WASD

Well, for want of a better place to put it...why do developers use WASD? The arrow keys make more sense since the majority of people are right handed. (Sorry, lefties. )

Gil.

There are some explanations here that may help.

I suppose it sounded logical to them. Maybe it is if you play with the keys and a mouse. I can't say I ever have and I probably won't since my left hand is purely for decoration. Well, it does back up the right from time to time.

And people complain about having to use the arrow keys or NumPad in Grim. Go figure.

Gil.

When I started doing a lot of keyboarding at work, I learned that moving the mouse to the left of the keyboard was actually more ergonomic, whether you're left or right-handed. With the mouse on the right, you're reaching over the NumPad to use the mouse; that stretch is enough to throw your right arm out of alignment. Putting the mouse on the left places it closer to the main typing keys. (You can also buy a keyboard with the NumPad on the left and keep the mouse on the right--serves the same purpose.)

So, even though I'm right-handed, I mouse with my left. Which means in games, if possible ... I remap the WASD keys to the arrows or other keys on the right so my arms are more comfortably aligned.

I've tried to use the mouse on the left side with little sucess. I did use it once successfully though in a Tomb Raider game when Lora was on a motorcycle and I needed to shoot continously while using the arrow keys to drive.

Thanks, Ana

I guess WoW has taught me to WASD and not think about it.

Whilst I prefer "Mouse only" control I have got used to the WASD/Mouse combination because it's been required in so many RPGs.
[Well, the ones I've played, anyway ]

Several other methods have been tried over the years and I have managed them (although some definitely warranted practise ) but I think Mouse only or WASD/Mouse have proved to be the best for me

Me too. But the older I get, the less expert I am at using EITHER hand! Some RPG games can get real complicated with combat keys. I tend to avoid those. It's nice to get back to an adventure game now and then, enjoy the story, point-n-click in peace.

It's tough on me ..being left handed I have my mouse on the left.. if I then try and use the wasd keys it is very uncomfortable. I like it when they give you the option to change the keys.... I always move them to the arrow keys.

Wow! You're more talented than I am! Shooting AND driving.

It took me awhile to get used to mousing with my left hand. But it's turned out good really since I can now use my right hand for those more intricate keyboard moves: forward, back, hit, access, jump, etc. Of course, with an adventure game, it's not such a big deal using a mouse, left or right hand, for me, because most of the time, movement is relaxed.

Just out of curiosity, lanlynk, how did you train your left hand? Did you just bumble through or was there something you did that helped you?

Gil.

My PC seems to be automatically set up so that I can use either the WASD or arrow keys! I like using the arrow keys better as they are isolated & there aren't any other distractive things around them like other letters as with the WASD keys! If I have to use the mouse at the same time I just move my keyboard further to the left & the mouse further to the right!

Just bumbled, I guess. Although, this wasn't the first time I've used my left hand for what I normally use my right hand for. I think taking typing classes and piano lessons probably helped train both hands. And in cooking and other work activities (vacuuming, for example), I tend to consciously switch hands to balance muscle strain.

Also, years ago, when I was exploring right brain/left brain theories, I practiced using my left hand to sketch and to write in my journal. Those activities were suppose to help bypass logical thought processes and encourage the intuitive, creative mind. Not sure how those experiments helped. I did come up with some wild drawings and sloppy journal entries though.

Lol! I just tried switching hands with the mouse and I found that I couldn't even remember what the buttons were for unless I concentrated! Sort of like touch typing, I guess - touch mousing. If you have to think, you don't do very well.

I ended up bouncing through the topics on this site when I was trying to use Opera gestures. Whoee! I'm confused enough without that!

Gil.

What works best depends on the game.
Though I like point-and-click, it doesn't work well with some games that use real-time 3D engines.
I don't like to click-and-drag the mouse. It feels clumsy.
I prefer WASD (or WASD with mouse) to click-and-drag.
Games should allow you to map the keyboard to use either WASD or arrow keys (for those that prefer them).

Now that's the way I felt when I tried to use a roller ball mouse. Ever try one of those? Even when I slowed the ball movement down, I couldn't get used to it ... and too impatient at this point to learn!

I'm the same way with a controller. I've never played console games, so I'm just not used to using one. It's pretty pitiful when your 3 yr old grandson says, "No, no, Nama. You do it like this!"

I can't use console controls At ALL. I am absolutely pathetic with them

And, as for my mouse ?? I still use the very ancient "Microsoft Scroll Mouse" that I've been using since 1998.
[I've got two brand new, unopened, identical "spares" as well in my computer cupboard !! ]

I have tried many different modern mouse types but they all feel big and clumsy to me.

I love my old mouse

I use the Stealth Gaming Keyboard which has solved my problem with the keys and makes it so much easier for me to navigate all the keys of the RPG games.

I also have a Logitech Marble Trackball where I move the pointer with my thumb and have the right and left mouse buttons to the right of the marble ball which makes it so much easier for me. Going back to the standard mouse is no longer an option for me. Since I've started using the marble mouse, I'm hooked. Although I'll grant you it takes some getting used to but once you track you'll never go back.

My brain is wired totally to right hand mouse and left hand my CyberSnipa game keyboard. What's nice about the CyberSnipa is that you can use it either left or right handed. I find the WASD keys on the keyboard to be awkward because you can angle the CyberSnipa a bit to fit your normal hand position which they say is at a 10° angle.

Maybe it's because I only play adventure games, but I find the WASD awkward and prefer the arrow keys. I still generally use my left hand for the arrow keys and my right for the mouse, but it's just an easier position for me. Probably the fact that I have an ergonomic keyboard also has something to do with it. So whenever there is an option - which is most of the time, even though the game may not always tell the player that - I will use the arrow keys instead of the WASD.

Traveler I know what you mean! Mad I'm also still using my old scroll ball mouse.