HAWKEN - Dominating with a Clumsy Control Scheme (TDM)
HAWKEN is an exclusive PC game, so the KB+M control setup comes first. I personally like using a gamepad, because: a) I've always gamed on a console and b) I'm pretty sure I won't get the hang of KB+M controls, at least on a laptop. Sure, I can always get an external keyboard, which I personally find dumb (redundancy, one less USB port free), but I can't since I don't have an ergonomic enough setup for that.
Basically, I can't game effectively (maybe I've just been spoiled) without doing so, now, on a bigger screen TV. Not to mention the table where the laptop is sitting isn't a full-sized desk, and it's pretty short, too. I sit on my bed beside this table, and the laptop's orientation is perpendicular with respect to the TV; So, yeah, not very ergonomic.
The game has official controller support, but it's quite buggy. I can't get jump thrust to work on it. What I use is a DualShock 3 controller through an app called "BetterDS3". It's a flexible setup, because you can easily map an Xbox 360 controller on it, as well as KB+M controls. The are several downsides with mapping KB+M controls on a gamepad, though, like being limited by the number of things you can assign on a gamepad and movement and camera controls feel funky when compared to those in a supported gamepad.
These are my BetterDS3 settings:
Left Stick - Movement (Dead Zone = 60%)
Right Stick - Camera (Dead Zone = 15%)
Triangle - Use Item
Circle - Interact
Cross - Special Ability
Square - Request Assistance
D-pad Up - Holo Emote
D-pad Right - Next Item
D-pad Down - Repair
D-pad Left - Previous Item
L1 - Boost/Dash Modifier
L2 - Jump Thrust
L3 - Spot Enemy
R1 - Primary Fire
R2 - Secondary Fire
R3 - Weapon Utility
Select - Scoreboard
Start - Menu
PS Button - Mech Emote
What I dislike about HAWKEN controls is there is no backdash and in its place is a 180-degree turn, instead of being assigned to a separate key. This doesn't work well with the analog stick since I often do a 180 by accident when simply trying to move back in haste to avoid on-coming fire, which becomes frustrating fast. Sometimes, however, I get lucky in some matches and do decently, like in this video.
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HAWKEN might be on life support right now. Join the fight to help its survival!
http://www.playhawken.com
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## Model Configuration ##
Lenovo IdeaPad Y410p-20216
Windows 8, 64-bit
1366 x 768 Native Resolution
Intel Core i7-4700MQ "Haswell" @ 2.4 GHz (3.4 GHz turbo)
GeForce GT 750M GDDR5 2 GB VRAM, SLI ready
8 GB DDR3 Samsung RAM @ 1600 MHz (single channel)
1 TB Seagate HDD @ 5400 RPM
JBL Dolby-certified Home Theater v4
Notes:
OS Version - Windows 8.1 Single Language
Nvidia Driver - 344.75 WHQL
GPU - Dedicated, Single
CPU Tweaks - 95% Performance Level
GPU Tweaks - 85 °C temperature limit; -290 MHz memory clock speed
Recording Utility - Nvidia Shadowplay
Input Device - DualShock 3 gamepad
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