A new feature aims to elevate controller control to the next level. This allows the controller to finally compete with mouse and keyboard in terms of aiming, speed, and precision. The technology utilizes the controller’s gyroscope and is already available in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, and Deathloop.
What is the problem with controller aim? With a controller, movement and field of view are decoupled. Typically, you control your movements with the left analog stick and your field of view with the right.
The sensitivity determines how quickly your character can change their view direction. Often – but not always – you can adjust the sensitivity of your analog sticks. The problem is that you can only change your view direction as fast as the sensitivity allows.
Typically, controller players are at a disadvantage. Aiming is quicker and more precise with a mouse and keyboard. To help controller players, many games therefore offer features like “Aim Assist.” In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, this leads to controversies: Aim Assist for controllers apparently reaches entirely new levels.
If you have pushed all settings to the limit and your aiming speed is still too slow, you are unfortunately out of luck. “Flick-Stick” aims to change that fundamentally.
“Flick-Stick” promises precision and speed
How does “Flick-Stick” work? This feature is a software solution that allows you to change how your controller operates. However, those who think that only the button mapping changes are mistaken.
Once you activate the “Flick-Stick” control, your right analog stick only controls the view direction on the horizontal plane. If you push the stick to the right, your character’s field of view turns 90 degrees to the right. If you push the stick to the left, your field of view shifts 90 degrees to the left.
If you push your analog stick downward, your character turns 180 degrees. You can make finer adjustments by carefully maneuvering your analog stick between different positions. However, this requires a bit of finesse. If you push the analog stick upward, your field of view returns to a neutral position.
How do you aim up or down? Since the right analog stick is only responsible for the horizontal view axis, you need something else to cover the vertical view axis. That’s where the gyroscope comes into play: If you want to aim up or down while using “Flick-Stick,” you have to move your controller accordingly. However, only minimal wrist movements are required. No one needs to flail wildly with the controller.
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Is the technology new? No, not really. There have already been some games for the PS3 that used the gyroscope for control. The game “Splatoon” for the Wii U then introduced gyroscopic control to a larger audience.
Julian “Jibb” Smart, the developer behind “Flick-Stick,” has been working to implement his technology broadly since mid-2018. Since 2020, the option has been available on Steam, and other studios and publishers are also showing interest. You can test the feature in CS:GO, Fortnite, or Deathloop.
Are you convinced by the concept? Have you perhaps already tried “Flick-Stick,” and what experiences have you had? Feel free to leave us a comment!
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