Casual vs Hardcore

[Sean Doherty]

The following is the post to the latest version of my game in development:

http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=6397

Many people have said that they like prefer the mouse and only the mouse to control the starship. However, this causes a problem because, for the most part, you are forced to point in the direction you are shooting and exchange bullets with the enemy. That said, the controls are simple and more suited to casual gamers.

However, if I used the keyboard to control the starship and the mouse to target and firing at the enemies you would be able to shoot the enemies without facing that direction.

Basically, I wondering if I would loss any hope of selling to a casual audience. Moreover, what audience; if any would I attract with the keyboard and mouse?

Thanks

[Nexic]

Well for Desperate Space a lot of people said they liked that control system, whilst others hated it and wanted keyboard+mouse. I don't think you can please both, my recommendation would be to try both and then see what you feel is best.

Casual gamers will only want to use the mouse, but by the same token a lot of these casual games wouldn't be interested in this. You won't attract more because of the control system itself, rather you will attract more if that control system improves the experience.

[Graeme]

I just played the game and would have loved to be able to use the keyboard, I just kept running into the other guy's stream of bullets otherwise I couldn't hit him, so *I* would definitely prefer the keyboard. Have you considered making it optional? Then again that would create a problem in that the game would be either too easy with the kb, or too hard without it

[Christian]

I think its best to include both ways of playing for both types of players, the problem that casual players have is that they lack the dextrecity to use both hands at the same time, there is training and time to master this things, wich hardcore gamers have mastered.
I think also that you have to suit both controls types for game types, i mean, mouse only version is for casual gamers, you should prepare the gameplay for this type of player and control type (less enemies of only 1 type for example), and also for the hardcore type of play (more enemies and more types of enemies).
You would need to make both versions good, otherwhise your game will be known for beign hardcore and hard for casual players, or too easy and idiot for hardcore players.

[Sean Doherty]

If I do keyboard and mouse, the game play will be very different than just mouse. I don't think you can implement both game unless you have multiple game modes which, if memory serves, is one of the things not do do. Always have one good game mode, rather than many ok game modes.

I could always release a separate release for just casual market at a latter point. I think I will key the keyboard and mouse a try. Didn't Crimsonland to this?

[Davaris]

Have you tried using the mouse as a joystick?

If you roll forward your speed increases. If you roll back you break. There is no friction in space, so you fly in a straight line untill you fire your jets. Roll left your ship rotates left, roll right your ship rotates right.

Or while you have the left mouse button pressed, you start firing and can aim in any direction. When it is released it is normal manouvering. Perhaps to make it dead easy for the casual crowd your guns only fire when you have the mouse button pressed and an enemy is in your sights for a certain amount of time.

[varmint]

Wing Commander series, Homeworld and X3 did a mouse / keyboard combo which works very well. They use the mouse as a joystick as Davaris suggested.

Just an idea thrown up in the air, what about an "auto face" type feature. Target and lockon to an enemy and autoface them.

[svero]

Why not offer a few control styles and let the player pick which works best for them. With spacetaxi we knew it was a keyboard game. But we added some mouse controls anyway. We didnt like the mouse controls so we removed them in a later version. Then we got a bunch of letters from people saying they preferred the mouse control version. So we put it back in.

[Musenik]

The best mouse control system I've seen to drive a space fighter was in Freelancer. Check it out.

[Game Producer]

The following is the post to the latest version of my game in development:

http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=6397

Many people have said that they like prefer the mouse and only the mouse to control the starship. However, this causes a problem because, for the most part, you are forced to point in the direction you are shooting and exchange bullets with the enemy. That said, the controls are simple and more suited to casual gamers.

However, if I used the keyboard to control the starship and the mouse to target and firing at the enemies you would be able to shoot the enemies without facing that direction.

Basically, I wondering if I would loss any hope of selling to a casual audience. Moreover, what audience; if any would I attract with the keyboard and mouse?

Thanks

Can you do both?