Why is keyboard supposedly not good for racing games?

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Cub

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#1 Cub
Member since 2017 • 40 Posts

I know there isn't any analog input but would it not be possible to do fairly well using the mouse to steer if the game supports it, and just using keyboard keys for acceleration and braking? Some people say that most racing games are "unplayable" on keyboard (mainly sims and the Dirt series) and require a controller or wheel.

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pyro1245

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#2 pyro1245
Member since 2003 • 9384 Posts

People play Elite Dangerous with a mouse.... I don't see why it shouldn't be a valid control method for racing games.

I even have trouble with controllers. I need a wheel/pedals to actually feel like I'm not over-correcting all the time.

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with_teeth26

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#3 with_teeth26
Member since 2007 • 11511 Posts

I played racing games with a keyboard for years before I had a controller that worked with my PC. You can certainly do it, though I never used the mouse for steering. Dirt 2, Grid, Burnout Paradise and several Need for Speed games I played exclusively with kb+m before I got a PS3 in 2010 or so and figured out how to use the DS3 controller with my PC.

a controller always just felt better, and a wheel setup even better still if there is any shred of realism to the vehicle handling.

the exception being Trackmania, which has always worked best with a keyboard imo due to the specific type of handling in those games.

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so_hai

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#4 so_hai
Member since 2007 • 4385 Posts

Mouse and Keyboard is superior to everything isn't? It's the superior method on the superior platform. Consoles are moving towards mouse and keyboard because it's so obviously superior, and PCs are ditching regular controllers in droves.

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henrythefifth

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#5 henrythefifth
Member since 2016 • 2502 Posts

I used to play PC racing games with keyboard and mouse, back in the early 00's.

-and it sucked big time, compared to the racing I did on PS2.

Better to give up and get a wheel, or a decent joypad.

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#6  Edited By Black_Knight_00
Member since 2007 • 77 Posts

Did you ever try driving your car by jerking the steering wheel left and right instead of gradually turning it? Because that's what a racing game on a keyboard feels like.

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gmak2442

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#8 gmak2442
Member since 2015 • 1089 Posts

I have use keyboard for a while before I got my controller or console.

I have re-try the keyboard on Wreckfest on PC and I've been very good with it.

It's another way to control a car: It rally on tapping quickly. And the most important problem for a pro is the braking that cannot be as good as with a controller because of the button that are not progressive like on the controller. Excuse my lack of vocabulary.

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deactivated-5d1e44cf96229

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#10 deactivated-5d1e44cf96229
Member since 2015 • 2814 Posts

A keyboard is meant for typing. A gamepad is meant for gaming. Period.

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#11 RockField
Member since 2017 • 500 Posts

@storm_of_swords said:

A keyboard is meant for typing. A gamepad is meant for gaming. Period.

keyboard is also meant for gaming. i still use kb and m for gaming until now.

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#12 Glident
Member since 2018 • 1 Posts

frekgfregtegrt

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deactivated-63d1ad7651984

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#13  Edited By deactivated-63d1ad7651984
Member since 2017 • 10057 Posts

I'm pretty good with the keyboard when it comes to driving and flying for open world games like GTA. It is alot harder though when it comes to racing sims.

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#14 TomPhoenix
Member since 2018 • 3 Posts

You can get certain keyboards that have a varying degree of depth to the output, I think when it comes to something like that a keyboard is definitely viable.

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pyro1245

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#15 pyro1245
Member since 2003 • 9384 Posts

@storm_of_swords said:

A keyboard is meant for typing. A gamepad is meant for gaming. Period.

How does the saying go?

If only closed minds came with closed mouths.

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deactivated-5f3ec00254b0d

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#16 deactivated-5f3ec00254b0d
Member since 2009 • 6278 Posts

It's not ideal but like every other thing in gaming is overblown. Same with resolution, FPS, kB Vs mouse, etc.

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deactivated-5d1e44cf96229

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#17 deactivated-5d1e44cf96229
Member since 2015 • 2814 Posts

@pyro1245 said:
@storm_of_swords said:

A keyboard is meant for typing. A gamepad is meant for gaming. Period.

How does the saying go?

If only closed minds came with closed mouths.

What I said is true whether you like it or not. Gamepads were invented for gaming. Keyboards were not invented for gaming; keyboards were invented for typing. That is a fact. After that, it was then adopted as the input method for gaming on a PC since it was the only input device that developers could guarantee that every PC user owned, but nobody looking to invent something meant for gaming would have ever thought to invent what we now know as the keyboard. They just settled for using that since it was already there and they knew that every PC owner already had it.

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pyro1245

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#18 pyro1245
Member since 2003 • 9384 Posts

@storm_of_swords said:
@pyro1245 said:
@storm_of_swords said:

A keyboard is meant for typing. A gamepad is meant for gaming. Period.

How does the saying go?

If only closed minds came with closed mouths.

What I said is true whether you like it or not. Gamepads were invented for gaming. Keyboards were not invented for gaming; keyboards were invented for typing. That is a fact. After that, it was then adopted as the input method for gaming on a PC since it was the only input device that developers could guarantee that every PC user owned, but nobody looking to invent something meant for gaming would have ever thought to invent what we now know as the keyboard. They just settled for using that since it was already there and they knew that every PC owner already had it.

Keyboard & Mouse is the best way to play shooter games. Period.

You can't argue with that because it's true, whether you like it or not.

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RedPlayer

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#19 RedPlayer
Member since 2018 • 6 Posts

Maybe it's to do with not being able to accelerate or brake slightly rather than "flooring" it.

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#20  Edited By Litchie
Member since 2003 • 34469 Posts

@storm_of_swords said:
@pyro1245 said:
@storm_of_swords said:

A keyboard is meant for typing. A gamepad is meant for gaming. Period.

How does the saying go?

If only closed minds came with closed mouths.

What I said is true whether you like it or not. Gamepads were invented for gaming. Keyboards were not invented for gaming; keyboards were invented for typing. That is a fact. After that, it was then adopted as the input method for gaming on a PC since it was the only input device that developers could guarantee that every PC user owned, but nobody looking to invent something meant for gaming would have ever thought to invent what we now know as the keyboard. They just settled for using that since it was already there and they knew that every PC owner already had it.

Haha, so fucking stupid. Controllers has been around longer than "gamepads" has. They were not invented for gaming. A gamepad is a controller, so controllers aren't meant for gaming either, according to your reasoning.

Also, you know "gaming keyboards" are being made, right? And they were invented for gaming. Go figure.

Anyway, to answer the thread. People saying racing games are unplayable on a keyboard are full of shit. It works well. The main reason why you'd prefer a controller instead is that you can decide how hard you're gonna turn. With a keyboard it's just one direction or no direction, you can't just turn a little unless you tap the button.

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Mixox29

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#21 Mixox29
Member since 2018 • 6 Posts

Playing racing games with controller just looks smoother in my opinion.