So I've sort-of been trending towards PC gaming, not in the hardcore camp outside a store for a graphics card way, but I bought a little APU-based mini PC that has been surprisingly good late last year.
It's hooked up to my TV (I will not do desk gaming) and I'd like to play some things that are really not controller friendly, like Age of Empires, Deus Ex, Stalker series, maybe some old Sim City etc. Was thinking a trackball would be nice since I can lounge around without needing a flat space to sit it. It's a weird market though, there's different types yet not much to choose from. Seems like maybe stuck with Logitech, which the way I've been not thrilled with their stuff lately I'd be as happy trying out one of the capital letter Chinese brands that won't be much different.
Anyone that's done this for light (or heavy) gaming have any suggestions? I haven't used a trackball since my laptop had one over 25 years ago.
It's pretty amazing how diverse the PC gaming world is. I can't imagine couch gaming, with a TV. Well I can imagine it but it's way out of my experience. Then you have people with all kinds of setups like HOTAS and pedals and head tracking, or those 20 button gaming mice. I don't go that far but the desk with a nice chair is the most comfortable place to game.
Try the Logitech G600 and you will never be able to go back to binding everything right next to WASD. That device was a game changer for how I approach PC gaming control setups. Highly recommend you try it out at some point.
I Just bought one of these 3 hours ago, can't wait.
It'll arrive in a few days, wasn't sure where to begin binding tho.
It allows you to create a separate profile for each game, so you can tailor everything pretty easily. The design is pretty ideal for MMOs with the ability to hold the ring finger button to toggle to a complete second set of inputs to all your keys, so you can have all the thumb buttons map from f1-f12 and then hold the toggle button and then assign another twelve keys/key combinations to the thumb buttons(for example, CTRL+f1-f12).
There's a little bit of a learning curve to getting the muscle memory down, but after a few days you won't want to go back.
My main reason is I sit here all day and I generally just want away from my desk. I went from PC gamer as a teenager when my days were spent at school and working on my feet to console gamer as I got into more of a desk job. Now that I work from home, I really don't want to sit here after the day is over. I'm still definitely a console-style guy, but the direction those are going and things I was wanting to play they are on the decline for me.
The gaming mice with buttons are pretty nice. One issue I had transitioning from controller to keyboard/mouse gaming was control was more balanced between left and right hand with a controller, whereas with a standard mouse you just have the 2/3 buttons, the wheel, and the mouse. Forces you to do more with your left hand.