Game Pads

Anaire · #1 10-15-2009, 03:06 PM

I've been looking into buying a game pad for awhile. Wondering if anyone has tried either of these or if they own one that isn't one of these. And if so, what mouse do you use with it?

I'm tired of sitting awkwardly in a chair to play on my laptop, so I think a gamepad mouse combo would help with this issue.

The two I am looking at are:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NEK2GE/"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NEK2GE/[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WMEHYG/"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WMEHYG/[/ame]

**Toushiro** · #2 10-15-2009, 03:15 PM

I got the N52 and I just use a Logitech mouse. My one problem is the hand reset it just a little bit to high up to where is strains my thumb a little bit to hit the 15th key for jumping so I just removed it.

Helgi · #3 10-16-2009, 08:13 PM

I borrowed a game pad from a friend to see if I would like it enough to buy a game pad for playing on my laptop.

In the end I didn't buy it. It made playing FPS games on my laptop a tad more comfortable, but it really didn't make a difference for WoW. Or at least not a big enough difference for me to drop $80 on one.

**Toushiro** · #4 10-16-2009, 08:33 PM

80$? mine was 50$ on amazon.

Livak · #5 10-16-2009, 09:00 PM

I have the old model of the N52 and couldn't dream of playing now without it! Its pretty rugged. Ive had it for a few years now and have dropped plenty of ashes in it or spilled drinks on it and it still works as smoothly as it did when I bought it. I use it for all my movement keys except turning (done by mouse), have all the keys rebound via the macro editor that it comes with, The software comes with a hot profile switch for different characters. I can seemlesly switch from one of my healers to my tank over to my pvp toon without ever having to worry about fixing macro or settings.

My ONLY complaint is on the model that i have is the round thumb button (the one above the d-pad) is kinda hard to push and the scroll wheel is stiff. I've played on a buddies that has the model you have shown in the picture and his isn't like that so its most likely a problem with my particular model.

Other than that i have no complaints and i do feel that it has helped my 'game" quite a bit. YMMV

*Edit* as to the mouse i use its a run of the mill 7 button logitech mouse

jettzypher · #6 10-16-2009, 09:02 PM

try the saitek pro-gamer command unit. so much better than the n52. and having played with the logitech one at stores, i dont like the way the keys are arranged.

**squats** · #7 10-16-2009, 09:10 PM

I personally have the logitech G-13, it has more then enough keys to support wow, and the joystick makes it easy to dps and move at the same time.

the software is nice also.

**Toushiro** · #8 10-16-2009, 09:29 PM

Source: Livak
I have the old model of the N52 and couldn't dream of playing now without it! Its pretty rugged. Ive had it for a few years now and have dropped plenty of ashes in it or spilled drinks on it and it still works as smoothly as it did when I bought it. I use it for all my movement keys except turning (done by mouse), have all the keys rebound via the macro editor that it comes with, The software comes with a hot profile switch for different characters. I can seemlesly switch from one of my healers to my tank over to my pvp toon without ever having to worry about fixing macro or settings.

My ONLY complaint is on the model that i have is the round thumb button (the one above the d-pad) is kinda hard to push and the scroll wheel is stiff. I've played on a buddies that has the model you have shown in the picture and his isn't like that so its most likely a problem with my particular model.

Other than that i have no complaints and i do feel that it has helped my 'game" quite a bit. YMMV

*Edit* as to the mouse i use its a run of the mill 7 button logitech mouse

I was able to remove the thumb button thing in the middle of dpad

**Azuae** · #9 10-16-2009, 09:29 PM

I play with an older n52 (not the n52TE). I couldn't play without it honestly.

The hardware on the n52te is more comfortable than on the n52, but the software for the n52 is better than that on the n52te (in my opinion).

I tried the logitech g13 and it was too big for me, plus the thumb dpad thing was just awkward to me and in the way of hitting the buttons around it.

(i bought about 5 n52's off ebay since they aren't made anymore and have been keeping them for when my current dies.)

Anaire · #10 10-17-2009, 12:01 PM

So to my understanding the N52 works fine with switching characters, how about changing specs? I dps (boomkin) my 10 ToC; however, I heal the 10 ToGC (tree).

**Azuae** · #11 10-17-2009, 12:10 PM

The N52 has multiple states that it can switch to without swapping the profile.

For me - I have my tank setup set to the base state, and I swap it to the blue state for my fury set of keybinds.

The old n52 has 4 states (base, red, green, blue) that can all be configured differently and can be toggled to with the press of a button. The new n52te has 3 states, but they can be toggled between as well.

I have profiles saved for each character, and under each character's profile I have keybinds set for each spec I use in one of the various states. It is awesome.

**drae** · #12 10-19-2009, 07:15 AM

The n52te is amazing. I don't even use the stage switching, I just bound 1-0 +"N" to 11 buttons, the far left ones I use for alt and shift modifiers, and vent p.t.t. You can get away without ever switching profiles or stages if you choose to.

There a post still on the first page in this sub-forum detailing how various people set them up, I'm sure you'll find it enlightening, as there may be ways to use it you haven't considered yet.

The game pads offer many advantages that aren't necessarily obvious before you spend some time playing with one. The greatest advantage in my mind is being able to use the "D-pad" for strafe and forward / back. While it takes sometime for your thumb to grow used to it, it effectively means you can use one digit to control all your movement as opposed to three (A, W, D). Freeing up your more agile fingers for all your keybinds. Not everyone likes this set-up, but for me it works awesome.

Further most of these game pads are anti-ghosting, meaning you can mash 4-5 buttons at once and insure every keypress is recognized. I use the wheel as my tab target.

I think one thing that turns many gamers off these pads is the steep learning curve. It's like going to keybinds for the first time if your traditionally a clicker.. it takes some time to get used to, but in the end you'll have more keybinds closer and easier to press and more fingers to press them with. I wiped us in Sarth3-d for a week before I got the hang of it, I recommend if you buy one, use it for 3 weeks before you decide if you like it or not.

I can't say enough about this gamepad. I love it. LOVE IT. I can't play wow without it anymore. It gives me a serious advantage in both PvP and tanking. It made me a faster player, and allowed everything to be keybound. It simply gives you more freedom.

Blue · #13 10-19-2009, 08:26 AM

I use the G13...it gives my hand a little more comfort, while speeding up my reaction time. The keys are larger than usual keyboards, and I don't have to ever look at them. The software it comes with is on my second monitor, so I can change any keybind, quickly.

I'm currently trying to get used to the Razor Naga mouse. The jury's still out, on this one...

Anaire · #14 10-19-2009, 09:38 AM

I'm heading to some stores in the next week to try the gamepads out, mainly to see how comfortable they are for my hand. I'll also be buying a mouse. Probably just a laser sensor cordless mouse. Nothing super fancy since all my keybinds will be taken care of.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Ollin · #15 10-19-2009, 09:00 PM

Source: Anaire
I'm heading to some stores in the next week to try the gamepads out, mainly to see how comfortable they are for my hand. I'll also be buying a mouse. Probably just a laser sensor cordless mouse. Nothing super fancy since all my keybinds will be taken care of.

Thanks everyone for the input!

My advice is to find one that will fit your play area easily and then invest in a good bar mod.

Set up your bars so that they resemble where the keys you need to press are physically on the game pad. Simply being able to look on your screen and know which button you need to press makes the learning process a whole lot easier.

**Azuae** · #16 10-20-2009, 06:06 AM

That's a good tip for the period when you are getting used to it.

My bar mod does not match my game pad. none of the keys on my pad are on my bars at all. (of course, i've been gaming with it for years now) Half of the reason I love my game pad is the fact that I don't need to clutter the screen with the buttons that are bound to it.

Anaire · #17 10-20-2009, 04:47 PM

Source: Ollin
My advice is to find one that will fit your play area easily and then invest in a good bar mod.

Set up your bars so that they resemble where the keys you need to press are physically on the game pad. Simply being able to look on your screen and know which button you need to press makes the learning process a whole lot easier.

This is exactly what I did when I changed my keybindings from the preset 1 thru =. The bar mod wasn't exact but close enough that if I needed to look I could.