Poll: WASD, Arrow keys, or other?

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: CP5670
The thing is that WASD/2468 type layouts have the same physical arrangement as the movements they correspond to. Your fingers are laid out horizontally (unless you somehow play with your hand oriented at a 90 degree angle to the keyboard) and each one has a much greater vertical range of motion than it does horizontally, so it's much harder to have one finger for both the left and right movements if you try to maintain the same relative key positions. Although I think two fingers might actually work if you're used to it.

And yeah, I have a lot of room to push the keyboard around, almost two feet if necessary. I used to have that area cluttered with game CDs but now just put them under my Stacker case, which has some room under it since it's on wheels.

Yep, you fail at convincing me. Try again in english? 3 fingers for 4 directions is efficient? Meh, i type all day every day and ASDF is more natural than any numkey layout you can conjure up.

Not my problem if you can't read. Just look at how the keys are laid out relative to each other in a WASD type setup.

Also, there is a big difference between typing and gaming. You don't have to press multiple keys at once or hold down keys while typing.

That being said, if you find such a layout comfortable, there is certainly no harm in using it. You'll probably find it better than something you are not used to. I use a somewhat unusual setup myself as I mentioned earlier.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: CP5670

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: CP5670
The thing is that WASD/2468 type layouts have the same physical arrangement as the movements they correspond to. Your fingers are laid out horizontally (unless you somehow play with your hand oriented at a 90 degree angle to the keyboard) and each one has a much greater vertical range of motion than it does horizontally, so it's much harder to have one finger for both the left and right movements if you try to maintain the same relative key positions. Although I think two fingers might actually work if you're used to it.

And yeah, I have a lot of room to push the keyboard around, almost two feet if necessary. I used to have that area cluttered with game CDs but now just put them under my Stacker case, which has some room under it since it's on wheels.

Yep, you fail at convincing me. Try again in english? 3 fingers for 4 directions is efficient? Meh, i type all day every day and ASDF is more natural than any numkey layout you can conjure up.

Not my problem if you can't read. Just look at how the keys are laid out relative to each other in a WASD type setup.

Also, there is a big difference between typing and gaming. You don't have to press multiple keys at once or hold down keys while typing.

ASDF is probably slightly more efficient than WASD. However WASD is much more natural, and the advantages given by ASDF isn't so great considering in most games you don't change directions forward/backward so quickly. Besides, I think the middle three fingers are more dexterous than the pinky.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Nostromo N52 FTW!!!!

That's my choice :thumbsup: I use 02=lt,03=fwd,08=bk, and 10=rt. That would roughly correspond to a wqsf on a normal keyboard.

 

[n7]

RDFG > *

WASD is a joke for trying to set up binds, & for fast paced games, i like every single nearby key bound, since taking fingers off movement = death in those games.

 

[cheapherk]

I was an Belkin Speedpad Nostromo n50 user, then graduated to the n52. then soon to be n52te- (look here). I could never use a regular keyboard again.

 

[Check]

Originally posted by: n7
RDFG > *

WASD is a joke for trying to set up binds, & for fast paced games, i like every single nearby key bound, since taking fingers off movement = death in those games.

any FPS that requires me to have anything other than the WASD configuration in order to play it, is not a game I would touch.

there is no need for that many binds ever

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: check

Originally posted by: n7
RDFG > *

WASD is a joke for trying to set up binds, & for fast paced games, i like every single nearby key bound, since taking fingers off movement = death in those games.

any FPS that requires me to have anything other than the WASD configuration in order to play it, is not a game I would touch.

there is no need for that many binds ever

Q3 or UT? or any twitch shooters for that matter?

ESDF here.

 

[frythecpuofbender]

I'm an Arrow key guy since Duke3d days (which was the first fps where mouse/kb was used).
I recently switched to WSAD for Crysis and COD4 but I found that my fingers tend to become stiff when using them in the WSAD position for too long. When I use arrow keys, the need to flex them out more is healthier I guess.

 

[Ackmed]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: Ackmed
ESDF. Gives you more options than WASD for buttons. And, it is where you're supposed to place your hand for proper typing.. just makes sense all the way around.

Ha ha, no, ESDF is not where youre supposed to place your hand for typing. ASDF is where you place your hand for typing. :Q

Obviously. I was talking about the pointer finger.. which is on F. And the ring finger on is on S. I thought this was self explanatory...

 

[tyler811]

Arrow

 

[911paramedic]

o
k l ;

(left handed setup)

 

[ric0chet06]

WASD 4 LYFE

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: check

Originally posted by: n7
RDFG > *

WASD is a joke for trying to set up binds, & for fast paced games, i like every single nearby key bound, since taking fingers off movement = death in those games.

any FPS that requires me to have anything other than the WASD configuration in order to play it, is not a game I would touch.

there is no need for that many binds ever

There is no requirement for this, no, but scrolling thru weapons via mousewheel or having to reach up to 1/2/3 to switch weapons isn't ideal when you're in a firefight.

Obviously, you can stick with your single weapon, but good luck with that against good players who can switch weaps as they move around in a hurry.

As for what games i'm referring to, those would be UT2k4, UT3, Q4, Painkiller, etc.

 

[Zenoth]

Arrow keys for me, since ... well, since I first played Doom back in around 1993 or 1994 I believe. The only, single moment where I always use WASD is for driving vehicles in Battlefield 1942/BF2 ... that's it.

All the rest I use Arrow keys, along with Right Shift for jumping/standing up (if no jumping), Right CTRL for crouching, Delete to lean left (or throwing grenades if no leaning possible), End to open up Inventories/Maps/Menues, Page Down to lean right (or other misc functions if, again, no leaning possible), Home to use (action, such as opening doors, entering vehicles, activating switches, etc). And then I use the Numpad keys for various functions, such as numbers 7, 4, 1 and 0 (Insert button) for flashlights, reloading, prone, sprinting, and then more of them if necessary for other more complex shooters (with more functions) such as weapon stance (firing mode too), breathing control for sniping, night vision goggles, etc.

Arrow keys for life.

 

[Vidda]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
ESDF. Gives you more options than WASD for buttons. And, it is where you're supposed to place your hand for proper typing.. just makes sense all the way around.

QFT, I'm glad someone actually made the point about typing. So much more logical. Plus it's easier to find the keys in the dark if you move your hand.

 

[Juno]

WASD FTW!

 

[AMCRambler]

I used to be an arrow keys player back in the days of Doom and Quake. However new games have so many more movement controls that you need to be using that I switched to WASD. On a standard keyboard the other keys are just too far away from the arrow keys to let you re-map everything you need to adjacent keys. The WASD section of the keyboard puts you right next to the number keys for selecting weapons, shift and ctrl for running, thumb on the space bar for jumping, ZXC for crouching/prone, etc. The availability of other keys makes it worth switching. I think I finally switched when I started playing Unreal Tournament.

 

[Oakenfold]

Arrow keys, Right Control, Right Shift and the entire number pad is what I use.

 

[misle]

Originally posted by: Vidda

Originally posted by: Ackmed
ESDF. Gives you more options than WASD for buttons. And, it is where you're supposed to place your hand for proper typing.. just makes sense all the way around.

QFT, I'm glad someone actually made the point about typing. So much more logical. Plus it's easier to find the keys in the dark if you move your hand.

Another ESDF'er here. ESDF just makes more sense to me than WASD.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Nostromo N52 FTW!!!!

That's my choice :thumbsup: I use 02=lt,03=fwd,08=bk, and 10=rt. That would roughly correspond to a wqsf on a normal keyboard.

:thumbsup:

 

[Drako]

I use arrows or ESDF, depending on the game.

With the arrows, I use Num Pad "Ins" for jump, and Right "Ctrl" for crouch.

I never understood the whole WADS thing, the offset by one key always confused me. The marked left hand key is the F, so it makes more sense to me.

With ESDF, I use the Space Bar to jump, and the "A" to crouch.

 

[Chaotic42]

Well, I've settled on ASDF for World of Warcraft, as it seems to make sense, but I had to revert to the arrow keys for FPS games. I don't think I'd ever use WASD.

 

[Rottie]

Arrow keys are :thumbsdown:

 

[NikolaeVarius]

WASD

I like it because my Pinky is where I need it to be. Right on the Control key, which is useful because I tend to crouch alot. Also, it lets my hand be closer to the 1,2,3 keys for fast weapon switching

 

[CKent]

ESDF ever since the doom 1 days. Some say they can't reach control, shift and alt well enough from ESDF but my hands are huge so it's not a problem. It feels natural on ESDF because that's where your hand is when typing, and I like having 6, T, G and B at my disposal for keybinds.