4 Pro Tips: FPS gaming on the trackpad

[halifax]

All of these tips revolve around fixing yourself and your settings to make the right trackpad work almost as good as a mouse and be comfortable for long gaming sessions playing FPS games.

And yes, this is totally possible to do with the Steam Controller.

Proper Grip:

The key to understanding the proper grip for using the right trackpad like a mouse is this: there is no proper grip. You're going to have to let go of the controller and let it rest in your lap. Your hand needs to totally relax, let the controller just lie on top of your fingers.

Your left hand is the grip, you need LMB and RMB bound to the left side. I recommend left side trigger and paddle, respectively. EDIT: with gyro aim assist, this isn't as important, but if you don't like gyro assist, this helps keep a steadier aim on the trackpad only.

Proper Aiming:

You should use gyro aim assist in FPS and other shooter games:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B43ibnztDLc

But let's also talk about improving aim with the trackpad by itself, which is an additive experience, combining better aiming on the trackpad itself with gyro aiming assistance brings the Steam Controller surprisingly close to mouse aiming for a gamepad.

For aiming with just the trackpad: don't just move your thumb, move your whole hand and arm, kind of like you'd do with a mouse. Also, relax your thumb and keep it relaxed, and don't "claw" up, or your hand will start to cramp quickly.

Proper Friction:

When just considering the trackpad alone (not the gyro aiming), the skin of your thumb and the surface of the trackpad is probably the single biggest problem with aiming accuracy. Your skin changes in tackiness with sweat and oils. It'll hitch, it'll skip, it'll not slide consistently, *especially* for micro aiming that last part of a headshot.

If your thumb on the trackpad is already 100% perfect: good for you! Move on to the next section, please. For everyone else:

Option A: Friction reset:

Liquid dish-washing hand soap. NO anti-bacterial, just standard soap. (Same recommendation as certain plastic pieces of medical grade equipment come with.)

• Make a large batch in warm water, add a good amount of soap. Soak a cotton washcloth in it. Squeeze it out so it's just damp.
  
• Holding the Steam Controller upside down, clean it and surrounding buttons+plastic with the sudsy washcloth.
  
• Set the controller down upside down, completely rinse the washcloth and clean off the detergent suds from the controller, keeping the controller upside down - then towel dry.
  
• Wash your thumb in the same solution and rinse.
  
• Wait 30 minutes to an hour - it may seem dry after drying with a towel, but after a little time, it'll really be dry.

Option B: Friction augmentation:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=545770792

I recommend a very thin piece of rough plastic that's thin enough to block the static electricity between your thumb and the pad as little as possible. Another benefit to being thin: the less you'll notice it (which is a good thing).

I have tried several different things, currently I'm using plastic cut from a shower cap of my wife's. It's thin and has a rough/fabric like surface - it seems to work the best overall for me.

• Cut out a small oval from the plastic selected (mileage varies based on what you use).
  
• Apply a glue-stick to the end of your thumb-tip
  
• Apply the oval piece of plastic to your thumb-tip, rough side out
  
• Enjoy the absolute best tracking characteristics you're ever gonna get from the Steam Controller trackpad :-)

Proper Settings:

The trackpad aims pretty good on its own with these tips, and feels a little cleaner to aim when every little shift of your grip doesn't muck with your sights. But, having said that, adding gyro aiming assist is pretty slick. Since Valve did such a good job with the drivers, it is recommended.

• Trackball mode = On
  
• Sensitivity = (Low setting, I recommend one tick below default)
  
• Acceleration = High
  
• Trackball Friction = Low
  
• Smoothing = (a very high setting)
  
• *Rotation = Off (exact middle of bar)
  
• 
  
• Optional (and recommended) Gyro aim assist:
  
• 
  
• Mode = Mouse
  
• Sensitivity = (Very Low sensitivity, one tick above zero)
  
• Acceleration = Off
  
• Smoothing = Low
  
• Advanced -> Sensitivity Vertical Scale = (3-5 ticks below center/default)

If you follow these tips, you will be liking the Steam Controller a lot more for playing your shooters and FPS games. Does it work as good as a mouse? No. But it can get a LOT closer and be a LOT more comfortable for shooters than most people are thinking it is - mostly due to not following these tips :-)

*EDIT: Rotation should be off, no rotation. You should mainly be using your wrist to move your mostly stationary thumb left/right and up/down. Turning rotation off is a good "litmus test" for if you're aiming correctly. You should be able to scroll level across the horizon in-game with Rotation off with a little practice, it shouldn't feel hard. Rotation is a kludge for people mostly using their thumb joint with a stationary hand to aim - which is an incorrect/bad way to aim using the trackpad.

[Ruby Eye Shabranigdu]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von cunningmunki:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Fantasy Batman:

appinion

Is that a new word?

Really? Ooo i misspelled a word in haste my opinion must be invalid. you guys are whats wrong with gaming to day

[rorshok]

Right now I'm pretty sure the default configuration for the right track pad in 'joystick camera' mode is exactly the same as for an analog stick, which is why it feels "wrong". They both have the same dead zone and tiny window of precision before going into 'scroll mode', which works with an analog stick since it provides resistance. I think (hope at least) that there will be configuration tweaks down the line that will make the pad feel and work better than an analog stick. I haven't quite been able to come up with something I like by messing with the configuration options yet, but hopeful! :)

The OP's suggestions are great for using the pad in mouse mode though.

[halifax]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von halifax:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Agent M:

Yeah, I don't use for main freelook. Turning around would be a chore. I use the pad for large and medium motions and the gyro for lining up the enemy's head. And I've never like motion controlls as a primary game interface. But this controller has taugh me that motion controll can be a great assist. I've got it set so it maybe covers a fifth to a fourth of the screen with comfortable twists -- the sort of twists I kind of do anyway for no reason even when not using motion control. I played a bunch of Wolfenstein New Order and it started to feel like second nature even run-and-gunning with hipfire.

Hell yeah. It's all one combined aiming experience where you just need tiny little movements to assist getting that last pixel. I am very glad Valve did this right. It's going to be very hard to knock the Steam Controller as anything other than a *huge* FPS gamepad upgrade now over standard controllers. Love it :-)

OK, after a day of using the gyro aiming assist, I'm not as down with it as I initially thought I was. It's definitely a cool addition, and Valve coded it pretty good for a version 1, maybe after a few driver tweaks I'll like it more. But honestly, the trackpads work pretty good on their own with a little practice and following these tips, you don't really need gyro assist if you get better with the pads.

[madjr]

Non stop Reflex:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ3_-5SuHrk

[Terronidus]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von halifax:

The unfortunate thing is I doubt many people have tried tip number 3 yet, with the cotton cloth on your thumb tip. This really does start to give you the consistent and smooth drag you need on the touch pad to make it not suck as a real mouse replacement.

It's inconvenient in that you basically have to rig something up to try it. It wouldn't surprise me if 3rd party sellers start making little cloth thumb caps to sell, kind of like they already do for joystick caps now.

Have you by chance tried to put the cotton bandage/cloth over the actual trackpad? That'd make it much easier than having to take off and reply a bandage every time someone wanted to play games.

[halifax]

This is an ongoing experiment, considering I've had this thing less than a week :-) I tried your suggestion, but it doesn't seem to work at all. No idea why not, your guess is as good as mine.

That was an older comment, btw. Sticky bandage tips are super convenient and work better anyway. They work good enough they make the gyro aiming just a different option, not a better option. Thinner bandages are better, doesn't have to be cloth. Give it a shot :-)

[cunningmunki]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Fantasy Batman:

Really? Ooo i misspelled a word in haste my opinion must be invalid. you guys are whats wrong with gaming to day

Who said your appinion is invalid? I think it's a perfectly valid and reasonable appinion. I just haven't figured out what it is yet.

[Wizard_of_Nozs]

Has anyone tried using a round bandaid on the pad instead of a cloth? No static electricity but still get the sliding effect. (not the cloth one, just a normal padded bandaid)

[Active Yaw]

Every time you want to game put a bandage on .... classic.

[Wizard_of_Nozs]

not on your finger. I meant on the actual pad like an addative. Sort of like you put on controller thumb sticks. A more permanent salution

[Active Yaw]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Nozs:

not on your finger. I meant on the actual pad like an addative. Sort of like you put on controller thumb sticks. A more permanent salution

I just find it funny due to an inherent design flaw I need to wear a bandage for the rest of my gaming life.

[Wizard_of_Nozs]

lol I hear you. Hopefully an after market controller will come out with this added. I'm hoping this first controller will be a turning point in controller design. I really do like the way it actually feels and plays but there could definately be a few improvements. I think the shape of the controller could be a little more accomidating, material over thumpads would be nice. An extra thumbstick for camera movement wouldn't be horrible.

[madjr]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Nozs:

lol I hear you. Hopefully an after market controller will come out with this added. I'm hoping this first controller will be a turning point in controller design. I really do like the way it actually feels and plays but there could definately be a few improvements. I think the shape of the controller could be a little more accomidating, material over thumpads would be nice. An extra thumbstick for camera movement wouldn't be horrible.

Another thumbstick cramped in there? aren't you asking too much?

Maybe another trackpad or scroll wheel on the back or an INTER-EXCHANGEABLE design like the XBONE ELITE controller, where you can swap parts would be cool (but might be more expensive).

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Active Yaw:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Nozs:

not on your finger. I meant on the actual pad like an addative. Sort of like you put on controller thumb sticks. A more permanent salution

I just find it funny due to an inherent design flaw I need to wear a bandage for the rest of my gaming life.

I think that's only if you have "sweaty thumbs" ?

The design actually helps create air flow. Your palms don't rest fully on the gamepad.

Check the Reflex video above, I don't think the guy is wearing any bandaid....... but I could be wrong.

[Terronidus]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Nozs:

not on your finger. I meant on the actual pad like an addative. Sort of like you put on controller thumb sticks. A more permanent salution

This is what I was talking about earlier!

Ursprünglich geschrieben von halifax:

This is an ongoing experiment, considering I've had this thing less than a week :-) I tried your suggestion, but it doesn't seem to work at all. No idea why not, your guess is as good as mine.

That was an older comment, btw. Sticky bandage tips are super convenient and work better anyway. They work good enough they make the gyro aiming just a different option, not a better option. Thinner bandages are better, doesn't have to be cloth. Give it a shot :-)

I meant an actual bandage, not a cloth. I don't have one yet. I need a controller, but I'm on the fence about this one. I DO have a ps4 controller, but that's not usually guaranteed to work and sometimes requires too much effort to get it to mesh with games.

[Zukureneno]

Can i suggest to the op that he makes this a guide so it does not dissapear from the forums?