About half of the world plays WASD+Mouse, the other half plays with Arrow Keys + Mouse. The only way the Arrow Keys + Mouse players can play a game like this is if they use the Arrow Keys for movement and the mouse axis for looking around. The keys around the Arrow Keys need to be fully bindable for play also. The most pivotal keys for binding are the Right Ctrl, and Right Shift (which are often the jump and run).
I don't use WASD. I don't because I'm chronically left-handed. Using the mouse with my right is a disaster in the making. In other games, I've remapped the numeric keypad. For EGS, I opted for a gaming mini-keyboard. Most are basically the left half of a keyboard. They are relatively inexpensive, require no software download, and just plug-n-play. The downside is any remapping is reflected on the main keyboard. Others are more expensive, but are fully programmable. The one I use is a Logitech G-13. It has an ambidextrous layout (except for a thumb-operated joystick, my pinkie is a poor substitute for a thumb). I've been using it for the past 4 years and I think it's one of the best available and at the time was reasonably priced. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be available anymore. Sorry. @Xermaxm , you didn't mention why you didn't use WASD. Unless you're a southpaw, using the Arrow Key s + Mouse seems a little awkward. But if you do it, I suppose it really isn't.
Although right-handed, I started playing FPS with arrow keys, then got a Zboard. Soon moved up to a Merc Stealth and am still on it 15 years later... IMHO, best gaming keyboard ever, and practically criminal for Steel Series to cancel it. Will probably look for something like your G-13 when it dies
I never liked the WASD, I have always played with the arrow keys. Since the late 80's, and 10 inch floppy games.
I've never seen that one. If I had and could comfortably use the mouse in my right hand, I'd have gone for it. Looks sweet but no good for me. Like the Merc Stealth, the G13 appears to be no longer supported by Logitech with no apparent 2.0 version. When I thought I would have to replace it, someone was selling his for $375, $300 more than I paid for mine new! my keymapping for EGS is shown. I use the thumb stick for tight maneuvering.
I have both the Merc Stealth (upstairs on the big desktop) and the G-13 (with my laptop). The Merc Stealth is not sold and supported anymore, and that's too bad. Microsoft even pushed an update (which I removed) that disabled many 3rd party pieces of hardware a few years ago, but now it works with generic windows drivers. Only downside is that we can't make macros, but it's a really cool and ergonomic keyboard... As for the G13 I can't live without it now, and I customized it a bit so it's smaller to carry on a trip, I put 2 small screws through it to act as legs (for better inclination) and chopped a part. It also has a small foam pad so I can simply press that key (usually control) while still having my little finger on the key just above it (shift). I also "rubbed" a few keys to see more of the backlight... It's really a powerful tool with the software, as we can record macros and text, very flexible. I use it for work a lot. If buying a gaming keyboard is not an option, there are free programs that allow remapping standard keyboards. Here is one among others : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=22339 .
Keyboard has to be wireless, and no extra programs. If a game is not designed to support non-WASD players, then I cannot play that game.
ASDF player here. A = strafe left S = back D = forward F = strafe right WASD always bunched my fingers too much!
One can try a product like the ones on this page. A friend of mine made a complete, full-sized flight simulator with many of these... https://xkeys.com/xkeys/keys.html It's too bad the world doesn't care much for left-hand users, but that's the best I can offer. Most keys can be rebinded in Empyrion, but even Windows has "reserved keys" so it's not that uncommon that software has these reserved keys too for specific functions.
I can't say enough good things about the G-13. I was devastated when I inadvertently (and stupidly) uninstalled the gaming software. When I went to the Logitech site to re-download, it was only available in 32-bit and would not load on my system. I searched for alternate sources, but what I found didn;t make sense and led me to a German site that may or may not have held tha answer. I tried a couple of "similar" boards, but none of them could match the G-13. Then, like a gift from the gaming gods, the 64-bit software was on the site. Maybe that e-mail to Logitech worked? Even better, all my mapping had been saved and was ready to go! I know I'd feel better if Logitech would have kept G-13 in their stable and upgraded it to there G-Hub software. Then ALL my peripherals would be connected to the most current version. The only mod I wanted to make, other than moving the thumbstick, is to put a notch or bump on Key G4 so I could find by feel, like F & J on a regular keyboard.
Being a child of the 80s and started with Atari console, I can't conceive of playing games without a joystick...! I use a full HOTAS for Empyrion and I have everything assigned to something at the tip of my fingers! With JoyToKey I can change profile so that the pedals work like car pedals for the HV and rudders on ships. But best yet, is that I can configure every game to play with the same keys... Never have to worry! Although nothing beats proper support.
Many years ago I fell in love with their G-300 mouse, but it only was 10 million-clicks-proof tested (compared to 20 million clicks for most others at that time). So when my first G-300 "died" I bought another one, which died quickly too, and they were not sold anymore. So I refurbished my 1st one with pieces of bent steel plates (the "clicker" bumps were plastic and worn off), and it has been working flawlessly since then. It's a cool, light, fully programmable symetrical mouse (can flip left/right click for example) with good grip, which would be perfect for a left-hander: I just dig it's "terminator" looks and the exposed light and parts...
Once again we have the problem! While there are a number of joysticks suitable for lefties, AFIK, nobody makes a full HOTAS for us. Many years ago, Saitek made an excellent joystick, Cyborg 3D , that I used for many years. It, too, doesn't seem to be supported any more. I switched to Thrustmaster's Dual Joystick set which gives me a right AND a left joystick! I got them for Mechwarrior 5, though I would love to adapt one or both to EGS.
I have yet a different method of mapping keyboard controls that I've used since Quake II. I put movement on the mouse buttons (left button forward, right button backward), while strafe, fire, use, action, etc, are on the keyboard under my left hand. I started using that basic control layout when I was playing online FPS games about 70 hours a week and I've never looked back. After I changed my mappings and relearned how to play, my ranking climbed significantly according to CLQ. I've got zero interest in playing a game that won't let me map the controls to fit my play style. Setting up that control mapping for EGS has always been an exercise in frustration. :-( There are a lot of valid reasons to use "non-standard" controls for a game. Not many games manage to make that easy.
I used the G-300 for a long time. Several years ago, I switched up to G-900 mouse and more recently, a G-910 keyboard. Yeah, I got the headphones, too.
There is a solution for the Merc Keyboard, it worked for me, it had the Z-Fang Keypad but the software is the same for everyone. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-922e-5d12e1750b1e?tab=AllReplies#tabs&page=5 Is on page 5 below I can use the original Macro software for profiles, I also bought a G13 keypad and put it in stock in case my Z-Fang is defective as an alternative.
