Now I've a decent PC, I completely suck at FPSs

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Quartz-1

Supreme [H]ardness
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I used to love Doom, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D, and Far Cry. This past year, after several years of not purchasing anything due to poverty, I've purchased Hard Reset and Borderlands 2. And I suck at both. And I suck even harder with my new PC (the quiet PC in the sig below). I really can't get anywhere with either. Heaven forfend what will happen when I build myself a high-end gaming PC. But I'm fine in RTSs like C&C3.

Granted I'm aging, but at a mere 46 I shouldn't be having such trouble, should I? Or is it my move to a trackball? Twinges in my fingers mean I haven't used a mouse in games in ~8 years.
 
Trackballs :eek:...

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Anyway! Where were we... Yes, why you "suck" at FPS... Let's assume you're doing it all wrong, and need to start doing it more right. Make sure the monitor is infront of you, and you are sitting square on to the monitor. Practice lots. Like a whole shitton. I find games without crosshairs help for some reason (Killing Floor) as it helps you to aim using positional somethings, try to break crappy habits and start from basics. All it is, is moving around and clicking things. :D Trackballs aren't the worst things in the world, but they aren't the best...a mouse would probably be better, but as it doesn't suit you so well you can stick with the trackball. The first thing about games is that they should be fin. :D But practice enough with anything and it shall come to you.
 
Sorry to hear you have twinges in your fingers but I think trying to play an FPS with a trackball is your issue. Perhaps try different mouse sensitivities to see if it helps.
 
I think it's one of those things that has to come naturally. I've played lot of FPSes but I always sucked. I can't aim worth a crap, that's my main problem. I just don't have the precision it takes to get the cursor/crosshair to a very specific pixel that is moving and click fast enough while keeping it on target. Ex: trying to snipe someone that is moving, or even just shoot someone in the head with a pistol.

In intense situations I tend to also run out of mousepad room which messes me up.
 
Borderlands 2 and Hard Reset are more than traditional FPS games. If you're hitting your target, then the trackball isn't the problem; if the games seem difficult for other reasons then you just need to figure out the game.

I had some initial trouble with BL2 because I wasn't leveling-up my player properly or using his best features. Stick mostly to one of the three columns when leveling and use the character's special ability.

For Hard Reset, you need to use a combination of the weapons simultaneously to be effective or else you'll get stomped. I like to first use the stasis grenade from the electric mortar to slow down the enemies, then use primary fire, then switch to the CLN grenade launcher and either hit them with a grenade (primary) or toss in a gravity grenade to add insult to injury. Also, keep moving if you have enough room. To get access to more weapons, you have to upgrade at least one part of a weapon to the left; in the red/blocked weapons, it'll show you what you need to upgrade to unlock new weapons.
 
switch from a trackball to mouse for sure

I used a trackball about 15 years ago to play the original counter-strike mod.
I was extremely good, but eventually I got a decent mouse and I was more than twice as good with the mouse compared to the trackball.
 
No matter how good you are, there's always a 12 year old Asian kid that's 10x better.
 
Some 15 years ago a fried of mine said he's gonna wipe the floor with me on Quake 2 using his crap trackball ha ha ha
 
So, if I can't use a mouse, what should I be using if I should use something other than a trackball?
 
Someone I know uses a drawing tablet for gaming. It's got the accuracy of a mouse (and you can more from point to point instantly), though it seems like it would need some practice!
 
/\ that is actually somewhat neat but looks like it will get your wrist tired real fast.
 
LOL, lots of trackball haters here huh. I still use the MS trackman explorer and wouldn't change it for anything. You can game just fine with a trackball.

The only thing I can tell the OP though is that practice on the FPS takes a little more time when you get older. @42 when I get a new FPS, it takes a few hours to get the timing back, specially when I generally play RPG/MMO/TBS.
 
I dont think people are trackball haters, I think they just know that FPS are better played with a normal mouse. I guarantee you if a trackball was better, a lot of people would switch.

I have no problem with people that use trackballs. My buddy works with one, I just cant do it. I tried for a little bit and I felt like I did not have enough control but he can work super fast with it.
 
r3awak3n said:
I dont think people are trackball haters, I think they just know that FPS are better played with a normal mouse. I guarantee you if a trackball was better, a lot of people would switch.

I have no problem with people that use trackballs. My buddy works with one, I just cant do it. I tried for a little bit and I felt like I did not have enough control but he can work super fast with it.
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Exactly it's all user preference. I'm sure there is at least one trackball fps pro out there but the majority of people I think prefer a standard mouse. At least I do.
 
The problem with trackballs and fps's is not the use of one... Its that the hardware manufacturers do not make a high DPI trackball, other than one very non ergonomic mouse made for people with disabilities.
 
ShuttleLuv said:
Exactly it's all user preference. I'm sure there is at least one trackball fps pro out there but the majority of people I think prefer a standard mouse. At least I do.
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No gaming pro is using trackball. What a crazy assumption, really. Trackballs suck for gaming, simple as that.
 
How about a vertical mouse? I've heard they work well for people with medical conditions.
 
I also meant to say and forgot. Not everyone is good at something other people are good at it. Maybe you are just not good at FPS and better at other games. Maybe you are not so good at the FPS you are played.
 
Quartz-1 said:
I used to love Doom, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D, and Far Cry. This past year, after several years of not purchasing anything due to poverty, I've purchased Hard Reset and Borderlands 2. And I suck at both. And I suck even harder with my new PC (the quiet PC in the sig below). I really can't get anywhere with either. Heaven forfend what will happen when I build myself a high-end gaming PC. But I'm fine in RTSs like C&C3.

Granted I'm aging, but at a mere 46 I shouldn't be having such trouble, should I? Or is it my move to a trackball? Twinges in my fingers mean I haven't used a mouse in games in ~8 years.
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the early FPS games you mentioned (doom, quake, DN3D, far cry) were all specifically written for the PC (KB & mouse). almost all current FPS games are console ports with the exception of Hard Reset. console ports often aren't up to properly supporting the precision of a KB & mouse (shit mouse control, mouse acceleration, rubbish FOV (field of view) etc). i'm not saying all ports are bad, tho some are left wanting when it come to mouse control.

Hard Reset 'should' feel most at home regarding old school FPS action as it was written and meant to be played on a PC. it doesn't have horrid mouse acceleration and has a very wide FOV (think slider maxes out at 110-120 degrees). i dunno about BL2 tho i know the initial release of BL1 was terrible on the PC (later fixed?).

regarding trackballs with FPS games, it certainly never occurred to me to use one and as others have said not really optimal for these types of games. i understand there are a variety of trackballs on the market (hybrid mice w- trackball & pure trackball pads) however i imagine that's a lot of strain to place on thumb/forefingers for game movement. wrist & forearm manipulation affords far better comfortable control with a mouse.

unless the state of your hands/fingers completely precludes the use of a mouse, perhaps you need to look at purchasing a decent ergonomic mouse. how you normally use a mouse will help identify the best mouse for comfortable use over long periods. things to look at are; hand size & how you normally grip the mouse. is your forearm mostly resting on the desk (parallel or raised) or do you use the mouse at edge of desk (forearm off the desk and below the plane of desk surface). are you a 'front' mouse button clicker (mouse palming) or a 'top' mouse button clicker? without knowing how your hand is most comfortable holding a mouse (or if you do know), really need to sample mice in person at a desk at your normal seating height relative to desktop. i believe ergonomically, your forearm should be mostly resting on desk perhaps slightly raised so your hand isn't pivoted too high above the level of the arm. this is to reduce strain in the wrist.

personally i prefer a large wide mouse (wide to comfortably rest my thumb beside the forward/back buttons) with my entire forearm resting on desk. i usually have a folded towel to slightly elevate my arm because i'm a 'top' mouse button clicker. this is the most comfortable position i've found for me personally. my hands are a bit knackered as well so i can't play long click-fest games (like action RPGs, some RTS & FPS) anymore. due to my age i prefer hybrid/straight TBS (turn base strategy) like Civilization 5 and all the Total War games. i also love my RPG games if there are any decent ones about (isometric and 1st person view) tho they're few and far between atm.

i hope you're able to find a mouse that works for you that doesn't aggravate the issues with your hand. personally i don't see how FPS works with a trackball tho i guess anything is possible with practice.
 
dgz said:
No gaming pro is using trackball. What a crazy assumption, really. Trackballs suck for gaming, simple as that.
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Bullshit.
I used to play Quake 2 competitively with a Logitech Trackman Marble. I completely decimated with that mouse and the only reason I don't use one today is the fact that there is no mousewheel/dial, and only has a max of 2 buttons.

Thumb trackballs are hard to play with, but nothing beats the accuracy of a middle mounted giant ball. If they would figure out a way to add a mousewheel/dial and some more buttons, I'd buy another Trackman in a heartbeat. But thats not gonna happen(or would have already, years ago), so I'll continue playing with my MX518...
 
Just throwing my thoughts into the matter as a trackball user and gamer -

For the majority of people, trackball mice are not sensible for gaming, and I would agree with them. I have been gaming on a Logitech Trackman Trackball mouse for over a decade and I can say that it takes time and patience to get use to it, but for me it has payed off. With the combination of having long fingers and the resistance to actually pick up a mouse to use, I have found that the trackball is not only comfortable but effective for me when gaming, but like I said, it isn't for everyone. When I go to LAN parties people can't believe that I game with it, but its just how it is, I still place top in FPS games, I played CAL-P in CS, competitive Quake 3, Starcraft 2 for 2 seasons, all of the Battlefields, and also WoW for several years.

The reason why I like the trackball over a normal mouse is because it makes sense to me for movement when looking around, I can spin the ball and stop on a dime when I need to pull a 180 or look quickly around corners, it just took practice like anything else. I am by no means a professional gamer, but I thought I would throw this out there. Again, it isn't for everyone, but for some of us, it works, not everyone wants to be a pro gamer, but being good is something everyone does want to be and I can say I have at least achieved that with a trackball.

Edit - One annoying thing about using a trackball is that all FPS games use the scroll wheel to change weapons, I have to remap that to the two inside buttons on the mouse.
 
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LeXXon said:
Edit - One annoying thing about using a trackball is that all FPS games use the scroll wheel to change weapons, I have to remap that to the two inside buttons on the mouse.
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FYI the Kensington Orbit trackball I use (did I mention I'm left-handed?) has a scroll ring.
 
I've looked at those, they are just too fat for me really, I like the slender feel, fits my hand nicely.
 
A trackball, and a joystick? Why not just a mouse? I'm not getting this at all...
 
BiH115 said:
A trackball, and a joystick? Why not just a mouse? I'm not getting this at all...
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he has an issue with his hand that makes using a normal mouse difficult/unpleasant.

i grew up using a trackball on fps games never had any problems. if you get practiced with a trackball they can be equal to any regular mouse
 
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I have seen people who play pretty good with track balls, the problem is I bet when you were good at FPS games you used the mouse then you switched to a track ball, so all that muscle memory you had is gone. You have to start all over, I bet you weren't good at FPS the first time you ever played one.

Also now days people are just hardcore, there are so many more good FPS gamers, people who roam from game to game. Used to be you could jump into a new game and most people would be horrible, but now there are thousands of players who are just good hopping from one new game to the next. On top of that alot of those good player play in beta, so litterally the DAY a game releases there are already hundreds to thousands of players who have already mastered it. They know every corner of every map and while their pure aim may not be as good as yours they are way ahead on everything else.

You have to play a while to catch up.

Other things, CRT, in the old days, shitty LCD today, all of it will take adapting but if you play it you will start to get better. Thes
 
It's all about the muscle memory and the innate reactions that begin to develop.

I can imagine it being much easier with a mouse too, probably why it's the weapon of choice for all pro players.
 
Vicinity said:
What compelled you to try an FPS with a trackball?
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Good question.

FPS games are truly at their best with K/M without a trackball , even if you don't prefer it that way .. its the only way to be "good" at them period.

I vote you just get used to K/M without a trackball.
 
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