trackballs anyone?

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deweyrawk

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Dec 18, 2000
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I switched to a trackball when I first got UT and I seem to play pretty well with it. But..........today I D/L'd the demo on my laptop at work and played a few games using a mouse (and screaming software rendering:cool: ) and I think my accuracy was even better. It's not like my accuracy was bad, it just seems that using your entire hand gives you more control. I guess I'll have to hook up a mouse on my home setup and see how it feels. You never know, maybe my trackball is holding me back from 1337ness;).

Does anyone use a trackball with positive results?
 

SimplyCosmic

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Dec 25, 1999
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I've always preferred a trackball myself.

But then, I was an avid Missle Command player back in the early arcade days, so that could be why.

It also depends on the type of trackball. I've pretty much narrowed nearly all trackballs into one of two types:

product49.gif

Center Ball Trackball

product51.gif

Thumb Ball Trackball

I prefer the center ball types, myself, and have found it easier to manipulate the rolling control with my middle fingers than it would be to do the same with my thumb.


scsig62.jpg
 

Tichinde

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nahh thumb tracker works for me. Find it more accurate than I ever was with a mouse.

Mind you it is the size of my hand (old Logitech TB I want a TB Marble though, pretty ball!)
 

deweyrawk

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I use a MS Trackball Explorer so I use my index finger.

7301.jpg

I really like it, but it seems easier to pull off shock combos while dodging (and stuff like that) with a mouse. I may just need to lower my sensitivity a little bit. Experiment time when I get home:D
 

hobart_paving

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i started playing ut on a trackman marble and did ok. but after i switched to a mouse i couldn't go back. for one thing, my trackball didn't have a scroll wheel. and since it was a thumb trackball, it was really hard to aim precisely. maybe my sensitivity was off. the plus side was i could make 180's like you wouldn't believe. :) if my trackball had a scroll wheel, i'd think about going back, but as it is, i can't really get used to playing without the scroll wheel to switch weapons.
 

The Dopefish

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Apr 17, 2000
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I have always had a trackball. Doesn't look too long before I switch to optical though...the Razer Boomslang 2000 is calling me and teasing me about my mous that is the same as SC pictured above.
 

Someone

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I used to use a trackman marble, used that from the time that I had a p166 until I had been playing UT for quite sometime. Then I switched to an MS Intellimouse Explorer, and my accuracy has definitely improved. The only problem I had was sweaty hands so it was difficult to pick up the mouse and move it an inch to the side, but that is what non-slip tape is for =]
 

deweyrawk

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Boom, you should moonlight as a "razer" sales rep:D.

Well, I backed off on the sensitivity a little and it helped a lot. Trackballs are sensitive by nature and if you don't find "the sweet spot" it can be very erratic.

Hobart, see my above post/pic of the trackball explorer.....it has a scroll wheel, five buttons (including scroll button) and is controlled (ball) by index finger:cool:.

And no I don't moonlight as a sales rep for micro$oft:)

SC, too funny. I just played missile command the other day. You can find it online (can't remember where), but it brought back fond memories:eek:

Hehe, remember the old football games (arcade) where you would spin that big bowling ball-sized trackball as fast as you can to run down the field...life was simple then...
 

Tetris L

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Feb 15, 2000
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I tried a LogiTech Marble FX for a while:
marble-fx.gif


I tried it cos some people recommended it to me. It has a very big ball and I guess it rox for 3D applications like CAD.

But after almost 2 weeks of training with UT, I had still by far not the accuracy that I have with a mouse, so I gave it up and switched back to mouse. :/

Anybody wants to buy a 2nd-hand Marble FX? ;)
 

-AEnubis-

fps greater than star
Dec 7, 2000
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Logitech Trackman Marble +.

Nothing beats a thumball w/ accelleration. Sens set really low, so I can aim well, acceleration set fairly high, so I can turn full 180's w/o removing my thumb from the ball.

Three buttons, and a wheel, fire-leftmouse, altfire-rightmouse, zoom-middlemouse (when server allows), Hammer-wheeldown, and TL-wheelup.

Trackball is at least 30% of why I'm beyond elite.

I laugh at that pansy 1337 stuff, knowing I am truly a ßâÐ⧧, and cannot be dealt with in a rational manner.
 

boldarbloodpi8

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Aug 7, 2000
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Boomslang!

I love my Boomslang 2000! I can't use any other mouse. I've also got a Microsoft Optical but it has nowhere near the touch and sensitivy that I've come to appreciate from the BS2K. Gotta tell you though, it took me a long time to get used to the feel of it, it's not a natural feeling mouse. But once I got adjusted to it, I'm like a Boomslang Crack Whore... ;)
 

No Soup For You

I got your PM right HERE!
$Ðrûnk$-Ænubis©

So $MP$-AEnubis was that you playing last night on Gamespy-Whitelion.net ? I guess you and your friends were UT'ing While Intoxicated ;) I didn't know that you posted here or I would have asked you something.

I noticed one of the guys that came into the game with you was remarkably fast - I think it was $Ðrûnk$-GrîУøck© - but I'm not sure. He had a greyish skeleton kind of skin (don't know what it's called). Anyway, do you think that he was able to move that quickly because he was drunk or did I just have some kind of weird packet loss stuff going on? I guess maybe he is beyond elite too. Maybe you are both 1137^2!

Was it a thumbball that allows $Ðrûnk$-GrîУøck© to move around so quickly? Just curious.

http://www5.ut.ngworldstats.com/fcg...=dm&ip=216.205.0.91&port=8000&ts=983334927109
 

-AEnubis-

fps greater than star
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No Soup For You...

Actually, Gridlock is the only $MP$ that uses a mouse. He wasn't doing near as well as me and bean intoxicated either... I'm suprised you even mentioned his name. He does play in lan games against all those trackballs though, so he's had to get quick to keep up.

He likes to throw the TL around a lot too, and when that puts you suddenly behind someone, you gotta know how to turn around fast. The trackball isn't the sole reason for the quick mobility, it, for me, just seriously simplifies it.

And, well, I wouldn't call $MP$ a clan. It's more like a brother hood. We all know each other personally, and we wear that in all games we play. There are even people that are $MP$'s, and don't play cpu games at all.

There was a lil lag going on in those games too... I think... If I remember correctly... hard to say though... I need a glass of water...
 

WebSlinger

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Feb 29, 2000
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I use
product51.gif

and it took me several months but I'm starting to really notice my primary shock (ut) and Rail kills (q3a) have actually been increasing. or it may just be that I'm actually becoming more aware of where the crosshair is and not just staring off into space...
 

SnaKe-Fu

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Dec 26, 2000
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I use a Logi-Tech TrackMan Marble Wheel Optical Trackball. I've found that i like it better and i think i have more control when im just using my thumb.

Has anyone used or heard anything good about this Thrustmaster Top Guna AfterBurner joystick? It looks coo has 8 buttons that can accommodate 60 functions.
 

Omega-Seven

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Apr 17, 2000
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I use a thumb track ball...like it much better than mouse. It's a gaming evolution step, like going from keyboard only to keyboard and mouse (for me).

You might wanna see if there was a FPS difference between your two comps, that might account for it. Also, Ifind it easier to aim with no weapon hand (you don't see the weapon in front of you). This takes a while to get used to, but gives you the added benefit of some more frames per second as well.