[--e]

My Setup:

PS2 : logitech netplay FTW!

Laptop: Belkin Nostromo n45 (I /ADORE/ this controller), keyboard

PC#1 : Dualshock 2 via radio shack's adapter and an oldskool IBM clicky keyboard (no fscking microsoft hotkeys, thankyouverymuch).

PC#2 (for 2boxing) : logitech netplay via another ratshack adapter, free ghetto keyboard

PC#3 (backup) : Whatever the hell I can cobble together. POS microsoft sidewinder hooked up right now, mostly for emulating Elevator Action and Chystalis atm

NO MOUSE. EVAR.

I feel pretty comfy in echo'ing TGM in her passionate advocation of the netplay. it's comfy, well designed, cheap, and well built. Not only is she a neighbor of mine (mke in the hizzity!), but she knows what the hell she's talking about. I'm a logitech whore, but their dualshock knockoff is crap. There are a ton of PS2->USB adapters to use a dualshock with your PC, and they work very well. In fact, that's the most common solution. My Nostromo n45 has worked like magic since before NA release, and shows no sign of slowing down. I can't play rdm without it, as the select button spams refresh and the start button dispel. Pimp, eh?. Madcatz PC stuff has disappointed me, as have the nykos I've tried.

Find whatever's comfy and then twitch/tweak it until you're happy.

Good luck!

--e

[Pounce]

I use the Nostromo N52. I can't imagine playing this game without it, especially with the less-than-user-friendly interface FFXI has.

Due to some issues I was without it shortly after I recently built my new computer, and the experience was awful.

[DakAttack]

I just use a keyboard because it's so easy to use. I can control everything with my right hand. I can move, change the camera angles, rest, open the menu, etc. I can also easily use my left hand to tab through enemies, or hit F8 to target one, and I do frequently use the mouse when going through the menus.

I also have night vision goggles.

[TheGrandMom]

Originally Posted by Impaction

I also have night vision goggles.

Those are an absolute must for when your formor hunting. Also when you venture into Ifrit's Cauldron.

[ifandbut]

Originally Posted by Jei

I use both keyboard and controller. controller being my main tho.
I used to play with keyboard only for almost a year. After I tried controller, i just love it. It makes the whole thing feel like a game. I can sit back on my chair, put my eyes in a safe distance from monitor and just play.

Exactly! Playing a game made for the PS2 the way it was ment to be played, with a PS2 controler.

I think being able to sit back in my chair is what make the game better, I'v tryed SWG and WoW but when I play those I have to hunch over my keyboard and mouse like some game addic. Instead I can lean back and act like I'm casualy playing a game.

[Lunaryn]

http://www.buynshop.com/productinfophp3/VG-PS-PS2PC4

Unless you either don't have a parallel port (notebook computer? budget computer? *shrug*) or you need your parallel port for a printer and don't want to have to switch cables, I highly recommend this. It's an incredibly simple device, all wiring, and the driver polling needed to read a PS2 controller is really quite minimal. At about $4 it's hard to beat the price (it was $6 when I bought it, should I feel cheated? ). Additionally, if you use GNU/Linux at all, this is natively supported by Linux's gamecon driver. (Windows drivers are linked from the product info, I use NTPAD for FFXI on Win2k, just make sure to turn D-Pad Axis Mapping off.) NTPAD represents this to the system as a 4-axis, 16-button joystick. Just set some sane mappings in the joystick config program and you're ready to go. I use the PS2 controller all the time in FFXI, it's great.

[Minimee]

i have 3 copies of the game. 1 ps2 original pc version and now the dvd set. 99 percent of the time i use pc and keyboard with mouse. when on ps2 i have the logitech netplay, i really like it and playing on 62 inch bigscreen just i need longer cords. i have one of the new logitech G15 keyboards on the UPS truck atm. i also have a playstation controller adapter for the pc, but prefer a keyboard anymore.