Official: No Gamepad Support For PC Bioshock 2
Despite the fact that 2K made it clear last month that Bioshock 2's PC version would not support gamepads, in favor of giving the PC port a unique UI and HUD to better reflect a keyboard and mouse configuration, many players were steamed to see that the game launched without an option to use controllers like the one for the Xbox 360 console.
Towards the end of a four hundred+ post flamewar on the official 2K Games forum complaining about it, a poor community manager wandered in to confirm the bad news: the decision to not support controllers wasn't made lightly and it won't be coming to the PC in a patch. To do so would require "a complete re-envisioning of the UI that the team worked so hard to create."
Personally I don't consider this a loss, as I've never used a gamepad to play games on a PC before ever (that strikes me as missing the point) but clearly this decision has pushed a contingent of gamers into an uproar. What about you guys? If you're playing it on the PC, do you lament the lack of gamepad support in Bioshock 2 or do you just not care?
2K Makes It Official: No Gamepad Support in BioShock 2 PC [via Kotaku]
mixvio
Posted to Miscellany on 12 February 2010
· Comments (15)
Other stuff like this: 2k games, bioshock 2, flamewar, gamepads, riot
I bout a 360 controller not too long ago, on the basis that some games are clearly meant for a control pad.
Now, the keyboard setup for Bioshock 2 is a bit.... gawky. Selecting plasmids is particularly tiresome. My friend who had the 360 version tells me it's much easier on his version, so it seems like a bit of a bum deal to me. I don't believe that 2K "worked so hard to create" this, so I'd rate the situation as 'Kinda annoying'.
This just seems silly to me. Isn't the whole point of playing on a PC to get that mouse and keyboard control? And especially in an FPS.
Now, personally I prefer using a controller, but that's why I bought it for 360. I would never buy a PC game and expect it to work with a gamepad, it's just a nice bonus if it does. But generally when I'm getting a PC game it's because I plan on playing with a mouse and keyboard, like Dragon Age. I understand that not everyone has a console in addition to a PC, so not everyone has a choice, but I would also think that it would make people more used to PC controls. I know that I prefer a controller because for years I only had consoles without a PC capable of gaming, so I'm not as used to using a PC for gaming.
Xpadder people, learn to love it. But yeah, it still defeats the whole purpose of PC gaming.
Consider this: PC games are up to 30% cheaper than console games (here in Europe at least). Need for Speed: Shift is a nice example on how to save money ^^ Same game, same controller, lower price
Of course, it's a bit different with FPSs. I have tried to play shooters using a gamepad (Gears of War) but It just doesn't work for me. So I buy all my shooters on the platform they were invented on ^^.
There is one exception though: For GTA IV, the PC controls are so bad that I use a gamepad for most tasks (except sniping).
The first time I attempted the original BioShock on PC, I used a gamepad. Then I tried it without.
It made all the difference between hate and love of the game. It was akin to a revalation: "Oh, so THIS is why I thought I hated playing FPS games...gamepad controls are horrendous!"
No gamepad? Who needs it!
I was under the impression that any "Games for Windows" title was guaranteed to have controller support. I'm wondering if it's truly the devs decision to say there won't be support for it. I would think that would be microsoft's.
This may be a tad harsh, but ppl playing on PCs need to stop pretending it's a console. Most console FPS have an aim assist feature to help manage the imprecision or the gamepad. All ppl need to do is find a keyboard and mouse layout that works for them. I don't see how selecting a weapon, or plasmid, or frankly, any other action, can be odd when you have any number of keys to bind. Unless 2K was foolish and didn't provide a rigorous selection of bind options (IE select a specific plasmid, next plasmid, previous plasmid, etc)
For a first or third person shooter that's completely fine. I believe Mass Effect 2 on PC has no gamepad support either.
However if it's another type of game like Assassin's Creed or Arkham Asylum, not having gamepad support would be ridiculous as it's already optimized for gamepad controls..
Personally, the best control scheme I ever used on the PC was in Elder Scrolls: Obvlion. I used a hybrid of a generic Rumbleshock PS2 controller plus Mouse.
Used the controler for Movement and the left Trigger buttons, and then mouse for aiming and basic firing.
For movement controls having an analouge stick can make a difference. But for aiming I still can't beat the mouse.
Yes, the "Games for Windows LIVE" label comes with a set of requirements.
And yes, one of them is aimed at controller support. But it states that if the game supports ANY gamepad, it must also support the Xbox 360 wired and wireless controllers.
Oh no! Next you'll tell me that it also doesn't include steering wheel support!
I can't fathom why anyone would willingly play a FPS with a gamepad when vastly superior mouse/keyboard controls are available. Trying to move/aim with any degree of speed and accuracy with an analog stick is like trying to write with your feet. Nothing will ever be better than mouse aiming for shooting games, period.
Just putting my two cents in: I much prefer to use a gamepad when the option is available.
Jerid has hit the nail on the head, u need an analog for movment and mouse for aim u cant bet a joypad for movment no keyboad ever will and any1 who say otherwise needs togo flush the head fown the toilet and what about racing games u guys think that a kb/m would be better tut tut like i said jerid knows what hes talking about and theres no gd reason why 2k could not add joypad suport for bioshock 2 and theres no way ppl will buy a console just to play one game , u have to be stone mad to do so ,crazy in fact.
@ Ryan
Um...I'm sorry, is that supposed to be English? I tried reading your post and the outright assault upon basic spelling, grammar and punctuation caused my eyes to go blind out of self-preservation.
personally i like it when it vibrates..... feels nice on my lap...keyboard doesnt vibrate, :)
seriously though... i like using a gamepad, and selecting plasmids & weapons is actually quite annoying when you get to the end of the game and have loads, i personally cannot touch type and having to look down to find a number between 1-8 or F1 - F8 is a pain in the backside..i see no reason why they cannot support both, im sick of all this nonsense about "we decided to make it a pc experience" crap. i mean, they made the game on a pc in the first place, as with all console games so why not just put both options in? i see no reason why they should dictate to the gamer how they play the game, isn't it up to us? if it exists for a console then the option to put in gamepad suppport has already been made. people dont seem to realise that a lot of people who game on a pc these days are people who cannot afford to buy a pc and a console, but could push to spending below 100 on a graphics card for their pc to be able to play games...