what are your game input devices of choice?

[eyemthatguy]

I'm curious to know what everyone is using to play games. I used to have a logitech wingman force (usb- forcefeedback) I donated it to charity after not playing games for a long time. Now IM getting back into FPS and racing(motorcycle and car) and want some knowledge of whats good.

Thank you..

[Sephiroth]

I just use the old keyboard and mouse combo for FPS's. My keyboard is an ergonomic one, I can't remember the brand, and the mouse is a Micro$oft Intellimouse Explorer. I use the Interact-3dfx Hammerhead for racing and Descent.

[SSSYNTH]

Nothing beats a mouse\keyboard setup for FPS, I hate to use anything else, but, for simulations, my main requirement for a joystick, is to have a "rudder" axis. For flying sims, tank sims, a rudder control is almost mandatory. I used to love the MS Sidewinder Precision Pro, I had two of them, but, MICROSOFT MAKES SOME PISS POOR QUALITY PRODUCTS. Both joysticks barely lasted one year. Same thing with their mice. I paid with tax almost $85 for a MS Intellimouse Explorer, it lasted ONE YEAR. I had to buy another one. I wanted the 5 buttons plus scroll wheel, and only MS makes one. Emailed MS Tech support, with an elaborate explaination of the problems I had, and their reply was,"Gee, we don't know what your talking about". MICROSOFT has some well designed products, but THEIR QUALITY ABSOLUTLY SUCKS FOR THE HIGH PRICES THEY CHARGE. It's too bad LOGITECH don't build the products for MICROSOFT. Their stuff is well built and sturdier.(and cheaper).
So, IMHO, stick with a LOGITECH joystick, you don't need FF. Their DIGITAL WINGMAN EXTREME 3D, has served me well for OVER ONE AND A HALF YEARS. Besides, it's a lot cheaper than MS's

[jpdrums]

I almost never use mine but it's great when I need it. SInce I mostly play FPS I use the good old mouse and Keyboard. For my racing and sports or adventure 3rd person I use the Gravis Exterminator Gamepad. It's pretty awesome and has both analog and digital controls as well as a zillion buttons.

[[OSF]MDK]

Most people like mouse keyboard for fps, But I really like my pantherXL. I wish it was a digital joystick, but it has great feel. I've always used a joystick to play games and just couldn't make the switch to keyboard. I modded the trackball thats in it to use an optical mouse that I have plugged into a usb. It's a lot smoother than the original trackball. i also use a MS sidewinder game pad for mame and other emulators, and use a sidewinder precision pro for some other games.

[petric]

FPS = keyboard and Mirocrap Intellimouse Explorer. When the mouse works (95% of the time), it is awesome, when it doesn't I want to throw it through the window. (SSSYNTH, I am PM'ing you to see if you have same problem I do.)

I also use a Saitek Cyborg Gold joystick. I don't have many flight or sim games that require it, but it is very nice.

Have a generic game pad which blows. I hear the original Sidewinder was good but don't want to buy one after the Intellimouse problems. Might try out the Gravis Exterminator Jpdrums was talking about.

[Mastard]

nothing beats keyboard+mouse in FPS games. any smooth typing keyboard will do(i LOVE the HP ones), but I'd recommend a razer boomslang 2000 for mousing. some people don't like it, but from the day i've used it and let go of my intellieye and several other mousebrands i've bought and tried, IMO, nothing compares to the accuracy a boomslang can give you(it shows most at higher sensitivity). go dig it www.razerzone.com . when i've tried using intellieye at the speeds i run my boomslang it just skips wild all over the place and jumps over dozens of pixels at a time in games(in other words @#$# accuracy at higher speeds).

as for racing games and flight sims of the like, i have little to no experience with

[HiFidelityX]

For FPS I use the Logitech Trackman Marble +. It's a trackball, which many people don't like, but it works (very well) for me. And it's optical so it's very accurate and consistent.

[dieu]

My finger...

[GodH8sMe]

I have tried quite a few different controllers in the last few days, and I think hands down my ORIGINAL Microsoft Sidewinder still prevails. I played with the MS Sidewinder Pro (USB, shiny, 6 face buttons, D pad, 1 "shift" button on face, L/R triggers) - and well, it sucks. Then I got a Gravis GamePad Pro USB. Apparently a lot of people like this control. Apparently a lot of people are 13 years old. This control is pretty small, and cramps my hand pretty bad. There's 10 buttons but I'll be damned if it's comfortable! I hate the PSX/2 controls, so it wasn't a surprise to me to find out I dislike this ripoff controller.

Back the the original MS SW for me... however... I don't have a decent pad for my latop (USB only)... the Gravis is small and cheap, and I liked it better than my current laptop (the new Sidewinder)... maybe I'll trade my friend for his Gravis. hehehe

I have been looking for new controllers myself (USB) and they all seem kinda lame. Is the Gravis Exterminator USB? It looks like what I need, but I can't seem to find one for sale anywhere.

If you can get your hands on an original MS Sidewinder - by all means do so!

[KEEBS]

For FPS I use keyboard and Razor Boomslang 2000 which is awsome!

[Mastard]

Boomslang 2k! YESSSSSS