How are PC based games controlled? Joystick? Mouse?

Brian_Pamo

Hi all

This might seem an obvious question but as I have no knowledge of gaming I need some basic advice. I have just built a budget core i5 PC with various bits off eBay etc. I upgraded RAM, HDD to SSD etc and the machine is fast. Now the kids have asked me if they can use it for gaming, which I am cool with. So, I’be just ordered a GX1050 graphics card and I’m all ready to go. However, I’d like know exactly how these games are controlled nowadays. Back in the day of my ZX Spectrum we just went out and bought a Kempton joystick and plugged it in but recently I’ve seen joysticks, joypads, wireless, wired etc. So, taking into account the kids have mentioned games like ‘Rise of Tomb Raider’, ‘Crisis’, ‘Half life’, ‘Doom’ etc  please can someone suggest a cheap controller. Joystick???

PRAISETHESUN

Keyboard and mouse is the default for PC these days. Most big games also offer support for wired or wireless controllers such as Xbox, Playstation or other third party options. Some games play really well with a controller, others not so well - it all comes down to the game being played.

I bought a second hand Xbox1 controller a few years back for like £20 and it has served me very well. Would recommend that as a good option if it's needed

Brian_Pamo

I’m glad I asked this now because I think the kids ready have wireless PlayStation or x box controllers. How would I get these to work with a pc?

neilmcl

Brian_Pamo said:

I’m glad I asked this now because I think the kids ready have wireless PlayStation or x box controllers. How would I get these to work with a pc?

It'll all depend if their the later Bluetooth controllers or not.

PRAISETHESUN

Xbox plays nicer with Windows since they are both made by Microsoft, but PS4 works too. See here for some links:

https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/help/hardware-network/controller/connect-xbox-wireless-controller-to-pc
https://support.playstation.com/s/article/Pair-DUALSHOCK-4-wireless-controller-with-PC-or-Mac

Brian_Pamo

Cheers guys. Job sorted. 

Neil_Jones

Certain games lend themselves to additional hardware.  Flight Sim for example, and racing games (such as F1 2020) if you really get into them tend to benefit more from a "proper" wheel and pedals.

JustAnotherSaver

But shooters are not so good with controllers. 

I played an online shooter game and was about the only controller player in the community. I did fairly good but the better players in the game would hammer me every time. 
Then I created a new account so I wasn't playing with top level players and began to learn and practice mouse and keyboard. 
By the end of it I was one of the better players in the game. Not best but upper. Purely down to the device I was using. 

Had it been a racing game or a football game then maybe controller would've been better for example. 

forgotmyname

Rise of the Tomb Raider on a 1050 ouch!   Probably need to run that low to maintain 60FPS, same with Crysis.

Top gamers use the keyboard and a mouse for lots of games.  Rarely see them use a controller.  I use an XBOX One
controller for GTA 5, the issue is one button does a dozen things depending on the situation. Press Y to exit a vehicle
accidently press it twice and you dropped your current weapon.

The crouch/hide button is also the jump button, entertaining to jump over a wall into the enemy instead of ducking
behind it.

JustAnotherSaver

Oh yeah I didn't specify - my controller was a wired Xbox controller for the PC. 

I also eventually tried out the wireless version as well as a PS3 or PS4 controller, can't remember which it was now. 
If going controller then the wired Xbox one was the best of the lot for the PC, and I actually prefer the feel of the PS controller. It just didn't work as smoothly on the PC.