Mechanical Keyboard vs non and alternate input devices

[stomp-n-romp]

I was curious if a mechanical keyboard gives you better "flipper feel" or is there an even better input device to use. Sometimes my keyboard feels like mush when i really need detailed flipper control. Any thoughts?

[The Space Ferret]

Use a controller so you can get analog nudging. I can't play pinball without a controller.

[infraredux]

I prefer using a (wired) Xbox controller with the triggers controlling the flippers -- other controller users prefer using the bumper-buttons because it takes less of a press to flip.

My keyboard is one of the Razer mechanicals, and I didn't enjoy using it to play pinball too much, but I did discover that mapping the flippers to "Z" and "/" felt a LOT better than using the left and right shift keys.

[RedRaccoonDog]

Seconding needing analog nudge. It will improve your game so much it will blow your mind. I dont know how you guys play without it. You can nudge till the cows come home and hardly even get a tilt warning.

Ps3 controller here. Also game has rumble features, for instance when it goes into the pops you feel it. You are missing out if you are using a keyboard.

[Pragmatic Tornado]

Originally posted by stomp-n-romp:

I was curious if a mechanical keyboard gives you better "flipper feel" or is there an even better input device to use. Sometimes my keyboard feels like mush when i really need detailed flipper control. Any thoughts?

I have a Corsair K90 Mechanical that I used in PA before the option to invert nudge got implemented. Having tried both membrane and mechanical keyboards for PA, I can definitely say that the latter is significantly better due to more responsive keys etc.

But I have to join the club here; a (wired) controller for analog nudge vs digital nudge = worlds apart. I'm using a standard 360 controller and it works much better than any keyboard.

Originally posted by RedRaccoonDog:

..nudge till the cows come home..

lol

[Retron]

I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard on my main PC. I've never really thought about whether it's better than a membrane keyboard for pinball, but you certainly get more of a "clack" with it! That said, I know when I've pressed a key while playing pinball so membrane or mechanical doesn't matter to me in that regard.

It's worth mentioning that the PS3 controller I purchased a few months back is far better for pinball than pressing shift keys on a keyboard, whether mechanical or membrane. I actually miss it when playing really old games on my old P3 machine (Pinball Dreams, Epic Pinball etc). The PS3 controller just feels more "natural" somehow for pinball when compared to a keyboard.

I'm still getting the hang of nudging (having completely ignored it over the past 20+ years of playing computer pinball games) but the controller with its analogue sticks seems far more suited to it than a keyboard.

[Pragmatic Tornado]

Originally posted by Darren:

I use a 20-year-old IBM Model M keyboard on my main PC. I've never really thought about whether it's better than a membrane keyboard for pinball, but you certainly get more of a "clack" with it! That said, I know when I've pressed a key while playing pinball so membrane or mechanical doesn't matter to me in that regard.

I seem to remember most old mechanical keyboards use keys similar to todays MX Blue, which gives that "clacking" sound and has a bit of resistance between the initial press and the response. MX Red for example, which is what I have on my keyboard, has one smooth movement with very little resistance, making for very responsive button taps. MX Blue keyboards are generally favoured for typing, but I've seen gamers use it as well.

[RedRaccoonDog]

Nudging explained

If the ball is not resting on a surface and you want it to go LEFT you Nudge RIGHT. Just like how it would work in real life.

If the ball is on a surface like the flippers or those bouncy rubbers on top of the slingshots, you Nudge IN the direction you want it to go.

If you reverse it it would make nudging from a surface not make sense. But to each thier own.

[stomp-n-romp]

I purchased a wireless reciever for my xbox 360 controllers and am using it with win8 no problems, and the game is 300% more fun and my scores instantly doubled or more. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[balloon pikachu]

Just get an xbox 360 controller. They cost 20-30 dollars. Make sure to play with the bumper triggers, not the push triggers. The bumper triggers are actually a lot faster and respond quicker.

[Brock]

I've managed to get all wizard goals on 14 tables so far (late comer) on keyboard without analogue nudge, but I'm convinced I need to try a controller for more controlled nudges.
Do you use a thumb on either stick for corresponding left/right nudges?
If so don't the offset positions of an xbox controller feel odd?