W,A,S,D or the arrow keys?

[Ophiguris]

heh, I wish!

But don't they have like not joysticks, but console like controllers you plug in through the USB?

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Yeah it does, look at an X-Box controller for instance, you use your left thumb on the left analog in order to move around right? Well WASD is on the left side of the keyboard, the layout just feels more comfortable!

I was weened on Nintendo and D-pads, so when I transitioned to PC I used arrow keys for movement because they were isolated like a d-pad, and d-pads have arrows on them.

I used the number keys for the buttons. It didn't work with Descent 2, the game I played at the time, so I got a flight yoke which was no good with anything but flying games. When Unreal came around I found myself in a bind because I could not reach enough keys with my left hand using the arrow keys and my hand would constantly leave them to switch weapons, jump, etc.

WASD, though strange at that point in time, had obvious advantages over all previous configs. With today's 2378956 button mice, I don't see the need to transition to ESDF. My house handles everything weapon related.

 

[darkeye92]

A lot of proper left handed people use the arrow keys in the right hand. I'm left handed but still play with WSAD and mouse in my right hand. I just learned that way.

I play that way too

 

[okidoki]

Arrow keys. I invented a configuration with minimal hand movement. I use ctrl for jump, shift for crouch, enter for use, backslash for sprint and mousewheel for weapon switch and reload. The only time I have to move my left hand is for the flashlight and suit zoom.

 

[kupocake]

You're all using a bad method, which causes fatigue over long periods of play. Use q w e s, that way your three movement fingers resting positions are all level with each other.

I don't see it. The middle key that rests on the 'w' in wasd is naturally near enough a key-width longer than the two other fingers. Forcing it to curl up and make it level with the other two fingers doesn't sound like it would be ergonomic.

 

[Piers89]

I don't see it. The middle key that rests on the 'w' in wasd is naturally near enough a key-width longer than the two other fingers. Forcing it to curl up and make it level with the other two fingers doesn't sound like it would be ergonomic.

Agreed, the middle finger which generall is used for W (index finger on D, and third finger that doesnt do much on S) is longer than your other fingers, thus it makes it far more comfortable to have that resting infront of the 2 shorter flanking fingers. Having all three fingers resting in a line puts extra elevation on your hand, which just causes additional wrist strain.

On another note, i think you should get more exercise if you get 'fatigued' using a keyboard.

 

[Iron Kat]

I use WASD. It's become second nature to me now.

 

[Insano]

I've used all possible configurations, including ESDF, and I ended up using WASD.

 

[Cunni]

I use WASD, with my indes finger hitting W, and then ASD being pinky, index, and middle.

 

[Kester^]

Agreed, the middle finger which generall is used for W (index finger on D, and third finger that doesnt do much on S) is longer than your other fingers, thus it makes it far more comfortable to have that resting infront of the 2 shorter flanking fingers. Having all three fingers resting in a line puts extra elevation on your hand, which just causes additional wrist strain.

On another note, i think you should get more exercise if you get 'fatigued' using a keyboard.

Although it sounds like you are right, you don't play with your fingers totally straight, they curve slightly as you push down on keys.

Think the same as touch typing fingering position - 4 fingers in a line. All you are doing with my method is dropping the little finger away. The touch typing fingering position is like that for a reason.

Although I would be totally wrong if you have a mutant long middle finger.

Oh and on the fatigue point, body fatigue and finger/hand fatigue are very different and you can very easily get finger/hand fatigue from medium to long periods using a keyboard and has nothing to do with your fitness level.

Lastly for the person that asked earlier:
q - strafe left
w - forward
e - strafe right
s - backwards

 

[Piers89]

When you are touching typing you dont just use asdf though, you move your fingers aroung, i am well aware that your fingers curl when you use wasd, hence why i referred to it was 'additional strain' on your wrist because you have to curl your fingers further.

And your body fitness is all intertwined, of course it affects your levels of fatigue but im not going to get into that.