Limitations of the Steam Store for Input Equality

[swillfly]

When I say input equality I am referring to the fact that some computer users do not use keyboard and mouse for actual hardware input.

And what I normally would shrug off as a quibble if it occurred infrequently I cannot disregard anymore because there are many AAA games I have purchased on Steam that are subject to this disappointment.

Here is the problem:

I have been using a trackball with a keyboard (Logitech Trackman Marble) for decades. My choice I know. I opted for ergonomics versus input consensus.

Game developers put out awesome games where on their Steam Store pages it does not list that a scrollwheel mouse is required. This is up to each individual dev what system requirements they advise for their product not Steam.

Who would I shake my gnarly old fists at? The trackball mfgr. for not implementing a scrollwheel or software (Setpoint) that addresses this? The game developer for such an impacting (albeit less common) interface issue? Steam for providing the vehicle of ignorance I bought into? Or myself for being born with such an impediment to normality?

Turns out Input Equality for folks that don't use the de facto "standard" Windows pc platform with keyboard & mouse are already in the minority. The market share is weighted to console players to begin with. And I exist in a smaller circle than those people.

There really is no solution beyond trying to find and employ 3rd party apps or bandaids for my "handicap" of using a trackball. Because that is precisely what it is.

And good luck finding any system requirements listing input devices on Steam Store.

I guess I should chop off my handicapped left hand that uses a trackball and "do the right thing."

Ah well. If this is the only inequality I have to deal with in life I guess I can just moan about it or get to sawing off my leftie.

Thx for reading and happy adventures to all

[Start_Running]

Input Equality is moree or less an impossibility. Simply because the game is built around its control scheme. There's a reason why shoddy ports tend to feel shody and thats because the controls are obviously made for a specific hardware configuration. Need an example of this. Starcraft 64, or Jade Empire.

It's nothing personal. They just literally can't design to accomodate every special need. SImply ignore the games that do not sport a suitable control scheme and buy the games that do. Or use 3rd party apps to make up the difference..

But at the end of the day, a game is designed around its input and the input hardware defines what the pllayer can be expected to do at any given time.

[swillfly]

Publicado originalmente por Start_Running:

Input Equality is moree or less an impossibility. Simply because the game is built around its control scheme. There's a reason why shoddy ports tend to feel shody and thats because the controls are obviously made for a specific hardware configuration. Need an example of this. Starcraft 64, or Jade Empire.

It's nothing personal. They just literally can't design to accomodate every special need. SImply ignore the games that do not sport a suitable control scheme and buy the games that do. Or use 3rd party apps to make up the difference..

But at the end of the day, a game is designed around its input and the input hardware defines what the pllayer can be expected to do at any given time.

Sigh - alas, quite true. It's just too bad there's no way of knowing what input interface options are involved for games on the Steam Store.

[Satoru]

I mean you can basically blame Microsoft for that. They destroyed Direct Input which required and allowed for mass customization, and replaced it with XInput that had zero customization. Thus devs have for nearly 2 decades never considered remapping as a thing because there was literally no point in implementing it becuase of Xinput

[ShelLuser]

Publicado originalmente por swillfly:

I have been using a trackball with a keyboard (Logitech Trackman Marble) for decades. My choice I know. I opted for ergonomics versus input consensus.

Game developers put out awesome games where on their Steam Store pages it does not list that a scrollwheel mouse is required.

This has nothing to do with games but simply modern standards. A scroll wheel is extremely common these days, in fact, I'd even argue that you can't find a pointer device anymore without one. Which also applies to the trackman marble by the way.

There are 2 versions... the old one which only had 3 mouse buttons, but the version after that also featured a scroll wheel. Some stores back in the day even provided some discount if you traded in your old marble for the new one. Of course this was around the 80's so it's not exactly valid these days.

These days I use a Logitech MX Ergo (= wireless trackball) and that would also be my suggestion for you: upgrade to something more current.

Because surely you must have realized by now that mouse wheels are used all over the place? From Office applications, DAW's to 3D modeling suites. Even every current browser assumes this to be there.

[swillfly]

Publicado originalmente por ShelLuser:

This has nothing to do with games but simply modern standards. A scroll wheel is extremely common these days, in fact, I'd even argue that you can't find a pointer device anymore without one. Which also applies to the trackman marble by the way.

I think you are thinking of another Logitech product/trackball.

Where do you see a scrollwheel on this[pisces.bbystatic.com]?

Logitech Trackman Marble (that is the actual product name) originally came in white with only 2 buttons versus the more "modern" grey one that has 4 buttons. You can see the original white and the more recent (past 10 yrs.) Trackman Marble at 3:15 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj8WENAkcro

I agree with you that scrollwheels are commonplace but they are certainly not as ergonomic as this one is for me. I have tried all kinds of trackballs over the years from Logitech, Kensington, Microsoft, etc. My experience is that others typically have either the small "thumb ball" for right-handed people or a huge "billiard ball" orb that is wretched for comfort.

I get that mousewheels are all over the place and have been for quite some time. Still doesn't mean they are a better fit for my comfort/daily use.

As opposed to using 3rd party apps that may (or may not) work for game bindings I plugged in a mouse w/scrollwheel solely for this purpose in addition to my Trackman Marble. Kinda sucks that I have to switch to that for zooming on maps/weapon selections in-game but it's better than using only a mouse for me.

[ShelLuser]

Publicado originalmente por swillfly:

I think you are thinking of another Logitech product/trackball.

Nope, a trackman marble optical trackball[www.bing.com].

I owned both of them, that's why I know. I'm also familiar with your version which was another variant. But to make things easy on us both products carried the same name and are actually variants of the same thing.

Publicado originalmente por swillfly:

Logitech Trackman Marble (that is the actual product name) originally came in white with only 2 buttons versus the more "modern" grey one that has 4 buttons.

Your research is incomplete; there were multiple variants. Such as mine, which was also called trackman marble (but it was an optical).

[★9-Volt★]

I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't realize that was an accessibility issue. The only thing I can think of to kinda help other users with that is to start a list of games that allow various inputs and which ones don't so that other people don't waste time and money on a game they can't play at all or only partially. If the devs aren't gonna list if their game is compatible with a trackball or other alternative inputs, might as well do it yourself with the help of others that are in your similar situation. It's not exactly ideal due to the sheer number of games available on here but if more people saw what games are compatible or not, it could influence their purchase decisions and eventually influence the devs on changing their ways.

[Wheelie Gamer]

Publicado originalmente por swillfly:

......

Thx for reading and happy adventures to all

hi swillfly,its interesting you say this about the trackball controlls-i thought about getting one myself as i struggle greatly with fine motor skills and peripheral neuropathy.

controlls and other parts of gaming are something im focusing on in some of my activist artwork- im a disabled artist working with a supported art studio and a pHD student who is studying why artists with intellectual disability dont get access to the mainstream art world-we are showing all my work in an online exhibitition soon.

im also making a kind of life simulation RPG for non impaired people to show them what all kinds of impairments/barriers are like,usiing RPG maker MZ and DLCs its early stages at the moment ,,i know gaming woud be open to a lot more people if there was an option for less complex controls or an option for visual based/pictorial controls- like Meadow/shelter/shelter 2/shelter 3 etc-i know Meadow also has an eye tracking control system on it so its set up pretty well in theory but i cant test it out as i dont have a clue how to set it up plus i use irlens glasses.

i am sorry for waffling but i just wanted to let you know i get where you are coming from and im behind you on this,it shoud be an option in the game, i seen academic papers and seen per centages of gamers with disabilities or impairmtnes and its very high so why arent our needs catered for when we pay just as much as everyone else?
-having accessible options is a great idea,its not like you are making everyone else use them.
best wishes!

[Start_Running]

Publicado originalmente por swillfly:

Publicado originalmente por Start_Running:

Input Equality is moree or less an impossibility. Simply because the game is built around its control scheme. There's a reason why shoddy ports tend to feel shody and thats because the controls are obviously made for a specific hardware configuration. Need an example of this. Starcraft 64, or Jade Empire.

It's nothing personal. They just literally can't design to accomodate every special need. SImply ignore the games that do not sport a suitable control scheme and buy the games that do. Or use 3rd party apps to make up the difference..

But at the end of the day, a game is designed around its input and the input hardware defines what the pllayer can be expected to do at any given time.

Sigh - alas, quite true. It's just too bad there's no way of knowing what input interface options are involved for games on the Steam Store.

The forum is a good place to ask I've learned. You can either search them (because chances are you aren't the first with the question) and/or Post the questtion. Heck you can even ask the question via comment on a review. if the reviewer has left itt open.

These are all methods I have yused. and if you get caught out. You can always refund. just be sure to make a prooper note of the lack of keybinding as your reason for refunding. As someonme who ues the keyboard with their right and the mouse with their left, Keybinding is a thorny issue for me. The first thing I have to do everytime I start a game is reconfigure the keys.