• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Help Changing from Console to PC

J

JumpinJackal

Junior Member
Hi everyone,

I've been playing FPS since they came out but mostly on a console rather than PC. Within the last 6 months I've started playing FPS online and I'm absolutely horrible! I'm having a tough time using a keyboard and mouse instead of a controller. I can't hit the broad side of a barn and my movement skills aren't that great either. I've already done the registry thing to stop the mouse acceleration but it hasn't helped much.

Are there any tips or tricks you guys can give me? This is very frustrating.

Thanks 🙂
 
Practice. You are coming from an mostly auto aim/assist environment with very sloppy controls to pin point accuracy. It is expected it will take some getting use too.
 
Play a singleplayer FPS on Easy.

Get yourself familiar with your keyboard and mouse as you are going nowhere until you are comfortable with your movement and the response.

As you become more comfortable with the controls in place you can increase the difficulty to sharpen yourself up a little bit.

These steps won't make you from 'awful' into 'good enough to have some fun' immediately and I am only suggesting them as you say you are a console FPS'er presenting difficulties with the input devices.

Once you start to combine your mastery of the mouse, have struck up some khemistry with your keyboard and feel competent at dispatching AI controlled monsters then you can progress to gaming against real people. If the games you are wanting to play offer large servers, aim for ones with a high player count. Most of the time the large servers are populated by players of all skill levels and if they are team orientated, won't be adversely affected if you are still getting to grips with the game... no pressure to be the best.

As you play and learn you will get better and probably want to configure your buttons more to suit your style of play and comfort. You might even want to browse the specific forum for that game to pick up some specific tips there.

You are in a position that most of us have been in. A stage where you are feeling uncomfortable with the Mouse/Keyboard combination for an FPS (I was 11 when I started playing Quake 1 in a LAN against people aged 30-50) and as a consequence you suck. Nail the basic movement and then start to play as I don't think you'll be able to run (and gun) without first learning how to walk.

Personally due to health issues (read: motion sickness) I rarely ever play FPS games now and could never play a competitive, fast FPS in multiplayer because of this but from my personal experience, this is how I think you would best progress.

Alternatively, you could always use a console controller with your PC and configure to suit. However I think that you would struggle like nobodys business even with your controller familiarity with no real hope of the situation getting better.

I've typed up quite a bit so I hope that you find something in here that is of some use to you and remember... we were all newb once 🙂
 
practice with a good twitch shooter. i think either q3 or ut2k4 even had some user made practice maps for shooting and movement.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Elcs said:
Alternatively, you could always use a console controller with your PC and configure to suit. However I think that you would struggle like nobodys business even with your controller familiarity with no real hope of the situation getting better
Click to expand...

Right. I've tried a controller, it may have made me better but only a little. Best to do it the right way I guess and get this key/mouse thing down.

nkgreen: practice with a good twitch shooter. i think either q3 or ut2k4 even had some user made practice maps for shooting and movement.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've been playing Quake Live so that's something I'll have to look into.
 
I'd also add, try sticking with one map and one mode. That way you can concentrate solely on improving aim and movement and not learning new maps and modes. I wouldn't recommend picking a real old game. If you pick something old, you'll be going against players who already have ten years of experience just on that game.
 
Last edited:
One of the big problems I have is this, in a shoot out my mouse ends up on the end of the table and by the time I lift it and move it center I'm fragged. Maybe I'm moving the mouse to much? And/or maybe I'm not straffing properly causing excessive mouse movement?
 
JumpinJackal said:
One of the big problems I have is this, in a shoot out my mouse ends up on the end of the table and by the time I lift it and move it center I'm fragged. Maybe I'm moving the mouse to much? And/or maybe I'm not straffing properly causing excessive mouse movement?
Click to expand...

Check out an in-game option called 'Mouse Sensitivity'

This means you can move your mouse less to get the same effect on the screen. Should resolve the quoted issue once you figure out the appropriate level for you 🙂

You shouldn't be in a situation where you have to lift the mouse during a firefight. This will be resolved by the mouse sensitivity.
 
Last edited:
JumpinJackal said:
One of the big problems I have is this, in a shoot out my mouse ends up on the end of the table and by the time I lift it and move it center I'm fragged. Maybe I'm moving the mouse to much? And/or maybe I'm not straffing properly causing excessive mouse movement?
Click to expand...

Sounds like your sensitivity is turned too low. Try turning it up It may feel too twitchy at first, but if you're moving a lot and getting up close and personal with people, it should help.
 
modestninja said:
Sounds like your sensitivity is turned too low. Try turning it up It may feel too twitchy at first, but if you're moving a lot and getting up close and personal with people, it should help.
Click to expand...

Agree 100% with this post.

You need to turn up the DPI on your mouse if possible, 1600-2000DPI is great for FPS games.
 
Only issue with turning up the mouse sensitivity is that aiming becomes harder. You'll have to find a balance. For me, moving my mouse from the center of the pad to the edge turns me a bit over 90 deg for most games. Of course if you can have a really high sensitivity and still aim well, that's even better since you can aim faster.
 
JTsyo said:
Only issue with turning up the mouse sensitivity is that aiming becomes harder. You'll have to find a balance. For me, moving my mouse from the center of the pad to the edge turns me a bit over 90 deg for most games. Of course if you can have a really high sensitivity and still aim well, that's even better since you can aim faster.
Click to expand...

I feel it is best just to turn it up, and start playing. At first it will be difficult to get the precision you want, but once you do you will have near instantaneous aiming. Just go through the growing pains with high sensitivity, and your future gains will make the games more enjoyable.
 
whats your fps?
higher than 50 is necessary for good control..fast turns.
and well.practice..wasd+mouse is like learning to type, its an aquired skill. if you don't believe me, try swapping hands and see if you can play. i mean i can mouse quite easily in windows with both hands, but if i tried swapping hands with wasd+mouse..it goes to sh*t.
that and you can deathmatch with bots if you need lowered difficulty in some games. or in cs find a deathmatch server so you don't have to wait.
 
JumpinJackal said:
One of the big problems I have is this, in a shoot out my mouse ends up on the end of the table and by the time I lift it and move it center I'm fragged. Maybe I'm moving the mouse to much? And/or maybe I'm not straffing properly causing excessive mouse movement?
Click to expand...

woah no way, that means your mouse sensitivity is set way too slow. normally most players prefer being able to do a quick 180 turn easily within the confines of their mouse area..you have to be able to snap turn to shoot someone behind you or check your 6 in many games after all. this all depends on you having enough fps, without that you won't feel in control and will struggle no matter what.
 
Last edited:
Elcs said:
.

Alternatively, you could always use a console controller with your PC and configure to suit. However I think that you would struggle like nobodys business even with your controller familiarity with no real hope of the situation getting better.
Click to expand...

you "could"...but console games are built with much "auto aim" assist and "fuzzy aim" shotgun effect to compensate for the lack of thumbstick precision. there is no such thing in pc games, and online you'll get raped using a controller. back in the day you could tell who was using a joystick or keyboard only in early fps, their turns were so smooth and slow, you could just chew them up. wasd+mouse is just far more precise and quick. straffing can help you aim.
 
Last edited:
0roo0roo said:
you "could"...but console games are built with much "auto aim" assist and "fuzzy aim" shotgun effect to compensate for the lack of thumbstick precision. there is no such thing in pc games, and online you'll get raped using a controller. back in the day you could tell who was using a joystick or keyboard only in early fps, their turns were so smooth and slow, you could just chew them up. wasd+mouse is just far more precise and quick. straffing can help you aim.
Click to expand...

My point was that using the console controller would mean that the OP would be permenantly crap albeit better than he is at this present moment.
 
Martimus said:
I feel it is best just to turn it up, and start playing. At first it will be difficult to get the precision you want, but once you do you will have near instantaneous aiming. Just go through the growing pains with high sensitivity, and your future gains will make the games more enjoyable.
Click to expand...
Yep. You're just going to have to develop a steadier hand, that's all.

Or, get a big Kensington trackball. That's what I use.
 
For reference, to move my mouse in Windows from one side of the monitor to the other, it moves about 3" or less on a 1920x1200 monitor.
I have about the same sensitivity in games as I do for my desktop, so to turn doesn't require a huge amount of movement.

You really shouldn't be moving your mouse all that far to turn/etc in games.
Try upping your Windows sensitivity/movement speed if it's low, that way you will be able to get used to a higher sensitivity more quickly.
 
And be sure to use a decent mouse. My MX Revolution dropped dead a few weeks ago, and while I was waiting on the warranty, I bought a MS Wiresless 4000. (I think) I was kind of a look-alike to the MX. But, OMG was it a POS. I could barely game with it. I switched to a "Pack-in" cheap-o Dell wired optical, and it was much better.

They replaced my Revolution with a Logitech MX Performance. Nice mouse! I'm digging it!

Cliffs:
Your mouse could make a big difference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top