Why the WASD keys?

[CodeMonkey]

Why do all FPS's use WASD? Shouldn't it be ESDF? That's where your hands rest naturally when they are on the home keys; this has always mystified me.

[TestType]

Home keys? Have no idea what you're on about.
I guess what makes WASD better than something like ESDF or even RDFG is having tab, shift, ctrl and even alt in a comfortable reach, as well as overall finding your way to the buttons. It's much easier to find WASD without looking at your keyboard than anything else, for the others you'd always have to look if your fingers are in the right place or not.

[Kill the BDs]

I personally like WASD, its handily

since there is used e/f for special actions or for opening something etc, ESDF wouldnt be that nice

WASD is better, E=special action next to the w, F=sometimes special action too next to the D, R=reload, next to the w and WASD is near the escape button, so you can quit the game fast if you die 1723982173 times hAISUdhiuh

[Kill the BDs]

and this what TestType said of course :)

[gains]

I miss Crusader: No Remorse. I could play that entire game with one hand on the number pad.

Hmmmm . . . Is that installation CD still in my portfolio?

[MF9000]

Why do all FPS's use WASD? Shouldn't it be ESDF? That's where your hands rest naturally when they are on the home keys; this has always mystified me.

If you don't like the set up, then remap the keys to something you do like. Most, if not all, FPS games give you the choice of remapping the keys.

[CodeMonkey]

Home keys? Have no idea what you're on about.

In touch typing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_typing)the home keys are where your fingers rest on the keyboard when you aren't typing, ASDF and JKL:



"Home row" is a term that refers to the center row of alphabetical letters on a typewriter or computer keyboard. On the most common type of English language keyboard, the QWERTY layout, "a s d f g h j k l ; '" represents the contents of the home row.

This row of the keyboard is termed "home row" because typists are trained to begin typing by placing their fingers on this row and then reaching for whichever keys they wish to type that are not on the home row. Afterwards, they return their fingers to their original positions on the home row.




It's much easier to find WASD without looking at your keyboard than anything else, for the others you'd always have to look if your fingers are in the right place or not.

I must respectfully disagree. Look at the F and J keys on your keyboard, they probably have little bumps on them, that is so you can easily find them without looking at your keyboard. It is MUCH easier to find the ASDF keys without looking because of those bumps. Granted some keyboard have bumps on D and K but those are very, very rare.

From your reply I'll have to assume you have never taken a typing class. Nothing wrong with that, just making an observation and it leads me to believe that maybe the "inventor" of WASD couldn't type either. I think that's a reasonable guess as to why we are forced to use the "wrong" keys and I have to constantly remap my keys in every game to the "correct" keys.

The pity is now it has forced every kid that plays an FPS game to put their hands in the wrong position thus creating a whole generation of people that have to unlearn a bad habit if they wish to learn to type in some fashion other than hunt and peck.

[CodeMonkey]

If you don't like the set up, then remap the keys to something you do like. Most, if not all, FPS games give you the choice of remapping the keys.

Thanks, I'm fully aware of that. I'm not asking how to remap keys, I'm asking why they use the WASD keys to begin with.

[CodeMonkey]

since there is used e/f for special actions or for opening something etc, ESDF wouldnt be that nice

Sure it would, pick your hand up, move it over one space, now you have R and G for doing what you used E/F for. Plus you have the bonus feature of being able to find where your fingers go in the dark because of the little bumps on F and J.

[blaydes99]

The most important reason for using WASD was that it allowed you to use the SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT buttons simulateously while you play. Since most keyboards only allow 3 key inputs at a time, you could extend that to a virtual 4/5/6 key inputs by using the special keys in tandem.

The first game that came with the WASD setup as a default configuration(also using ALT, SHift, CTRL, F, R, E, Q, etc) in my memory was Half-Life. If you remember, in order to do "super-jumps", you had to run (hold SHIFT or autorun), then press CTRL (duck) at the last second, release CTRL, then press JUMP (SPACE) and you jump extra far.

Try doing all this on ESDF - feels really unnatural. You can't reach the special keys without moving your hand or fingers off of the WASD. So, WASD is the winner.

[lilwyvern4]

I'm left-handed, so I have to use the arrow keys to move, right shift to jump, right control to duck, delete and page down for leaning, end to reload and 1 and 0 for running and walking.

You think you have it bad, you don't have to reach to hit half of your buttons! Not only that, but about 1/3 of all games recognize left and right shift, control and alt as the same button, so only left works and I really get screwed over!

[CodeMonkey]

The most important reason for using WASD was that it allowed you to use the SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT buttons simulateously...
Try doing all this on ESDF - feels really unnatural. You can't reach the special keys without moving your hand or fingers off of the WASD. So, WASD is the winner.

Ah, now that makes sense.

[gains]

I should retrain myself to use a key setup that prevents accidentally hitting the Windows key.

[Vanrick]

That button is f***ing annoying!!!! :mad:

[gains]

That button is f***ing annoying!!!! :mad:

So, Y-G-H-J anyone? Pinkie resting on the C and thumb over Space and R-Alt.

[Vanrick]

as oddly as it sounds, that might work.. ;)

[Mr.Bubblez]

Why do all FPS's use WASD? Shouldn't it be ESDF? That's where your hands rest naturally when they are on the home keys; this has always mystified me.

you can totally customize the key bindings if thats how you want it.

wasd is better for me because its at the edge of the keyboard and thus easier to find the button placement when im not looking. also it puts your left hand in an optimal position to hit the shift key etc. and the space bar. and finally all the cool kids are doing it ;)

[lurchibald]

I should retrain myself to use a key setup that prevents accidentally hitting the Windows key.

heres an idea..... remove it, no more problems;)

[gains]

I'm one of those weirdos who actually uses it.

Here's some nice examples. (http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/more-windows-keyboard-shortcuts-038151.php)

[lurchibald]

I'm one of those weirdos who actually uses it.

Here's some nice examples. (http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/more-windows-keyboard-shortcuts-038151.php)

you do have two of them right? just remove the one near the wasd keys

[MultiVaC]

You can actually remove the functionality of the Windows key in the registry. I used this file: http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_windows_key/

It worked for me, but use at your own risk.

[v.dog]

I'm left-handed, so I have to use the arrow keys to move, right shift to jump, right control to duck, delete and page down for leaning, end to reload and 1 and 0 for running and walking.I'm left handed too, but I've just learnt to use WASD and mouse with my right hand. Comes from years of playing with other people's setups
That button is f***ing annoying!!!! :mad:I used Keytweak (http://www.tucows.com/preview/327616) to remap it to something else, as I was always hitting it by accident when playing KOTOR. I also remapped Caps Lock as that key also annoys me no end.