Best Played With a Controller: A Video Game Rant

[tikalal]

This is all pretty obvious to me.

Some games are better on keyboard and mouse, and some games are better with a controller. If you're playing on a PC and want the best experience all the time, buy an Xbox 360 controller with a USB receiver for your PC so you have the choice.

Super Meat Boy should let you change key bindings.

What else is there to say?

 

[BrotherRool]

Some games are best with controllers. One of the advantages of a PC is that you can have both. That's still not a reason to forget key-bindings, but games like Super Meat Boy and Bastion and Devil May Cry were designed with the idea that the person playing would be using a controller and that shows. Porting is always going to leave a problem.

(Particularly with Bastion, if any game demonstrates the inadequacy of a binary 4 directional movement scheme, it's Bastion. Embrace the 360°)

 

[Vegosiux]

I hate controllers. They keep leaving me thinking about what my hands are doing, and distracting me from the actual game.

This has never been a valid argument though.
Anyone who uses something they aren't familiar with or haven't grown up on is going to be at a disadvantage and not know where their fingers are.

Oh I'm familiar with controllers. I don't have to look at my hands to make sure I'm doing what I want to be doing. But at every point, I'm simply aware of the movement of my hands and fingers. You're addressing an issue I never brought up. Or maybe I was just not clear enough about it. But what I'm saying is - it's not inexperience that's the problem here.

I can play on controllers well enough, but I don't like playing on them, because even when they're the (arguably) "better" input system, they still don't feel "right" to me. And I've gone through a few.

So please don't call my point "invalid" simply because your personal experience is different.

Dammit, I only own two consoles with USB peripherals.

Why the hell would PC developers expect me to have an easily available controller on hand!?

What bullshit.

Heh, I'm sure you tried to be witty, but the thing is...if it's a PC-targeted game, then it makes sense for it to be optimized for the default PC input system, no?

But heh, I suppose the controller-users are the true glorious master race.

 

[AD-Stu]

Expecting a game to "Play better with a controller" on the PC is like expecting a game to "Play better with a keyboard and mouse" on a console.

I disagree - for as long as there has been PC gaming, there's always been games that have played "better" with peripheral controllers.

Flight sims used to be a mainstay of PC gaming, and they were always / still are better played with a joystick (and a throttle, and pedals) than they were with the keyboard. I got myself a joystick back in the day because Mechwarrior 2 was basically unplayable without one. Hell, if you go back far enough even a mouse was actually a non-standard accessory - I remember trying to play Loom with just the keyboard before we got a mouse, it wasn't fun...

Controlling driving games with mouse and keyboard has always sucked, which is why we've always had expensive steering wheel setups and, later, gamepads available to us. I've got a PC 360 controller hooked up to my computer that I only use for driving games, because I know they suck to play any other way.

My point is it's horses for courses - if you're going to play certain genres of games on PC you have to expect that, even though they might have mouse and keyboard controls, that's just not going to be the optimal way to play them.

FWIW the reason the boot is never on the other foot is because traditionally consoles have never had mice and keyboards. If they become more prevalent in the future, then we can expect that to change.

 

[octafish]

Just a word of warning, if for some reason you have Win8 the only pure plug and play controller for is a wired XBox controller. I've had to abandon my trusty Logotech F710 because Logotech are refusing to upgrade their drivers. That aside, Win8 Pro is great for an HTPC.

I usually have a controller sitting on my desk along with a joystick and my mice (wmo for fine movements, and sensei RAW for larger sweeping gestures) and my keyboard. Flying in BF3 is much better with a controller. You can get one dirt cheap second as most consolers prefer wireless.

 

[deathbydeath]

Huh. I can play SMB until the cows come home on a keyboard (my laptop one, anyway), but I can't game pad my way through it for the life of me. If I had to guess, it's something to do with the difference between hitting another key and tilting an analog stick.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Wait. So you're having trouble pressing shift and spacebar at the same time? How small are your hands?

How is doing this hard?

Spoiler

 

[Easton Dark]

You have a hard time using left shift and space bar at the same time?

Extraordinarily small hands or... what, because I can't fathom this being an issue. I mean, what else is there for your pinky to do other than sit on the shift key? What kind of otherworldly keyboard do you have where shift and spacebar make your hand go at an odd angle? Because my hand's pretty straight.

... Regardless if I see it as an issue or not, you sure can rebind keys. Just go into the games .ini. No control is absolute in PC games.

 

[norashepard]

It's hilarious when you realize that most of these games are made ON COMPUTERS. You'd think they'd be able to manage a keyboard/mouse setup for everything. I guess it is just easier to program in an entirely new piece of hardware that in most cases just makes everything harder to control.

Realtalk though, if you even dare to play Fifa without a controller, well, just don't do that. Please. It's not pretty.

 

[Eliwood10]

It really depends on the game for me. I find FPS games(or really, any game in first-person, ie. Minecraft) to be much more enjoyable on a keyboard and mouse, because wrestling with two analogue sticks and having to constantly reach for buttons for secondary actions is very difficult for me. RTS and MOBAs are built around a mouse and keyboard, the thought using a controller for those types of games boggles my mind. (Except Awesomenauts. That actually plays very well on a contoller.) Turn-based strategy, menu-based games, and simulation games can get away with it too, I think.

But when it comes to third-person action-oriented games, I hate, hate, HATE the keyboard. I got Assassin's Creed for the PC a while back and I was struggling to remember what all the keys did while I played. I plugged in my USB controller and it became infinitely easier to play. Same goes for retro games I play on emulators, they just aren't designed for a keyboard.

I think a key element in how games designed with a controller in mind differ from those with a keyboard in mind is the fact that pushing a button on a keyboard can only give two values: On and Off/1 and 0. That's why moving around in 3D space with WASD is so frustrating with a keyboard. You can't alter your speed, and your trajectory can only be changed with jerky movements as you to try to quickly tap the direction you want, or you use to muse, which often requires you to lift it back into position before it falls off your mousepad.

 

[darkcalling]

I hate controllers. They keep leaving me thinking about what my hands are doing, and distracting me from the actual game.

Now if the control scheme is fully customizable on M&K I'll keep quiet, do that, and enjoy my game.

If not...well, fuck you, devs. I do not enjoy my game with a controller, it's not a better experience for me, and if "sucks to be you" is the best you can give me, I will, as I do with any business that treats me with such a smug dismissive attitude, take a few of your business cards, hand them out to people and tell them to avoid you.

while I am definitely not a PC gamer (my rig is kinda old and need to upgrade before I could even try to play most of the big releases) the few games I DO play on my pc leave me with the exact opposite problem from you. A controller simply feels more natural to me and the M&K combo leaves me worrying about where all the important keys are. Sometimes a developer seems to want to use every key available to them and it leaves me feeling like I need a third arm to properly play.

 

[Zeraki]

I hate controllers. They keep leaving me thinking about what my hands are doing, and distracting me from the actual game.

That's actually pretty interesting. I don't have that problem fortunately. When I use a controller and know I have to do something my fingers usually just move on their own without me thinking about it.

Luckily I don't have issues with mouse & keyboard either(except for cramping/tendinitis, which is why I usually tend to gravitate more towards controllers regardless of platform).

I tend to use controllers more for third person games for comfort, but M&K for first person because of the fluidity and precision(though I can't play as long once my wrist starts to flare up).

I do hate when the ability to remap controls is not in games though... even console games. Back when I would play the Mega Man X games all the time, I would always map the dash to the right shoulder button because it was more comfortable and allowed me to abuse the ability(I also broke the shoulder buttons of two SNES controllers and a PS2 controller because of said abuse XD). Remapping controls is something I really miss about most console games in this generation, it used to be fairly commonplace from what I can remember(at least with Capcom games).

 

[Racecarlock]

Let me start off my rant by saying that while I do have a good PC and a PS3, I don't really identify myself as a console or a PC gamer. I honestly don't have a preference when it comes to games, except perhaps the price tag. Most times when I buy a PC game, it's because the games are available exclusively there, a Steam sale is in progress, or it's available on the Xbox and PC but not the PS3.

In this particular case, I purchased Super Meat Boy on the PC at a very reasonable five dollars, because I don't have a 360 and I have no plans on getting one any time soon. And then, the first screen I saw was that "This game is best played with a controller," along with the helpful image of a 360 controller. I didn't think much of it at first, as I'd gotten the same image from Bit Trip Runner 2 (which played just fine on the keyboard), but then I actually started playing the game.

So, for those of you who don't know, in order to use the sprint action and clear absurdly long distances with your jump, you need to hold down a button. On a controller, this is simple since all the buttons are right there at your fingertips, but on the keyboard, they decided to relegate this button to the left shift key.

Now, since they have the jump button set to the space bar, this forces your hand to tilt at an odd angle since you use the sprint almost as much as you use the jump. After playing through a dozen levels, my pinky was in enough pain to bring me back to my Guitar Hero days. So I decided to try and change the key layout to something more favorable...

Oh wait, no, I couldn't. There is no option to change your key bindings. Why? I don't know. I also don't know why they didn't decide to put the sprint key to something more reasonable, like, perhaps the Left CTRL which is right next to the space bar and far more friendly for a human hand. Or maybe even make the jump key optionally be the Up Arrow so you could just hold the sprint when necessary and jump with your right hand. But no, instead all you get is a mocking image telling you that a controller isn't necessary, but neither is bathing. Think about it. Yes, they actually say that.

So here's my question. Why in the bloody nine hells would they assume that me, a PC customer, would have an Xbox360? Did they assume that I was going to re-buy their game for the PC? Was that the target market? Am I supposed to have a 360 controller laying around for these occasions, or a special game pad for my PC?

I don't think I'm terribly out of line when I say that if you're planning to make, or even port a game to the PC, your chief goal should likely be to make the game playable on a flipping keyboard and mouse and not assume that your PC gamer is going to have a controller just laying around, and if you're not confident in your keyboard layout, let the customer change their setup. Off the top of my head, I could think of three different button layouts that would have benefited this game, but sadly I can't use any of them. Why? Well, the only explanation I can think of is that the developers are just that lazy, especially considering the dozens upon dozens of games that let you change your controls and already have an optimal layout on the keyboard.

And, unfortunately, while I found Meat Boy to be challenging, engaging, and oft times hilarious, this stupid inflexible control scheme really colored my opinion of it.

Unfortunately-er, this seems to be a common trend. I really liked the game Bit-Trip Runner Presents Runner 2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (despite it's ridiculous name), yet it still had an odd habit of making you use the A key to dance while relegating everything else to the arrow keys and space bar. And again, you couldn't change the controls. Again, the Left CTRL key would have been a much better choice overall...and they gave me that same smarmy message that I should use a controller instead.

In conclusion, I hate this trend. I hate it with a passion. I hate lazy ports, and I despise these games telling me that I should use a controller when I bought it specifically for the PC. So Escapist, what do you think? Have you had similar experiences to mine?

***Side Note: I have beaten Super Meat Boy and Bit Trip Runner 2 in their entirety, so please come prepared with a better argument than: "You're just not skilled enough."

Well thanks for adding more fuel to the fire that is the console wars, developers! This is why there are many PC people out there claiming that life would be better without consoles (Not talking about the OP here). This is why we all can't have a nice lunch together. Some developer goes in and shits on a PC gamer's sandwich thus adding more centuries on to the stupidest battle since coke vs. pepsi.

 

[niknar266]

I had to go test to make sure but super meat boy can be played with arrow keys instead of wasd. The game also warns on start up to plug in a controller since in was a XBLA title originally but it is certainly simple enough to use both controller and M&K.

I'm in the pro controller camp mostly because I'm not a fan of the games that are better to play on M&K like RTS. Also because of my set up is not ideal for M&K as I don't use a desk as my pc is hooked up to my TV so my M&K is either on a stool/folding table or my lap.

Also if use want to use your ps3 controller as a 360 controller look up motioninjoy. let's you emulate ps3 controller as various different inputs. That's what I've been using since my friend has my 360 wireless controller dongle atm.

 

[GoaThief]

So I decided to try and change the key layout Fact omething more favorable...

Oh wait, no, I couldn't.

Hey Op, way to spread some incorrect information; http://store.steampowered.com/news/4744/

Fact is that even a super quick Google search for, "rebind super meat boy keys" would have resulted in a solution that will take far less than 5% of the time it took to write your rant, let alone actually spent playing whilst allegedly crippling your body in the process.

***Side Note: I have beaten Super Meat Boy and Bit Trip Runner 2 in their entirety, so please come prepared with a better argument than: "You're just not skilled enough."

Challenge accepted.

 

[Auron]

You can't hold shift and press space at the same time? Didn't you ever sprint and jump in an fps? How the fuck is it an odd angle? It's the same angle my hand has been tilted in the keyboard for the last 18 years I've goddamn used one. It's the same position I use to type and play all games I play with keyboards.


While I was mildly annoyed by the "controller or die" thing, one was not necessary at all and I don't have any game that actually demands one here, I can even play Street Fighter on the keyboard rather well for a casual player. I have converted all my old consoles into emulators a long ass time ago though so perhaps it harks back to that, in the end it all comes down to adapting to a new control scheme anyway.

 

[Nazulu]

I agree. I will never understand why they don't add in an option to just change the keys. I found this option in so many classic games I own and it really helps. It's kind of strange the developers of SMB who are completely inspired by the classics didn't consider it, especially when they made this game on a computer originally.

 

[Nazulu]

I agree. I will never understand why they don't add in an option to just change the keys. I found this option in so many classic games I own and it really helps. It's kind of strange the developers of SMB who are completely inspired by the classics didn't consider it, especially when they made this game on a computer originally.

But you can change the keybindings... Just read up the previous page.

Whoops. Probably should of mentioned I haven't played it. I just took it from the rant that their wasn't an option.

Thanks though, you cured me of ignorance.

 

[ClanCrusher]

Since this topic has had some time to simmer for a bit, I'd like to take the opportunity to respond to a few of the more common arguments that have cropped up thus far.

Fact is that even a super quick Google search for, "rebind super meat boy keys" would have resulted in a solution that will take far less than 5% of the time it took to write your incorrect post, let alone actually spent playing.

You can change the controls of Super Meat Boy, just not in game, needs to be done in the .ini.

I also played Super Meat Boy with a PS3 controller, so you could have used a PS3 controller I assume you own.

Regardless if I see it as an issue or not, you sure can rebind keys. Just go into the games .ini. No control is absolute in PC games.

So yes, I've seen a few people mention that you could go to a third party to help you rebind the keys or that you can change a particular .ini file to do so yourself but um...and I'm going to put this bluntly, I don't care. Now, I'm not trying to be rude or offensive to the people that offered me this advice, but here's the thing. Developers don't get credit for things they don't put in the game. I shouldn't have to dig around third party software or hunt for mods to fix a product I've bought. This is the responsibility of the developers. If they don't put in a way to rebind keys, that's their fault they didn't put it in, not mine for not wanting to dig through the internet or my game files to find a solution.

To use another example, let's take Skyrim and its incredible modding community. Now, I'm not a professional game critic or reviewer, but I'm pretty sure that those same reviewers didn't wait for all of those awesome mods and community made patches to influence their scores, did they? No, because that would be silly. The developers of Skyrim didn't do that work, and they don't get credit for it in the same way I'm not giving it to Team Meat just because a solution exists.

And now, for the second point...

Some games are just objectively better to play with a controller than M&K. Platformers, brawlers and fighting games most notably.

I can understand it to an extent... Some types of games just feel better with a controller.

Some games work better with a controller, some work better with a keyboard and mouse. Just get a PC gamepad. I know tonnes of PC gamers who own Xbox 360 controllers for these kinds of games, who don't own an Xbox.

As to some games playing better on a gamepad while some play better with a mouse and keyboard? I agree wholeheartedly and I wouldn't presume to criticize anyone's personal preference when it comes to those devices and the games they use them with. However, I would also say that if the developer of ANY game wishes to port it over to a different system, be it from the PC to the consoles or the consoles to the PC or from any medium to another, they have a responsibility to optimize their game to the controller. It is, after all, how people are supposed to play the game.

When a developer tells me that the optimal way to play the game is with a controller that is not common to the system I am playing it on, and then refuses to let me change the key bindings despite fixes being quite easily made by other parties, I feel justified in having a problem with that.

Ultimately, the point I want to illustrate with this thread is that developers need to stop being lazy about things like this. It isn't enough just to port a game and shoehorn in a control scheme. I'll be honest, Super Meat Boy is a rather minor offender at most when it comes to nasty ports and I'm sure most people reading this thread can point to one or two that are infinitely worse. The only reason I'm signaling out Bit Trip and Meat Boy is simply because I've played them recently, and they had the easiest fixes that neither game took advantage of, which I believe highlights just how badly it reflects on both.

And it's a shame really. Both Bit Trip and Meat Boy are great games that don't deserve to be crippled even slightly by such easily fixable problems.