Why we use WASD instead of arrow keys?

[Hanasato_Yuka]

I mean, why is WASD not other keys

[BC]

引用自 Huydeeptry：

I mean, why is WASD not other keys

My uncle who is mentally challenged always uses arrows cause his brain can’t access the part which allows one to use WASD

[AROCK!!!]

引用自 metamec：

引用自 ÁROCK!!!：

Lol...pretty much all of this is bogus

Again...it changed because of the mouse, and WASD was chosen simply because it was the "left most" layout.

https://www.pcgamer.com/how-wasd-became-the-standard-pc-control-scheme/

The only thing I omitted was the relevance of the mouse. The article confirms pretty much the fundamentals of what I said. That there was a big shift during the 1990s. That keymappings were all over the place. That WASD offered better access to predictably located keys (shift and space, etc).

Control schemes such as this ultimately become mainstream convention for a complex array of reasons, but it's not hard to appreciate why ergonomics and the unpredictable location, key size and functionality of cursor keys would factor into that. On some keyboards the cursors keys needed a modifier key (similar to shift) to be pressed. On other keyboards they were missing altogether. They still are on some keyboards and laptops. That is never going to be an issue with WASD, so it made sense for developers to always support WASD if they didn't want to shut out a portion of the audience.

Thanks for posting the article. It was a very interesting read.

ETA: I can't keep up with your edits and I can't keep replying due to time constraints, but again, thanks for your perspective.

You said ---"games were becoming more complex with more required key mappings, and (more importantly) there were more surrounding keys on that side of the keyboard and they were more predictably located.---" which is bogus, except maybe for needing more key mappings.

Even so, there are more than enough keys around the arrow keys for any game.
A standard KB with a number pad has a minimum of 15 keys yhat can be used without having to move away from the arrow keys.

As the article points out, the use of the mouse led to the change in keys.

The part about gaps and other is also bogus. Not once in more than 30 years of gaming have I ever encountered something/issues like that.



It's not more ergonomic either. I slide my KB to the left, and then rotate it a bit, and that allows me to position my arm in a much more comfortable way...and I know this because I have tried both (arrows and WASD).

[kbiz]

With the WASD keys to have quick access to all the keys around them. You want quick access to 15 keys, not just 4 keys.

[AROCK!!!]

引用自 SMIFFY：

Ergonomics are better. WASD gives you access to keys that perform basic actions you'll use all the time in most FPS games without having to move your hand, Q and E for leaning, R for reload, F for using items, SPACE for jumping, CTRL for crouch, SHIFT for walk/sprint, TAB for map or inventory.

Arrow Keys can only just about utilise your little finger for one or two additional actions and even then it's awkward.

Lol

I use multiple fingers on the 15 keys I have access to, without moving my hand, and I don't find any of it "awkward" and then there is the mouse.

I haven't used the KB for "jump" for years...I use a mouse button.
Del for reload
End and Pgdn for lean, or the mouse
There are ctrl and shift buttons on both sides
Backspace for inventory
Then there are 4 available keys on the num pad.
Then insert, home, whatever this key is called-->|, and Enter

[lightwo]

Arrow keys aren't hugely practical. Even some text editors such as vi and its derivatives mainly use letter keys for navigation, notably, hjkl for (and this may be confusing) left, down, up, right, so that both hands can remain ready to press the next letter key without raising.

The keyboard has become a silly device nowadays, all keys are pretty much a hint or suggestion in many cases.

[SMIFFY]

引用自 ÁROCK!!!：

Even so, there are more than enough keys around the arrow keys for any game.
A standard KB with a number pad has a minimum of 15 keys yhat can be used without having to move away from the arrow keys.

As the article points out, the use of the mouse led to the change in keys.

The part about gaps and other is also bogus. Not once in more than 30 years of gaming have I ever encountered something/issues like that.



It's not more ergonomic either. I slide my KB to the left, and then rotate it a bit, and that allows me to position my arm in a much more comfortable way...and I know this because I have tried both (arrows and WASD).

What the hell does your hand look like if it can comfortably use arrows and perform all the other actions required to play a FPS? Even way the arrow keys alone are lined up is slightly less comfortable.

[UmmUmBurst]

You can really tell who doesn't play FPS games, like ever.

If I buy a RTS game and the move keys are the arrow keys, I refund that ****.

It's not 1998 anymore.

[AROCK!!!]

引用自 SMIFFY：

引用自 ÁROCK!!!：

Even so, there are more than enough keys around the arrow keys for any game.
A standard KB with a number pad has a minimum of 15 keys yhat can be used without having to move away from the arrow keys.

As the article points out, the use of the mouse led to the change in keys.

The part about gaps and other is also bogus. Not once in more than 30 years of gaming have I ever encountered something/issues like that.



It's not more ergonomic either. I slide my KB to the left, and then rotate it a bit, and that allows me to position my arm in a much more comfortable way...and I know this because I have tried both (arrows and WASD).

What the hell does your hand look like if it can comfortably use arrows and perform all the other actions required to play a FPS? Even way the arrow keys alone are lined up is slightly less comfortable.

I slide the KB to the left, and then rotate it a bit (WASD end goes up). Doing so aligns the arrow keys perfectly with my hand and allows my arm to rest in a more comfortable position.

I've done Arrows and WASD, and I've found arrows to be better

[hi friends]

引用自 ÁROCK!!!：

引用自 SMIFFY：

Ergonomics are better. WASD gives you access to keys that perform basic actions you'll use all the time in most FPS games without having to move your hand, Q and E for leaning, R for reload, F for using items, SPACE for jumping, CTRL for crouch, SHIFT for walk/sprint, TAB for map or inventory.

Arrow Keys can only just about utilise your little finger for one or two additional actions and even then it's awkward.

Lol

I use multiple fingers on the 15 keys I have access to, without moving my hand, and I don't find any of it "awkward" and then there is the mouse.

I haven't used the KB for "jump" for years...I use a mouse button.
Del for reload
End and Pgdn for lean, or the mouse
There are ctrl and shift buttons on both sides
Backspace for inventory
Then there are 4 available keys on the num pad.
Then insert, home, whatever this key is called-->|, and Enter

Congratz, either your keyboard isn't "standard" or your hand is an alien.
people in general have to move their own hand to even reload with your key layout (yes moving your middle finger to press it DO count as moving hand). Good for you that you are used to it, but for general people wasd is much more easier. Also just using a keys in corner for general use doesn't also make sense for most people anyway.
Also, no, extra keys near arrow keys isn't enough for "any" game either (any game . laptop also exists too (lmao who plays on laptop i know, but apparently they also do exist), how the hell you gonna align yourself with screen with... movement key on bottom right of that tiny ass keyboard? funny situations but just imagine doing it. most weakling's neck is going to be destroyed and doctors gonna go yay free $$$. Some keyboard don't even have numpads integrated too, cuz their functions... for general again... can be easily used without numpad again. (Except when i need to use blender or something)

So yes, WASD is superior layout for general usage than arrow keys (yes game with mouse is general, when you don't use WASD to move but you have mouse control? you probably move with mouse, like RTS) it's just not for someone who prefers their own. Could have been RDFG or ESDF, but certainly not arrow keys. And it just so happens to be that you aren't one of the general, and that isn't bad thing, but also your personal preference does not affect the matter of WASD superiority over arrow keys oriented layout either.

[Schindler's Lifts]

For right handed players, using the mouse with your right hand and WASD with your left just feels more natural. Games in the past did use the arrow keys, but eventually games set their defaults to WASD when more players started using it.

Just saying, you don't have to use WASD if you don't want to.

https://youtu.be/h88ybWcieao

[UmmUmBurst]

引用自 ÁROCK!!!：

I slide the KB to the left, and then rotate it a bit (WASD end goes up). Doing so aligns the arrow keys perfectly with my hand and allows my arm to rest in a more comfortable position.

I've done Arrows and WASD, and I've found arrows to be better

You realize there are games out there where you slide around, run on walls, and generally feel awesome?

They're called First Person Shooters. They don't run on Win 98 so you might need to upgrade.

[AROCK!!!]

引用自 Acetyl：

Mouse is on the right side, you'd have to move the keyboard way over. There are no keys around the arrows for use, reload, whatever.

Only need to move it about 4 inches.

Keys around the arrow keys.....
Back space
|
Enter
Shift
Ctrl
Insert
Home
Pgup
Pgdwn
Del
End
Number pad, 0, 1, 4, 7.

[GunsForBucks]

Been using a joystick instead of a keyboard for a long time.

Unreal, Quake 3, BF2142, ETQW used a joystick / mouse setup. Still do in action shooter games like Warframe or mild action like Valhiem.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=290264565

[AROCK!!!]

引用自 Shakey：

引用自 ÁROCK!!!：

I slide the KB to the left, and then rotate it a bit (WASD end goes up). Doing so aligns the arrow keys perfectly with my hand and allows my arm to rest in a more comfortable position.

I've done Arrows and WASD, and I've found arrows to be better

You realize there are games out there where you slide around, run on walls, and generally feel awesome?

They're called First Person Shooters. They don't run on Win 98 so you might need to upgrade.

Yes I do, and I play them, using arrow keys.

I was top rated at CS, Ghost Recon, Delta Force and plenty of other games. Even with Killing Floor I was almost always at the top of the board and the last man standing.


I've tried both, I prefer arrows...don't knock it until you've tried it, or just realise and accept that not everyone is the same......Hell, some people prefer controllers over a M/K

[AROCK!!!]

引用自 GunsForBucks：

Been using a joystick instead of a keyboard for a long time.

Unreal, Quake 3, BF2142, ETQW used a joystick / mouse setup. Still do in action shooter games like Warframe or mild action like Valhiem.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=290264565

Interesting