I have never used a game controller. No, really. I didn't own a computer until 1984 when I was in my early thirties. It was called an Eagle, ran on DOS, and I used it as a very cool word processor. At the time, games held no appeal for me. I didn't become interested in adventure games until a year after Myst came out. I played on an Apple II and was walked through by a rather supercilious friend who had actually finished. To this day, I do not believe he figured it all out on his own. If anyone had offered me a controller or joystick, I would have declined the gift.

Now I think I need one.

Does a controller improve reaction times? My goal is not dying or getting beaten into blood-flecked mashed potatoes every 30 seconds or so in Wolf Among Us or every 2 to 3 minutes in Walking Dead. A few times are okay. While I vastly prefer games without virtual death on the basis of slow reflexes, I am missing out on some good ones.

This brings me to another question: What the dickens is Quick Time?

A slomo/geriatric option in the settings menu seems more appropriate; however, that apparently is regarded as beneath notice; beyond the pale; de trop; and just not the done thing. Nevertheless, I want a slomo geriatric setting. Not giving me one is a lot like producing a Kindle without the ability to set larger fonts, as if author and publisher gleefully decreed, "Sorry, you can't read Ready Player One because your eyesight isn't good enough for this book."

Will a controller help me respond more quickly?

I moved you so that the experts can give you their learned opinions.

Your reaction times are what they are. However some games are designed to be played with a controller and the buttons may be more accessible and easier to hit in a hurry than keyboard keys. Controllers also have a little joystick, D-pad, or rocker button which may be easier to use than arrow keys on a keyboard.


Are you thinking of QTE (Quick Time Event}?
Essentially it's playing Simon as fast as possible.
While a cut scene is playing, the game throws a picture of a button push sequence on screen (blocking your view of the cut scene), and you have to respond as quickly as possible to mimic the button pushes that were indicated on screen. If you're too slow or hit the wrong keys or buttons, you fail the sequence and the cut scene shows something undesirable (or less desirable) than if you were fast enough.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_time_event



The problem there is that there wouldn't be much gameplay left without the QTE's.


A controller isn't magic, however the button arrangement may be more accessible. Try one out in a store if you're able to. You should get one that fits your hands, not too large or small, with buttons in easy reach.

There are some games where a controller may help because the game was developed primarily for console and designed for use with a game controller (gamepad), and is clumsy with keyboard and mouse.

Thanks Jenny!

Yes, thanks, Jenny. Very helpful. I'll check out which games are clumsier with mouse and keyboard first. I know I have read reviews mentioning that.

8dognight - I will be very interested in what game controller you get or have tried out. I now have slower reflexes (hand/wrist arthritis) and for several years cannot play games w/action sequences or timed sequences. Poor Lara Croft never got a chance to heal!
I've not way of getting out to check out controllers...
but guess another thing to look for is if the buttons have a smooth action and not clicky/clunky when you press them...as well as being able to reach them...so it would be important to get one that fits your hand.

Please let us know what you find out and what you get!