostromo n50, but its an expensive thing to buy just to see if its any good. It looks like it could be quite good for FPS's.

[Mikedakiwi]

Ive got both the mouse and the speed pad as they are only $130 notes for both. They both work really well for First Person shooters. Im particularly pleased with the mouse, as although it the old rollerball, it feels really nice in big hands and seems to have that "positive" feel when using. The third mouse button which is located up by the thumb seems ideally placed for those quick mag changes as u dont have to take ya finger off the mouse buttons to reload if you use the middle mouse buton like i have in the past. There is a middle mouse wheel as well.
The speed pad is alo very good. All buttons seem to be ideally placed for my large hands and there is no confusing "cluster" of keys as is per keyboard. If you go to the makers website u can dwnload various custom profiles that other gamers have made and uploaded.Avaliable from the Ascent Website (www.ascent.co.nz)
All in all two good products that I found worked for me once i got use to em.

[Volodkovich]

heh, nice first post mike:)

i personally find the keyboard up to my standards - the only games where a gamepad would possibly be better than a keyboard would be fast FPS', where u need ur stuff quick..but even then i dont see how one would be much better than a good keyboard.:D

[Mikedakiwi]

As i said, its all a matter of personal preference......yes I do play fast FPS games and the game is alot smoother when you can tab off 40 odd commands within the space of a large apple size area. (team commands as well)The best thing I find is that I dont have to glance dwn to confirm keys...its all committed to memory. There have been a few moments as Im sure has happened to others where you have glanced dwn to confirm key commmands only to look up .....bang your dead.
But hell if your a keybrd fan far be it from me to try and change your preferred choice.
Its an item thats given the relatively cheap price as compared to a good Optical Mouse...may be worth the expending the notes on...if not for anything other than a mouse that I found has a good feel.
Only drawback though is that you cant spam the ingame chatlines as you can with a keybrd.

[Cyrax]

Yeah well i had this mate that was going too buy me one for a hard drive i swapped him but he still hasnt got it for me useless bum!!!:p :p :p

P:s Im Talking too you Mike :D

[Mikedakiwi]

Naa you bum :D its to good for you and your system doesnt look up to specs to run it anyways....LMAO

[yray7]

I would recommend USB game controllers, it takes care of power and compatibility issues. Some good info here if you're considering one: http://www.pickyguide.com/computers_and_software/pc_game_controllers_guide.html

[Laykun]

Nostromo n50 is a pretty superfluos device, it's big clunky, and takes up alot of desk space. It feels really too far away when its beside the keyboard. If you want more buttons that are programmable for games, then get a Logtich G11/G15 keyboard, they are absolutely fantastic, 3 shift modes and 24 extra buttons to the left of the keyboard.

[Shadow]

Thats quite a dig you fellas got going there.

[KiwiRed]

I tried the Belkin N52, but it didn't quite fit my hand (the d-pad was about 1/2" too far for me to reach comfortably with my thumb). Nice idea in principle though, and I'd be tempted to try the Saitek version if I could get one cheap enough.

[maxQ]

I ended up going with a Wolfclaw and a G5 for my FPS needs. Considered a G15 but the Wolfclaw is more comfortable to use i feel. Tried to substitute my G5 for a Razor Diamond back which lasted all of 10 mins LOL.

[Binky Stunt Cat]

Looking at getting an n52 myself.