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Can a USB Controller be programed for use with EQ2?Follow
My new PC should arrive tommorrow, and so now I have to decide which game I will purchase. I have interest in both WoW and EQ2, but am leaning towards EQ2, because of the jobs and what not, and my first MMORPG experience that got me hooked, was actually EQOA for PS2, a game in which some people said wasnt very good, I loved! Anyway, I asked in the Message boards in the WoW area about controllers. I was pretty much told, on a usb controller, I wouldnt have enough buttons to program everything in, and I would have to use keyboard/mouse or a gamepad hybrid type thing. I prefer a controller as far as comfort and play... Its what im use to, mainly have played serious games on a console. Do any of you use a USB Controller? There is a particular model on the bestbuy website, that is made by Logitech. It looks very similar to a PS2 paddle.
I know exactly what you mean... I switched from ping pong to tennis last year but I can't stand tennis rackets so I still use my ping pong paddle!!!
Now then, doesn't that sound silly?
First things first... don't fear change... change is good. You are about to move into a much more complex and sophisticated game, (that is, unless you pick WoW), and you will get a lot more out of the experience if you don't start off by trying to shoe horn it into a package that fits your last game... which, by the way, you left...
You will find the keyboard and mouse system very helpful for carrying out a multitude of opperations, not the least of which is chatting with other players. And don't forget, you are able to enter the EQ2 UI interface through an options page and re-map any key command from the default to any other key you prefer so comfort and convienence is never an issue.
All that being said, I actually do use an "alternate" style of controller, but it's not the kind you're thinking of. No wonky little hand held console style controller for me! I use a Nostromo N52 left hand controller from Belkin with a Logitech trackball for mouse work. It is USB and comes with the software to set it up and program it for any game. You can see it HERE .
The Nostromo N52 sits on the desktop to the left of the keyboard and features fourteen user programable keys in three horizontal rows as well as a mouse wheel, a fire button and an eight angle - disk style directional controller. All of these are mapable to any function(s) you like. To sweeten the deal, there is a thumb button to step you through the three available banks of controls so you can have 3 different button setups and cycle through them as needed.
I have been using this rig for for over 2 years and for EQ2, I have mapped a variety of hotbar and keyboard commands to the 14 push buttons. The mouse wheel is set up to swing the camera in and out and the disk control is set up for movement. The red fire button is of little use outside of an FPS so I mapped it to activate the push to talk function in my ventrilo voice-com setup.
I highly recommend getting one of these but don't get me wrong... When I play on my laptop (without the N52), I still enjoy the game. I just don't counter crafting events or fire off HO's quite as fast!
Now then, doesn't that sound silly?
First things first... don't fear change... change is good. You are about to move into a much more complex and sophisticated game, (that is, unless you pick WoW), and you will get a lot more out of the experience if you don't start off by trying to shoe horn it into a package that fits your last game... which, by the way, you left...
You will find the keyboard and mouse system very helpful for carrying out a multitude of opperations, not the least of which is chatting with other players. And don't forget, you are able to enter the EQ2 UI interface through an options page and re-map any key command from the default to any other key you prefer so comfort and convienence is never an issue.
All that being said, I actually do use an "alternate" style of controller, but it's not the kind you're thinking of. No wonky little hand held console style controller for me! I use a Nostromo N52 left hand controller from Belkin with a Logitech trackball for mouse work. It is USB and comes with the software to set it up and program it for any game. You can see it HERE .
The Nostromo N52 sits on the desktop to the left of the keyboard and features fourteen user programable keys in three horizontal rows as well as a mouse wheel, a fire button and an eight angle - disk style directional controller. All of these are mapable to any function(s) you like. To sweeten the deal, there is a thumb button to step you through the three available banks of controls so you can have 3 different button setups and cycle through them as needed.
I have been using this rig for for over 2 years and for EQ2, I have mapped a variety of hotbar and keyboard commands to the 14 push buttons. The mouse wheel is set up to swing the camera in and out and the disk control is set up for movement. The red fire button is of little use outside of an FPS so I mapped it to activate the push to talk function in my ventrilo voice-com setup.
I highly recommend getting one of these but don't get me wrong... When I play on my laptop (without the N52), I still enjoy the game. I just don't counter crafting events or fire off HO's quite as fast!
I liked the controls and what not in FFXI with a PS2 controller. I left that game because it was no longer fun for me to play it. I had played the one solo job (beastmaster) to lvl 72, before Sony decided the job wasnt meant for it to be played like that, and totally screwed it in an update. The other high lvl job I had was, Blackmage which did awsome damage, but it grew old and very boring to play. I got it to level 73, two levels shy of the max level in the game. In FFXI I didnt mind the group play for xp, it was the hours of waiting to actually get a group. I have been trying to decide on EQ2 or WoW for a few days now... It seems with both, I will have to use a gamepad as you suggested or just get use to the keyboard/mouse. Graphics wise, EQ2 blows WoW outta the water. I also like the classes and races EQ has to select from. The one thing I found interesting in WoW, was the PvP servers, in which you could attack players from the opposite alliance in certain zones or w/e. Correct me if im wrong.. but I thought I read those same servers are coming to EQ2??? I also was wondering the monthly price of Everquest II? Sorry to have gotten off topic, however im gonna go EQ2, so id appreciate the help or advice or w/e. I am some what of a Lvl grinder... So I hope that ill be able to get groups to party with at a decent rate, and not have to spend 2-3 hours doing nothing.. ; ;
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The one thing I found interesting in WoW, was the PvP servers... Correct me if im wrong.. but I thought I read those same servers are coming to EQ2???
Yes, there are now PvP servers available for EQ2. When you create a character the last step is to choose a server for him to reside on and at that point you can choose one of the PvP servers if that is what you prefer.
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I also was wondering the monthly price of Everquest II?
I think the current basic monthly rate for EQ2 is $15.99 but I can't remember for sure. (I subscribe to station exchange which lets me play EQ2 and also EQ for one price so my bill is a bit higher than basic service)
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I am some what of a Lvl grinder... So I hope that ill be able to get groups to party with at a decent rate, and not have to spend 2-3 hours doing nothing..
EQ2 is set up for balanced solo play so if you choose not to group or can't find anyone to group with you can always solo. This will yield 0 downtime and let you grind out levels to your heart's content! That being said, there is usually an abundance of players available for grouping so you should never have to wait 2+ hours to find one.
Welcome and enjoy!
Edited, Thu Mar 9 08:07:49 2006 by OldBlueDragon
Just think of the keyboard as a gamepad with 104 buttons. :) I wouldn't think of using a gamepad for EQ2, there are just way too many commands and hotkeys for the limited number of buttons on a gamepad.
You'll get used to the WASD keyboard movement mouse look and mouse control really fast and you'll wonder how you ever played a first/third person game on a console. Theres a reason so many console shooters have the crutches of auto-aiming and huge target areas ;)
You'll get used to the WASD keyboard movement mouse look and mouse control really fast and you'll wonder how you ever played a first/third person game on a console. Theres a reason so many console shooters have the crutches of auto-aiming and huge target areas ;)
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All that being said, I actually do use an "alternate" style of controller, but it's not the kind you're thinking of. No wonky little hand held console style controller for me! I use a Nostromo N52 left hand controller from Belkin with a Logitech trackball for mouse work. It is USB and comes with the software to set it up and program it for any game. You can see it HERE .
That looks like a fun tool. But when you said left side if keyboard I was a little disappointed. Don't think I could use this since I'm right hander.....Does it have to be used this way?
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That looks like a fun tool. But when you said left side if keyboard I was a little disappointed. Don't think I could use this since I'm right hander.....Does it have to be used this way?
Yes, it is a fun and helpful tool - I find it very handy for both fighting mobs and also for crafting.
Yes, I think it does have to sit on the left side of the keyboard, but it was designed to be used by the left hand of a right handed person (if that makes any sense...). Your right hand will still be controlling the mouse so the device just makes better use of your off hand.
The way the controls are layed out, you use your four fingers to access the 14 buttons and your thumb to activate the movement disk and fire button.
Unfortunately they are out of stock! Alot of people must really like it. I may have to spend the $39 plus S&H and try it out when they restock.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks for the info.
currently in stock at Frys/Outpost... at least it was earlier this morning...
Spirish wrote:
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All that being said, I actually do use an "alternate" style of controller, but it's not the kind you're thinking of. No wonky little hand held console style controller for me! I use a Nostromo N52 left hand controller from Belkin with a Logitech trackball for mouse work. It is USB and comes with the software to set it up and program it for any game. You can see it HERE .
That looks like a fun tool. But when you said left side if keyboard I was a little disappointed. Don't think I could use this since I'm right hander.....Does it have to be used this way?
I also use a Nostromo N52 game controler keypad, and let me tell you it is the greatest thing since sliced bread.. it is totally and completely porgramable, and it has 4 seperate "shift" states which can easily be toggled between. So you can have the keys and buttons on the thing mapped in 4 entirely different configurations, for different situations, and can easily switch between them.
I picked up mine at Comp USA by my hosue for around 35 bucks I think.
***** sliced bread.. this thing rocks.
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