Poll: What's the best way to first-person shoot?

by Blake Snow on Jan 24th 2007 1:25PM

First-person shooters have been around for nearly 15 years from the time id's Wolfenstein 3D popularized the genre. Since then, controls have largely remained the same (mouse/keyboard or traditional controller) while graphics continue to impress. But if controls ain't broke, don't fix 'em, right? Right, but perhaps the genre could be so much more through a newly incorporated interface. And even though Nintendo systems are probably the least healthy platforms for FPSs (not to mention the least capable graphically speaking), recent experience seems to suggest that the DS and Wii are doing more to advance/evolve the genre's controls than anything else. Granted, the trusty mouse and keyboard still reign supreme, but maybe innovative controls in this case are a worthwhile pursuit. So we ask you, Joystiq Nation:
See also: First-person shooter weapon of choice poll results

Reader Comments (120)

joypad

Ideally, The wii controls would be the best for FPS. aim and shoot instead of move a reticule around? Yeah.

And I never played metroid prime hunters, what is that like?

Even though I am a huge Wii fan, and dont like first person shooters, I have to say that mouse + keyboard is the best, for the few I've played that I actually enjoied (Pretty much only Action Quake 2 and Wolfenstein 3d)

The PC is the best right now. Maybe the Wii can get better shooters but I doubt that it can surpass the precision you get with the PC.

Those who say a gamepad is better are delusional.

Call me a PC gaming purist but I can't see anything better than a mouse and keyboard for this. You lose a heavy amount of precision with the dual control pads on a controller and with the Wiimote, you are only as fast as a full arm move. With a mouse, you don't have to move your arm to the point on the screen, you make a shorter movement with the mouse and you're where you need to go faster.

KB/M is still the fastest, albeit the least realistic. Since I prefer faster paced FPS (like UT series) for multiplayer, I pretty much only play vs multiplayer on PC. But I have no problems playing sngle player FPS campaigns on consoles... in fact, that's usually where I play single player and co-op (i.e. I'm not an all too typical PC gamer elitist). Haven't really play any FPS on Wii, but I think the lack of graphics puch may hurt it in this genre even if the controls are innovative.

Hunters is great in theory, but with my big hands I tend to get hand cramps about an hour after playing it. I wish the touch screen was more responsive to using just your thumb, or maybe some device to attach the stylus to your thumb or pointer finger.

Trackball and Keyboard.
Though the Wiimote works well, and MPH works well too, once you play through the hand cramps. :)

PC is the only choice (unless someone figures out how to do it on Wii). Who ever chooses a regular controller must have never played PC. After playing some PC shooters I just can't go back to console.

Mouse and keyboard are the best for FPS. Stop kidding yourself with the Wiimote.

I vote keyboard and mouse, but how cool would a DuckHunt-style light-gun be if we could incorporate movement, use item, reload and jumping into the left-hand's placement area? it'd be the greatest control-scheme ever.

The Wii controller for FPS's is awkward as hell. I remember when everyone thought it would revolutionize how we play the genre. Not quite.

Every first person shooter on the Wii has controlled poorly in comparison to both mouse and keyboard and dual analog setups. I'm not sure how much of this has to do with the responsiveness of the wii-mote or the "have-it-all" delusions of some of these implementations. They want to be able to have the best of a lightgun situation as well as the responsiveness movement wise of an analog stick, and it just isn't going to work that way.

http://eat-sleep-game.com

Easily mouse and keyboard. The Wii has potential, but I haven't seen it used well for shooters yet.

I vote KB/M because it is. I put Wiimote/nunchuck second, as it is most like KB/M than any other console interface.

Dual analogs are just retarded.

The virtual on series had an interesting method for shooters. Weapons either shot straight or homed in on the opponent to varying degrees. It was up to the opponent to dodge while shooting back. I think such a system would be cool for a gamepad based game. In terms of speed and precision, however, I can't see anyting beating the mouse and keyboard combo short of some kind of virtual reality setup

Give it time.

Elebits plays like an FPS with tight controls.

Were barely out of the launch window with a few FPS to use as examples.

I put controller, even though I hate playing FPS on a console.

if they made a ultra wide controller with dual analog I would use that, I don't like having my thumbs practically touching, its not comfortable.

I only play FPS on the PC, but thats mearly for precision reasons, if the consoles could get the precision, or its a quasi-2D game (like goldeneye N64), I'd rather play there.

As much as I want the Wii-mote to continue to prove itself soon (Metroid Prime 3, baby!), I know a majority of people will likely choose keyboard and mouse. Not so realistic but they are more intuitive and have better response.

Personally I can't the keyboard part of the KB+M setup. :P

mouse and keyboard - no question its the best.

although,

N64 & goldeneye > dual analog :P

As of right now nothing beats keyboard/mouse. However I do think the wii point and shoot does have the potential of being as good as the kb/m however I do not see it surpassing it in any way.

GoldenEye has the best feel to me.

I won't vote on this until I play a capable FPS on the Wii. If my vote came right now, I'd have to say mouse/keyboard.

I hate dual analog.

When MP3 comes out this year, I believe we'll see a fundamental shift. I could work very well.

What's the best way to first-person shoot?

Well, I think that will be answered once we get to play Metroid Prime 3: Corruption on the Wii. That game is going to change how we look at a FPS for the Wii. Red Steel dropped the ball imo, whether or not you label it a FPS. Mouse and keyboard can get pretty boring for a while, and all that changes between games in level content, story, and weapons. On the Wii, not only is the game "new" but also how you play it. Besides, a developer could possibly make a FPS with more than one control scheme -- one with the Wiimote, one for the Classic Controller, etc.

If anything, the Wii opens up possibilities for every genre of games out there right now, as well as create new ones.

No KB/M + Q3A 3wave mod = Dead.

1 Wii
2 PC
3 DS (with thumb stylus)
4 analog stick
analogs are just too awkward and innacurate for FPS
DS isnt great but using a thumb stylus
its the best portable option (and better than any standard console FPS)
the pc is just awesome with the mouse control, it gets exactly where i wants.
The wii is ideal (although Wii FPSs are still in a
prototype phase). Point at where you shoot (not exactly but feels the same)! its hardly as bad atm. as you all make it seem like.

Mouse and keyboard is the absolute best...period. I'm playing Resistance: Fall of Man and it's a great game but after playing Call of Duty 3 on the Wii...I have to agree with Kojima. Ps3 with a Wiimote controller would be the best console ever conceived and would destroy anything else on earth.

I have a special place for Metroid prime Hunters but it cramps you hand after a few matches....not good. But the accuracy is definately there and even MPH's control scheme is better than dual analog for accuracy.

Call of Duty 3 on Wii has better controls than the PS3 or the 360 version and is a shining example of how UBI Soft totally fucked up with Red Steel. I'm praying the metroid Prime 3 follows CoD 3's example instead of the gimped ass Red Steel garbage. Wii has the potential to be the second coming in control schemes not only for first person shooters but also, RTS, TBS, shooters, extreme sports and platformers

Mouse and Keyboard FTW!

Definately an N64 pad. lol.

Seriously, though, I don't see why so many people love kb/m so much. It is the fastest and easiest, but not the best. You can't recline with a kb/m, no triggers, no rumble, less easily accessible buttons, and the fact that I find myself always having to hunch over sorta and jerk around constantly; I'm just not comfortable.

So, if you like unrealistically fast speed and precision above all else kb/m is your thing. Every other advantage goes to controller, though. The Wiimote probably has the most potential as it is a combination of great speed but realistic precision. It is hard to vote for a control method, though, when it has never been implemented in a good FPS.

Where did Kojima say that??

Come on, does this question really need to be asked? KB/M is currently the best control scheme vailable. Lets put a decent KB/M user against the best joystick control pad player, I'm pretty confident the KB/M guy would win. Or lets put fatal1ty against these control pad users.....

Anybody that voted for the Wii in this case is a complete and utter fanboy.

I would vote for the Wii controls soley for the fact that there is much more precision involved. Before I get comments on the precision of optical mice or dual analog, think about this if you've played any game on the Wii that requires you to shoot. To get a headshot on an unaware/unmoving sniper with dual analog or a mouse is easy. But using the zoom on the bow and arrow with the Wii and acheiving a distant headshot is much more difficult. It mimics (as close you can get) real shooting.

I never really liked any game using my keyboard. It just doesnt feel right. I am a console man, and the dual joysticks work way better than any mouse could.

Anyone who says a statement without any basis to back it up is a complete and utter dolt.

I voted for it. Im no fanboy. I explained why I felt the way I did, unlike you.

Theres a false sense of precision on the Wii. Most the FPS on that system use aim assist; there's an invisible box around your reticle and if the target is within that, it snaps to the target. Thats lame. Its dumbing down the game, creates a false sense of precision, and is a step backwards.

The other issue with the wiimote is that you cannot center the reticle and have the enivironment/perspective move around it. They have to use that silly box/turn control scheme for all their FPSs. Speaking of turning, they dont have a solution to that either.

I voted for the DS. I think the stylus controls for Metroid Prime: Hunters are about 1% more accurate than a keyboard and mouse combo. The D-Pad works as the keyboard and the stylus works as the mouse perfectly, but it feels as intuitive as writing with a pencil or a ... mouse. So I'd go with DS, and have PC as an extremely close second, and then have Wii as a distant third, and a regular controller as a distant fourth.

Geo's right about Elebits. Everybody who knocks the Wii as an FPS format is only knocking Red Steel. Elebits has really tight controls and is the closest you'll get to FPS Ghostbusters.

Say it with me:
WASD, WASD, WASD!

Best First-Person shooting? How about with your own two hands on a real gun at a real animal in the real outdoors.

@26
"They have to use that silly box/turn control scheme for all their FPSs. Speaking of turning, they dont have a solution to that either."
watch some metroid prime 3 movies and youll see its not true, its just one of those ideas theyve come up with

@29
WASD, WASD, WASD!

:P

Keyboard/Mouse was awkward to use for first time, but it become usually to use. Wii is the same ideal. Once learn and you get use with it.

I think a mouse is more precise, I just hate picking it up to move more than 180 degrees.

I've grown used to dual analogs. Lock on helps with those, but they take away from the difficulty.

Metroid Prime Hunters is obviously the quickest and most accurate, but how real is it? It hardly replaces real world shooting with any type of difficulty like analog sticks or a mouse movement.

The Wii has it down pat. I haven't played it yet with a shooter, but it just makes sense.

The wii controller doesnt really work like it does on the commercials. I dont have a 75" TV so its not really point and shoot on a standard 32". I vote dual analog. Preferably the xbox style, having the sticks on different planes is a huge unappreciated ergonomic advantage over the duel shock style.

Again with the false bullshit, fred.

Watch the video for godfather. You can shoot the people in body parts. WTF are you talking about boxes that it snaps to?

Why would I want to have my gun not be able to move? You are basically saying that the person's gun is glued to their shoulder and they have to move their body to aim.

The reason why PC FPS's do that is because there is no other option.

I don't much care for the options. They don't leave any room for subtle preferences. Obviously, the mouse is, flat out, the most accurate. Anybody who says differently is a fool. However, I don't much care for the keyboard. WASD is just a pain in the ass.

For single player, I'll almost always choose the dual analog route. It's not as precise, but I've used it enough that it feels plenty natural and it's a whole lot more comfortable for my left hand.

# 35. The position of the analog stick on the sixaxis is something Ive been asking for a while. It is exponentially more comforatble to not have to turn your thumb like that.

The primary control mechanism has always been where the D-pad is, until PS2 started using the analog stick exclusively.

Dual Analog was my choice. Keyboard and Mouse, I feel, is fundamentally flawed because of the lack of analog control while moving. I mean, it's more natural on a control stick vs. WASD (especially with crouching).

I also cannot stand how I have to memorize what each and every key does. With a controller, I have everything in one spot so it's not hard to reach.

@32
[Metroid Prime Hunters is obviously the quickest and most accurate, but how real is it? It hardly replaces real world shooting with any type of difficulty like analog sticks or a mouse movement.]

Wait... that doesn't make any sense. Clearly the Wiimote would be the most realistic since you have to hold your arm/hand steady as you would a real gun. Sure, there is no recoil, but there isn't on a controller or mouse. With a controller you have to hold the analog stick steady to aim... the mechanics aren't the same as amining a real firearm, but the result is the essentially same. The mouse is the least realistic since there is no real aiming involved. A mouse just stays where you put it, thus rendering the aiming to point-n-click status.

As I stated before I prefer a KB/M for multiplayer since I like fast paced multiplayer and the mouse fits that style the best... but it's not even remotely realistic. None of them are, but the mouse is the furthest away from it.

actually Fred T, if you can set the reticle to the center of the screen on CoD3 for the wii and have the background move around it, try new things first before you try to bash them.

as far as the other categories go, KB/M will always be reffered to as the best where as dual analogs with triggers and rumble feel more real, though i've played all types of FPS on all of those categories and they're all great if you take the time to get used to them

Blake Snow:
Wolfenstein 3D did not use a keyboard and mouse. Early PC FPS games used only the keyboard, and PC controls changed significantly during the time between Wolfenstein 3D and Quake.

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What's the best way to first-person shoot?
	Mouse and keyboard
	Any Wii shooter
	Metroid Prime Hunters' style
	Dual directional pads (traditional controller)
	Other

Poll: What's the best way to first-person shoot?

Reader Comments (120)

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