man WASD is tough!

[SWScorch]

The first computer game I ever played was Descent, it used AZXC for forward/backward/left/right, so I grew accustomed to that, and ever since have used that setup for all games. I've tried WASD before, as I recognize that it is obviously superior (allowing to you use your thumb to hit the spacebar while strafing, mainly), but never got the hang of it.

I am determined to get used to it now, so I just played some Quake3 using WASD, and after only two matches, my forearm actually hurts, from using muscles that I never used before. I also could barely win even on the easiest setting because it's so alien to me. It's tough to use my middle finger to move forward and backwards now when I always used my index finger and my thumb for strafing.

I don't know how you guys do it... Although I guess 10 years of using AZXC has put me at a disadvantage.

 

[KingNothing]

...ok?

 

[MisterCornell]

AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Dude, WASD is so '90s. Get with the 21st century and install a Gigabit jack into the back of your head.

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

AZ is with index finger. thumb is used for X and C, as well as Space, which is why it's tough to jump while strafing. Middle finger is used for Tab, ring finger and pinky just sit there useless.

 

[thelanx]

Although I guess 10 years of using AZXC has put me at a disadvantage.

Ten years?!!

Yeah I bet it will take a bit to override ten years of conditioning. How come you didn't switch before? WASD had been around for a while and is easier superior as you've noticed.

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

AZ is with index finger. thumb is used for X and C, as well as Space, which is why it's tough to jump while strafing. Middle finger is used for Tab, ring finger and pinky just sit there useless.

See with wasd you get to use all your fingers, since the pinky can be used for ctrl etc.

 

[Cristatus]

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

AZ is with index finger. thumb is used for X and C, as well as Space, which is why it's tough to jump while strafing. Middle finger is used for Tab, ring finger and pinky just sit there useless.

that's the weirdest config ever...

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: thelanx

Although I guess 10 years of using AZXC has put me at a disadvantage.

Ten years?!!

Yeah I bet it will take a bit to override ten years of conditioning. How come you didn't switch before? WASD had been around for a while and is easier superior as you've noticed.

yep, 10 years. Started playing Descent in 1995 I think. Maybe 96.

I've tried to switch before, but I didn't even find out about WASD until maybe 3-4 years ago, and by that time AZXC was so natural I didn't want to switch and give up all the instinctiveness I have accrued. I don't game as much anymore, so I figured now would be a good time to finally jump in and suck for a few weeks while I learn WASD.

 

[MisterCornell]

Originally posted by: logic1485

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

AZ is with index finger. thumb is used for X and C, as well as Space, which is why it's tough to jump while strafing. Middle finger is used for Tab, ring finger and pinky just sit there useless.

that's the weirdest config ever...

No sir, I don't like it.

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Originally posted by: logic1485

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

AZ is with index finger. thumb is used for X and C, as well as Space, which is why it's tough to jump while strafing. Middle finger is used for Tab, ring finger and pinky just sit there useless.

that's the weirdest config ever...

It just blows my mind! :shocked:

 

[jlee]

I use either WASD or ESDF (WASD shifted over one)..I don't think I could handle AZXC..heh

 

[mpitts]

I never use WASD.

I use the , . / Shift and Ctrl keys.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Use ESDF. Easier to find your finger position and you have a few more keys easily available.

 

[bandana163]

I prefer using the cursor keys for FWD/BWD/strafing, Num0 for jumping and the nearby keys for other functions (Num4, Num1, CTRL...).
Old school but very effective.

 

[Lonyo]

Arrows/cursor keys pwn.
Especially if you have large-ish hands.
I use shift to jump, ctrl to crouch.

 

[Bv3]

I use my left hand for the mouse, so my right hand uses the arrow keys to move, ctrl to jump, num0 to crouch.

 

[darkeneddays]

Up until 2000 I always used the arrow keys and never strafed ( turn left/ turn right) Worked great for Rune, I got owned in everything else though. Use to cramp my hand too, having the keyboard tilted at an angle and all. Took a while to get use to WASD but I never looked back. Can't imagine playing any other way now.

 

[brxndxn]

I didn't like using spacebar for something like shooting since I wanted it to be as responsive as possible - got used to the keys for UT2k3 instigib bombing run.

So, I use the right mouse button to move forward, middle to move backward, left to shoot.. Then, I use asdf, qwer, and zxcv for strafing, alt firing, changing weapons, etc..

Ya.. it's fvcked up.. but I like it.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: MisterCornell
AZXC? Do you operate the A/Z with your ring finger? That's hard.

AZ is with index finger. thumb is used for X and C, as well as Space, which is why it's tough to jump while strafing. Middle finger is used for Tab, ring finger and pinky just sit there useless.

How in hell do you play that way? That seems so uncoordinated.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

lol.

I always use the shift button as the jump button. I can nver use the spacebar as the jump. It feel so unnatural. When I first started fps's, I've always used the arrow keys, w/ the rt. control button as jump. So using the pinky button to jump is only natrual to me. I rarely use my thumb.


EDIT: i'm trying your method of azxc..ugh i keep hitting keys that i don't want to (like the alt and windows keys).

index finger for az, and thumb for xc? hehehe.

 

[Howard]

WASD - movement
Shift - crouch
Spacebar - walk
R - reload

Mouse1 - shoot
Mouse2 - jump
Mouse3 - secondary fire

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: Howard
WASD - movement
Shift - crouch
Spacebar - walk
R - reload

Mouse1 - shoot
Mouse2 - jump
Mouse3 - secondary fire

ahhaha i can tell you played CS for along long time, and all you did was bunny hop before 1.5 came out

 

[SWScorch]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Arrows/cursor keys pwn.
Especially if you have large-ish hands.
I use shift to jump, ctrl to crouch.

I've used the number pad for carmageddon, and that felt very natural. If the num pad was on the left side, I would definitely use that for moving in fpses. The regular arrow keys are too isolated for me to do anything useful, like jump or use and stuff like that.

 

[Chaotic42]

Here's what I use:

Up arrow-up
Down arrow-down
Left arrow-left
Right arrow-right

Num 0-2nd fire
Num 1-Pick up/zoom in/etc
Num 4-Whatever
Num 7-Whatever

Ctrl-Crouch
Shift-Run/Walk

Mouse 1-Fire
Mouse 2-Jump
Mouse 3-Open/use
Mouse 4-Lay prone
Mouse 5-Reload
Mouse Wheel-Weapon selection

 

[bandana163]

Originally posted by: SWScorch

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Arrows/cursor keys pwn.
Especially if you have large-ish hands.
I use shift to jump, ctrl to crouch.

I've used the number pad for carmageddon, and that felt very natural. If the num pad was on the left side, I would definitely use that for moving in fpses. The regular arrow keys are too isolated for me to do anything useful, like jump or use and stuff like that.

It's easy to use the right side of the keyboard:

FWD/BWD/Lstrafe/Rstrafe - Arrows (ring, index, middle fingers)
Jump - Num0 (thumb)
Reload - Num4 (index)
Flashlight - Num1, miscellaneous functions - num2, num3 (index or thumb)
Crouch - RCTRL, Prone - RALT, Run/Walk - Rshift (pinky or ring finger)
Fire - MouseLeft, AltFire - MouseRight, Change weapon - Wheel (right hand)

Basically, the left hand is lying on the arrow keys, the thumb and the index finger use the numpad, the pinky and index fingers use the keys on the left.