I am a PC player using a keyboard and MMO mouse, so I don't know how it feels to use the controller. I do know a Savage Raider friend does use a controller plugged into his PC >.> You never caught him playing AST seriously before they changed the card system to how they are now. Supposedly the old cards were not designed with controllers in mind and you pretty much needed my setup to do it more quickly. My left hand is only having to press the movement directions, shift, control and shift + control. The mouse on my right thumb area is used to press the numbers in conjunction with the keyboard. I can comfortably press 1 - 6 with the mouse without it feeling like an over extension.