Why we switched to WASD key setup....

[Ganger]

I came across this video in regards to the history on how we came too using the WASD keys instead of the arrow keys. Half-life's key setup is also mention at 16.02...

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

PS... I still use the arrow keys personally, im old school.

[PsychoPsyops]

Feels more natural and puts your hand closer to other commonly used keys grouped together. Its not that deep.

[Schindler's Lifts]

WASD - movement
Shift - sprint
Ctrl - crouch
C - prone
Spacebar - primary fire
Mouse 1 - jump
Mouse 3 - melee
E - interact
Q - lean left, F - lean right
Scroll wheel - change weapons (if a game uses something else by default, I rebind it to scroll wheel)
mouse 4 (side mouse button) - grenade

I've been considering switching to something like ESDF for a while now. Several years ago I made the switch to use spacebar for primary fire and mouse 1 for jump, and I'm now past the point of no return. Mouse 1 for primary fire and spacebar for jump is now alien to me.

Also, I love this video talking about FPS keybindings.

https://youtu.be/h88ybWcieao

[Your_White_Knight]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Ganger:

Why we switched to WASD key setup....

I came across this video in regards to the history on how we came too using the WASD keys instead of the arrow keys. Half-life's key setup is also mention at 16.02...

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

PS... I still use the arrow keys personally, im old school.

I press "X" to doubt....

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Ganger:

I have my own unique key setup that im comfortable with, different game setup's will differs but all basically follow the same path.

Arrow keys = movement
Num 1 = jump
Num 4 = melee attack
Right Ctrl = duck
Right Swift = walk/sprint/run
Enter = throw grenade

Delete/End/Page down (above the arrow keys) are used for selecting different grenade type. Plus will use other keys im comfortable with for other functions.

Too much changing... most games are auto set up for WASD and near by keys...

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Hobbit XIII:

C64 keyboard layout had a natural WASD we see today if not slightly more so.

Keyboard layout on the c64 was good for typing and gaming even though i had joysticks too and used them often.

Interesting to know people could not use mouse at first for Doom.

When I first played Doom I didn't like it and couldn't 'get' why it was so popular it had no atmosphere.
Aliens on C64 that I never figured out how to play properly but was good if I wanted to shoot a lot of ammunition and watch my team die - it could have me hooked for hours. Aliens had suspense, atmosphere a familiar storyline and darkness! lights could go out!
Doom was blocky stuff and just frantic.
- I do like Doom just not when I first played it or for some time after.

I didn't watch all the video if I seem judge too early, I still liked it and will finish it another time.

Maybe that's why I find it more natural... c64 old school... that's me

[lsdninja]

I went with ESDF because it was pointed out that that frees up more keys around it for other things.

[L1qu1dator]

I'd guess because all other buttons are far away from the arrow keys, while there's loads of other buttons right next to WSAD.

[Azza ☠]

There was a professional gamer who played Quake (or a similar multiplayer game). He was the first individual to move his left hand to the left side of the keyboard using WASD keys and the right hand on the mouse. That gave him more space between the hands and straighter with the body.

He owned others in the online matches, so other gamers started to copy him. Then the game developers caught upon that, adding it directly to future games.

The first Steam game I believe was Half Life to use the WASD keys by default!

[SMIFFY]

I used arrow keys for Half-Life back in the day, I just didn't know any better.

[Bamford]

Its efficient, but its best to have a mouse with many buttons because hitting ctrl/alt is awkward.