WASD or Arrow keys?

[Computer Hope Admin]

Just curious when gaming on the computer do you guys use the WASD or arrow keys, and why?

[Computer Hope Admin]

Personally I use the arrow keys. Why? Just like the down arrow to be directly under the up arrow, of course that is when the keyboard actually has the down arrow below the up arrow. Some keyboards don't. Also I use the Nostromo N52, now so technically could of voted for other.

[Calum]

WASD all the way.
It's closer to other keys like R for reload, E for enter, Q for chat maybe, and so on.

[homer]

WASD, because of what calum said and because it is more comfortable. WASD and my mouse are shoulder width apart so it feels natural, using the arrow keys, however, makes my left hand reach over all the way across my chest so its very uncomfortable.

[Deerpark]

WASD for the same reasons as Calum and Homer.

[fpsmitch]

wasd because all of the buttons are right there...
the same as calum and homer 

[squall_01]

I consider that WASD harder to use cause you cant use the mouse as easyly if you need it.

[homer]

I consider that WASD harder to use cause you cant use the mouse as easyly if you need it.

  is your mouse on your left hand side?

[Aegis]

It depends.

I voted "arrow keys" because I prefer them, but if I have to use the mouse at the same time, I use the WASD keys.  I are old school -- I've decided I like gaming on the PC better than on the gaming consoles like PlayStation.

[squall_01]

I consider that WASD harder to use cause you cant use the mouse as easyly if you need it.

  is your mouse on your left hand side?

Right, Im some what optical handed but I was never trained with my left even thought I was.

[macdad-]

i like using a game controller. i used a SNES controller and connected it to my LPT port for gaming.

[Kurtiskain]

WSAD! Arrow keys..too close to the mouse and is uncomfortable, plus too far away from the other keys like Calum said 

[michaewlewis]

I voted for the orange monkey.
The only gaming I really do is Mario RPG on zsnes.... and I've never bothered to change the default arrow keys with cvdfer for the action buttons.

Right, Im some what optical handed but I was never trained with my left even thought I was.

What is optical handed?

[squall_01]

being able to use both your left an right hands for tasks. 

[michaewlewis]

oh, you mean ambidextrous?

[squall_01]

yeah, dont use the word much tendence to forgot after I dont use them for so long.

[leesablade]

depending on the game, but i normally prefer to use arrow keys

[lobster_man]

WASD ftw ^^

[squall_01]

You can have more problems with the w,s,a,d then the arrows but its easier to pull out stuff.  But if your plaing like a spy game well you probably end up getting caught a whole. 

[macdad-]

yea but if u hve a game that requires u to operate multiple keys similtaneously then it would be best to get a game pad. i can tell u that when i hooked up my SNES controller to my comp, and started playing Super Mario World, it became a blessing.

[squall_01]

True I suppose but you can change them to make it easier usually.

[quaxo]

I use a ZBoard. I have 8 keysets for the USB model. The one in the picture below, Battlefield II, the standard keyset, World of Warcraft, World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (different keys from the original WoW keyset), the Crossfire keyset (the original gaming keyset distributed with PS/2 models, similar to the one in the picture with a slightly different key config on the left), and the Microsoft Office keyset. I also have the Everquest 2 keyset which I have never used since I don't own EQ2, but the keyset came free.

Using the ZEngine program, you can customize any of the keys to perform any other function if desired (great for remapping keys that can't be remapped) or setup a macro.

[mcxeb52!]

wish i was ambidextrous so that i could use the arrows or the WASD whenever I felt like it.

[squall_01]

I like to use a combo joystick an keyboard, make him walk with one use the other for artillery

[macdad-]

most importantly, if ever single game in the world would allow you to switch between arrow keys, joystick, gamepad, or WASD keys then we all probably wouldnt post comments on this form .(not being rude)

[sjn2009]

I've always preferred WASD in FPS games. However when i started playing Grand Chase and World of Warcraft I found myself using Arrow keys than configuring all the keys around me including num pad to make it all easier. It's become a bit of a habit for me although I cant play FPS that style... Just too hard

[macdad-]

except then when u want to type in nums when chatting on world of war craft then u would have to switch on the num lock every single time.

[mcxeb52!]

for FPS like battlefield or ocunterstrike, using the arrow keys would be like committing suicide. WASD all the way!!

[quaxo]

for FPS like battlefield or ocunterstrike, using the arrow keys would be like committing suicide. WASD all the way!!

Well, one very important thing to keep in mind is some people use a mouse with their left hand. I can actually do both: mouse left and arrow keys right -OR- mouse right and WASD left. Even though I can, I typically don't, given the keyboard I use (ZBoard, see my previous post in this thread).

But, on a normal keyboard, trying to use WASD and a left hand mouse is like trying to use the arrow keys with a right handed mouse... either way it's very awkward.

[homer]

for FPS like battlefield or ocunterstrike, using the arrow keys would be like committing suicide. WASD all the way!!

i actually use the arrows when i am flying in battlefield 2 and 2142. i find it alot easier then the mouse, especially when making extremely sharp turns or dives.

[quaxo]

i actually use the arrows when i am flying in battlefield 2 and 2142. i find it alot easier then the mouse, especially when making extremely sharp turns or dives.

I've got a joystick with rudder control I use for that.  You should see me fly a helicopter in BF2. I can fly through buildings, under bridges, and lots of other fun things. Scares the crap out of my passengers, but I'm good enough with it that I never crash anymore.

[Eg0Death]

WASD since the days of Wolfenstein 3D!

[Blink]

wasd for sure. easier to hit other keys quickly when your in a game the requires you to hits lot of buttons at the same time (most games these days).

[NOT ADMIN :P]

i actually use the arrows when i am flying in battlefield 2 and 2142. i find it alot easier then the mouse, especially when making extremely sharp turns or dives.

I've got a joystick with rudder control I use for that.  You should see me fly a helicopter in BF2. I can fly through buildings, under bridges, and lots of other fun things. Scares the crap out of my passengers, but I'm good enough with it that I never crash anymore.

I hope you still use the wsad keys to strafe and boost the chopper/jets

because reaching for the f2 button would be a bit awkward from the arrow keys.

Are you any good at solo TVing opponents?

Would be hard going from arrows to mouse and directing the missile in a split second

impresive if you can do it though

[Incidious]

WASD all the way.
It's closer to other keys like R for reload, E for enter, Q for chat maybe, and so on.

Indeed the way to go.  You loose that fraction of a second that is much needed when trying to stretch your finger from the arrow keys over the "gap of death" to the neighboring keys.  That fraction of a second could cost you your life.

Timing is everything...

[macdad-]

Timing is everything...

I agree, espicially when ur playin Halo, as a sniper, u must have execellent timining to nail a moving oppenent.

[squall_01]

I use the arrow keys to do that too the only problem isnt getting the rifle out its missing.  But im a fairlly good sniper.

[BC_Programmer]

I'm a strange one as far as config goes- I have no idea when but at some point I was playing an FPS with just a keyboard. Then I switched to a mouse & keyboard and for some reason chose not WSAD but rather EDSF. I believe the game with Duke Nukem 3d and for some reason I wanted to use A to jump. So Now I can either change my configurations in all my games from EDSF or just configure new games I get for my config. Since I have to tinker with the controls anyway, I go with the latter.

Which presents a problem with N64 emulation- I have to reconfigure it to use my good ol' FPS keys- but then it just feels wrong.

I use the arrow keys to do that too the only problem isnt getting the rifle out its missing.  But im a fairlly good sniper.

Are you saying you use the keyboard to snipe! Wow- when I was using just the keyboard I always had problems with accuracy- especially when no matter how short you hold the key down it jumps to the other side of the target!

I guess it lowers the sensitivity in newer games though, so it wouldn't be as hard.

[squall_01]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I use the mouse as the trigger but I need the board to bring the scope up. 

[Igor_Munster]

I'm right handed.  WASD for left...mouse for right.  Using WASD put the keyboard right in front of me for use of the other keys while gaming (G-15 keyboard has a lot of stuff)  If I used the arrows, most of the keyboard would be off to my left.  Sometimes I use my Nostromo but not often anymore since I got the G15.

[reaper_tbs]

I'm right handed.  WASD for left...mouse for right.  Using WASD put the keyboard right in front of me for use of the other keys while gaming (G-15 keyboard has a lot of stuff)  If I used the arrows, most of the keyboard would be off to my left.  Sometimes I use my Nostromo but not often anymore since I got the G15.

Same here. Same keyboard and configuration.