Best way to control movement in shmups? (POLL)

[Xeros606]

I prefer using the D-Pad if it's any good (if it's not a Nintendo console, it usually isn't ). Analog is just a feels a bit awkward sometimes, I don't know why (is there anyone else here like this?). I don't like joysticks, and I've never played a shmup on PC.

So which is you're favorite?

[Super Laydock]

Analog and Mouse both just outright suck for any precise movement.

I can tolerate a D-pad, but still find them inaccurate enough to prefer either Keyboard or Joystick.
Keyboard feels the most accurate to me but changing diagonals takes too much time in fast games, so overall it would have to be a Joystick*.

*I do use D-pad and keyboard (if applicable) more than Joystick though due to the fact that they are easier to use in my setup (which I should change indeed).

[DEL]

It depends on your age and access to arcades.
Joysticks of course, but tviks can prove otherwise.

[Dragoforce]

Seimitsu joystick all the way.

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like playing shmups with the mouse?

[mr_m0nks]

I voted joystick as nothing feels quite the same as playing on an arcade cab with a nice stick...

however at home I seem to prefer using a D-pad, just can't get comfortable with a stick on my lap or on a flat table.



edit:
bugger I must have voted for analog stick in error

[Observer]

Seimitsu joystick all the way.

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like playing shmups with the mouse?

Ever played Protöthea for PC? I did. It's just as bad as you imagine. Xevious-like mechanics with remorseless enemies that fire offscreen long before they are even visible, broken inertia and FPS controls (mouse+keyboard) with weapon switching exactly like a FPS. The Wii port is even more offensive.

However, Le Soeur du Barrage is a mouse-only shooter and it's actually quite decent. And that doujin Ketsui clone for PC whose status is still unknown (does anyone remember those three niconico videos?) also seems to feature mouse control.

Anyway, I currently use D-Pads and the keyboard but the joysticks are awesome too.

[it290]

Joystick, although I'd say using a mouse (as in noiz2) can actually be more intuitive and precise. Your ship is basically a cursor that you're moving around the screen, and that's what mice are good at. However, the problem is that it generally sucks the fun out of the game.

[Twiddle]

keyboard

[Elixir]

I do better with pads but I prefer sticks. It's really just up to what you want to use.

Actually, I did write a bit about this a few days ago on my blog. It goes without saying that the top players use sticks, because the games are made for them. It's different in the west, because we don't have immediate access to them in our arcades - well, I do, but most western arcades suck. Chances are the majority of this site has gone out of their way to obtain shmups, ie. downloading MAME roms, importing console games, and arcade boards. Not everyone is simply going to be able to discover a game and play it with the stick that's attached to it, primarily because of accessibility issues.

The same applies to pretty much any game; like Touhou, where I can play on a Lunatic level (with a Saturn pad) but top players still use keyboards. This doesn't mean that you can't play it with something different and be equally as good, it's more or less a popularity contest (or a "follow the leader" contest). A lot of people seem to think that getting a stick is going to magically increase your skill at something, or at least that's what I've basically managed to confirm after reading the SF4 TE stick thread on SRK. It's not like that. The main thing you'll notice is the clickyness. What I notice is that you're using your whole hand versus just using your thumb. But honestly, just use whatever you want, really.

I wonder how many people use the wine glass style just because of that one Daigo video showing his hands. 30 million sheep in NZ yet there's Americans still adding to our population. It's shameful, isn't it?

[SamIAm]

D-pad for me. Granted, I've only recently begun using joysticks in an arcade near where I moved, and perhaps I just need to get more used to them. For now, however, a D-pad let's me place my ship more precisely, and it also makes rapid movement back and forth across only one axis much easier. On the other hand, in games where rapid direction alteration is more important than precision, a stick seems to work better. I made it to stage 5 of Mushihimesama-original in less than 10 credits on a cab, but I still can't do it with my PS2 D-pad.

[Leeram]

My "Great stick of Everything" all the way for me!

http://www.missileheard.com/eckychapjoo ... &Itemid=11

Cheers

Lee

[ncp]

Joystick for me. I'm also pretty comfortable with both keyboards and d-pads though. I'd say I play about evenly between keyboard and d-pad, and just slightly better with a joystick since that's what I'm used to at the moment. I think joysticks are just more fun to play with though, so even if I played just a little better with a pad I'd probably still use a joystick.

I wonder how many people use the wine glass style just because of that one Daigo video showing his hands. 30 million sheep in NZ yet there's Americans still adding to our population. It's shameful, isn't it?

I don't think I've seen that video but holding a ball top stick without putting the shaft between your fingers is horribly uncomfortable after getting used to it that way. Left movements feel really weird if your whole hand is to the left of the stick. Also most touhou players use keyboards?? The only touhou player I actually "know of" is ISO, and since he plays tons of other shmups, most likely with a stick, I can't imagine he switches to a keyboard just for touhou when he's so used to a stick. It's not like sticks are disadvantageous for touhou, it just takes a little getting used to binding shift to a button. I use C. (When playing with a keyboard shift is your ring finger, while C is your ring finger on a stick, although bomb and shot switch to the more standard shmup layout of index finger on shot, and middle finger on bomb)

I made it to stage 5 of Mushihimesama-original in less than 10 credits on a cab, but I still can't do it with my PS2 D-pad.

PS2 version is a little wonky, I think ><

[null1024]

Keyboard. Sticks feel weird now, and D-pads aren't too great. Analog just sucks. Same with mouse.

[Plasmo]

Analogstick followed by Mouse of course

[ncp]

Analogstick followed by Mouse of course

I prefer DDR pad

[Acid King]

powerglove

[Elixir]

I don't think I've seen that video but holding a ball top stick without putting the shaft between your fingers is horribly uncomfortable after getting used to it that way. Left movements feel really weird if your whole hand is to the left of the stick.

You're obviously a wine glass user. Sorry, I wasn't knocking the wine glass, it's a good style. I'm saying people should use what they find most enjoyable.

And pretty much the exact style you mentioned is what I use. Although I have my pinky in front, it isn't used. I have no problems with it.

[Ruldra]

keyboard

[saucykobold]

My movements are a lot more precise when I use arrow keys. When I use a pad or stick, I can only approximate where I want to go.

Here's an example. I can beat Raiden II's first loop pretty consistently w/ a keyboard; I've never beaten it w/ a pad or stick.

[louisg]

I only play using U-Force

[kengou]

I prefer a d-pad. Keyboard is ok but switching between up and down can be a little clumsy. I don't like joysticks or analog sticks so much because rapid direction changes feel slow. D-pad for me feels like the most precise and fastest input method for shmups. Mouse-controlled shmups just suck, because if they don't have inertia they're generally far too easy because of how precise a mouse is, but if they do have inertia they don't control well at all. I guess it's possible to make a good one but I haven't really seen it.

[Rozyrg]

Joystick if there's an arcade machine in front of me (which is not very often), d-pad whenever possible and a keyboard/mouse if there's no other option.

[ncp]

You're obviously a wine glass user. Sorry, I wasn't knocking the wine glass, it's a good style. I'm saying people should use what they find most enjoyable.

And pretty much the exact style you mentioned is what I use. Although I have my pinky in front, it isn't used. I have no problems with it.

Well after a little bit of looking around, I see that Daigo actually uses the same style you do, with pinky in front. I find that a LOT more comfortable than having your fingers all on one side (I figured "wineglass" also applied to shaft between pinky+ring, I dunno the names of the styles, what is that called if it's not considered "wineglass"?), because you still hold the stick from sort of a lower angle, although not as low an angle as between middle+ring. For me the lower angle makes it easier to do left and up/left, especially in the case of between middle+ring where the ring finger can exert some directional force as opposed to only your thumb doing the movement.

Anyway, where's the DDR pad option?

[Aru-san]

keyboard

Especially when you have a "gaming" keyboard which, even if it IS designed around FPS crap, can accept more simultaneous inputs than any other keyboard. I personally love twitching on the arrow keys while literally holding down Z, X, or Shift simultaneously.

[Danbo]

Keyboard, but only if I get to use WASD/JKL instead of arrow keys. Fuck you touhou.

[Elixir]

And pretty much the exact style you mentioned is what I use. Although I have my pinky in front, it isn't used. I have no problems with it.

Well after a little bit of looking around, I see that Daigo actually uses the same style you do, with pinky in front. I find that a LOT more comfortable than having your fingers all on one side (I figured "wineglass" also applied to shaft between pinky+ring, I dunno the names of the styles, what is that called if it's not considered "wineglass"?), because you still hold the stick from sort of a lower angle, although not as low an angle as between middle+ring. For me the lower angle makes it easier to do left and up/left, especially in the case of between middle+ring where the ring finger can exert some directional force as opposed to only your thumb doing the movement.[/quote]

I don't think my style has a name. I would use wine glass more myself, but it tires my arm out. I seem to have a better control over my character though. I tested it in Futari today and it definitely works well, I'm just not adapted to the wine glass style at all. I'd like to practice with it though, since I can micro dodge easier. Example: Second boss in Futari, final attack. I can actually fit myself through the waves which you're meant to dodge. With my normal style, it's much harder.

Also, try watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsME37GrqjY

The Daigo vid is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGkpNI_a ... re=related

[lgb]

I personally prefer a good keyboard.

[ZacharyB]

I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like playing shmups with the mouse?

Check out this old shmup, Intensity XS:

http://www.midnightsynergy.com/intensity/

[cools]

I can play wineglass, but I'm not nearly practiced enough at it - so my movements are amplified and not precise enough. I've noticed it works better with looser sticks (JLF for example).

If I'm sitting back playing a console, joypad all the way. I can't use sticks if I'm slouching.

[chempop]

I know it sounds crazy, but one of the top American Ikaruga players used the gamecubes analogue stick.
I enjoy using a stick, sometimes I'm still better off using a d-pad just because I'm more familiar with it.