Cheap, Rugged, Multiplayer Gamepads for Linux

IceAgeComing writes "Anyone interested in exploring multiplayer games under Linux should know: you can now pick up a four-way gamepad hub, with four gamepads, for under $15. It is known as the Gravis Multiport, and now it is supported under Linux. The link describes patches for Linux 2.4, but the drivers are now included in Linux 2.6. This input system used to cost more than $100, but it has been abandoned by Gravis since Windows 98. Now it's possible to pick them up extra cheap. Four-player Gauntlet under XMAME, anyone?"

Comments

Are you insane?

[Anonymous Coward]

When I first tried Tomb Raider on keyboard, it was like "ARGGGG, this is useless". Let's compare technique with this game.

To move using a keyboard, I'd have to utilise 3 fingers, a joypad only required my thumb. This left my other thumb for actions on the pad. The keyboard would require a thumb too. Now for stuff like creep, sidestep, special actions, these were mappable to the 4 shoulder buttons on the pad, and I could use 4 fingers for each button. The keypad neccesitated me to do some fancy perpheral vision looking to make sure I hit those keys.

Then there's the case of ease. With the keyboard I'd have to give quick looks to make sure I didn't hit the wrong key. Plus my wrists were at awkward positions. With a gamepad, I never had to look at it, my eyes could remain on the screen 100%. Every button was immediately accesible and I knew what it was by pure feel. Both of my hands were my eyes, in essence.

There's no contest between a pad and keyboard for this game. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying, or just trying to start shit.

Re:they can kiss my sorry butt.

[luekj]

"especially rules for XMame's fighting games "

[face_barf]

Exactly why piracy is ignorance. Bliss or otherwise.

Cool!

[t0ny]

Neato! Now all Linux needs are some games!

You can always depend on the Linux community to put the cart before the horse, thats for sure.