First person shooters beg for the precision of a mouse
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Switching to a Mouse Will Improve Your Precision and Consistency
The mouse is the tool of choice for precision aim. Nothing else comes close.
I gamed for years on PC before diving into first-person shooters on consoles, and I’ll admit that I don’t have thumbs. I tried mastering the dual analog sticks for years, at least since the first Halo, but mastery was beyond my reach. Even with aim assist offering me a hidden hand, I can’t count the number of situations where my right thumb let me down.
Had I known back when I was playing Halo 3 in college that keyboard + mouse adapters for consoles existed, I would have converted in a heartbeat.
Since I switched, I’m more consistent than I ever was with a controller.
Switching to Keyboard + Mouse Will Save You Money
I understand that the initial outlay for a quality keyboard + mouse adapter can be a turnoff, but switching away from controllers can actually save you money in the long term.
Most gamers I’ve spoken with have experienced stick drift on their controller, a problem that sometimes can’t be fixed without replacing the rockers behind the analog sticks. Given the disposable nature of goods that we buy these days, very few people go through the effort of replacing the rockers, and choose instead to pull out their wallets for another controller.
Console peripheral manufacturers sometimes provide solutions, but better engineering comes at a price. Consider Microsoft’s Elite Controller for the Xbox One (MSRP $149.99, Amazon.com): designed with input from competitive gamers to mitigate shortcomings with the original Xbox One controller, Microsoft added (in their marketers’ words) “stainless steel thumbstick shafts, D-pads, and paddles […] built to last, low-friction, reinforced rings around each thumbstick [to] minimize wear and provide buttery-smooth action,” but this all comes at a price point above and beyond what you could expect to pay for the best keyboard + mouse adapters.
Even if you do open up your wallet for the Elite controller, it remains susceptible to bumper button failure, just like the ‘regular’ Xbox One controller.
My money is on the XIM4, but I’m biased 🙂
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