In a typical keyboard+mouse FPS game, for example, you get 2D analog "look" controls with the mouse, but much more limited 2D "move" controls with the keyboard.
With two analog sticks/trackpads/mice/etc. you can get the same range of control over both. That's what the two "planes" give you.
To expand on this:
In most FPSes your move commands are binary, "W" or nothing. You can alter them a bit with combinations, Shift-W to sprint or perhaps Ctrl-W to crawl but you're still limited to a handful of preset speeds.
I could easily imagine being able to use a continuous axis to encapsulate walk/jog/sprint being quite a bit more intuitive and precise.
Re:Steam Controller
by trippy_biscuits on Saturday September 28, 2013 @04:26AM
(#6461319)
What about circle strafing a moving target while jumping/ducking and shooting? For me, that takes 3 simultaneous inputs on my left hand and 3 on my right hand. On each hand, some of those inputs vary or alternate. I can't speak for "most FPS" but competitive FPS require this coordinated action.
The analog trackpad does have an advantage over a keyboard but not over a mouse, i think.