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WASD vs. Arrows

For FPS games, what controls/input do you use?

  • WASD

    Votes: 398 84.3%

  • Arrows

    Votes: 40 8.5%

  • Other (gamepad or what not)

    Votes: 34 7.2%
  • Total voters
    472
SPARTAN VI

SPARTAN VI

[H]F Junkie
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Jun 12, 2004
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My curiosity stemmed from a meta-discussion in the BFBC2 thread...

When playing FPS, how many people use WASD? Or the arrow keys?

I'm old fashioned, grew up playing with arrows in Wolfenstein 3D, and it generally stuck. I can switch to WASD when I absolutely have to (e.g. Fallout 3, Elder Scrolls, laptop gaming), but I'm only at home when using arrows.
 
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I used to use arrow keys, then switched to WASD... was too cramped using the arrow keys and nothing nearby for switching weapons / other abilities...

I remember trying to place tribes2 with arrow keys and I had 1 on the numberpad for jetpack and 0 for jump, it was weird haha...

I also re-mapped my caps-lock key to ctrl now so I use that for crouch.. Makes everything easy to reach with the left hand.
 
So you re-map all your keys to keys near the arrows? What do you use for reload, action, etc.?
 
I also used to use arrow keys. Only in the last couple of years did I switch over to WASD.
 
first FPS i played on the PC was Half-Life. Started off with WASD so I'm use to having the number keys above them and my thumb resting on the space bar. sometimes i use the arrows on strategy games, but nothing else.
 
I also used to use arrow keys when I played Delta Force 1/2/LW. It was easier for me then to use arrows than WASD. I stopped gaming on the PC for a few years and once I got back into it I was much much better off with WASD and that's what I use now. Not sure what made the difference between then, other than I was 15 (arrows) and I started playing on the PC again when I was 20 (wasd).
 
I use the numpad [8 is up, 5 is back, 6 is right, 4 is left]..I can't play with WASD, I need my hands to be close together when playing mouse+keyboard games, having them spread so far apart is awkward and makes me clumsy. The downside is there are fewer keys on the numpad for games that have many functions, but that can be somewhat offset by buying a mouse that has many programmable buttons. My G9x kinda falls in the middle in terms of extra button numbers, but I love the sensor so much. Like for instance, I don't really have a knife bind, since all my buttons are used, in cs:s, so like when shooting at someone and we both run out of ammo I tend to get knifed, but I do much better than average the rest of the time.
 
When I first started playing PC games(back in the Doom/ Duke days), I used the arrow keys since I didn't have a mouse and it much easier to navigate with my right hand, and perform actions with my left hand. Now that most games use the mouse to do actions it gets a bit awkward to try and use the arrows with my left hand.
 
GJSNeptune said:
So you re-map all your keys to keys near the arrows? What do you use for reload, action, etc.?
Click to expand...

Normally it goes like this:

Action = Enter
Crouch = Shift
Jump = Ctrl
Weapons = Insert/Del/Home/End/Page Up/Down, and occasionally it goes over to Num 7.
Melee = Num 1
Reload = Num 0

It's pretty bad when my gf comes over and plays CoD or CS:S. She uses WASD, so if we take turns I get to remap everything. Such a pain.
 
I remember playing some games that were two player. WASD was player 1, arrows were player 2. Two people trying to play on the same keyboard was interesting
 
Who the heck uses the arrow keys for serious gaming?

O, oops, nm :p

Yes, WASD here. Makes it easier for more keys around it (crouch, run, reload, etc.)
 
Grentz said:
Who the heck uses the arrow keys for serious gaming?

O, oops, nm :p

Yes, WASD here. Makes it easier for more keys around it (crouch, run, reload, etc.)
Click to expand...

I'm actually glad I'm the only one so far. :D

It kinda confirms my suspicions that I'm nuts.
 
I used arrows for years and did pretty well in CS, but then one day I just said fuck it and forced myself to use WASD

I've never looked back.

Arrows can be fine if you are smart about how you map out your keybindings

but generally, it's more hassle and less ergonomical than using WASD
 
WASD, man. It's the only way to roll (if you're right-handed, anyway).
 
phide said:
WASD, man. It's the only way to roll (if you're right-handed, anyway).
Click to expand...

hell, I'm left handed and still use WASD. It's actually easier since I'm more coordinated with my left hand. and all my right hand has to do is click big ass buttons.
 
I actually use WADX, with X for back instead. It is a more relaxed position for my hand where my thumb isn't reaching up for S all the time. I use S for reloading instead, nice and close.

So yeah, an offshoot of WASD. :)
 
Serpico said:
I actually use WADX, with X for back instead. It is a more relaxed position for my hand where my thumb isn't reaching up for S all the time. I use S for reloading instead, nice and close.

So yeah, an offshoot of WASD. :)
Click to expand...

I'm trying to imagine why your thumb has any business near the S key. :D

<edit> LOL WASD goes up 2 votes every time I refresh. :)
 
Serpico said:
I actually use WADX, with X for back instead. It is a more relaxed position for my hand where my thumb isn't reaching up for S all the time. I use S for reloading instead, nice and close.

So yeah, an offshoot of WASD. :)
Click to expand...

Why would your thumb be the finger doing the back key? Most people use their middle finger for back and forward. You would never be running forward and back at the same time.
 
i used arrows a ton for tfc. bunnyhopping and crouching and the ridiculous movement speed made it almost a must. You can easily hit the wrong keys while trying to do the stuff in that game. Now that stuff doesnt really matter in games so i just use defaults.
 
I used the arrows keys back in the Medal of Honor days but then switched to WASD after realizing how many more keys are available to use
 
Arrow keys! WASD actually cramps me.

For BC2-
Enter = reload
RShift = sprint
RCtrl = crouch
Numpad 0 = jump
Numpad 1 = spot
Delete = grenade
End = primary
PgDown = secondary
Space = enter/use
\ = reload in MP
 
Born left-handed (though I write with my right hand, long story) and I use WASD.

BTW, the real pros use ESDF. :)
 
LeninGHOLA said:
I take so much shit from my homies for my setup, but it works for me. If I had shorter fingers, WASD would be fine.
Click to expand...

Hmm, wonder if the size of my hands had something to do with it. On the old Xbox 1, I was one of the few that actually liked the fatty controller, except for its black/white button placement.. My hand measures just under 8" from the bottom of my palm to the tip of my middle finger.
 
I am an arrows guy because those keys are usually segregated from the rest with three different banks of inputs on the left, right and top. I tried WASD but I kept incidentally pressing neighboring keys, and they actually feel really cramped.
 
I am an arrows guy because those keys are usually segregated from the rest with three different banks of inputs on the left, right and top. I tried WASD but I kept incidentally pressing neighboring keys, and they actually feel really cramped.
Click to expand...
What do you use for things like reload in FPS'?
 
SPARTAN VI said:
Hmm, wonder if the size of my hands had something to do with it. On the old Xbox 1, I was one of the few that actually liked the fatty controller, except for its black/white button placement.. My hand measures just under 8" from the bottom of my palm to the tip of my middle finger.
Click to expand...

I feel kinda dirty saying it, but yea just over an 8" handspan, palm to fingertip. The fatty xbox controllers were fine for me too, while the PS2 controller was crampingly small.
 
I used to use the arrow keys from the ol' Doom 2 days. Now I use the general default WASD for movement. It makes more sense to have your hands balanced out versus shifted to the right. It's also quicker access to different weapons, jump, crouch, etc. More buttons to press, literally at the tip of your fingers.

It might make more sense for left handers to use the arrow keys though, but I'd rather just map everything to the right side of the typewriter keys (PL;' or something).
 
Spare-Flair said:
Why would your thumb be the finger doing the back key? Most people use their middle finger for back and forward. You would never be running forward and back at the same time.
Click to expand...

Because I don't want to move my middle finger from the forward key, I like keeping it in one place. Preferable for me to alternate it between W and X than it is to slide the same finger between W and S.
 
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