Do you like using arrow keys or WASD for movement in a keyboard only game? If you use WASD for movement, where on the keyboard do you put controls for other aspects of your game?
What keyboard config do you prefer?
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Currently using for my game WASD for movement and J, K for main commands (Accept and Cancel respectively). Other (unused) commands I mapped 'em to be Q, E, L and N.
Using RMVX Ace.
P.S: Arrows + Z and X I've never liked :( -
I prefer arrow keys for movement. I use WASD only when it's combined with mouse input.
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In mv I prefer arrow keys. And since I'm right handed, as long as the rest of the controls are placed sensibly, I don't care if it's at jkloiu or qweasd.
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If its a game completely keyboard controlled, I prefer arrow key movement.. I kinda like wasd only when its "left hand WASD, right hand Mouse" which is mostly for shooter games or hack and slash games. Plus maybe I got too used to playing RM games since XP times :)
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Arrow keys! If your game only uses WASD, I just won't play it. I find it too difficult to use on my country's keyboard layout (AZERTY). WASD on my keyboard is the equivalent of QWERTY users having to use ZQSD.
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Arrow keys. I find WASD awkward, and if they have to be combined with a mouse then it's impossible, as I use a left-handed mouse. Though given a choice between mouse and keyboard I go for keyboard every time.
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@Kes are u left handed person?
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I never like WASD setups (even where it's not used for movement). I can't comfortably keep fingers on all four WASD keys at once, meaning that I have to shift at least one finger up and down, and when that happens, I always lose track of where my fingers are on the keyboard and I end up hitting the wrong buttons to make my character do stuff. I hate it!
Where it's necessary to use four keys for movement plus at least four other keys for actions, I use the Arrow keys for movement (with no other buttons nearby, it's easy to keep my fingers in the right place), and I tend to use ASDF or ZXCV (in general I find it more comfortable to keep my fingers low on the keyboard), and I use Spacebar (which is nice and big) for the most crucial actions like Jump or Attack. If the game requires movement keys, action keys, AND a mouse, then I find the game to be completely unplayable unless I can hook up my gamepad and play using that.
However, when designing games, I try really hard to limit the number of buttons that will be needed. In timeblazer, for instance, all 28 action games can be played using only the Arrow keys and the Spacebar. (Combat adds one extra button, Shift, but it's turn-based so there's less need for controls to feel completely second-nature.) There are a few other functions like pausing the game or bringing up the instructions overlay during play that require other keys, but none are essential to normal play. The goal is to keep the player's focus entirely on the onscreen action, rather than losing their immersion by forcing them to think about what buttons they are hitting. -
Arrow keys, but I prefer to use Enter/Esc rather than Z/X.
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I'm fine with both WASD and arrow key movement, but I think that I have a minor preference towards WASD - mostly because I've seen (and used) laptops with abysmally small arrow keys. I'd definitely not like to play anything with these:
On the other hand, I can understand why the general preference leans towards the other direction, given that QWERTY isn't the only layout available (and that there are many other valid reasons for not liking it). The best option in my opinion is thus to allow the player to configure the keys.Spoiler
As for the secondary keys, I'm fine with whatever is logical. Enter, Esc, Spacebar etc. is quite a good solution because they are easy to recognize, but I can work with ZXC too since they are on the same row. Numpad, though? Ehh. Not all keyboards even have a numpad, so I'd avoid that one. -
Arrow keys and Z/X is my personal config. I'll only use WASD if the game has mouse support as well.
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Well in RM, controller support exists so I'm always going to use that over the keyboard, but if I had to choose, then I'd say arrow keys. Back when I did flash games, arrow key movement was usually supplemented with ZXCV for controls, but really any keys along the left side works well, even 12345. HOWEVER, if you're going to emphasize keyboard use, it's best to offer keyboard mapping so that people using keyboard layouts other than what you're basing your controls around can still play your game sensibly.
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Gamepad, assuming this is a typical RM game