WASDIO Interview: The end of WASD for PC gamers?

Ironhammers: Bobby asks a few questions of Cary Evans, founder of Matterdaddy, the company which is now running a Kickstarter campaign for a new way to control PC games. The WASDIO is a type of joystick, suited to use in any PC game that would usually use the WASD keys for movement control.

[Trunkz]

WASD forever.

[fr0sty]

I hate using it. I always use a dual shock in my left hand (left analog to move, L2 to crouch, L1 jump, L3 use, D pad for other functions, I'll even map the select button if I need one more as I can still reach it with my left hand), mouse in my right. Analog control is so much better, especially in FPS games with vehicle combat. You'll never have a driver using WASD that is as good as someone with analog control. You can only get so much control with digital buttons. I first started using that combo with unreal tournament 2004 (had to use a PC dual shock clone back then, as no usb on ps2 controllers), and have dominated with it ever since. The only disadvantage I had in UT2004 was the fact that it used double taps to quickly dodge forward, back, left, or right. That isn't easy to do with an analog stick. I solved that by also mapping the DPAD to movement, so a quick double tap was easy. That gave me the versatility to quickly switch between digital control (on foot) to analog (vehicles).

[porkChop]

That looks fucking stupid. I'm fine with a keyboard, and if I really needed something else I would get something like the G13 or the Nostromo, which not only look much nicer, are much more comfortable and have analog joyticks for movement. This thing just looks dumb as hell, and it doesn't look like you could comfortable press the front buttons without taking your hand off the grip a bit, which would put you at a disadvantage. I can't understand why anyone would ever think that THAT monstrosity is a good idea.

[SilentNegotiator]

I would be up to trying it. I like using the mouse, but hate using the Keyboard; an army of cluttered, mostly same sized keys is the least intuitive way to control a game.

edit: Taking a second look, THIS PARTICULAR product, I probably wouldn't try it. Six keys on the stick? Freaking really?

[Baka-akaB]

Epic fail in sight . It looks more complicated and less ergonomic like many accessories each year

[Somebody]

A pretty standard title/announcement/claim/boast when a shiny new product is being introduced.

X box 360 and PS3 coming out! Death of PC gaming!

MMOs and multiplayer are getting big! Death of Singlepalyer games!

Mobile gaming and touch screen is big! Death of consoles!

F2Ps are big! Everything else is dead!

A prototype of a new controller! It's not out yet but WASD is dead!

Still, it's not really a new idea though. Everyone have been looking for the holy grail of a game controller. I've tried to get a combo system to work before but they are much to cumbersome. The closest thing that I have achieved what this guy is doing is using a Razer Hydra motion controller with a mouse for aiming. Unfortunately the magnetic system the Hydra used seem to have a weird effect the back of my head. It made the muscle tightens and at times I get headaches afterwards. Due to health concerns, I dropped that idea.

If WASDIO is as useful as it claims, then I might give it a chance.