View Poll Results: Which key layout do you use for FPS games?

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  • WASD

    48 84.21%
  • ESDF

    1 1.75%
  • RDFG

    2 3.51%
  • Other

    6 10.53%
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Thread: WASD prejudice

  1. #1
    Anti-Viral Pleiades's Avatar
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    Exclamation WASD prejudice

    I'm sure someone must have mentioned this before, but I must add my voice to the growing chorus of discontent!

    For far too long, WASD has been synonymous with FPS games: now, to add insult to injury, so-called 'gaming keyboards' such as the Corsair Vengeance (and others of its ilk) are re-inforcing this prejudice by actually making the keys a different colour! And even making them 'better' by default!



    What of those of us who choose a different path to glory? The ESDF crowd? And my own, singular choice: RDFG!? What of us? Do they care? It appears not...

  2. #2
    Senior Moment blueball's Avatar
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    Re: WASD prejudice

    I use right mouse button for forwards, ASD for L, back and R then W for knife or whatever similar option is available. Have used this setup for about 18 years quite happily.
    Rgds,

    BB
    Hexus Trust here and here

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    I tried to use WASD several times, but my fingers just couldn't adapt to it and I was always hitting the wrong keys because it felt wrong.

    Consequently I found myself moving to the arrow keys and using the right-hand side of the keyboard. This created a problem with many games where either the numpad keys weren't recognised or where I couldn't use a combination of a numpad key with a modifier key.

    I actually solved the numpad solution recently as a result of SWTOR, as it became apparent just how much I needed to be able to use ctrl, shift and alt gr for the numpad keys. I used a program called kbedit to reassign the numpad numbers to the normal 0-9 keys along the top of the keyboard using the low-level editor and it worked an absolute charm.

    Gaming with the arrow keys with no handicap ftw

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    WASD here, since 1993-1994 so a bit difficult for me to change now

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    A number of gaming keyboard manufacturers are 'optimizing' the WASD layout, which is, like, SO unfair

    For example, Razer's Arctosa has "selective anti-ghosting for WASD gaming cluster". WTF! How about the rest of the keys?!

    Are they second-class citizens? I think it's plain that they are...

    As for you, Blueball 'I use right mouse button for forwards' - Seriously? that's a first, never heard of anyone using that method before...

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    Senior[ish] Member Singh400's Avatar
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    Re: WASD prejudice

    Pretty sure the Corsair Vengeance series has additional keys so that they can be replaced in their normal colour. It's not like you are stuck with the red highlighting.

    For the record I use WASD. But I've always wanted to try ESDF layout.

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    I use wasd just because it's default, and I'm not a massive fps gamer, and it feels fine, I don't feel like I'm running out of keys etc, have push to talk and a couple of other things on my mouse which I far prefer to having to use too many buttons on the keyboard.

    However I would agree with finding it annoying when keyboards optimise for the wasd cluster for key rollover, since super meat boy was unplayable on one of my older keyboards since you could only press 2 buttons at once if not in the wasd cluster

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    Have used WASD since about 98/99, RDFG arguably gives you more keys available nearby and I tried this out when i used to play WoW, but I prefer to be close to the ctrl/shift/tab/alt, since they're not 'just another key' and are shaped differently I find it easier to use them.
    I don't mean to sound cold, or cruel, or vicious, but I am so that's the way it comes out.

  10. #9
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    Re: WASD prejudice

    Have always used WASD and always will, not other key layouts suit me.

    My main keys to use are -

    WASD - Movement
    Space - Jump
    Shift - Sprint
    C - Toggle crouch / prone
    4 - Use special grenades

    Mouse -

    1 - shout
    2 - toggle zoom
    3 - quick zoom
    4 - grenade
    wheel up - change weapon
    wheel down - knife

    I think on of the reasons that key manufacturers appear to have 'prejudice' towards WASD is that it's probably the most commonly used keyboard layout for FPS games.
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    Re: WASD prejudice

    What kind of freak uses ESDF or RDFG??! What's wrong with you man?

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    Quote Originally Posted by Disturbedguy View Post
    Have always used WASD and always will, not other key layouts suit me.

    My main keys to use are -

    WASD - Movement
    Space - Jump
    Shift - Sprint
    C - Toggle crouch / prone
    4 - Use special grenades

    Mouse -

    1 - shout
    2 - toggle zoom
    3 - quick zoom
    4 - grenade
    wheel up - change weapon
    wheel down - knife

    I think on of the reasons that key manufacturers appear to have 'prejudice' towards WASD is that it's probably the most commonly used keyboard layout for FPS games.
    Nooo! I always have to change console port layouts because the developer thinks that c is easier to reach than ctrl to crouch with. I always have crouch as Ctrl (even when there's a prone option). I find sharing my index finger with d and c is annoying if you want to poke round a corner whilst crouching.

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    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
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    Re: WASD prejudice

    Q/A O/P + Space

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    The reverse annoys me far more.

    I've played quite a few RTS games that use the arrow keys for movement on the map, and they don't permit remapping to WASD. Trying to use the mouse with my right hand, and the arrow keys with my left is to me very uncomfortable.

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidM View Post
    Q/A O/P + Space
    Old Skool! Always used that (or something similar) on the old 8-bit stuff, took ages to get used to cursor keys with one hand on a PC (used one hand for left/right and the other for up/down for a while, but that made hitting space to fire a bit tricky...)

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    Re: WASD prejudice

    I used to map movement to the direction keys when I was young. Then I got older and games got rubbish, so now I don't really care much and just go with the defaults (which is always WASD).
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    Re: WASD prejudice

    WASD is usually the default, in my experience. I've got so used to it over the years that I hardly ever consider anything else
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