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How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

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Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#21

Post by Lammy »

> His answer could be most readily found in Thresh’s Quake Bible, which describes the WASD formation as an “inverted T.”

This is IBM terminology. “Inverted T” was the name for the arrow key arrangement on ThinkPads (1992) later adopted by the Apple world after the IBM-designed Powerbook 2400c (1997) made their layout the new standard for all subsequent Powerbooks/iBooks/Macbooks.

It wouldn't surprise me if the term dates all the way back to 1984 with the Model M keyboard, but I can't find any reference for that (checked Bitsavers etc) besides You Can Tell By The Way It Is versus the earlier arrow-less Model F keyboard.

Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#22

Post by justin66 »

jameskilton wrote: post #3

Yet ESDF is objectively better because it frees up Q, A, Z, and W to easily be used for other keybinds. The number of people I've seen stretch their pinky down to Left-CTRL for crouch boggles my mind. With ESDF, crouch is A! Yes, this is a very tiny hill on which to die on, but it's my hill!

> objectively better

There actually was a time when computer scientists at Atari studied user interface stuff with game performance in mind. All that ended years before WASD, but it’s worth pointing out that WASD came about as part of a competitive process. It’s not like anyone’s being forced to use something that doesn’t work for them (except on consoles).

> stretch their pinky down to Left-CTRL for crouch boggles my mind. With ESDF, crouch is A!

Because those are the only two conceivable choices…

Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#24

Post by orangea »

jameskilton wrote: post #3

Yet ESDF is objectively better because it frees up Q, A, Z, and W to easily be used for other keybinds. The number of people I've seen stretch their pinky down to Left-CTRL for crouch boggles my mind. With ESDF, crouch is A! Yes, this is a very tiny hill on which to die on, but it's my hill!

You could also just find a way to rebind caps lock, which would accomplish more or less the same thing.

Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#25

Post by orangea »

imp0cat wrote: post #7
jameskilton wrote: post #3

Yet ESDF is objectively better because it frees up Q, A, Z, and W to easily be used for other keybinds. The number of people I've seen stretch their pinky down to Left-CTRL for crouch boggles my mind. With ESDF, crouch is A! Yes, this is a very tiny hill on which to die on, but it's my hill!

So what exactly do you need the QAZW for? With WASD you still have TAB, CAPS, tilde and SHIFT available. Also, crouch is Q, jump is E.

I suppose with ESDF you have the two keys Q and W where otherwise only tab would be.

Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#26

Post by lupusreal »

imp0cat wrote: post #7
jameskilton wrote: post #3

Yet ESDF is objectively better because it frees up Q, A, Z, and W to easily be used for other keybinds. The number of people I've seen stretch their pinky down to Left-CTRL for crouch boggles my mind. With ESDF, crouch is A! Yes, this is a very tiny hill on which to die on, but it's my hill!

So what exactly do you need the QAZW for? With WASD you still have TAB, CAPS, tilde and SHIFT available. Also, crouch is Q, jump is E.

Crouching and jumping are usually performed in combination with movement. How do you press Q or E while also using WASD freely?

Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#28

Post by orangea »

throw7 wrote: post #17
pimlottc wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ESDF is also more natural to touch-typers as it’s basically the same as the left hand “home position” of ASDF. And it’s easy to locate without looking, since the F key usually has a raised marker on most keyboards.

I touch type, but I've always felt WASD more "natural" or comfortable for gaming. I've tried ESDF but can't get used to it... For me I think it really is that the edge of the keyboard helps anchor and give a solid reference for where the hand is and those keys at the edge will be easily hittable by everyone. Also, a lot of times my pinky awkwardly rests inbetween the shift & z.

On the other hand, the F key has a bump on it on every keyboard I've recently come into contact with, which could provide an anchor.

Re: How WASD became the standard PC control scheme (2016)

#29

Post by grayrest »

jameskilton wrote: post #3

Yet ESDF is objectively better because it frees up Q, A, Z, and W to easily be used for other keybinds. The number of people I've seen stretch their pinky down to Left-CTRL for crouch boggles my mind. With ESDF, crouch is A! Yes, this is a very tiny hill on which to die on, but it's my hill!

As an EDSF gamer (blame Tribes) I agree but I've run into issues with (IIRC) E, Shift, and Space on keyboards that aren't n-key rollover but it's been over a decade since I last owned one. So I think that's the reason for WASD.

FWIW, A is dodge for me and V is crouch.

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