Why do devs add mouse acceleration when it's almost universally hated?

[thpthpthp]

When so many lazy PC ports already have issues with framerate, resolution, mouse driven interfaces, FoV, bugs, ect, I can never understand why devs go out of their way to add mouse acceleration (in many cases without the option to disable it) while only a small minority of people would ever prefer it. Especially when prioritizing it over the aforementioned issues. Even Far Cry 4, a triple-A shooter in 2014 with an otherwise fine port, has acceleration that cannot be completely disabled. Who are the people demanding this be implemented? Surely it's easier to let the mouse function normally?

[Hey There Guys its Metro]

I love mouse acceleration.

[taliey]

The way you describe it, it reminds me of inverted controls.

Seriously, what the hell is with that.

Double the trouble if its the default. If it can't be changed...

[Deleted]

add a poll so that people can vote whether they liked MA or hate it - or don't care about it ^^

[smackyslap]

All game devs use mice made out of 3 cinderblocks duh

seriously though no idea some people like it. A lot don't same deal with inverted controls I guess they do it for the small minority that do like it.

[medvedev]

Why do so many people use the term 'port' interchangeably with 'anything released on PC that is also on consoles' and how can I blame Total Biscuit for it?

[Wilian]

Because they make games console first and due to differencies in accuracy of analog sticks and mouse it makes aiming easier, so I assume.

Also saying MA is good for something is akin to saying controller would be as accurate as mouse, simply wrong. You've just gotten used to less usable system.

[thpthpthp]

Why do so many people use the term 'port' interchangeably with 'anything released on PC that is also on consoles' and how can I blame Total Biscuit for it?

Because only games that were designed for consoles are silly enough to implement this acceleration shenanigans in the first place!

In all seriousness it's just what I've heard people refer to a specific system's version of a game regardless of whether or not it was originally made for that system.

[Remilia]

I'm slightly curious how many of you have Window's own mouse acceleration on or your mouse's own potential mouse acceleration.

I don't like mouse acceleration but when you say universally hated, you're going to need to bring up proof that it is. I'm not going to deny it's an issue when you can't turn it off in settings, but you're going to need to back up your own claims.

[Deleted]

The way you describe it, it reminds me of inverted controls.

Seriously, what the hell is with that.

Double the trouble if its the default. If it can't be changed...

Haha, you sound like a friend of mine. He hates inverted controls, and I can't play without them. Probably has to do with if you played a lot of flying games when you were young or something. For me it just feels way more logical that the camera goes down when I press up.

[Remilia]

My brother uses inverted controls. When you think about it, you either move the camera from the camera's perspective or from the character's. It can be out of habit or what not.
If you move the camera down that's focusing at a point, naturally the view will be panning up, and works for every angle. That's how my brother thinks and uses it.

In the end really, more options the better.

[Wilian]

Inverted controls =/= mouse acceleration though.

[taliey]

Inverted controls =/= mouse acceleration though.

I have no idea what mouse acceleration is. Is it like mouse sensitivity/handicap?

I was attempting to relate to the OP, not equate it.

[Remilia]

Mouse acceleration or mouse smoothing is a function that generally will smooth out your mouse's movement varying on the speed of your mouse. With it on, you can move like 4cm of distance very quickly, and you'd get a much further distance than if you move 4cm slowly.
Without it, the movement would be 1 to 1.

[Wilian]

In short and very simplistic, it makes the control typically less responsive and accurate by slowing down the cursor artificially vs. to the movement of mouse, adding a sensation of lag typically similiar to analog stick controls of controller.

[Deleted]

I'm pretty sure 99% of people who play video games on PC don't even know about windows having
mouse acceleration on by default. And when the vast majority of people use acceleration all the time,
it doesn't surprise me that games have it on by default as well.

People are just used to X and moving to Y isn't worth the effort for most people. I mean it takes a couple
of weeks to get used to not having mouse acceleration. It's like the hobbit being shown at 48 FPS was putting
people off because they are so used to 24. It's on by default, people are used to it and people don't like change.

[Deleted]

Personally I prefer to have acceleration turned off so that I am in full control of my cursor / game characters movement. That said I use a Logitech G600 mmo mouse running at 8200 dpi so acceleration isn't really needed anyway.

I am curious as to what dpi other mmo players use, for instance my husband literally hates my set-up, and the last time tried to play wow on my pc his character just sat there spinning around out of control. I suppose it's because he is used to his ancient Microsoft intellimouse, which is so old it has a roller ball and a PS2 connector.

[Zeta333]

Inverted controls =/= mouse acceleration though.

Sorry, inverted is the only way to play FPS games. So tired of picking up friends controllers and having to change the settings because they havnt adapted to the way real gamers play.

[Deleted]

In short and very simplistic, it makes the control typically less responsive and accurate by slowing down the cursor artificially vs. to the movement of mouse, adding a sensation of lag typically similiar to analog stick controls of controller.

That's your interpretation of it.

What it's supposed to do is what Remilia wrote.

It makes it easier to move the mouse long distances by moving the mouses further if you move the mouse quickly. This means you can cover large distances without having to move the mouse a long way but still have sensitive movement when you need fine precision.

For me, I don't wouldn't use it in an game but I can see it's useful situationally on the desktop.

As for inverted controls, flight controls have been stick back = up for 100 years. I don't know when this 'norm' suddenly because 'inverted'.

[Deleted]

I have no idea what mouse acceleration is. Is it like mouse sensitivity/handicap?

I was attempting to relate to the OP, not equate it.