Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become good with the Assassin 3D?
This is very dependent on the person using the Assassin 3D. But, in general, there are a few steps that each person goes through in learning to use it. The first phase is just getting accustomed to using a joystick for moving and strafing. Then, independently, getting comfortable with the trackball for looking around. Typically, this phase takes a couple of minutes of focused attention to get the feel of the controls. The second phase is one of those "ah-ha" experiences. This occurs when the user realizes that both controls can be moved simultaneously. Suddenly, the user can do actions like circle-strafing with ease. This can occur instantly, but it usually occurs within about ten minutes of playing with the Assassin 3D. After that, it is just a matter of practice with the user constantly getting better. Monster-killing proficiency is usually reached within an hour of using the Assassin 3D. Human-killing proficiency is usually reached within two to four hours.
How does the Assassin 3D compare to using a Keyboard & Mouse?
The keyboard and mouse combination is the most common among the hard-core gamers. The mouse allows for precise turning combined with a few buttons for your main features (i.e. firing and moving forward). The keyboard allows for movement controls and most of the feature activations.
So, what's wrong with this combination? Three things. First, the mouse/keyboard combination is extremely difficult to learn. Proficiency is typically measured in ten to hundred-hour increments. This is a huge commitment of time -- not that the advanced user has had a choice up to now. Secondly, the keyboard has limited control over movement. There are two movement levels; normal and run -- that's it. And, third, moving the mouse for any period of time is tedious and tiring. The user constantly has to move the mouse around and even periodically pick it up.
The Assassin 3D solves the problems associated with the mouse and keyboard. First, the Assassin 3D is easier to master -- refer to the above question. Secondly, the Assassin 3D user has great movement control. Depending on the game, up to 200 movement speeds are supported. Anything from a slow creep to a flat-out run are easily accomplished. And, lastly, the Assassin 3D is comfortable to use. Fingertip movements are all that are needed for precise aiming -- you don't need to move a whole device.
Additionally, the Assassin 3D has one strong advantage over the mouse. While both devices provide direct control of turning, the Assassin 3D is one-to-one. When you spin the trackball 90 degrees, you turn 90 degrees within the game. There are no ballistics or speed sensitivity settings getting in the way of allowing you to turn exactly where you want to turn. Over-turning and under-turning are problems of the past.
How does the Assassin 3D compare to using a joystick?
The joystick alone is a terrible input device for first-person action games. First, turning is rate-based rather than directly controlled. And, since turning is the same as aiming, the joystick user is at an extreme disadvantage. Secondly, with the joystick alone, the user cannot strafe and turn simultaneously. This leaves all of the wicked maneuvering impossible for them to perform. For instance, a standard circle-strafe is out of the question. The only benefits of using a joystick are for firing (trigger buttons equate to firing intuitively) and for moving easily forward and backward. Overall, just about any other input device is better than a single joystick.
The Assassin 3D does use an analog joystick. But, and this is a big but, it doesn't use the joystick for aiming. All looking around is directly controlled by the trackball. The joystick controls only movement; left/right as well as forward/backward. The joystick can be viewed of as a multi-directional gas pedal. Just push it in the direction you want to go. The faster you push it, the faster you go.
What joystick should be used with the Assassin 3D?
To get the best results with the Assassin 3D, we recommend that you use a premium joystick. If your joystick doesn't have a brand and has suction cups on the bottom, it is probably not going to give you optimum performance. Many of the cheaper joysticks use really inexpensive components. This will be noticed by the Assassin 3D test program as data jitter. Worse, it will be noticeable within the game when you are commanding the character to go one direction and he is instead doing stutter steps.
The Assassin 3D Game Controller System Bundle ships with the Logitech WingMan Extreme joystick. If you don't have a premium joystick, this is an excellent choice and it will give you great performance. The WingMan Extreme slips perfectly into your hand, has 8 buttons and stays right where you put it. Another favorite at FPgaming is the CH Products F-16 CombatStick. This high-quality joystick has 14 buttons and a very nice feel. Other premium joysticks include the ThrustMaster FCS and the Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro.
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This page was last updated 06/13/04