PC gaming from the sofa
May 23, 2013 2:46 AM   Subscribe

So, I have a laptop with an HDMI port, a big ass HDTV, a Steam account and a comfy sofa and would like to bring all these things together. What peripherals do people use to do PC gaming on their TV? Some type of console-esque controller? A wireless keyboard and mouse? What do you balance your keyboard on? Trackball mouse? Please enlighten me with describing your setup. Bonus points for avoiding RSI.
posted by fatfrank to Computers & Internet (13 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: I think the standard answer for a controller is a corded Xbox 360 controller. Most of the console ports on Steam assume you are using one anyway, from the colors of the buttons in the controller set up. When I do play keyboard and mouse games, I got a wireless keyboard and mouse. The laptop goes in my lap, and my mouse works on the armrest of my sofa.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 2:52 AM on May 23, 2013


Best answer: Steam Big Picture + Xbox controller.
posted by empath at 3:34 AM on May 23, 2013 [2 favorites]


Wireless keyboard & mouse. I also have a coffee table-thing that I can drag a bit closer to put the keyboard on; although for turn-based stuff I do what Elementary Penguin does.
posted by Lemurrhea at 4:40 AM on May 23, 2013


Best answer: A corded Xbox 360 controller is what you want. It'll work with any recent Windows OS without having to install any third-party software/drivers.
posted by Gev at 4:44 AM on May 23, 2013


Response by poster: Thanks folks, wired controller it is
posted by fatfrank at 6:03 AM on May 23, 2013


Microsoft also sell a wireless xbox360 controller for PC. This is what I have, and honestly, I strongly recommend it
posted by jaymzjulian at 6:15 AM on May 23, 2013


(Specifically, this one)
posted by jaymzjulian at 6:21 AM on May 23, 2013


What peripherals do people use to do PC gaming on their TV?

Actually. . . this is disfavored for most PC games. It sounds like a great idea--hey, bigger screen, right?--but it isn't.

This is because TV screens, even the HD ones, are not as crisp as PC monitors. For movies, and for console games--necessarily designed for display on TV screens--this isn't that big of a deal. But for PC interfaces the loss in quality can be quite noticeable. This is especially true when in the desktop interface or any other non-gaming application, as TVs have the most problems with displaying fine text output. Tends to blur quite a bit. But a lot of PC game interfaces are designed to make use of the sharper images produced by PC monitors, and PC games ported to consoles frequently have to have their interfaces tweaked (dumbed down most of the time) so that they're still readable.

Why is this? Well, for one thing, TVs are displaying the same number of pixels over a much, much larger area. I'm running my 24" monitor at 1900x1200, but my 50" plasma TV only runs at 1900x1080. Fewer pixels in a larger area. This creates two problems. First, because text is generally pretty small--especially in PC interfaces--you're likely to run into situations where the text you're displaying is simply too small for the screen to render sharply. This is why console interfaces tend to be so large when compared to the same games ported to the PC. But second, we sit a lot further from TVs than we do from computer monitors, and even if the TV could render PC-generated text as clear as day, you'd need it to be even larger than that to permit you to read it comfortably at more than twice the distance.

So by all means, give it a shot. If you're playing console port games, the XBox 360 controller is definitely the way to go. If you're playing PC games, you'll want a wireless mouse and keyboard, and I'd recommend getting either a lap desk or TV table.

My source is my brother-in-law, who does high-end graphics programming for a major studio.
posted by valkyryn at 7:41 AM on May 23, 2013


For games where the gamepad is more appropriate, I use an off-brand wireless Xbox controller. For games where keyboard and mouse are more appropriate, I use a cheap wireless keyboard and a Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman, which is a trackball. I've never found another model of trackball that's anywhere near as comfortable. The keyboard sits on my lap, and the trackball is at my side where it's easy to rest my hand on it. Since it's a trackball rather than a mouse, it doesn't have to move.
posted by baf at 8:31 AM on May 23, 2013


Seconding the wireless keyboard and trackball for certain games that require mousing. You may want a wood-topped beanbag bottomed lapdesk for the keyboard. A large hardbound book sitting next to you is probably fine for the trackball unless you have a very soft couch or the cusions are divided inconveniently. Then maybe a second lapdesk to your side as the beanbag will conform to the sofa.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:07 AM on May 23, 2013


And the issues valkyryn mentions are quite real (I game in my home theater, using a projector and a drop screen some of the time.) However, some games can be modded to be friendlier to big screen gaming (UI mods to use larger fonts for instance) and for others the muddiness that results from blowing up a computer's 1080p signal like that isn't so bad that it can be a worthwhile tradeoff for the immersive effect (or sometimes even just for relief from the deskchair).
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:14 AM on May 23, 2013


I use a Logitech M570 wireless trackball as I prefer the thumb-ball, it's much easier on my hand in couch mode and mouse button presses are easier and faster with the index and middle fingers than the thumb.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:22 AM on May 23, 2013


Bonus points for avoiding RSI.

Do you have a bit of RSI going?

Because if so, you may want to be careful. And you know, not put in place a system where you'll get tempted to play through the pain.

Maybe warioware.

Maybe a DDR Pad.

Maybe ... nothing.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:03 PM on May 23, 2013


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