keyboard better than controller?

[Norberto H]

Hi guys,

so far I realized that most TE players, especially the top-guys use the keyboard. As I hardly ever play anything on PC, I am not really used to playing with the keyboard, I use the Xbox360 controller for TE. Now I heard from many players that the keyboard is better for this game, so I am not sure, if I should go on playing with the controller, or if I should try to get used to the keyboard (so far I tried that once, and it was horrible, but if I knew that in the end it payed off, I would give it a try, no matter how hard, and change to the keyboard).
Many thanks, and maybe you could also post why you think the keyboard (or maybe the controller) is superior.

[C4iLL]

Keyboard is technically more reactive than pad : when you have to go at left or right, your fingers are already on these directons, ready to push these keys.

Whereas on a pad, you have to direct a unique finger to a new direction. This little difference makes (maybe) a big difference at top level ? I'm not sure, coz Indiantonike use a pad and can play really well when he's focus, as maybe other people here

[VMoe86]

What way do you prefer for gear shifting in a car? Manual or Automatic? In short: Keyboard for competition and Controller for comfort.

[eliomelma]

Hi, i use ps3 controller and i fell very good with this, i made myself this question some time ago, because as you i saw many good players that playing with keyboard. don't remember who told me that kuuji and Fox in past played with controller, so maybe not is true that good players=keyboard

[Indiantonike]

I really think that elio plays with a ps3 controller and that he feel very good with this !

I use pad too, just because I'm used to play with it. And I can't play with keyboard. I'm probably stupid or what ever you want, but I can't coordinate my fingers to play with keyboard

[Lucian86]

I use a PS2 controller

I really don't know if the keyboard is more effective or not....I always had the feeling though that when using it, I can make harder shots than I usually do with my controller..I could be wrong though; it's easy to have a wrong impression about this. I once had a wrong feeling about one of my animations which I thought it had some issues because I coudn't hit the ball so hard like for the other ones...In the end I discovered that it was only in my mind. There was nothing wrong with it.

Regardless of that, I'll always use the controller...the keyboard doesn't provide the same satisfaction

[djarvik]

I use a controller as well.

To me, the MAIN difference between the two is the "left-right" movement. Nothing else is better with keyboard. In fact the Pad to me is much better for shot selection. I believe the way the controller is built allows for faster shot selections then the keyboard. But that "left-right" thing is very important in TE.

It starts with return: with keyboard you have both fingers on the left and right buttons. So when serve comes, you are able to immediately select the right button, move into position, and immediately select direction. This allows for better returns and more importantly better DIRECTED returns. Because of very little time it takes to "activate" the button. With controller, you start returning with the stick in the middle and one finger on that stick (or if you use d-pad, finger in middle of D-pad), then you have to make that stick travel one direction or the other. Here, you are "almost" as fast as keyboard, so no problem (excluding the tiny response time difference), but now comes a problem - the aiming. Now you have to travel with that stick all the way back to the other direction if you want to go cross - and that takes time, lots of time. Less time to aim = less precise shots. This is not the end. Now you have to move into position, after returning, so once again, you move your stick all the way to one end, and if the opponent goes behind you, you need to move it all the way back. That translates into TONS of lost time that keyboard user doesn't have to deal with.

It then goes into rallies: while in position for the shot, your one finger need to travel all the way to one side to aim, and if you change your mind - all the way back. That takes time, makes your shots less precise when you change your mind. If you have to move after that shot into the opposite direction of your aim - same thing, moving the stick and that one finger all the way back....and if you get to next ball and want to send it cross? ...you guessed it - again, move the stick all the way back.

This is a rather major drawback of Controller and there will NEVER be a solution for this to match keyboard.

That said, I still use controller. I think the comfort is extremely important. The availability of the shots is a big plus, being able to access the shot you want faster is big asset. I also find that moving into the court for short shots is easier with controller (but I am sure the more experienced keyboarders do it well).

The biggest difference between TE and say DMT or TS games is the fact that all the later are TIMING driven games, while TE is a POSITIONING driven game.

[tigerofintegrity]

I've used both before for significant amount of times so I think I have a good idea what the main difference between the two is. I first started out playing with keyboard before switching to a PS3 controller after realising I could do that. The controller is definitely more comfortable to play with but I noticed that the keyboard is generally more accurate. It is also slightly easier to get around with. I couldn't think of why this was but now that I think back on it, I believe Djarvik may be right.

The accuracy issue isn't a problem when you have lots of time to hit a ball and take your aim. Both are equally accurate there. I've noticed what is much less accurate though are shots on the move cross court. As Djarvik pointed out, this is most likely due to longer time it takes to switch directions on a controller. You lose that bit of time in aiming that's gone to switching directions and that makes a big difference between an average placed shot compared to a well placed shot.

I do think keyboard is superior at the higher competitive levels but I wouldn't trade comfort for that regardless. I don't fancy the idea of carpal tunnel in the future.