Why have Analog Keyboard's for PC gaming not taken off? Just seems odd to me...

[Space Lynx]

I am specifically referring to Wooting keyboards here, and while they do sell well, none of the major keyboard players have followed suit. Dishonored is a great example of a game, the benefit of aiming with a mouse over a controller, combined with analog WASD to move around... press W lightly to walk, all the way to run... it just is much more immersion imo...

Logically just don't understand after several years, this is a money maker and none of the big players have yet to come on board and I just don't get why... any thoughts?

 

[John Naylor]

1. It's not RGB ... we live in an era where cool instagram pics showing everyone you have the new cool thing is more important than performance.

2. There's gonna be a lot of wait and see .... how log will these things hold up ?

 

[Mussels]

software support


the end

 

[Bill_Bright]

Why have Analog Keyboard's for PC gaming not taken off?

...and while they do sell well

Well, because they haven't sold that well. They are too expensive to sell in the numbers they need to make the business worth it. Plus, while typing is said to be a real joy, the "analog" feature received mixed reviews.

Admittedly, the mixed reviews for the analog feature is due partly to a lack of in-game support. And there's a Catch-22 there. The keyboard lacks in-game support so it is not selling in great numbers. And developers are in not adding in-game support because it is not selling in great numbers.

BTW, calling it an "analog" keyboard is just a bunch of marketing hogwash. While the keypress may be infinitely variable (thus analog - kinda), the position is "sampled" at a specific rate (frequency) and that information is then sent back through the keyboard interface in digital format as a bunch of highs (1s) and lows (0s). That's digital.

1. It's not RGB ...

Ummm, sure it is. In fact, it has "per-key" RGB lighting. See here and the Lighting and Software section here.

 

[DemonicRyzen666]

Don't old PS/2 use interrupts instead of poling like usb ?

I could find what type of input this uses :-/

I'm guessing USB?

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

The new Razor Orbweaver has optical analog keys and I find them useful in about 3 games. The problem is just like the video said. It swaps out key press/hold duration for key position. It doesn't solve much of a problem. If you want the best experience for a simulation game then Keyboard/Mouse, even full analog, aren't the answer it's a HOTA, Steering Wheel or Joystick. Which in many cases are cheaper than an analog keyboard and offer a much higher level of immersion.

 

[Space Lynx]

software support


the end

not sure I can agree with this or with ZenZim

last I heard the Wooting software has native support for over 70+ very popular games and runs smoothly (and this is a very small company compared to if one of the big players got involved) and partial support for many more. Wooting does not compromise on key position? I don't understand what you mean by this Zen... you can be crawling with W in Dishonored and still turn with S at the same time... or perhaps I simply do not understand you.

 

[Mussels]

you still have to toggle modes between the two, playing an MP game and wanna type something or need to use those keys for anything else? profile switch time!

 

[Space Lynx]

you still have to toggle modes between the two, playing an MP game and wanna type something or need to use those keys for anything else? profile switch time!

I have never owned a Wooting but I did not know this was the case. Are you certain Wooting software doesn't auto switch for you when it realizes its not in-game?

 

[Mussels]

I have never owned a Wooting but I did not know this was the case. Are you certain Wooting software doesn't auto switch for you when it realizes its not in-game?

i looked into buying one and saw that was required in reviews, the keys can only be in analog or typing state at any one time - otherwise you'd smash out a hundred letters trying to type one

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

Imo the biggest hurdle is the fine motor functions needed to use the keyboard in the first place. Like you said hold W lighter fot walking, hold W deeper for sprinting. And iirc there was 255 digital steps on each switch. 255 steps in 4mm switch travel. You'll be fighting with your keyboard to get the desired walking/sprinting speed you want. So it's mostly a gimmick.
And the software that do benefit from analog controls have better work-specific alternatives e.g. game controllers, audio interfaces, flight sticks, racing wheels etc.

 

[Space Lynx]

I see, interesting. Well I guess I have some answers finally.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I had a look, might buy one to piss about with. For driving games might be interesting.