Mouse acceleration

[moonbogg]

OK, so I reformatted my PC and realized that the mouse felt slow and strange due to mouse acceleration not being on. Then I tried some BF3 and it felt strange etc, so I wanted mouse acceleration back on, so i did a bit of reading.
To keep it short and simple, I get the idea that i might be limiting my gameplay and putting myself at a slight disadvantage by using acceleration. Is this true? Could i possibly get any better by getting used to playing with straight, raw input? From what I read, mouse acceleration makes the pointer travel unpredictable depending on how fast you move the mouse and that turning it off makes the mouse predictable, repeatable and consistent.
Should I get used to playing without it and make damn sure its turned off?

 

[Canbacon]

It honestly depends on your play style. I would see what it is like after 1-2 weeks of adapting to raw input. If you are good with it on, keep it on, if you don't like it go back to the original setup.

For me, I had to turn it off due to some games not registering the quick movement of the mouse due to the acceleration/precision option. What I use on my mouse is max DPI and low mouse setting in the game.

 

[Red Storm]

I always enable raw mouse input with any game that allows it.

 

[Dankk]

Contrary to what a lot of people think, mouse acceleration isn't necessarily bad. It allows you to make quick mouse movements while still retaining accuracy.

Many people get regular mouse acceleration confused with "negative" mouse acceleration. Negative acceleration is bad. It restricts your cursor movement to a certain speed, regardless of how fast you move your mouse. It's a "feature" left over from many console ports, and the developers are too lazy to get rid of it in the PC port.

Generally speaking: Use the settings you're comfortable with. If you're accustomed to having mouse acceleration, and you play well with it, I see no reason to turn it off.

 

[moonbogg]

It honestly depends on your play style. I would see what it is like after 1-2 weeks of adapting to raw input. If you are good with it on, keep it on, if you don't like it go back to the original setup.

For me, I had to turn it off due to some games not registering the quick movement of the mouse due to the acceleration/precision option. What I use on my mouse is max DPI and low mouse setting in the game.

I have been good with 800dpi and acceleration on. For sniping, when i am scoped in, I can make precise, controlled movements. But when I want to turn around fast, moving the mouse quickly will allow that. With raw input, I have to mouse the mouse really far to turn around, so I think acceleration is good for that and plus I am just so used to it. I'll have to try it I guess. Its just that i've heard people say how much better gaming is when its off so it has me wondering.

EDIT: I just saw that LessThanDan pointed out this exact same thing about precision with ability to move quick.

 

[BrightCandle]

In the early 2000's I got really good at FPS's (won a European championship) with mouse acceleration on. But then that mouse died and there wasn't a replacement and I couldn't get that type of acceleration again. But it turns out almost all the pro FPSers these days use raw input and turn off the acceleration, and look for mice that don't have it.

Its actually two things you need to work on. One is relatively low mouse sensitivity, somewhere around 400 DPI should be fine although some pros are as low as 275. Most target being able to do 180 degree spin from the centre of the mat in either direction. What this allows you to do is build up the muscle memory for how far you have to move in order to move a certain amount in game. The second thing it does is allow you to start speeding up the rate at which you move the mouse such that you can aim much more accurately and quickly.

It takes a long while to get used to it, but in the end its likely worth it.

 

[moonbogg]

In the early 2000's I got really good at FPS's (won a European championship) with mouse acceleration on. But then that mouse died and there wasn't a replacement and I couldn't get that type of acceleration again. But it turns out almost all the pro FPSers these days use raw input and turn off the acceleration, and look for mice that don't have it.

Its actually two things you need to work on. One is relatively low mouse sensitivity, somewhere around 400 DPI should be fine although some pros are as low as 275. Most target being able to do 180 degree spin from the centre of the mat in either direction. What this allows you to do is build up the muscle memory for how far you have to move in order to move a certain amount in game. The second thing it does is allow you to start speeding up the rate at which you move the mouse such that you can aim much more accurately and quickly.

It takes a long while to get used to it, but in the end its likely worth it.

Sounds logical and legit. I might give it a try. I like the idea of knowing how far to move the mouse for a 180 turn and then developing muscle memory.

 

[Wyndru]

My Logitech G3 defaults at a low DPI, and when I use acceleration it feels like it almost has a delay on it. There is a button on this mouse that sets the DPI to 2000, which seems a lot smoother to me (with no acceleration). I might be just imagining the difference, but I've always figured that by design HW acceleration trumps SW acceleration.

 

[Ben90]

In the early 2000's I got really good at FPS's (won a European championship) with mouse acceleration on. But then that mouse died and there wasn't a replacement and I couldn't get that type of acceleration again. But it turns out almost all the pro FPSers these days use raw input and turn off the acceleration, and look for mice that don't have it.

The difference is the pace of games today. The majority of pro quake players did in fact use acceleration.

 

[BrightCandle]

The difference is the pace of games today. The majority of pro quake players did in fact use acceleration.

My thing was COD (original). Playing that in hardcore mode (one shot kills) so acceleration in many ways was not an appropriate thing to use, but I was really good with it. Nowadays I just suck at everything as I relearn how to use a mouse without acceleration and at a speed much below what I am used to. 4 months in and I am at least feeling comfortable in games but far from feeling awesome or achieving hit rates I want.

 

[Crow550]

I thought Windows Mouse sensitivity cranked up all the way with enhanced pointer precision turned off.

Then in game check raw input if allows and sensitivity cranked up along with keeping Mouse acceleration/smoothing off was the way to go?

As you'd use your Mouses DPI settings for Highest when like using powerful guns and lowest for like sniping?

 

[TheRyuu]

I thought Windows Mouse sensitivity cranked up all the way with enhanced pointer precision turned off.

Then in game check raw input if allows and sensitivity cranked up along with keeping Mouse acceleration/smoothing off was the way to go?

As you'd use your Mouses DPI settings for Highest when like using powerful guns and lowest for like sniping?

For what is effectively "raw input" (i.e. no acceleration and a 1:1 ratio) you want 6/11 with enhanced precision unchecked. Then with acceleration off in game adjust sensitivity accordingly.

It is generally regarded that not using acceleration will give you a more consistent game in the long run because you get used to it (e.g. you don't have time to think about how far to twitch to someone in game you just do it. Furthermore, by not using acceleration this distance is the same each time which should build muscle memory).