Trackball Gaming

NumbersNotFound

<div class="IPBDescription">A slight split off</div> I posted this in the mouse reccomendation topic, but It didn't get any replies and wasn't on topic with the post, so i'll repost it here:


Are there any trackball converts in here? I've been thinking about how well a thumb vs. an entire wrist moving could effect FPS accuracy and it seems that, in theory, a trackball could be better.

I know they have them optical now, and pretty smooth too.

Anybody done this? how long did it take you to get used to it? Do you have better accuracy now than with a regular mouse?

X_Stickman

I haven't tried playing an FPS with a track ball, but i've tried RTS' and a few java games... i hate it to be honest, doesn't feel right after so long of using a "normal" mouse for games.

Zig

i used to pwn countz0rzstrikeze0rz w/ trackballl.. but whew, that was back in the day, like 1.3

Maus

My fiancee uses a trackball, and although I had my doubts at first after a little while of playing with it I found that if anything my accuracy had gone up. I still prefer mice though.

MrPink

In theory, you're entire arm is not only stronger/longer (jerkier movements, 180 degree turns), and more precise than your thumb. Also, with your thumb you can only move it so far until you have to pick your thumb up and re place it on the trackball to move it further.

Zig

<!--QuoteBegin-MrPink+Feb 8 2004, 04:01 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MrPink @ Feb 8 2004, 04:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> In theory, you're entire arm is not only stronger/longer (jerkier movements, 180 degree turns), and more precise than your thumb. Also, with your thumb you can only move it so far until you have to pick your thumb up and re place it on the trackball to move it further. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
any decent trackball gives the ball to your index finger.

TychoCelchuuu

My friend used one forever and swore by it, until it broke and he was too lazy to get another trackball. Apparently when you get good at them you're supposed to have amazing precision at both games and other apps (like Photoshop) but truly my mouse works fine and I don't feel like re-learning my main input method.

NumbersNotFound

Yeah, and what would be better.. thumb or index finger? It would seem like your thumb is more mobile and has a wider range of movement.

Thansal

<---- track Balls are my god

Personaly I use a logitech Trackman w/ wheel.

Here is the skiny:
1) Get one that usses IR (the detection is that much better, you still have to clean em, but that is actualy realy simple with a trackman)

2) I can't stand the ones that use anytihng save your thumb (note: I havn't tried one out for long eung to know if I COULD get ussed to it or not). However all the ones I have seen just aint as erganomic as my trackman (trackman has good curves and such to it, just like a good mouse does)

3) Persision is AMAZING with a trackball, once you get ussed to it.

Here is the Deal with track ball VS mouse:
1) My range of motion before I have to move my thumb off the ball is just the same as with a mouse (remember, sensitivity can be set where ever you want)
2) I have to move my thumb a fraction of an inch to do what you all do with your entire arm (smaller movement = faster response)
3) Only having to move your thumb, as opposed to your arm/wrist, means that my movements are faster.
4) Once you have gotten ussed to a track ball you also get good with just being able to toss the ball to the correct spot (I rarely actualy move my mouse all the way to a point ussing my thumb, normaly I can just set it spinning and stop it at the desired point)
5) Breakdancing in the RR is fn sweet (spin the ball as hard as you can and your rine will start spining just as fast <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)


Again, the main difference is the distance I have to move as opposed to the distance a mouse usser has to move (and once we have both reached the end of our ragne my movement back is MUCH shorter)


Think about this:
If you keep making 45* turns to the right you will eventualy have to move your mouse all the way back, I never do.


oh, and YES they are bloody hard to get ussed to, however once you do ever one wil lbe screaming HAX!!!!!!!! (God I love it when that hapens <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)

NumbersNotFound

very helpful, thansal.


Ok, so it looks like next time i get to the store I'm getting me a trackman <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->


Chorded/chordless any difference?

TommyVercetti

I bought a trackball after I got several recommendations from "hardcore" CS players (I was owning them). I tried the thing in Quake 3, and gave it away to my friend, who then gave it to his dad. I dunno about you but I have 2 'modes' I use when aiming with my mouse; action, where I hold my arm up over the table for quick responses, and 'accurate' where I rest the base of my hand on the table for better accuracy but less manueverability. I am _way_ more accurate with my Razer than with the trackball.

Haze

Good luck 404, it will take about a month or two to get used to. It happened to me when I went to my cousins for a month, he has a trackball. Its really auckward at first, but you get used to it.

Your not alowd to touch a mouse for the rest of your life though, lol, its backtracking!!!

/me sticks with mice <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->\



EDIT:: And I do believe a trackball would be better if you dont have good hand/eye coordination.

NumbersNotFound

Yeah, after about 10 years of mouse use it may be a little hard to switch...

but all in the name of curiosity!

Thansal

Good luck man <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

It should only take you a week or 2 to get used to the new toy, then a few more weeks to get better.


Oh, and GET A CORD!

Cord = No Batteries, and it aint like the cord can get in your way when your moving your trackball <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Monkfish

i dont really like trackballs that much , my friend had one and i was trying to close a window and its like , careful....dont go too far....dam missed......go back...not too far..BLAST MISSED AGAIN...like 10 mins just missing the X at the top corner...

Bogglesteinsky

I went round to a mates house for a new years eve party (N1 Venmoch) and he has a trakcball. I stayed up for the rest of the night playing call of duty (about 4 hrs solid) and by the end of it, although i wasn't as good at it as he was, I was ok. I used my thumb and index finger (large ball). I am still much better with my mouse, but atleast I could aim well enough.

Comprox

It's a love/hate thing. Either you love em, or hate em. Like Thansal said, I use a trackball and basically refuse to go back also. He covered all the things I would of said, and once I got used to it, I definately noticed an improvment in my aiming, I mean, I still suck, but I suck less now <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

But after selling these things for 9 months, you best bet is to try it out. If you are still finding it hard to use and annoying after 2 weeks of steady use, then it just might not be for you.

TheWizard

It really is a matter of perspective.

Personally I feel like I am pushing a stick through tar attempting to use anything except a mouse. Personal preference I guess.


(-[sonic]-, I challenge your avatar to a duel <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> )

Monkfish

you win cause i cant do that <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

coil

Tangent: I attempted to switch handed-ness (use a left-handed mouse) in HL... couldn't handle it, it was just too different.

Thansal

yaaaaghhh, lefties (one of my room mates is a leftie, its so creapy with the mouse on the WRONG SIDE!!!)

<!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->


but yah, what coild said, It takes some time to get ussed to it (I first learned b/c my mouse broke nad the only one around was one of my dad's old trackman mice)


And as coild said, I still suck aslo, but I suck less <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

And I periodicly get my stupidly good sprees going
hehe, WizardWars has a hitscan wepon that is simply a beam, if you can train it on some ones head thats 2x dmg, now watch as people scream hax as my beam never leaves their head <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->