The Mouse

[Prestige]

I am sure topics about the mouse have been brought up before, and hopefully the Devs are aware of the situation and the overall "feel" of controlling the game.

Ultimately, while playing today after a long, LONG break, I realized what it was about the mouse that made it feel so clunky in this game. It is the fact that you must take your hand off the mouse in order to access many parts of the UI.

Let me explain. In Final Fantasy XI, you could play comfortably with both hands on the keyboard - your right hand on the numerical side and your left hand for macros and the tab key. You could access anything you needed without a mouse. However, developing an MMO for the current market requires that the mouse be a focal point for a majority of the Western audience. Yes, I've used the controller and I don't mind it, but it isn't for me.

What needs to be done, is implement controls for the UI that allow a player to access anything they want, without removing their hand from the mouse. I've tried to rebind the menu key to ESC, but that doesn't work. I hoped that I'd be able to hit I and my inventory would open, but that option isn't in the game (as far as I can tell). I could go on, and on. I know the developers have a lot on their plate, but I was wondering if they were aware of the idea that in order for the game to feel "smooth" and comfortable for a lot of western gamers, they have to allow the ability to play the game and access most anything without removing your hand from the mouse.

I hate to drag this game in, but if you take a look at WoW and other MMOs out there that feel polished, you can generally play continuously without removing your hand from the mouse. Even FPS games and many others for the PC allow this. Hopefully FFXIV has something like this implemented in the near future.

Other than that, I'm really happy with the changes I've seen so far!

[AshToreth]

Alas, due to the fact that FFXIV is in the process of/going to be optimised for, use on a PS3 i cant see that we will get a great amount of changes to the control mechanism until after PS3 release. Hopefully they will introduce an optimised UI for keyboard/mouse players though.

I use a controller so i have a different set of problems. Id like to see a UI where everything can be controlled via controller.

A fully encompassing UI update would be nice, where a player can choose his method of control and fully configure it to their liking.

Until that time comes ill make do

[Iryu]

In my opinion, just purely optimize the game for keyboard and mouse. Then they can sell FFXIV keyboards and mice for the ps3


At the moment the action bars are a joke trying to click the small arrows to change from bar 1-3.

http://i.imgur.com/AKx1s.png

And using arrow keys just leads to accidentally targeting other mobs, with the new targeting system.

Also every menu button in this game is a line of text. Even as a vet professional Counter-strike player, it get's annoying clicking small text, especially at high resolutions. Should implement button-like blocks of clickable pixels.


I would love to never have to take my right hand off my mouse. PC players really deserve more love; perhaps all the love.

[Ferth]

I really don't know what to take away from this... In FFXI the keyboard controls were the way they were because of the optimization for controller use.

Ideally they should find a way to accommodate the mouse for people inclined to use it, but they shouldn't try to force mouse use on everyone.

I'd much rather have keyboard only controls that hearken back to FFXI controls than mouse integration similar to WoW.

The main issue right now is that the controls are somewhere between the two, meaning the keyboard only controls aren't as deep as they should be and neither are the keyboard/mouse controls.

Really, I don't see why they can't have both. And hopefully with the upcoming UI overhaul they can figure out a way to integrate them both.

[Alzaru]

I feel the same way, but for now I usually use my hardware's mouse than the software's mouse since it does feel a bit slow but with the other way around I have better control. Hopefully they fix it in the future.

[Soma]

hello i am a mouse user.
i currently use controller and a mouse. my biggest issue is targeting and switching action bars.
why do i have to double click a target? why cant i just right click?
why do i have to double click on anything to change action bars. i should be able to flip threw action bars
with d-pad or clicking the arrows.
anytime i want to switch to another bar i have to click myself or another player or target. as an example
i should be able to right click on a target, click on provoke and the target is provoked. not click on the target again. >.<
i know people will say that the game is being made for ps3. but im not playing on ps3.
if SE wants to attract new players. both pc and ps3. they need to make it more user friendly.
Also please SE make it so i can see what im targeting. the arrow above mobs head is a nice new feature.
it would be nice that the red target name in a group of mobs also is red in your target unit frame.
that way every one know you have the right target.
the ui has got alot better i will say. atleast its playable now