PC Do you prefer a controller?

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Do you prefer a controller to play Skyrim?


  • Total voters
    411

Pendalyn

Very Dangerous Nobody
Played Morrowind in the PC version and didn't mind the controls. I assume Skyrim is much the same. I'm comfy with the ps3 controls though, and while having to strafe with the bow aimed to get the perfect shot is sometimes annoying, they are pretty easy and comprehensive. Hot keys aren't my biggest desire, as I'm pretty adept at hacking, slashing and hitting the inventory menu mid death to instantly heal up with a potion (thank god for game pause!). I am most looking forward to PC Skyrim for the addition of mods to the world/environment and interesting quests.
 

The Wooden Dagger

New Member
I can play games on both, but I heavily prefer console. It feels more comfortable, smooth to me. The only games I prefer on pc are Shooters, even though I've enjoyed hours of Halo, Gears Of War and Army Of Two on my 360.
 
Whilst I love having the keyboard for obvious reasons such as the shortcut for autosave, I have to choose the controller because I have take a long time reconfiguring the keyboard to my settings just so I can play without having to strangely place my hand in positions that hurt.
 

Naglfar

Member
Being new to PC gaming I've no real preference at the moment, as I come from console gaming I tend to use the controller but I'm moving more towards the keyboard and mouse as I see their benefits. I'll sit on the fence for now.
 

Trickstar

New Member
Yes, probably because I initially played Skyrim on the 360 and have become used to those controls.

SkyUI is making me gradually switch to keyboard & mouse.
 

Chadonraz

Well-Known Member
I like both.

Controller is better for pretty much everything except aiming, however m&kb makes using hotkeys easier. And some hotkeys are only available with m&kb.
Mod config with a controller is a pain, because I want to use keyboard hotkeys for quite a few things. So I have to untick the "Use 360 controller" before configuring and re-tick it afterwards.

But all in all, I do prefer a controller. I initially played on the 360 as well.
 
If I were to choose between both, I'd go with a controller, but there's simply no way of making ps3's L2 and R2 work for me. Is there any workaround for it?
 

Benthos

Proud Mer
Being a person who grew up playing video games with a controller, I feel more suited being able to respond quicker with thumbs on a joy stick than fingers key pressing.
 

Lucid

Well-Known Member
If I were to choose between both, I'd go with a controller, but there's simply no way of making ps3's L2 and R2 work for me. Is there any workaround for it?

I've never been able to work out the bugginess of PS3 controllers. I gave up and switched to Xbox 360 controllers. All of the buttons work well and I don't have any latency or aiming problems at all.
 

TheNatural

Active Member
I love using my 360 controller. The reason why I went to that setup initially, is because I was having problems with slight input lag with my Keyboard and mouse setup. I went with a wireless 360 controller and have really never looked back. I love that it is Plug and Play, no special button mapping software required. It even works flawlessly with things like SkyUI.

When I did get my Input lag issue fixed, I thought I would try playing my archer with with the key and mouse setup, but honestly, I felt archery was a little too easy with the mouse setup. I could be outdoors at a ruin, with bandits on multiple levels, and it was very simple to just pick them off one-by-one. I know that sounds kinda goofy, but I feel a bit more satisfaction making an impossible shot with my controller than with my mouse.

As far as magic or melee builds, it is hands down controller for me. I love the rumble, and the more tactile melee experience. There is something impersonal about swinging a sword or blocking with a shield with a simple, underwhelming *click*.
 

Thepointman

Member
If you asked me 10 or 15 years ago I would have said a controller hands down. Like most of the people here, I grew up a console player. However console gaming took a backseat when I started to really get into pc games. Mostly it was the ability to mod the crap out of games that sold me, and I just got so used to using a mouse and board now I can't imagine using anything else. Toss in programmable mice and other peripherals that I own and it was a done deal.
 

Thorin

New Member
I've always been a console player, and I just love the feel of an Xbox controller. I think PC keyboard and mouse is fun to use too, nice to switch up a bit, but certainly I prefer Xbox controllers.

- Thorin
 

Lewsean

Member
I HATE using a controller for Skyrim o_O Any game that is primarily first person needs to be a Keyboard+Mouse for me. Playing CS since I was 9 kind of pre-programmed me, I can't aim at all with a controller.
 

Wippii

Bookworm
Yes.

As stated by others, aiming is harder with a controller - however the pros easily outweigh that one con. When I play with mouse and keyboard, moving feels kind of awkward, since I can only walk, run or sprint. With a controller I can adjust my speed a LOT better, and I don't feel like a robot.
I do use my keyboard in addition to the controller, so I always map all the hotkeys to the two lowest rows (Left Shift to Right Shift and Left Ctrl to Right Ctrl).
 

TheNatural

Active Member
I switched to keyboard and mouse for a while while I was abroad and playing on a laptop. I play 99% of the games I own with a Keyboard and mouse, and I have to say for Skyrim, I still prefer the controller, especially with sneaky characters. I didn't like how I couldn't control how quickly I walked while stealthing around dungeons. Also, I soaking in the view and varying my pace when moving around the world. I've defended mouse and keyboard on so many forums over the years (especially FPS games), but Skyrim, to me, is the exception.
 
As much as I love PC gaming, I just find it easier for first experiences to be with a controller. Maybe it is just growing up a console gamer before making the switch to PC gaming as well, but even with say Battlefield 3, I bought PC and 360 copies, but mainly play 360. I'll get around to playing on PC as well, but for right now I enjoy starting out on the consoles.
I think it all depends on what you gamed with first. Having grown up in the Atari age, I cannot use controllers for FPS games, too slow, too inaccurate if they dont use some sort of auto aiming, which in my book is cheating. They cant ever be as smooth or as responsive as a mouse + keyboard. Plus, lack of keyboard shortcuts and such its just too limiting for me. But hey, however you enjoy Skyrim, your still enjoying Skyrim :)
 

Mighty Pecan Pie

The secret American
I prefer a controller, especially since I play games on my laptop. The touchpad is horrible for gaming..
 

Lunawarlu

New Member
Always and not just for skyrim, I have to programs (pinnacle, and xpadder) that allow to play any pc game with my controller, works great! I never could do the WASD thing very well so using the joysticks makes it all easy.
 

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