I’ve written example macros for casting Tree of Life and Resurrection on a Logitech G15 keyboard. With a little grease you’ll be able to assign macros for just about any command in Shadowrun’s “quick cast” menu. I had “Gust” working the other day. Read my blog post to try the macros out for yourself.
Even with these macros, it is still faster to “quick cast” with a controller. That’s why I’m sticking to a controller for now.
Tags: g15, logitech, quick cast
How does this affect game balance though?
Will this sort of thing not give vista gamers an advantage over 360 gamers?
I am all for the cross platorm gaming, but i think that as soon as one platform starts getting an unfair advantage over the other then they will kill the title dont you think?
Fasa have clearly spent lots of time making sure the balance works between platforms, and so far you really dont feel at a disadvantage using a gamepad. However…. stuff like this… and also the possiblility that other devs (no names mentioned UBI) will clearly NOT spend so much time making sure cross platform balance is achieved in their titles… could mean that games for vista live start hurting the xbox live community.
I wonder what sort of meausres are in place to make sure things stay nice and even. Hopefully there are some serious hardcore approval tests that these things have to go through….. but not hopeful.
Good questions dirtyCAT79.
It is important to know that the user interface for Shadowrun was developed for the controller. The menus (especially the “quick cast” menu) were designed so that they work best on a controller.
Quick casting is an important part to Shadowrun. Keyboard and mouse users are already at a disadvantage doing this. Controller users will be able to quick cast faster than KB/M users because the UI is designed for controllers. FASA could have invested more resources in balancing out the user interface (or giving the KB/M users a new UI). But, other than the UI, the game is closely balanced, IMO.
Controller users have auto-aim and low reticle acceleration. KB/M users have no auto-aim, high acceleration, and a slightly different reticle. So far the shooting seems balanced.
The macro commands do speed up the quick cast on Vista. However, they aren’t faster than quick casting with a controller. To execute a macro on the G15, fingers and your hand must travel. This traveling takes time and removes your hand and fingers from its “home” location. This increases the chances of errors occurring and takes the gamer “out” of the game.
Right now, XBOX 360 users have the advantage (for a lot of reasons that I won’t go into right now). Even with macros for Vista players, controller users still have the advantage.
Additionally, XBOX 360 users get to experience “rumble” in their controller. KB/M users won’t get to experience this feedback that the game offers.
The advantage won’t kill Shadowrun. XBOX 360 players aren’t going to quit it because they have a disadvantage. They’ll keep playing until the new shooters come out. I do think a lot of Vista players would be driven away from the game if they knew how much faster they could quick cast with a controller.
Thanks for clearing that up.
I have to say after owning the game for some time now i have noticed NO difference in bias over vista or console users so its working really really well.
Just one comment you made i dont agree with:
“XBOX 360 players aren’t going to quit it because they have a disadvantage. They’ll keep playing until the new shooters come out.”
Im going to keep playing this game LONG after the new shooters come out! Its gonna take a hell of a lot to kick my addiction to this fantastic new addition to the xbox live multiplayer titles.