Custom PC – October 2019

FEATURE / ANALYSIS

Pedal to the metal
Having established that we muchpreferthe
Docooler pedals, we used themasourmain
test subject, to see just what theadditionof
pedals brings to our gaming. Wetestedthem
in three main configurations. Thefirstwaswith
the left pedal mapped to push-to-talkandthe
right pedal assigned to bring upthein-game
map. In other words, we only usedthemfor
low-level, occasional functions.Wetestedthis
configuration across a numberofgames.
Next, our testing became abitmoregame-
specific, and we set up the pedalsforusein
Apex Legends. This game requiresyouto
almost constantly hold down theleftShiftkey
to ensure you’re always running,soweoffset
this one task to the left pedal, toseehowwell
it helduptomuchmoreconstantuse.The
rightpedalwasassignedtopush-to-talk.
Finally,weconfiguredthepedalsforusein
PlayerUnknown’sBattlegrounds,whereweused
themforleaningleftandright.If you’veeverplayed
a first-personshooterthathasleaningcontrol,you’ll
knowit canbedifficult
tocombinefullWASD
movement,running/
walking/crouching
control,mouse
aimingandleaning.
Byoffsettingthelatter
tothefootpedals,
it shouldbemuch
easiertogettheother
movementsright.
Goingbacktoour
firstscenario,the
pedalseasilyprovedtheirworthhere.
Simple,occasionalinputsthatarenon-critical
is whereit’seasytofeelcomfortablerelying
oncheapno-namefootpedals,andyou
don’tneedparticularlyagilefeeteither.
However,it wasimmediatelyclearthat
havingtwo separate pedals spacedfurther
apart, where they sit more naturallyunderthe
feet, would be much more preferabletoa single
two-pedal board. Unfortunately,bythelooksof
the PCsensor software, this setupmaynotbe
possible as it only lists each pedalonce.However,
you could perhaps use a combinationofan
FS2016USB2 and the single-pedalFS2016USB1.

Meanwhile,thesecondscenarioquickly

demonstratedthattheFS3pedalsweren’tupto

thejob,astheswitchesjustdidn’tseemtobeas

reliablewhenbeinghelddownconstantly.The

FS2016USB2heldupwellthough.

Youcanjustrelaxyourfootonthe

pedalandbasicallyneverletit go–

especiallyif youoptforthe

continuoustriggerinput,whichwill

triggerthekeypressagain,evenif

anelementinthegameforces

youtostoprunning.Thepedal

seemedtoholduptotheabuseof

prolongedpressingandworked

likea charm.

Finally,wecometotheleaning

challenge,whichis wherethe

wholeworldoffoot-pedaluse

takesonanotherlevelofskillandlearning– it was

alsowherewemostmissedhavingtwopedals

morespacedout.

The PCsensor

software is

surprisingly versatile

and easy to use

Push-to-talk on

team chat is one task

that’s easy to offset

onto a foot pedal

Withtherighthardware

properlysetup,a foot

pedalsetupseemslikea

naturalprogressionin

gamingcontrols