The Bureau: XCOM Declassified drops radial wheel for PC version

The PC version of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified drops the radial wheel when playing with mouse and keyboard. It's a rather dramatic change that takes some time to get used to, but ends up being a rather smart way of adapting the controls for players that refuse to use a game pad.

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The PC version of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified drops the radial wheel when playing with mouse and keyboard. It's a rather dramatic change that takes some time to get used to, but ends up being a rather smart way of adapting the controls for players that refuse to use a game pad.

With a controller, players select character abilities by entering a radial wheel and selecting a power. However, on keyboard, players get a flat row of options to click through. Taking cues from MMOs and RTS games, learning the keyboard shortcuts is central to using the interface quickly. With a bit of memorization, you'll be able to play as a "conductor" much more readily.

If there's one nuisance about playing with a keyboard and mouse, it's that the "Move" command is mapped to 2 instead of 1. Given how frequently you'll want to command your squad mates to specific positions, it felt oddly counter-intuitive. This video shows the subtle difference between playing with and without a controller:

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    July 17, 2013 6:00 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified drops radial wheel for PC version.

    The PC version of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified drops the radial wheel when playing with mouse and keyboard. It's a rather dramatic change that takes some time to get used to, but ends up being a rather smart way of adapting the controls for players that refuse to use a game pad.

    • reply
      July 17, 2013 6:01 AM

      Refuse? I don't refuse to use a controller. I prefer to use a mouse and keyboard.

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        July 17, 2013 6:25 AM

        I concur!

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          July 17, 2013 6:46 AM

          Yup - using a gamepad makes sense on PC when you're playing games that require that kind of granular input (i.e. driving, flight games), but not for shooters or tactical games.

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          July 17, 2013 7:11 AM

          [deleted]

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        July 17, 2013 7:23 AM

        agreed. lets start the boycott.

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      July 17, 2013 6:47 AM

      [deleted]

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        July 17, 2013 7:28 AM

        I guess it would be better if they had said "refuse to use a controller for FPS games on the PC" which is really what's going on here.

        Every diehard M+KB guy owns at least one Xbox 360 controller, wired or not, and breaks it out when the game makes more sense with it, like Super Meat Boy or Street Fighter IV.

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          July 17, 2013 7:30 AM

          yeah I played bastion with a controller, using big picture, worked great. but for FPS, give me that M + KB.

          For dishonored I even had a custom key setup with buttons on my mouse, it was great.

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      July 17, 2013 6:49 AM

      [deleted]

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      July 17, 2013 7:28 AM

      I am glad they support both, there is nothing wrong with using either they both belong on a PC.

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