Gamecontroller on a PC

[Xrin]

First, I hope this is the right forum.

I use a ps-2 controller clone on my PC to play the game (USB connection). I find that while pressing the buttons that there is a slight delay in the game before it happens. Is this game lag or controller issues?

Another question i have with a gamecontroller instead of a mouse/keyboard combo is, whats the best way to us it? I enjoy sitting back and playing an MMO with a controller relaxing. But how about macro access, seems a little slow. For you PC veterans out there, how do you play? Any advice on how to set it up? I fear I won't be responsive quick enough once I start PTing.

Example: Targeting the tank's mob and assisting real fast, then using a weaponskill.

[Tatha-Kitten]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

I use a controller too, and at first i did find there was a slight lag issue.

after a while it corrected itself *shrug* i blame the game.

but you may want to try turning down your graphics options slightly or running a spyware check. or both.

as for macros, i put those on the thumbstick buttons, if you practice you'll get better.

i still use the keyboard for targetting a mob, as F8 is still the best way of targetting the mob you wanna hit.

i also put control of he target options onto the D-pad it works like this up and down will target party members, left and right will target everything else respectively. anything on the left you hit left, on the right you hit right.

It's made playing ffxi much easier, as they keyboard controls imho suck.

[Xrin]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

You use thumbstick button to access the macro menu you mean?

I guess I'll get used to it. I find it slightly awkward to use a macro by opening a menu then scrolling through the menus with the directional pad then selecting it.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

My son is a huge pc gamer and even he prefers to use a controller for FFXI. The game was made for PS2 first so it isn't surprising that even pc gamers can prefer a controller to the keyboard. I'm assuming you set up your controller in your FFXI settings.

Programs >> PlayOnline >> FFXI >> FFXI Config >> GamePad Settings

If you've set that all up, you shouldn't be having contoller lag. In game lag could be an issue, does it only happen in certain areas? If your exping, are there other pts nearby casting and using ws's? And let's not forget that our computer specs can play a part in this also.

[Tirrock]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

I bought a "Super Joy Box" (love that name) for my PC. It's one of those little pieces of hardware that let you plug your PS2 controller into your PC, through a USB port... I tried the controller for a bit, but didn't care for it much. Mostly, I hated switching back and forth from keyboard to controller.

I ended up using just the keyboard, and it works fine for me. I never switched back to a controller.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

Logitech Netplay Controller/Keyboard solves that problem. We all use them here and wouldn't play with any other controller.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...Fencoding=UTF8

[Caspian]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

TGM, you need to become a spokesman for Logitech. LOL, you push that controller more than a crack dealer. I'm j/k, it really does look like a nice controller, I've just played for two years with just a keyboard and don't know how I'd ever get used to anything else. Using the number pad to move around just seems natural.

[Jei]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

I can't imagine leaning back on my arm chair with that controller on my lap tho >.>

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

Why not? The controller isn't even as wide as my lap is. People always assume its this huge hulking controller but its not. when your arms rest on the arms of your chair and you rest your hands naturally on your thighs, thats right were the controls for the controller are. Its very natural and VERY comfortable to use. I have 4 in boxes because I never want to be without one. I use them for all the games I play because its such a comfortable controller to use. When I want to chat there is no putting down a controller and worrying about hitting the joystick cause your healing, the keyboard is right there and you just let the controller rest on your lap so its nice and stable to type on. I've had so many people buy one after I explained it to them and after they got it and used it for a while, they all said they would never go back to using just a controller for FFXI.

[Jei]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

oh so it's smaller than standard keyboard?

[Tirrock]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

I'm actually pretty fond of my keyboard. I set it on my lap, and I've done that for so many years that it's more comfortable to me than using a controller. Plus the cord (that's right, cord, no wireless for me >_>) on it is abnormally long, so I could type with my back faced to the computer, if I ever wanted to...for some insane reason.

Plus my keyboard came with the computer. >_>a Nothing fancy, just an loldell keyboard with the windows keys ripped out of it (and lost).

But, I can't deny that those logitech controller/keyboard things are good. I remember seeing one of those things a long time ago and thinking it was pretty neat. But I had already ordered my Super Joy Box (I still love that name), so I didn't want to order that controller and waste money.

Of course, I've never used that super joy box more than a 10 hours total...so I ended up wasting money anyway. >_>a

I like logitech though. I bought a $20 loitech optical mouse for my old PC about 6 years ago, and it still runs perfectly.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

The keyboard in the Logitech Netplay is about as big as an average laptop keyboard. I just set it up against my old laptop keyboard and its a key and a half shorter than my laptops keyboard. My old laptop has a screen size of 15".

[Tirrock]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

The issue I have with it is: I'd be spending money for something I don't need. >_>a I'm on a serious budget at the moment (unemployed again!) and $15 (which is surprisingly cheap for it) plus shipping for something I don't need wouldn't do me any good. :x I mean, I canceled my FFXI account because I don't have the spare money to get a real connection and I couldn't sign on FFXI often, despite my apparent addiction to it. D:

I'm used to keyboard movement, either through numpad or through WASD, so it doesn't bother me. Although I totally would recommend this to somebody that plays a ton of console games. I, on the other hand, would probably use a keyboard and a mouse on a PS2 if I could get away with it. >_>

[Amarok]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

I realise controllers for any game are a very subjective thing, I loved the first PSX controllers, but didn't like the thicker PS2 ones. My all time favourite controller has been the Gamecube one (official one only, and they come in all sorts of mad colours). The GC controller has 2 analog joysticks (nice placement too), a joypad (one that makes sense, not some kind of caved-in ball with raised edges), 2 triggers, and 6 individual buttons (including the middle start one).

So I started my search into a USB converter for the PC that would allow me to use my GC controller and found this one met my needs:

Trio Linker
http://www.consoleplus.co.uk/product...-usb-converter

The reason I had to shop around for the right one (Liksang had some other ones) is that I needed to make sure the joypad and main joystick could be used independantly, so I wouldn't lose the joypad to being just an alternative to the analog stick.

With the Trio Linker (note it also does the PS2 and Dreamcast contollers too) I was able to do this with a checkbox in the config and now I have the following setup:

Main Analog Joystick - movement as expected
Joypad - change viewpoint (most useful in 3rd person mode)
Yellow joystick - getting around the menus, selection boxes etc. Works well in a digital context (ie, up/down/left/right only)
Middle start button - Open main menu
A - Select menu option (attack etc)
B - Cancel menu option (cancel text input, shrink text window etc)
X - Jump around windows (for cancelling invis buffs etc, and autosorting items)
Y - Autorun, for those times you want to sit back and only nudge left & right
Z - Toggle 1st and 3rd person views
Left Trigger - Open ALT macros
Right Trigger - Open CTRL macros

This setup also works well for running while thumbing through your items etc with both thumbs (one on each analog joystick). Only thing I use the keyboard for is typing and CTRL-H for healing (not done often as DD).

So from my personal experience I can recommend the GC controller with the Trio Linker for this game, they seem to be made for each other.

Ama

[Tirrock]

Re: Gamecontroller on a PC

Huh, I wish I had seen those a few years ago when I got a USB converter for my PS2 controllers. I love the gamecube controller. Best controller design ever, I think.