New player - Controller only user

[Ferocius]

Hello everyone. I just got this game and wanted to ask, how viable is it to play with controller only? I use an Xbox One controller. I stopped playing with keyboard and mouse due to health issues not letting me sit for long times (diabetes) so i only play laid on a couch on a big TV.

Any controller players that can share their experience and tips? Thanks in advance!

[Armagenesis]

I tried playing using controller for a good while (now mostly just using it to exploit split screen coop lol).

IMO, the game still feels kinda janky to play with controller. Not completely unplayable, but there are a lot of discomforts compared to playing with mouse and keyboard. But for the basic controls like moving, fighting, and using inventory, it's not so bad.

The game has a tutorial mode where you can learn the controls and get yourself comfortable with them. Try giving that a shot before you dive into the game proper. And even once you are into the game, maybe try sandbox mode immediately and set the population to low until you feel confident with using the controller.

[blockbuster_2]

It just takes some getting used to I think. It’s definitely playable.

[shmodzilla]

Im in the same boat and just played for an hour. Its pretty clunky so far so i keep the mouse available to do inventory.

[GΔЯGØYLΞ'ร BITE]

It's playable, it's only clunky until you get used to it. The same as playing PZ on keyboard for the first time. I've played keyboard and mouse for years on PZ and I played controller only for about 3 months on PZ and they're both good for some things and worse for others. You'll likely find combat way better on controller, but sorting stuff is better on KB/M.

[shmodzilla]

Originally posted by Ocular:

It's playable, it's only clunky until you get used to it. The same as playing PZ on keyboard for the first time. I've played keyboard and mouse for years on PZ and I played controller only for about 3 months on PZ and they're both good for some things and worse for others. You'll likely find combat way better on controller, but sorting stuff is better on KB/M.

I figured as much.

[Japheth]

I also use Xbox controller. I press the Y button a ton for inventory and X for action/context menu. Also use the D-pad a lot in inventory which is tedious, and to swap weapons quickly with the right stick. Using the right shoulder a bit to pick up things and place is still sketchy, as you need to close the inventory with Y before placing. Combat is much easier and precise with duo sticks in melee and is good for shooting. I find it much easier to rotate and move in general with 2 sticks. Driving is also a little better, but will be using the d-pad right stick combo a lot. Once You get used to the button combos it is pretty decent, but inventory management is still a pain.

[Duffvader]

I'm playing on my Steam Deck and really wondered that this game plays pretty good with Controller Settings.

There are some functions I'm missing:

Marking different items to move it. I'm doing it item for item by pressing X right now. Will probably set a "shift" or "ctrl" to my R4. L4 + L5 already setup as zoom in + out.

Turn off the car engine before leaving it. Using the touchscreen right now to turn it off.

Putting on a bandage is really difficult, when you are running from zombies. Pressing select + right stick will bring up the health menu. While pressing select, I can't use my left stick, that means I have to stand still. Will probably ad some menu's to my left and right touchpad or setting up a radial menu.

Missing the hotbar in controller mode.

Opening doors while in combat stance + strafing is kinda hard with default settings. Added "A" to my R5, so I can use both sticks and a button to open a door.

For radial changing weapons menu I have to press the left D-pad. Means I can't move for bringing up the menu.

Opening and navigating through menu's is generally not the best. Because it needs you to leave the left sticks, which means that you can't move.

That are the troubles I have faced so far while playing with controller.

[Retro]

Originally posted by Armagenesis:

IMO, the game still feels kinda janky to play with controller.

It's not janky at all, in any way. I've used the F710, PS3, and PS4 controllers for years and all of them work very well.

OP, what you want to do is use Controller WITH keyboard/mouse.
As pointed out by others, movement and fighting are best with the controller, and accessing inventory is best with k/m.

I use both on the fly and have my best games when using both.

[ben]

Originally posted by Duffvader:

I'm playing on my Steam Deck and really wondered that this game plays pretty good with Controller Settings.

There are some functions I'm missing:

Marking different items to move it. I'm doing it item for item by pressing X right now. Will probably set a "shift" or "ctrl" to my R4. L4 + L5 already setup as zoom in + out.

Turn off the car engine before leaving it. Using the touchscreen right now to turn it off.

Putting on a bandage is really difficult, when you are running from zombies. Pressing select + right stick will bring up the health menu. While pressing select, I can't use my left stick, that means I have to stand still. Will probably ad some menu's to my left and right touchpad or setting up a radial menu.

Missing the hotbar in controller mode.

Opening doors while in combat stance + strafing is kinda hard with default settings. Added "A" to my R5, so I can use both sticks and a button to open a door.

For radial changing weapons menu I have to press the left D-pad. Means I can't move for bringing up the menu.

Opening and navigating through menu's is generally not the best. Because it needs you to leave the left sticks, which means that you can't move.

That are the troubles I have faced so far while playing with controller.

I am also playing on the steam deck but I use the default layout which works pretty ok for me. However I havent found a way to zoom in or out on controller. Someone wrote 'hold the select button which gives the option to FF and zoom'. In this menu I can FF but zoom is simply missing.

[Duffvader]

[/quote] I am also playing on the steam deck but I use the default layout which works pretty ok for me. However I havent found a way to zoom in or out on controller. Someone wrote 'hold the select button which gives the option to FF and zoom'. In this menu I can FF but zoom is simply missing. [/quote]

Yes, holding select will open up the radial menu and you will see a big "+" and "-". That's the Zoom.

But setup your L4+5 or R4+5 as mouse wheel is way better, since in the default settings these buttons are unused anyway and working way faster...

Also find some use of the left and right touchpad, will be very helpful, especially the right one, because you can use it while moving.

[ben]

Originally posted by Duffvader:

Yes, holding select will open up the radial menu and you will see a big "+" and "-". That's the Zoom.

Thats super odd because like I said the "+" and "-" do not show up in this menu. They are just not there. I think I´ll get in touch with the developers.

Originally posted by Duffvader:

But setup your L4+5 or R4+5 as mouse wheel is way better, since in the default settings these buttons are unused anyway and working way faster...Also find some use of the left and right touchpad, will be very helpful, especially the right one, because you can use it while moving.

Thats another thing I tried. I tried setting my L/R 4+5 to mouse wheel, to keyboard "-" and "=" which also didnt work. I tried setting my right touchpad as mouse wheel and mouse scrool but this also didn´t work. It seems like the whole "zoom" feature is somehow broken but I cant figure out why. I also tried a fresh install of zomboid without mods which also didnt fix this. But I am glad that you confirmed that its working for you so its not a general steamdeck issue. Thanks for your reply

[Duffvader]

Are your zoom options checked? There are a few zoom 50 - 250 % which needs to be checked in the options. Maybe that's the case?

[ben]

Originally posted by Duffvader:

Are your zoom options checked? There are a few zoom 50 - 250 % which needs to be checked in the options. Maybe that's the case?

It was enabled but I found my mistake. "Auto Zoom" for Player1 was enabled and this removes the possiblity to manually zoom :D I disabled auto zoom and now everything works as expected and the "+" and "-" signs are shown in the menu. Thanks for your help!

[Pantstron]

I tried using my controller exclusively but some things can be a bit quicker having a mouse or keyboard by the side for an easy press to do some stuff. Also playing vhs with my controller doesn't work properly, I think it's because it's an Xbox controller but I have to press rb to select window of device then dpad down to vhs, press b to eject/insert vhs and then a to play but then I can't close down device window and have to use mouse to close it

[Duffvader]

Originally posted by Fzanco:

I tried using my controller exclusively but some things can be a bit quicker having a mouse or keyboard by the side for an easy press to do some stuff. Also playing vhs with my controller doesn't work properly, I think it's because it's an Xbox controller but I have to press rb to select window of device then dpad down to vhs, press b to eject/insert vhs and then a to play but then I can't close down device window and have to use mouse to close it

True, also turning down the volume on TV and Radio is cluncky.