It's been about a month or so since I went cold turkey on my mouse and started using a trackball for TT (and everything else as well). I went out and got a Kensington Expert Optical Trackball. I had used trackballs occasionally over the years, and never really loved them, but began to wonder if there would be advantages for gaming. Then at the 1st International Think Tanks Convention, Jangles and I were discussing this and we both decided to give it a go.

There was a significant learning curve in order to get my brain adjusted to it. Re-learning how to shoot was like a roller coaster ride of euphoria followed by frustration as my mind would oscillate between conifdence (as in "I know how to shoot so I don't have to focus on learning anymore") and fear (as in "GD this F thing I shoud return this POS and go back to my mouse!").

AT this point I am happy to say that I am over the hump and am really happy with it. I think its biggest impact on my game is that I flail around less while playing since the thing basically stays put in one spot. This means less of a chance of my aim becoming totally disoriented during some intense action clusters.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

-Rx

Too much information.

If we wanted to know about the first time you and Jangles got together and played with your balls we would have asked.

(snicker snicker)

Sniper

What is this whole thread about I didnt not get it....I think its about a new way to shoot but I dont have a clue.... :(
eagle

I need to adjust similarly to my change from mouse to touchpad, after moving from desktop to laptop. Could you help me, because it's anoying when I play TT.

Actually I have been using a trackball for years now and I will never use anything else.
I even have a mini trackball for my powerbook.
I think what Reagant wants to know is how many other TT players are using a TB?
Trackballs do take some time to get used to but once you have mastered it its easier on you wrist and more precise then any mouse. I have noticed RX and jangles shooting improve since they told me they got a trackball.

WOOT! WELCOME TO MY WORLD GUYS!
;)

Last edited: Friday, January 21, 2005 at 2:25:57 PM

Its tank's world...and we're all just filthy, mouse-clicking pot-shotters....

I use one of these babies:

Yeah, it rocks. And matches my computer.

I use a Kensington Turbo Mouse (a trackball) and have for years. It allows for much more clutter on my desk. I emailed Hanksta asking him for a screenie of his acceleration settings but he's not giving it up.

The one drawback is using the thumb for the trigger. It interferes with tracking the target for me.

I tried using USB overdrive for auto shooting a whole clip at once and it freed up my thumb and improved my shooting. It was annoying however because you had to click twice to actuate the auto-fire. In the heat of battle I would inadvertantly get out of sync and only get off one shot and then the next click would stop the auto-fire. D'oh. Plus people got upset with me when I finished the clip on them after they scored.

Then I tried an orally activated trigger. It was too difficult to curse while using this setup, not to mention the slobber problems.

My next project is to fashion a foot actuated trigger.

No offense BC, but I liked your unabomber look better...

It's easier to get through airport security now. My co-workers called it the "Charles Manson look".

Last edited: Friday, January 21, 2005 at 3:40:48 PM

Trackball - always.

I'm kinda tough on 'em though - go thru one every 30-60 days.

Good job RX. Now EVERYONE'S gonna want to go to trackball & we're gonna lose that edge... XD Seriously, though, I got a trackball a couple of months ago & absolutely love it. Should've acquired one way back when Tanky started the "secret weapon revealed..." thread back on the GG forum, which is the reason I finally decided to give it a try. Unfortunately I purchased the budget Kensington instead of the Expert Pro. I wasn't sure I wanted to invest a C note on something I wasn't sure I would like. It works great for me now that I've gotten used to it (I hated it for awhile but kept with it until I realized I would never go back to the mouse). Now I'm gonna have to go out and get the one I shoulda got in the first place- the new Kensington Expert 7.0 with the scroll-ring. Somebody want to buy my old trackball cheap?

Wow. All I use is an optical IntiliMouse from Microsoft. Seems to work for me. I have tried wireless and more expensive models, but I keep going back to this cheap dirty ol' mouse of mine. I have to say I am intrigued by this, MP check your email.

NUTS!

@BC- You don't scare me anymore XD

I'm thinking of hooking up my NASCAR steering wheel up to Think Tanks with gas and clutch pedals and a shifter.

Fire button on the wheel of course.

Sniper

I drive with this:

I shoot with this:

B

Last edited: Thursday, January 27, 2005 at 4:47:41 PM

Ya got some tight gear, Bolo!

I use a Logitech Trackman. Of course, I could be using a head-mounted laser-tracker and it still wouldn't make me a good BMer. However, during the times that I used my wife's mouse, I think the only targets I could hit were my own team-mates! :P

- Bomb…James Bomb

And the government made you a gunner at some point?

B

Thankfully, my tank doesn't use a mouse. :P Our controller is actually quite similar to the old Star Wars X-Fighter Arcade game with the dual grips. I think the Tracer-X shootem/race game uses them as well. VERY precise and comfortable. Good grief, if I could use THAT on ThinkTanks.....

- Bomb…James Bomb

Be thankful I dont ever drive a real tank...ehhhe

Well, first off, you'd probably be dumping deadly HEAT rounds into your damaged wingman as a "favor" and wondering why its taking him so long to respawn! ;)

- Bomb…James Bomb

This is frowned upon?

:)

Just bought a trackball...

Do you guys use one fingers on the ball, or two...?

3 actually

Set your mouse speed in TT wicked fast. Cant do it in the game....that wont be fast enough. Edit your prefs.cs and make it so high so u can aim instantly...takes a while to get accurate with it

B

Last edited: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 11:41:43 PM

O...thanks bo!

Ok, ever since getting this thing about a week ago, my game has taken a major dump.

Considering going back to the mouse...

Very difficult to target with the ball with three fingers at the same time I thumb the trigger...

Running out of patience...

Last edited: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 at 12:56:35 PM

I played a game at my sister's house this weekend and was forced to use a mouse for the first time. I did very well in a game with 44, spony, and a couple of other excellent players.

I'll be experimenting more with the mouse after I get the slobber drained out of mine.

At work I use a Microsoft Trackball explorer. I have been using trackballs for about 15 years now.

At home for playing most games I use something like this:

I drive and fire with the joystick, and aim with the trackball.

I made this one for a relative. Mine is slightly different, with the joysticks to the right of the buttons.