Steam Deck First-Person Shooter Controls IN-DEPTH Guide: Make It Feel Like Mouse & Keyboard!

Summary

This video script offers detailed tips on optimizing control settings for first and third-person shooters on the Steam Deck. It covers system-wide adjustments, trackpad and joystick customization, gyro settings, and button bindings, aiming to enhance gaming experience with ergonomic and intuitive controls.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The default control settings on the Steam Deck may not be optimal for first-person and third-person shooters.
• 🕹️ Adjusting the joystick dead zones in the Steam systemwide settings can help with gameplay, especially if experiencing drift.
• 🔧 Customizing dead zones and recalibrating gyro drift per game can improve control precision.
• 🖱️ In controller settings, the left trackpad acts as a circular scroll wheel by default, which can be customized for desktop mode.
• 🏹 For games like Proteus, setting the trackpad as a mouse and adjusting sensitivity can allow for fast and accurate turns.
• 🎢 Lowering the vertical scale to 40% can provide a balance between horizontal and vertical movement control.
• 🔄 Finding personal rotation values and smoothing settings can enhance the gameplay experience, with a recommendation to start from a 360° per swipe sensitivity.
• 🌐 Gyro to mouse option provides better precision than the old as mouse mode, and dots per 360 value can be approximated by multiplying trackpad sensitivity by six.
• 🔄 For joysticks, using joystick and mouse mode instead of regular joystick mode can send mouse movement to the game, allowing for finer control.
• 🔧 Customizing the triggers and buttons, such as swapping left and right trigger functions, can reduce thumb strain and improve control.
• 🎉 The process of setting up custom controls might be time-consuming initially, but once done, it can greatly enhance the gaming experience on the Steam Deck.

Q & A

What is the default joystick dead zone setting on the Steam Deck and why is it problematic for playing first-person shooters?

The default joystick dead zone setting on the Steam Deck is set very high at 8,000. This can be problematic for playing first-person shooters because it may result in less precise control, making it harder to aim accurately.

How can you adjust the joystick dead zones in the Steam Deck's system-wide settings?

You can adjust the joystick dead zones by going to the controller settings in Steam, then selecting calibration, and finally advanced settings. From there, you can lower the default joystick dead zones.

What is the purpose of recalibrating the gyro drift for the Steam Deck or a connected controller?

Recalibrating the gyro drift ensures that the motion controls are accurate and responsive. This is important for maintaining precise control in games, especially when using gyroscopic controls for aiming.

What is the recommended trackpad sensitivity setting for a shooter game like Proteus on the Steam Deck?

The recommended trackpad sensitivity setting for a shooter game like Proteus is to adjust it so that a full swipe results in a 360° turn in-game, with the vertical scale lowered to 40%. This allows for fast yet accurate horizontal turns while maintaining control for vertical movements.

How can you customize the trackpad settings per game on the Steam Deck?

You can customize the trackpad settings per game by accessing the controller settings for that specific game. This allows you to adjust the sensitivity, rotation, and other parameters tailored to the gameplay mechanics of each individual game.

What is the recommended rotation value for all shooters in the video?

The ideal rotation value for all shooters, as mentioned in the video, is around 20. This value can be adjusted based on personal preference to ensure smooth and accurate aiming.

How can you find your personal rotation value for the trackpad in shooter games?

To find your personal rotation value, you can open Chrome and go to cy.com. Adjust the sensitivity so a full swipe stays within the screen, then swipe back and forth with your eyes closed in a relaxed fashion. Focus on the ends of the swipe and adjust the rotation value to ensure the cursor ends up at the same height on average.

What is the recommended method for using the trackpad in shooter games on the Steam Deck?

The recommended method is to set the trackpad as a mouse and adjust the sensitivity and rotation values as described. Additionally, increasing or maxing out the smoothing effect can help reduce choppiness without adding noticeable latency.

Why is it suggested to turn off trackball mode completely for shooter games on the Steam Deck?

Turning off trackball mode completely for shooter games is suggested because it can interfere with the precision required for aiming. It's better to use the trackpad for smooth turning and looking, and the joystick for precise aiming.

How can you configure the trackpad press to fire a different action depending on which side of the trackpad you press?

To configure the trackpad press to fire a different action, you can select 'Create a mode shift' in the trackpad settings, choose 'Directional pad bind' for the mod shift behavior, and assign your desired actions to the directions. This allows for fast weapon selection without a menu.

What is the recommended setting for the joysticks in shooter games on the Steam Deck?

For the right joystick, it's recommended to use 'joystick and mouse' mode with a sensitivity of 200 and a vertical scale of 40%. For the left joystick, changing it to a d-pad with analog emulation or 8-way radio with overlap can be effective, depending on the game.

How can you swap the conventional bindings of the triggers on the Steam Deck?

You can swap the conventional bindings of the triggers by making the left trigger act as left click and the right trigger act as right click. This can help reduce thumb jitter and strain while firing.

What is the purpose of binding the back buttons to actions like jump and crouch in shooter games?

Binding the back buttons to actions like jump and crouch allows for more ergonomic and intuitive control. It enables players to keep their thumb on the trackpad for aiming while using other fingers to perform other actions.