5 replies to this topic

[strask]

Hey all,

I have a very basic question.  I have just bought my first computer game, Baldur's Gate II, Shadow of Amn.  I am very familiar with the PlayStation 2 versions of other Baldur's Gate games.  I have bought a Macally Shock II game controller and am hoping I can use it like I would the controller on my PS2.  Is this possible?  Is there someplace I can download an appropriate profile for the controller for use with this game?  Or does anyone have a good suggestion for how its best to set the device up?

thank you so much for taking the time to read this and, hopefully, guiding me in the right direction.

Strask

[Whaleman]

Baldur's Gate for computers are very different from the console games. Since you control a party of up to 6 persons, a gamepad just wouldn't work very well. I suggest you try and play with the keyboard and mouse as it's supposed to be played, because even if you might use USB Overdrive to make the gamepad work in the game, it would be really hard to play it that way.

[strask]

Whaleman, on June 3rd 2005, 03:12 AM, said:

Baldur's Gate for computers are very different from the console games. Since you control a party of up to 6 persons, a gamepad just wouldn't work very well. I suggest you try and play with the keyboard and mouse as it's supposed to be played, because even if you might use USB Overdrive to make the gamepad work in the game, it would be really hard to play it that way.

Thanks for your reply.  I was starting to get a sinking feeling that the gamepad was a big waste of money.  Now I know.

[Eric5h5]

strask, on June 3rd 2005, 09:46 AM, said:

Thanks for your reply.  I was starting to get a sinking feeling that the gamepad was a big waste of money.  Now I know.

A gamepad will be useless for computer games like Baldur's Gate, RTS games, etc., but you can buy other games that can make use of it, so it won't be a waste of money.  Aside from some console game ports (but not all; KOTOR was pretty well computerized for example), there are others like Gish (www.chroniclogic.com/gish.htm), which is pretty neat and works much better with a gamepad than the keyboard.

--Eric

[MacProject]

strask, on June 3rd 2005, 09:46 AM, said:

Thanks for your reply.  I was starting to get a sinking feeling that the gamepad was a big waste of money.  Now I know.

I wouldn't consider a gamepad a waste of money, it just depends on the types of games you enjoy most.  
If you're into arcade and console style games (many of which exist via the shareware and emulation routes), then a gamepad is a cheap and wise investment.

[clocknova]

Welcome to the REAL Baldur's Gate.  It's nothing like the simplistic console version you are used to: it's a real role-playing game, and a darn long one at that.  Especially if you buy the expansion, Throne of Bhaal, which you should.  It's not absolutely necessary, but you might want to pick up a copy of the first Baldur's Gate and play that first.  It will enhance your enjoyment of the second one.

That iShock controller will serve you well as an emulator controller, or for retro gaming in general.  I've just used mine to play Ur-Quan Masters, the open-source remake of Star Conrol 2.  It's free, so check it out.  The iShock is also useful for many of Ambrosia's arcade-style games.  I use it to play the Escape Velocity games to great effect.