The art of keyboard CONTROLS

[Eric is God]

This is the most natural way to do it assuming you have a normal keyboard and normal sized hands:

left hand for WB:
ring finger - ctrl (bullets)
middle finger - shift (thrust)
index finger - alt (map)

left hand for Jav:
thumb - ctrl (bullets)
index finger - shift (thrust)
middle finger - tab (bombs)

right hand:
arrow keys not number pad
index finger - left arrow
middle finger - up and down arrows
ring finger - right arrow
pinky finger - 0/ins (warping)

This set up makes for the fastest reacation time since every finger but one is set up so all you have to do is press down. Only your right middle finger has to move half an inch to switch between the up and down arrow keys. Now of course people have their own preference because of different keyboards, finger lengths, or just what they are used to. Ive never tried a gamepad for SS so im not sure if they are better or worse, but i know that this is the best set-up performance wise that ive found.

[Mobey]

lies.

[Melufa]

My setup schoolz.

[geekbot]

I play on a laptop as well as a standard keyboard so I get confused if I have to reach for Ins, F7, etc.

LEFT
Thumb - Ctrl, Alt
Index - Shift, a (attach), z (warp)
Middle - Tab, q (burst)

RIGHT - arrows

If I played Jav more, I'd move F3 to ` or 1.

Anyone else get sore forearms from playing? I usually have to angle my keyboard so it's easier on my left hand. I think I'm going to get stinkin carpal tunnel syndrome...

[Fit of Rage]

Right hand:

Up/Down Arrow- Middle Finger
Left Arrow- Index Finger
Right Arrow- Ring Finger
Pinky- Insert or free

Left hand:

Ctrl- Thumb
Left Shift- Index Finger
Tab- Middle Finger

Everything else I scramble around for.

[x.X.x]

Keyboard is old skool and cool but I am neither

[Mythrandir]

Originally posted by Eric is God
This set up makes for the fastest reacation time since every finger but one is set up so all you have to do is press down. Only your right middle finger has to move half an inch to switch between the up and down arrow keys. Now of course people have their own preference because of different keyboards, finger lengths, or just what they are used to. Ive never tried a gamepad for SS so im not sure if they are better or worse, but i know that this is the best set-up performance wise that ive found.

That's exactly what I did, for every key I might have to press, my finger is on it. And that includes UP and DOWN (forward/backward) buttons.

It still surprises me nobody else has it....

[Sleepy Weasel]

The amount of people that use their thumbs to shoot scares me. I use the same setup as Miku does, I'm surprised how few of us do it, it's the natural way to play if you grew up in first person shooters and need to make use of all your fingers.

right hand
arrow keys
pinky on 0 for warp

left hand:
pinky on ctrl
ring on shift
middle on tab (for javs, middle just rests naturally on z for wb)

[Yoshiba]

left hand
-penis

right hand
-lotion

[Cylor]

Dueling Ships:

Left Ctrl (shoot bullet) - Thumb
Left Shift (thrust) - Forefinger
Left Alt (map) - Move thumb from rested position on Ctrl

Javelin:

Left Ctrl (shoot bullet) - Thumb
Left Shift (thrust) - Forefinger
Tab (shoot bomb) - Move forefinger from rested position on Shift

[WiseCherub]

I do this.... again similar for FPS...

Right hand:

Middle finger: for both Fordward/Reverse Thrust) (up/down arrow)
Pinky: Warp Insert
Index: Left arrow
Ring: Right arrow

Left hand:

Thumb: Control (Fire)
Middle finger: Shift (Afterburners)


I think finger placement is irrelevent, as long as you use two hands..heh.. Like some people type with 1 finger..heh.. I can type 60 wpm, all comes to proper hand placement.

In games like Subspace, I think other factors are more important.

Able to predict what a little blip is upto on Radar Screen.

Strategy (Creativity, effective/efficient kill methods) and Team cooperation.

Fast hand/eye coordination (reflexes)
Able to quickly watch RADAR, and Playfield screen almost simultanaeously.

Comes down to how fast your brain can reason. I've noticed some players can only concentrate on one foe.... whereas others can watch (like 4) foes at once... This greatly helps if you are out #'ed.....

Sometimes Players only look in front of their ship, and disregard a sneaker upper... I wonder if some people have eyes only in front of their ship..heh..

[Jeansi]

Originally posted by Sleepy Weasel
The amount of people that use their thumbs to shoot scares me. I use the same setup as Miku does, I'm surprised how few of us do it, it's the natural way to play if you grew up in first person shooters and need to make use of all your fingers.

So it's a good way to do it but my pinky gets tired of it and starts moving on it's own. the thumb is IMO the best controlled finger in everyones hand together with the indexfinger so I use them for the keys that require alot of timing. And what do you have assigned for WSAD QEFR then? those are the main reasons why you have your pinky on crtl in FPS games. at least I like to keep them available for writing.

Strange how many variations ppl use, and say that they are the only right ones. "most natural" is the on you are used to and I tried some that you posted and they all just suck.

And I still cannot understand that noone use thumb for both thrust and bullets.

[Mattey]

Right Hand:

Arrows


Left Hand:

Index finger: Right Ctrl
Ring pinky and Middle Fingers: Right Shift



I play a ton of warbird, so that's how I play it.

Shark and Jav I have:

Right Hand:

Arrows


Left hand:

Middle finger: Left Ctrl
Ring finger: Left Shift
Pinky: Left tab




When attaching as shark, I hit F7 with my left hand and move my right index finger and thumb to right control.

[bloodzombie]

I only use my middle finger

[Troll King]

Hmm... I wonder if there is any kind of correlation between being left-handed and your control style. One might be more used to using their fingers on their strong hand more than the other.