WASD or Arrow Keys?

[pinkxzy]

A friend of mine claims that the Arrow Keys is a better way to play any game, and changes all games that have default WASD to Arrow Keys. I would like to prove him wrong. Please comment what you think is better, and please add in some points to why.

[Hextravert]

You can't prove him wrong at all, I'm afraid.

Because it's basically the exact same layout.

Just a different area of the keyboard.

Originally posted by pilonopilo:

A friend of mine claims that the Arrow Keys is a better way to play any game, and changes all games that have default WASD to Arrow Keys. I would like to prove him wrong. Please comment what you think is better, and please add in some points to why.

[Chompman]

It depends if you are left or right handed really.

Most use wasd because they are more right handed people then lefties and for a good reason over most other combinations.

[CheddarExuberant]

Depends on personal preference. For example, I use WASD because I'm right-handed and the arrow keys on my keyboard are ridiculously small. For all you know your friend may have a reason why they're more comfortable with arrow keys.

[sej]

I don't think WASD vs. Arrow Keys depends on what your dominant hand is.
I know people with different dominant hands and they both use WASD.

I think it depends on what you're used to, and that's it. You can get used to using either one.

I remember when I was about 10 I was playing Roblox with the arrow keys and was having a blast. It made perfect sense for the arrow keys to be the directional keys.

But then I moved to games like Minecraft and I started using the WASD keys. At first I thought it was weird, but I grew to enjoy it just as much.

So it doesn't matter. The only thing it might depend on is how the keyboard you're using is set up. Sometimes the arrow keys are much larger, while the WASD keys (along with the others letter keys) are much smaller. And vice versa. I personally have a keyboard with ridiculously small arrow keys, but I have no problem using them to play Risk of Rain, because in that game, you don't use WASD.

[B l u e b e r r y P o p t a r t]

WASD all the way. The point you wanted is it's always been that way and I'm used to it. Not like it matters, it won't ever change just because a few people want it to. That is why they added the feature to change the key binds, but pc gaming will always be WASD.

[SpunkyJones]

Arrow keys for life! No good reason, just the way I've always played.

[Hanomaly]

to me WASD or.. even ESDF are better than the arrow keys because they have more "easy to reach keys around them"...

the arrow keys are off in no-mans-land with no keys surrounding them.. so you can't have quick access to other buttons (with that same hand) easily..

with WASD or ESDF you can easily bind other things.. strafe.. healing.. attacks.. sprints.. whatever.. all close to that same hand with all the keys that surround those letters.

and stiiiiill have another hand free to mouse.

i suppose if a game doesn't require a mouse *at all* using the arrow keys may be alright. but i don't play many games that have zero-use of the mouse.

[worstcaster]

A player should use whatever controls feel more natural for them. That's why so many games allow button remapping.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

I use arrow keys. FWIW, I am right-handed.

It really boils down to what you're used to, and has little influence crom handedness anyway.

I first played 2D platformers on DOS PC using arrow keys + Ctrl and Alt.

Then I got some console-style games, mainly 2D platformers and JRPGs, on PC, and they were in Windows so I couldn't use Ctrl or Alt, so I moved the "action" buttons to ZXCVASDF.

Nowadays, arrow keys + ZXCVASDF is my preference and I will try to remap things to that if I can.

If I need diagonals I can always remap the arrow keys to IKJL or IMJL. But it's still right hand controls.

The exceptions I've had so far are:
* games that just use mouse for most things. For these, obviously, I use the mouse.
* FPS games. Here I learned to WASD. I don't play that many of them though because headaches.
* Platformers that require free aim. This was the most challenging category because my left hand was used to neither controlling movement (especially single-hand movement and jumping) nor using the mouse. It would be neat if it were, but in the meantime, I've ended up learning to WASD for 2D platformers with free aim (e.g. Terraria -- many, many trips to recover the gold you dropped on one trip will give quite a bit of practice).

In case you ask, yes, I play platformers and action JRPGs (such as the Ys games) with arrow keys + ZXCVASDF. I don't have a gamepad but I'd prefer keyboard controls anyway.

[僕の名前 (仮)]

ESDF > WASD > .... > arrows


If you want to prove him WASD is better, challenge him for duel in Quake 3. He will see how he is wrong. He wont be able to play effectively with arrows.

Depends on personal preference. For example, I use WASD because I'm right-handed

WASD vs Arrows have nothing to do with right-handed or left-handed. I'm leftie.

[pinkxzy]

Thx guys! I didn't think that I'd get much answers, and I appreciate your help! I didn't expect so many arrow key players and its interesting to see. But I just wanted to add that my friend is right handed and that he plays minecraft mostly and sometimes roblox. I am also right handed and I tend to mostly play some fps.

[LiamA]

Originally posted by Chompman:

It depends if you are left or right handed really.

Most use wasd because they are more right handed people then lefties and for a good reason over most other combinations.

i am left handed but use wasd :)

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

I don't think handedness is a relevant factor since both hands control important features. Movement isn't less important than action buttons, nor vice versa.

[Kargor]

Personal preferences are not "right" or "wrong", they are just personal preferences.

[wuddih]

wasd or esdf
why?
you have access to more keys around them naturally. on a standard keyboard, the cursor keys are surrounded by empty space. it gives more options for any size of hand to bind their keys to and have more keys directly available without moving around so much.

the only legitimate reason to use the arrow keys is when you are left-handed as this allows a more natural hand and arm position while playing but every good left-handed player uses the numpad for this, not the arrow keys.

Originally posted by Kargor:

Personal preferences are not "right" or "wrong", they are just personal preferences.

your body will tell you that you are damn wrong, your left hand on the cursor keys without shifting the keyboard to allow a natural straight arm position = say hello to your new best friend mr. tunnel, carpal tunnel.