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[Lupin3]

buy a mechanical keyboard with cherry reds.

Pretty much this. Almost no pressure at all is needed.
Using blacks myself though.

 

[QaaQer]

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Adjust-Keyboard-Adjustable-Platform-AKT150LE/dp/B001B0F1BQ

ergonomics are vital if you work or play at a desk for extended periods. Minimum $600 for a chair and $2-300 for a keyboad/mouse platform. Do some research as well wrt to monitor + chair height etc. http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/office/chair.html

http://www.ergocentric.com/catalogue.asp?id=18

I've also found the retarded gamer-looking r.a.t. mmo7 to be quite comfortable for long periods. I don't know why there aren't more ergonomically adjustable mice on the market.

 

[Hoya Destroyer]

Exactly what I did for my PC.
When I was playing Oblivion back in '06, I used to get the most HORRIBLE RSI on my inner forearm.
I been playing Skyrim for like 10 hours a day, for the last couple of weeks and its been fantastic. No pain at all now.
I dont think I could use any kind of device, that resembles a keyboard, for games today, without getting that pain.

 

[big_z]

i have an old ass microsoft keyboard that has a large palm rest, makes a huge difference with hand cramps.

a lot of palm rests on current keyboards are small and shaped like door wedges which makes them useless. something that extends the shape of the keyboard out far enough for your entire palm is ideal.

 

[Nibel]

Get a new hand

 

[HolyBaikal]

As a serious suggestion, look into one of these keyboard-controller hybrids here. If you don't want to look into a normal controller altogether. In which, would be an XBOX 360 controller which has become pretty standard in the PC gaming industry. That Razer Nostromo looks pretty decent.

It is things like this that are why I'll never be a "true PC gamer". Well, that, and I grew up on Japanese console games. The keyboard may have more buttons, but that doesn't mean it is a better input device for gaming. I'm annoyed by the tendency of PC elitists to take devices not meant for gaming, and act like they are the only true gaming device.

A system made for games and an input device made for games are infinitely more "gamer" than a general computing system and a digital typewriting device. Your keyboard is not a gaming device, it is a digital typewriter you have fashioned to do something else.

It's a good thing I don't need to be a keyboard player in order to be a PC gamer. Or wait, do I? I really don't know or care. I've enjoyed playing on the PC better than a console since the very late 90s thanks to USB pads and emulation. But most people didn't consider that PC gaming and neither did I.

 

[patapuf]

As a serious suggestion, look into one of these keyboard-controller hybrids here. If you don't want to look into a normal controller altogether. In which, would be an XBOX 360 controller which has become pretty standard in the PC gaming industry. That Razer Nostromo looks pretty decent.

It is things like this that are why I'll never be a "true PC gamer". Well, that, and I grew up on Japanese console games. The keyboard may have more buttons, but that doesn't mean it is a better input device for gaming. I'm annoyed by the tendency of PC elitists to take devices not meant for gaming, and act like they are the only true gaming device.

A system made for games and an input device made for games are infinitely more "gamer" than a general computing system and a digital typewriting device. Your keyboard is not a gaming device, it is a digital typewriter you have fashioned to do something else.

It's a good thing I don't need to be a keyboard player in order to be a PC gamer. Or wait, do I? I really don't know or care. I've enjoyed playing on the PC better than a console since the very late 90s thanks to USB pads and emulation. But most people didn't consider that PC gaming and neither did I.

There are quite a few Genres on PC (and i'm not talking about FPS) where a keayboard is necessary to play, they just don't work with controllers because they need the aditional controll options a keyboard allows.

That said, there's nothing wrong with prefering a contorller.

 

[GuitarAtomik]

While we're in the ballpark, does anyone have any experience with the Razer Hydra? Most of the professional reviews are pretty positive but the users reviews are a little mixed.

 

[Ratba]

I'm a left WASD doesn't compute. I always bound that shit to the arrow keys and used the home / whatever buttons as my primary hot keys.

 

[metareferential]

360 controller + mouse, I use it all the time in games that support the gamepad.

I guess that only games like Arma don't support it, or older games like the good ghost recon.

 

[HoosTrax]

Razer has updated the Nostromo, with the Orbweaver. 4 more keys I believe
but they traded the beautiful blue lights for green.

Omg they actually made a mech Nostromo. I was thinking about modding my old Belkin one with Cherry keys too. The spacebar placement looks improved as well.

$130 though...well I'll add it to my wishlist.

 

[EdibleExplosives]

If you could set up a 360 controller so you could use one analogue stick and still use a mouse, it could help. Although then you'd probably need extra buttons on the mouse since it'd be hard to sprint/jump/whatever else in an fps.
I'm not sure if that's possible though.

Edit: Just saw your post saying it wouldn't work.

Be a man and get used to it IMO.

What a helpful post, congratulations!

 

[Portugeezer]

I got cramp.. and dealt with it. I checked for good keyboards and shit is expensive, I use controller for most games single player.

 

[Chittagong]

I wish there was a wireless G13.

 

[Nardonicus]

I've always just used the home row for my movement controls...feels very comfortable if you are used to typing like that.

A-S-D-F...AND V FOR BACK:

so its: F=Forward
D=Right
S=Left
V=Back
A=Jumping

Been doing this since Doom 2 days. Can't make the change to WASD.

 

[DisenLedZep]

REFG

Woo.... this is a pretty good advise. I don't want people to lose this on the other page so, quoting it!

 

[throwawayname]

Try the G27.

 

[2San]

I'd say nostromo N52te(Remove the analog nub!!!). It takes some getting used to and is not for everyone...

Razer has updated the Nostromo, with the Orbweaver. 4 more keys I believe
but they traded the beautiful blue lights for green.

I haven't heard of this though. It's beautiful. O_O Will probably get it if my (belkin) n52te ever craps out(my brothers belkin n52 still lives).

 

[shira]

Recently got back into PC gaming and I'm having a familiar problem. The top of my hand behind my knuckles cramps up from the keyboard. Same with playing a piano or an arcade joystick. I can't find a position were it doesn't hurt. I'm not a fan of controllers since I play mostly fps games and love aiming with my mouse.

I work in rehab. It's not the controller it's you.

You have to relax those hand muscles that you have trained to tense up when you play.
But you don't care what anyone says - buy your assistive devices - don't forget the forearm brace