Helldiver PC Keybindings menu (from press beta build, courtesy Jab's Twitch video)

[BlackjackGT]

Jab kindly got some footage of the keybindings menu in the PC Helldivers press beta build, so we could get a peek at the default hotkeys:

video link (part 2):
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=562417783
The great news? It looks like virtually EVERY single action is rebindable, so I think that will make everyone happy, including southpaws, and people who have non-standard keyboards. I can't tell ya'll how many games I've played that only had a few reconfigurable keys but left certain keys "fixed."

I took a screen capture of the keybindings menu. I can't embed images from elsewhere in Steam forums, so if you don't mind following this link over to Photobucket, you can view it there:

Helldivers PC keybindings menu from press beta build (courtesy Jab)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/corporalgeo/PlayStation%20Vita%20games/Helldivers%20PC%20press%20beta%20build%20KEYBINDINGS_zpsb8beyjvi.jpg

If you don't want to run over there, I typed up sort of an ASCII version I could share here, in more of a vertical list form for easy reading.

I've added some additional text where I thought it helped clarify what the key was. I am not positive about the default sidearm key. I THINK it's the number "1," though it also looks like the 'i' letter key.

Text List of default Helldivers PC keybindings menu - again, ALL looked reconfigurable.

KEYBINDINGS
(I've listed DEFAULT key in [ ] brackets -- ALL of these are rebindable, so don't worry)

>MOVEMENT
UP= [W]
LEFT= [A]
DOWN= [S]
RIGHT= [D]
SPRINT= [LEFT SHIFT]
DODGE= [SPACEBAR]

>COMBAT:
FIRE= [LEFT MOUSE BUTTON]
AIM= [RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON]
THROW GRENADE= [G]
MELEE= [Q]
RELOAD= [R]
SELECT SIDE ARM (weapon) = [1 key] (I think)
SELECT PRIMARY (weapon)= [2 key]
SELECT SUPPORT (healing/repair?)= [3 key]

>VEHICLES:
FIRE PRIMARY= [LEFT MOUSE BUTTON]
FIRE SECONDARY= [RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON]

>MISCELLANEOUS:
STRATAGEM MENU= [LEFT CTRL]
MAP= [TAB]
INTERACT= [E]

RADIO: (aka prerecorded audio emote phrases)
YES= [F1]
NO= [F2]
STAY= [F3]
MOVE= [F4]

(text) CHAT:
ACTIVATE CHAT = [ENTER key]
*NOTE: I think we knew this, but doesn't appear to have any integrated voice chat functionality in the PC version-bj

KEYBINDINGS MENU NAVIGATION KEYS (I think?)
Q= BACK
G= RESET ALL KEYS
R= TOGGLE/HOLD ACTIONS

Hope this is helpful to everybody for planning purposes.

Especially if you're left handed, don't use a qwerty style keyboard, or just prefer something other than the typical a,w,s,d layout, now you know how you might reconfigure the default keyboard bindings to suit your preferences.

One thing the keybindings menu doesn't list is the keys for activating a strategem. I assume we still need to do a combination of directional keys, maybe using the cursor arrow keys?

[punchobastardo]

You said it looks like virtually every single action is rebindable, I'm not sure if this includes all those keyboard combinations I've seen in the vid like "left, up, right, up, left, down"? That would be seriously problematic, considering the keyboard does have dedicated keys for doing what you can't with a controller.

P.S. That guy there played 10 seconds with the KB/M and then switched to gamepad... sigh...if you are going to review for the PC and use a gamepad for it, just stick to your console man, don't even bother.

[BlackjackGT]

The keyboard combos imho add to the game because it makes you Think in the heat of the moment. My understanding is it's a gameplay element -- trying to hit the necessary key combos with aliens breathing down your neck -- not something designed that way because gamepads don't have all the keys a keyboard has.

I'd explain it this way -- if they'd wanted Sony console players to have "one-press" stratagem activation, Arrowhead could've just assigned each D-Pad direction that feature, and just had you assign Stratagem 1 to "press D-Pad left," Strategem 2 to "press D-pad up," etc. - you can only carry 4 Stratagems on a mission.

Instead they did this multiple-Dpad-direction press system, not only for Stratagems but also for activating Mission Objective equipment and devices.

And the idea seemed to be as you move forward into the game, objectives get more complicated, and so the required "multiple-Dpad-direction press" combo required to complete the objectives may get more complicated too. Certain more minor objectives require as few as 3 directional key presses.

As you get more powerful stratagems, you may find the directional key combo to call it in is longer and maybe tougher to do when your're getting swamped by aliens. I assure anybody it's a cool gameplay mechanic.

That's the best way I can explain it. I'd actually play it before dismissing it as some terrible, horrible, awful, no-good, what were they thinking, were they even thinking, idea. :-)

I'm pretty sure that's in the PC game regardlless of control method chosen, and they're not going to have one-button strategem activations for keyboard users. I will gladly eat crow if proven wrong on that.

afik, Jab is a Twitch Broadcaster, he's not a game reviewer per se. He's being nice, he's sharing some footage of a press build that no gaming news site is sharing to this point, afik. He shared this keybindings footage because I asked nicely in the comments on his video. If we wanted to get his thoughts specifically on the keyboard/mouse controls, I'm sure he'd play using those and provide some impressions.

Helldivers is a twin-stick shooter built from ground up as a twin-stick shooter. So I'm not one who'll ever insult someone for using a controller to play it. The key's just to use whatever set up is most fun and comfortable and effective. I generally prefer movement via gamepad and aiming via mouse, so I'm eager to find out what works better for me in this.

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

[Amenomade]

Originally posted by punchobastardo:

P.S. That guy there played 10 seconds with the KB/M and then switched to gamepad... sigh...if you are going to review for the PC and use a gamepad for it, just stick to your console man, don't even bother.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLuNWBREep4

Not my, just the first i see with mouse to aim. You can also ask the guy about arrow key.

[BlackjackGT]

Thanks, Amenomade. I asked Jab his initial impressions on keyboard/mouse. He indicated movement felt good to him on keyboard. Aiming he thought felt a little less good than gamepad, I think he indicated it felt like the "mouse aim" was emulating the gradual movement of a thumbstick -- wasn't quite a "1:1" mouse movement ratio, if that makes sense?

Also, he seemed to indicate that the movement keys (a,w,s,d) do double-duty as the directional keys for the stratagem activation combos and the mission objective combos. You do have to stop to call in a strategem or input the mission objective combo, so I guess that makes sense rather than my cursor directional keys idea -- you don't have to move your hand to another part of the keyboard.

Also, if you change the direction keys from a,w,s,d -- say you're left handed, and you change those keys to j,i,k,l on the right half of your keyboard -- then your reassigned direction keys will serve as the activation combo direction keys too. So that seems to make sense. :)

Well, we (pre-order folks) can make up our own minds in a week or so about control methods, I guess.

[SnarKs]

Sounds like he is describing mouse acceleration, heres to hoping there is an option to disable it. Otherwise its going to be garbage to play.

[punchobastardo]

Originally posted by SnarKs:

Sounds like he is describing mouse acceleration, heres to hoping there is an option to disable it. Otherwise its going to be garbage to play.

No I think it sounds exactly like you are arrow shooting while aiming with the elf in Gauntlet, in other words you may have the reticule on target but the body hasn't "turned" so fast to match it so there is a delay between aiming and hitting the target.

Also @BlackjackGT it has to be seen how fun that arrow-key mechanic and how well integrated into the gameplay it is, for example Arrowhead's other games, Magicka and Gauntlet (wizard class) have similar key combos for producing spells, but they were designed with making total sense* in mind and completely bound to the core of the game (you can't play wizard otherwise) ,and not just random key combos as a gimmick. Also these combos i see in Helldivers remind me of 1v1 beat'em ups like Mortal Kombat which are so hard to execute at some point that it's just silly playing it with KB/M instead of an arcade stick. I like Arrowhead as a gaming company they make games with good gameplay, the only fact that is worrying me is that HD was a console first game ported to the PC and usually when that happens some things don't work equally well. Good thing is though that with the refund system there's no reason for everyone not to be happy :)

*I can explain to you how those combos work in Gauntlet in case you wonder.

[SnarKs]

From what I can see, stratagems call down commands are always the same button combo. The ojbective ones are the only randomized combos. Magicka and Gauntlet have a specific design in combining elements to create spells, Helldivers doesnt have that.

Comparing the combos to something like mortal kombat doesnt really work. Mortal Kombat combos are designed to flow well with an arcade stick. Helldiver commands is more along the lines of trying to input a specific code sequence to call in items. Its suppose to add to the mayhem. Calling in items can be risky(you can't move or shoot while doing this), but can also greatly benefit you and your squad, or horribly murder you.

Also, inputting these combos isn't something that needs to be done with great precision and speed in order to successfully request for a calldown.

Edit -

Originally posted by punchobastardo:

Originally posted by SnarKs:

Sounds like he is describing mouse acceleration, heres to hoping there is an option to disable it. Otherwise its going to be garbage to play.

No I think it sounds exactly like you are arrow shooting while aiming with the elf in Gauntlet, in other words you may have the reticule on target but the body hasn't "turned" so fast to match it so there is a delay between aiming and hitting the target.

I looked back at some PC gameplay footage, definitely looks like thats the case. Theres a bit of a turn speed to catch up to the crosshair.

Edit 2 -
Seems like the turn speed isn't specific to mouse either, it does it on a joystick as well. So it seems very intentional that your character turns slower while arming, and it varies from weapon to weapon I think. Some people suggest aiming and then re-aiming to turn faster.

[BlackjackGT]

OK guys, thanks for clarifying. My hope is we all find a control set up that we enjoy using, and that we'll all play together at some point and shoot each other in the back, drop equipment pods on top of each other and otherwise cause each other misery and despair in Helldivers!

All in the cause of democra-cee and liber-tea!!!!

I may be kidding...

No, at the least, I think I was good at always reinforcing someone who had fallen prey to my sloppy aim. ;-)

[punchobastardo]

Originally posted by BlackjackGT:

OK guys, thanks for clarifying. My hope is we all find a control set up that we enjoy using, and that we'll all play together at some point and shoot each other in the back, drop equipment pods on top of each other and otherwise cause each other misery and despair in Helldivers!

All in the cause of democra-cee and liber-tea!!!!

I may be kidding...

No, at the least, I think I was good at always reinforcing someone who had fallen prey to my sloppy aim. ;-)

Well since it takes a veeery long time for democracy to be established in the whole universe, you know that meanwhile on planet earth some real tough bros are already fighting for freeeeee-dom! , right?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/274190/

[GVAmson23]

Thanks for the video, OP. It looks to be a great game (though the beta performance seems atrocious) , but I find it odd that the recommended specs list DX10 which is pretty uncommon. In any case, I will be picking it up on release day.